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The college process can be stressful. Get ahead of the game by preparing early! Read through some tips and advice below.
Don't see your question answered on these pages? Reach out to Ms. Wilson at pgwilson@srcs.k12.ca.us.
I need some foundational knowledge about the college process. Where do I start?
There are different types of colleges out there- 4-year, 2-year, and trade schools. See the College Knowledge Google slides for an overview of the college application process! You can also find a recording of the presentation in your grade level's Google classroom.
What can I be doing right now to prepare?
Students who wish to attend a UC or CSU will need a "C" or better in all of their A-G (college prep) courses. Talk with myself or your school counselor to make sure you are on track!
Check out this fantastic college admissions timeline by The College Essay Guy. This resource will help you prioritize tasks each year of high school in order to prepare for college. Check it out here.
Another great resource is our college rep visits! Come hear from a college representative about their school, culture, and admissions process. These are scheduled for every fall semester and you can find them on the Calendar Events page.
Sometimes the best way to get to know a school is to see it in person. If you can make a trip onto a college campus, DO IT! Take a tour, talk to some students, see what the halls look and feel like.
Join a club, try an elective or a sport, do some community service! What sparks your passion? Trying new things and discovering your interests will aid in discovering what you want in a college experience.
Where can I start looking at colleges?
There are tons of great college search sites out there to help you get started! See a list below:
What if I can't make it to a college campus to get a feel for the school?
Not to worry. One of the perks of the last year was that many colleges created virtual tours! Find a sampling of them below. You could also reach out to admissions to see if they can put you in touch with a current student!
How do I make a college list?
Building your college list takes both time and research. Want a head start? Read this article for some tips!
Here are the steps for choosing a college:
Get to know your interests and preferences.
Discover what specific qualities you want in a college.
Create an initial list of colleges that match this criteria.
Research your chances of getting in to each of these colleges and organize your school list by “reach,” “maybe,” and “likely.” You should be happy to go to any of these schools!
Narrow down your results into your final list of colleges.
It's often recommended to apply to 6-12 colleges broken down into 3 categories: Reach, Maybe, and Likely.
What is a Reach school?
You should have 1-3 of these schools. Your academic profile is below the average profile of attendees of these universities and/or these schools have low acceptance rates that make it difficult to predict acceptance.
What is a Maybe school?
You should have 2-3 of these schools. Your academic profile falls within the range of the average student in the most recent class admitted.
What is a Likely school?
You should have 1-3 of these schools. Your academic profile exceeds the average profile of students in the most recent class admitted and/or these schools have high acceptance rates.
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