Application Timeline & FAQ

College Application Timeline

Senior Year (Fall Semester)

August: Create your application accounts (UC, Common App, Coalition) and start inputting your personal information.

o UC Application: admissions.universityofcalifornia.edu

o Common Application: commonapp.org

Decide if you plan on applying for early admission deadlines to colleges. Some colleges have early deadlines as soon as October 15!
Complete “Counselor Letter of Recommendation Survey” on Naviance (About Me > My Surveys > Surveys Not Started)
Work on polishing your college essays so that you can focus on starting your senior year strong!
Contact admissions officers directly with any specific questions you may have, and schedule college interviews for those that offer them!
October 1: Start date to apply for federal financial aid via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and private financial aid via CSS Profile
October 1-November 30: Submission period for California State University (CSU) schools.
November 1-30: Submission period for University of California (UC) schools.
November – January: General timeline for submitting college applications to private/out-of-state schools

Senior Year (Spring Semester)

Continue to challenge yourself and work hard in your current courses.
May 1: Student Intent to Register (SIR) deadline

Frequently Asked Questions

4-Year College Information

How can I get additional help on my college applications?

Workshops and event dates coming soon! Please be sure to check your Senior Google classroom.

How will I know if I am eligible for 4-year college?

You are able to access your UC and CSU reports in Aeries to see if you are meeting the minimum entrance requirements. (A-G) The minimum GPA for a CSU is a 2.5 and 3.0 for a UC. Please reach out to your counselor if you are unsure of where you should be applying. We would love to help you!

What standardized test scores (SAT/ACT/AP/IB) do I send to colleges? How do I send them?

SAT/ACT/SAT Subject Tests

UC Schools: UC has adopted a test-optional policy for fall 2021. Campuses will have the option to use ACT/SAT test scores in selection consideration if applicants choose to submit them, and will develop appropriate policies and procedures to implement the Board’s decision.
CSU Schools: The CSU is suspending the use of ACT/SAT exams in determining admissions for all campuses for the 2021-22 school year. https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/freshman/getting_into_the_csu/Pages/testing-requirements.aspx
Private/Out-Of-State Schools: Please review the score reporting policies for the colleges you're planning to apply to, as several schools have adopted a test-optional policy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To send scores please log in to your Collegeboard account to send scores officially. Score send fees may apply.

AP Exam Scores

You will not need to send your official AP exam scores to colleges you're applying to. Instead, you will need to self report your scores on your applications.

IB Exam Scores

You will not need to send your official IB exam scores to colleges you're applying to. Instead, you will need to self report your scores on your applications.

The colleges I'm applying to require me to submit letters of recommendation. What is the process?

You can find instructions for requesting letters of recommendation from both teachers and counselors on the Letter of Recommendation Process section of this College Application Resource Guide. Please allow teachers and counselors at least two weeks to write your letter of recommendation.
You have the opportunity to invite recommenders other than your teachers/counselor, such as your coach, mentor, work supervisor, etc. You must add them as "Other Recommender" on the Common App.

Community College (2-Year College)

When will I be able to apply for community college?

Mt. SAC and Citrus Colleges will be visiting senior English classes in the winter to help with all steps of the application process and provide you with priority registration for Fall 2021.

Transcript Requests

How do I send transcripts to colleges I am applying to? Which colleges require them?

If you are applying to a private/out-of-state university via the Common App your counselor will be submitting your transcript for you if you connect your Common App to your Naviance account.
If you are applying to a private/out-of-state school that has an independent application, you can submit your request for your transcript to be submitted online via Naviance in the Colleges I am Applying to section.
If you have taken a course that is not listed on your high school transcript (community college, online), you will need to request to have your transcript sent to colleges from the community college/online school you have attended.
If you are applying to a UC or CSU school, you will not need to submit your transcripts when applying. However, if you have been accepted and decide to attend a UC/CSU school, you will need to submit your final transcript to the school you will be attending at the end of the school year via Naviance through the senior graduation survey.

Do I need my middle school transcripts to show that I have completed 3 years of Math/Language Other Than English?

No. However, you will need to self report your classes and grades on the UC Application. Middle school grades will not be included in your entrance GPA.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Where can I find information on financial aid/scholarship opportunities?

Use this guide as a resource by looking at information in the Financial Aid page. The main South Hills website may also be helpful. Click on Counseling and then click College and Career. This page contains helpful information on available scholarships and deadlines, along with various scholarship search engines. It also contains information for completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to receive federal and state financial aid. Please be sure to also follow @southhillscounseling on Instagram and @shhscounseling_ on Twitter for upcoming scholarship opportunities.

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