Westmont High School College & Career Center

Welcome!

The Westmont High School Career and College Center's mission is to assist students in career planning and exploration. We offer help in college application, financial aid planning, and preparing for whatever path their lives take after graduating high school. The CCC also facilitates College Visits and Career Talks throughout the school year as well as volunteering and employment opportunities. Kristina M. Canales-Padilla is the College and Career Specialist.

Kristina M. Canales-Padilla (she/they) is the College and Career Specialist at Westmont. She is a bilingual educator with over 10 years of experience in a variety of educational settings. Kristina started their career at Westmont High as a bilingual aide, supporting English language learners across grade levels and subjects. Now, Kristina continues to support students as they prepare for graduation, college, and beyond.

Contact

Appointments will open back up in the Fall.

Students

Make an appointment for a 15-minute meeting in the Fall.

Parents & Guardians

Make an appointment for a 15-minute meeting in the Fall.

Grade Level Information

Seniors

College App & Admissions Timeline: This timeline and set of resources track the college search and application process for 12th grade.
Study tips in college (from MIT): You’ll soon be sitting in your first college class, so take the time to read up on some suggestions on time management, testing, and study skills.
Get familiar with college lingo: College brings a ton of new vocabulary, so keep this glossary handy while you navigate registration, housing, and student services.
The Summer Before College: A Five-Step Guide (for Productivity or Fun): It’s your last summer before heading off to college. Make it count.
Sign up for an orientation date at your college. Orientation will cover all things you need to accomplish before senior year-meet with your advisor to choose classes, set up financial aid/payment accounts, reserve your dormitory, etc.

Juniors

College App & Admissions Timeline: This timeline and set of resources track the college search and application process for 11th and 12th grade.
As school gets out, think about starting your personal statement for the common app. How to write a college application essay
And if you’re applying to the UCs, that’s a very different application—head here to learn about how to write your UC PIQs.
The Matchlighters Scholars Program pairs highly motivated students from low-income households with experienced college counselors. It's totally free and applying couldn't be easier.
If you’ve excelled academically despite financial challenges, consider applying to QuestBridge or the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Program, and check in with your counselor on the Posse Foundation nomination process.
How to Create a College List (with tracking spreadsheet): Prepare to finalize your college list. Once you do, create a second spreadsheet with deadlines for applications, and scholarships, number of required recommendations, testing policies, etc.
Things Students of Color Should Know When Applying to College: Listen to this solid advice spanning the college search, financial aid, and how to advocate for yourself in the process.
Tips for Planning a College Visit: Make a plan to visit a couple schools based on your college research, if you’re able. If getting to the campuses isn’t possible, learn as much as you can online via virtual information sessions.
Get organized and kick off your application process: Research the admission requirements and deadlines for schools on your list, and create a spreadsheet to organize information.
How to write a successful Common App Activities List/How to write a college resume: Learn more about these pieces of the application process.
Get registered for the SAT and/or ACT test for early fall. This may be the last time to test prior to early action/early decision dates. Here are some free or low cost test prep options: Khan Academy’s free test prep and Low-cost test-prep available from the ACT

Sophomores

College App & Admissions Timeline: This timeline and set of resources track the college search and application process from 10th through 12th grade.
Before starting junior year it might be a good idea to start thinking about colleges. Where do you start? How to Research Colleges (Without Visiting a Campus)
If you identify as a First Generation College Student, or a Low Income Student, please read this: Low-Income & First-Generation College Students
Learning How to Learn + The Science of Well Being: These free Coursera courses will help you understand how your brain works and what you can do to optimize your productivity and happiness.
Explore colleges with 800+ lists: Curious about what colleges have to offer? Use this fun online, searchable database from CollegeXpress, which covers everything from academic environments to school spirit.
Social media cleanup: This is a good time to clean up your social media profiles. If you have any questionable photos or language, delete them now before you start your college search in earnest.

Freshmen

College App & Admissions Timeline: This timeline and set of resources track the college search and application process from 9th through 12th grade.
Learning How to Learn + The Science of Well Being: These free Coursera courses will help you understand how your brain works and what you can do to optimize your productivity and happiness.

Senior Updates

Updating College Results on Naviance

Update the results from college decisions. You should add all results; Accepted, Denied, Waitlisted, Deferred. When you have made a final decision as to where you will attend, you can update the “Colleges Attending” section which is what we use to determine where to send your final transcript after graduation. See instruction here!

Naviance Updating College Results.pdf

Senior 2025 Exit Survey

Make sure to start/complete your Senior Exit Survey, update your Naviance results, and get your cap and gown for graduation. Please make sure to complete it as soon as possible. Remember that it is editable so you can go back in and edit your answers if anything comes up. You can stop by the Academic Center after school to get yours

Still Need a Transcript?

Need your transcript, but school is out for the summer? Order them through the CUHSD District Office here: https://www.cuhsd.org/apps/pages/transcripts

Junior Updates

(Classroom) College Application Readiness Class of 2025.pdf

College Readiness Presentation

Check out the College Readiness Presentation to help you prepare for college applications and life after high school. It covers everything from UC, CSU, Common App, Community College, and Trade School applications to financial aid tips and ideas for making the most of your summer.

Plus, explore helpful tools like Naviance and CaliforniaColleges.edu with step-by-step guides to navigate your post-high school planning.

Naviance Brag Sheet (About Me).pdf

Requesting Letters of Recommendation

It’s time to start thinking about letters of recommendation for your college applications. Start talking to your teachers now about letters of recommendation. You’ll request those letters through Naviance.

Start filling your Brag Sheet on Naviance. You want this for college applications and for future scholarships.

Counselor Letters of Recommendation

The Counselor Letter of Recommendation Request Form is CLOSED. You will be able to request letters of recommendation from your academic counselor in fall 2025.

Teacher Letters of Recommendation are requested through Naviance. Below are the instructions for each.

Counselor LOR Request Form

Teacher Letters of Recommendation

Naviance Requesting Teacher LOR.pdf

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