Summer 2011:

1. Narrow your choices and determine where you will be applying to college. Remember that you will be able to have all application fees, up to a reasonable limit (see below), waived. Also, because you will be filing the FAFSA (on time) and eligible for a financial aid package that is predominantly gift-aid (grants and scholarships that do not need to be paid back), you should not allow college costs to dissuade you from considering any particular college or university at this point in your decision-making.

You may apply up to 4 UC campuses with an application fee waiver.

You may apply up to 4 CSU campuses with an application fee waiver.

You may apply up to 4 independent colleges/universities with application fee waivers.

(see our Resources page for a description of application fee waivers; see our FAQ for a description of UC and CSU terms)

We recommend that students apply to no more than 10 colleges; 6 is ideal in most circumstances. Applicants should be confident of their admissions qualifications at one or two colleges; they should "reach" for admission at one or two; and they should have a reasonable chance of admission at another one or two.  

2. Update your resume. List your involvements in and out of school, and time commitments. Include leadership positions you have held.

3. Make sure you have a copy(ies) of your high school(s) transcript(s). You'll need to work off of it/them in completing your UC and/or CSU applications.

4. If you don't already have one, create an e-mail address that has your name in it and is business-like. Free e-mail addresses are available through gmail, yahoo, and hotmail. When college admission offices contact you, it should be clear that they have the correct address. For example, if your name is John K. Smith, it is important that your email address be johnksmith@server.com, rather than cuteguy@server.com.

5. If you have a myspace or facebook page, make sure it is private and can only be viewed by friends that you approve.

6. Make sure you have a social security number. You will need it to file for financial aid.

Fall 2011:

1. IN AUGUST and/or SEPTEMBER, register for entrance exams (SAT and/or ACT) if you have not fulfilled the test requirements of the colleges and universities you are applying to: 

If you have not taken the SAT or ACT, be sure to register on time to take either or both exams this fall (by November for the CSU; by December for the UC). Sept. 9 is the deadline for registering for the Oct. 1 SAT with a fee waiver (see your school counselor to get your SAT and/or ACT fee waivers). Oct. 7 is the deadline for registering for the Nov. 5 SAT with a fee waiver. Nov. 8 is the deadline for registering for the Dec. 3 SAT with a fee waiver.  

The deadline for ACT registration with a fee waiver is Aug. 12 for the Sept. 10 exam, Sept. 16 for the Oct. 22 exam; and Nov. 4 for the Dec. 10 exam. If you are applying to the UC and/or other selective universities, you must take the ACT Plus Writing if you want to submit ACT scores for admissions consideration (the CSU doesn't require the optional ACT Writing section).

If you took the SAT and/or ACT Plus Writing (and SAT Subject Tests if required by the colleges/programs you're applying to) in the spring of your junior year, you do not have to take the exams again this fall. You may register twice for FREE (on time registration only) with fee waivers for 2 SAT sittings, 2 ACT sittings, and 2 SAT Subject Test sittings (up to 6 subjects).

You will need to submit your test results to all colleges for admissions consideration. To save money, you can send your SAT scores to CSU Mentor (institution code 3594) for one price and the SAT test scores will be distributed to all campuses to which you are applying for admission. Similarly, if you are applying to more than one UC campus, you may send your scores to one campus and the UC Central Processing Application Center will make your scores available to each campus to which you have applied.

2. Ask a teacher(s) and/or school counselor and/or administrator (someone who knows you) to write a letter of recommendation, if needed. The UC and CSU systems do not require letters of recommendation for admissions consideration. However, the CSU requires two letters of recommendation for EOP (Educational Opportunity Program) consideration, and most independent colleges and universities require one or two letters of recommendation for admissions consideration. You should ask your teacher(s)/counselor early, let them know where you're applying, and what the deadline dates are. If you are a youth in foster youth, you absolutely should indicate your desire to be considered for EOP on your college applications.

3. IN OCTOBER, FILE YOUR CSU APPLICATION(S) and begin work on your UC application(s). Also, look at the application deadline dates of independent universities to which you are applying. Prepare your essays/personal statements based on the prompts provided in the applications. Foster youth should make sure they check the "interested in applying to EOP" box on the CSU application. When you receive confirmation of the CSU's receipt of your admissions application, you will find a link in the e-mail that you must click, in order to access the EOP application. Complete the EOP "Applicant Information Form" and submit it to each campus you are seeking admission, along with the two "Recommendation Forms" for each campus. You may also be requested to ask your social worker to submit a letter verifying your current or former foster care status. Cal State San Marcos (located in North San Diego County) guarantees admission to foster youth who meet criteria and file all requested application materials by October 31. See www.csusm.edu/ace/prospective-students/application-steps.html for details.

4. Make sure you have passed the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE). You must pass to qualify for your high school diploma. (All students are required to take the CAHSEE for the first time in 10th grade. Students who do not pass one or both parts--English and math--may retake the part(s) not passed up to 2 times in 11th grade, and 3 to 5 times in 12th grade.) 

5. IN NOVEMBER, FILE YOUR UC APPLICATION(S). ALSO, FILE APPLICATIONS TO UNIVERSITIES WITH EARLY DEADLINES AND/OR ROLLING ADMISSIONS.

6. Get ready to file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in January by applying for your PIN now. Go to www.pin.ed.gov to complete the form and secure your Personal Identification Number.

7. IN DECEMBER, COMPLETE ANY REMAINING APPLICATIONS BY THE DEADLINE. Request your high school to send your transcript to those colleges and/or universities, either immediately or after your 7th semester (current semester) grades are posted in January, depending on what is requested. The UC and CSU do not require a copy of your high school transcript to be submitted in the application process. You will be required to submit your final high school transcript, after graduation, to the one campus you decide to enroll in. At that time, the campus will "validate" that your self-reported grades on your application were accurate. If you reported your grades with errors, your offer of admission is subject to cancellation.

**Throughout fall '11 and spring '12, make sure to work hard in your classes. Your senior year grades will have a bearing on your admission to college.**

Jan.2012-Feb.2012:

1. Submit the FAFSA (Federal Application for Free Student Aid) electronically. The deadline for filing is March 2 at most colleges and universities, but may be earlier at some independent colleges and universities (e.g. the USC deadline is Feb. 2). The FAFSA may not be filed prior to Jan. 1 because you need to have year-end numbers for 2011. Foster youth (those in foster care on or after their 13th birthday) will file the FAFSA as independent students. See our "$$ Money for College for Foster Youth" page for more information. Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov to file the online form.

2. If you are applying to an independent college or university (e.g. USC), you may be requested to submit the CSS/Financial Aid Profile, in addition to the FAFSA. If you are required to file it, you should qualify for a fee waiver for its submission. Be sure to file it by the university's deadline which may be as early as Feb. 2.

3. Submit the Chafee Grant application at www.chafee.csac.ca.gov soon after you file your FAFSA. After filing the brief online Chafee application, print out the "Foster Care Eligibility Form." Complete the top portion and give to your ILS case manager. He/she will file it directly to the California Student Aid Commission. If you don't know who your ILS case manager is, call the ILS help line at 1-866-457-4636. Make sure you list a college (the one you hope to enroll in) as your "school of attendance". High school seniors should NOT list their high school.

4. Study hard for your final exams in January. Request mid-year reports be sent from your school to any independent colleges and universities that request them (they are not required by UC or CSU).

5. Follow up with your high school to make sure your Cal Grant GPA was electronically submitted to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), if that is your school’s procedure, or to get your GPA certified using the paper Cal Grant GPA Verification Form, if your school doesn’t submit GPAs electronically. The deadline for filing is March 2 for the UC, CSU and private colleges.

6. Review your Student Aid Report (SAR) and make corrections, if necessary. If you don’t receive your report within three weeks of submitting your FAFSA, call toll free 1-800-433-3243.

7. If you plan to attend a California Community College (CCC), file your application now. Go to http://www.cccapply.org/ or go to the website of the CCC in which you intend to enroll. After applying for admission, be sure to file your application for the BOG (Board of Governor's) Enrollment Fee Waiver at http://icanaffordcollege.com. All youth in foster care are eligible for this Fee Waiver which reduces the cost of enrolling in CCC classes to $0. Make sure you also apply for EOPS at your CCC and get in touch with the Foster Youth Liaison at the campus you plan to attend (the San Diego County CCCs and their liaisons are listed on our "Community Colleges in SD County" page).

8. File your scholarship applications for private funds in January, February, and March, checking the website of each organization to ensure meeting the deadlines. See our "Financing College for Foster Youth" page for private scholarship suggestions.

9. Monitor your grant status. Monitor your Cal Grant and/or Chafee Grant application status at CSAC’s “Web Grants for Students” website: https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov/logon.asp.

Spring 2012:

1. Keep up your grades! As you receive offers of admission from colleges, the offers will be contingent on the successful completion of your senior year courses at the achievement level on which you were admitted. Be sure to READ your admit letters in their entirety, including the provisions for admission (sometimes the provisions are in the letter and sometimes they are in a separate document). Every summer, significant numbers of students have their offers of admission rescinded because of poor grades earned in the final semester of high school. This REALLY happens!

2. Keep checking your e-mail, as admission and financial aid offices may send notifications with requests for additional information. Also, you may be urged to apply for housing on some campuses before you have decided to enroll. Go ahead and follow the instructions from each campus. When you make your choice by May 1 (see item 5 below), you can notify the other colleges that you will not be attending.

3. If you have been admitted by a CSU and you are considering accepting the offer of admission, you may have to take placement tests (the English Placement Test--EPT; and the Entry-Level Math test--ELM) by the first Saturday in May of your senior year. Some students will be exempt, based on scores earned on the EAP or SAT, etc. To learn more about the EPT and ELM placement tests, see http://www.ets.org/csu/about.

4. By April 30, you should receive notification about your Cal Grant. If you don't hear from the CSAC, call toll free 1-888-CA-GRANT (1-888-224-7268). 

5. By May 1, you will have to select ONE college or university at which to enroll, from among the colleges and universities that offered you admission. You should be able to make an informed decision by considering the preliminary financial aid award from each institution. Congratulations! You're going to college!

6. After high school graduation, you will need to send your official high school transcript to the college you're attending in the fall. Watch the deadline for date of submission (usually July 15 but it could be sooner). Be sure to keep checking your e-mail, so that you can meet other deadlines. For example, you might have an opportunity to attend a summer advising session and a campus orientation, like the EOP Summer Bridge program. Be sure to take advantage of all the support offered by your new college or university.

Be a stand-out in your college applications!

1. Don't try to be like anyone else. Your individuality is your strength. Embrace your life experience and use it as a platform for getting into college.

2. Don't be afraid to share your story. You have something unique to offer the campus community you are going to join. Show the Admissions Office who you are. Use YOUR voice in your personal statements. Reveal YOUR interests, YOUR passions. Talk about the hurdles YOU have overcome and the things YOU have learned from the unique life experience you have had.

3. In writing your personal statements/essays, be sure to respond to the prompts/questions. Use specific examples to support the points you make. Take time to write, re-write and edit.

4. Remember that you are more than your GPA and 
SAT/ACT scores. Your application gives you the opportunity to reveal who you are, primarily through your statements and essays, and also through your activities and accomplishments. Your application will be read by real people: men and women who are interested in learning about you and finding a fit between you and the college they represent.  

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose."

--Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) in "Oh The Place You Will Go!"