8th Grade
The Student for Students Network is here to help get you access to the information you need to get an understanding of the university admission process. Though you are a couple years from applying to colleges and universities, it is never too soon to become more knowledgeable about the process so you can start making the best choices now and taking charge of your educational path.
As an 8th grader, you should start by understanding the A-G requirements (the courses needed to get in CSU/UC universities) to start building a solid foundation. What do we mean by solid foundation? Set yourself up to take the appropriate courses necessary for the educational path you want. Some students dream of going to really prestigious universities, while some plan to go out of state, or staying local.
So which classes are appropriate for you? Read more about the different level classes: College Prep, Honors, AP, and IB.
PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test)
The PSAT a preliminary SAT - a practice exam for the SAT created by College Board that tests students reading, writing, and math skills. In your 2 years of being an upperclassman you will take the SAT, and you prepare for that is by taking the PSAT.
- The PSAT helps you get started on practicing for the SAT.
- Most high schools pay for their students to take the PSAT during the year, and so studying now will give a great advantage!
- It can also help you qualify for the National Merit Scholarship program Junior year.
- You can take the PSAT for free online through various sites, including the Khan Academy.
Already have an idea of your college major/career choice? Sometimes, students have an idea of what they want to be when they 'grow up.' For this reason high schools offer career pathway courses. It's worth knowing what specific career education courses different high schools in your district offer. If your home school doesn't offer something you're interested in, you could consider going to another school if possible.
While the pathways (academies) are beneficial, some students have shared that they later regret taking them because they feel like they're stuck taking specific courses to meet those requirements, and are not able to take other courses that would help their chances of getting into college/university. The key: prepare early, know your options and ask questions!
If you decide you do want to take a pathway - enroll early! Many public high schools are very impacted by high enrollment and don't give preference to incoming Freshmen when enrolling in classes. This can mean that you'll be stuck taking other classes that sometimes that have nothing to do with what you want to do.
Learn more about the PSAT
The standardized tests you take in high school are vital and key factors of the college process. They hold quite a lot of weight in determining your eligibility to become admitted into higher institutions - colleges/universities.
Be prepared! Understand them, take advantage of the resources, and take them early!
9th Grade - Freshmen
As a freshman, it is critical that you begin high school with a solid foundation. The earlier you start to learn and understand the college process, the easier and less stressful it will be when it comes time to apply to college.
FIRST: Do you understand what A-G requirements are, why you are taking the level courses you are, and what standardized tests in high school are?
- If not, you'll want to understand the A-G requirements as soon as possible and ask questions if needed. Many students never hear about these until years later - once they realize they're behind on courses. It's important to know that not all courses offered in high schools meet the minimum entrance requirements for CSU/UC schools.
SECOND: You should be enrolled in courses and activities that fit where you plan to go in 4 years -read more below.
- If you do not know about or understand the basics of the standardized tests you will be taking in high school, click here: Standardized Tests.
Understanding some basic academic stats of colleges to build your foundation:
Some students believe that if they do not take all of the highest classes offered, or score the highest SAT score possible, college is off the table. However, there are so many more factors that come into play, and remembering that every college is different is vital. Every college/university has their own average stats on what is needed to get admitted. So, here are some examples of basic stats to give you an idea of what you should be aiming to achieve to get admitted.
Please take into consideration that everyone’s acceptance is individual to them. It is not just what you can help like your grades, extracurriculars, etc., that help get you admitted; but it also comes down to things you cannot change - your economic status, ethnicity, if you are a first generation student, if the school's major is impacted, etc. This is simply looking at what is common amongst these schools. It's possible and dreams are attainable if you work hard enough for them. You define your own successes.
In looking at all 23 California State Universities:
- Test scores(SAT/ACT) are NOT needed if you have over a 3.0 gpa, but can be asked of you by a university later on as a supplemental part into helping you get admitted (We highly recommend taking them because if the school is impacted - meaning a lot of students apply - your score can greatly help you!)
- You do not need to overload yourself with AP(Advanced Placement), H(Honors) classes, or IB(International Baccalaureate). Taking CP(College Preparatory) will do just fine if you maintain a high grade point average from them.
***Keep in mind that there are 23 California State Universities. The acceptance rates extend from 28% to 100%! if you are looking to go to, per say, CSU Bakersfield, CSU Stanislaus, or Sonoma State University; then what is listed above applies and you more than likely will not be asked for an ACT/SAT and taking CP classes will do just fine! However, if you want to get into the more rigorous universities; Cal Poly Slo, San Diego State, or CSU Long Beach, make sure you are challenging yourself a little bit more!
- Average SAT: 980
- Average ACT: 18
- Average SAT: 950
- Average ACT: 17
- Average SAT: 1140
- Average ACT: 23
- Average SAT: 1020
- Average ACT: 19
- Average SAT: 1220
- Average ACT: 26
- Average SAT: 1340
- Average ACT: 29
In looking at out of state schools, in this example, Arizona State University:
- Average GPA: 3.54 (generally admit those in the top 25% of their class)
- Average SAT: 1120 (non-Arizona residents: 1180)
- Average ACT: 22 (non-Arizona residents: 24)
- This school has an acceptance rate of 85 per 100 applicants meaning that this school is attainable similarly to CSU’s. Overloading of AP/IB/Honors is not entirely necessary, but you should challenge yourself in case you fall short in another area.
- Average GPA: 3.69
- Average SAT: 1440
- Average ACT: 32
- This school accepts 16 per 100 applicants. It is a very selective school, but not impossible. Taking a mix of Honors, AP, IB, and a few College Preparatory and excelling could land you an acceptance. NYU considers their applicants in three ways: do they have a strong academic history? Have they demonstrated public service? Are they an applicant that can make an impact?
- Have questions? Speak to their admissions - NYU Admissions!
University of California Schools(UC's):
The UC System is comprised of 9 universities, and so we are providing stats from UC Merced
- Minimum GPA to apply to any UC: 3.0
- Average SAT: Reading and Writing:510-600, Math:510-590
- Average ACT:20
- The UC universities are part of one system, but because there are 9 they all vary in their average admissions. Though, all universities have the same Freshmen requirements(3.0+ GPA) and application to be admitted.
"Well Rounded Student"
The phrase "well rounded student" is widely known and used to refer to high school students who have a balance of multiple things; are excelling in multiple things; have both a passion and skill for something. Students know this phrase so well that through the duration of high school they try their best to be so. Colleges and universities want students that do not only succeed academically, but also thrive in other areas such as athletics, clubs or programs. It also helps your application because if you fall short in another area such as SAT's or do not get as high as a GPA as you would have liked; showing colleges the balance of your academics and extracurriculars can make up for that shortage.
Though it can be a very different transition of going from middle school to high school, expanding your horizons and committing to them from Freshmen to Senior year shows a lot of commitment on your part! If you are thinking about joining a sport, club, or program, begin now! That way you can really grow in that extracurricular and show that development in your applications.
Helpful Resources You Should Utilize!
University of California A-G List
You can easily find the UC and CSU A-G requirements and course lists online; even on our website - TheStudentForStudents.org. However, you can use the University of California website to search all of the different courses offered within your own school, what grade level you can take them in, what requirement they meet, and even if they're considered a UC Honors course!
Simply search, https://hs-articulation.ucop.edu/agcourselist
Utilizing this resource can help you plan your 4 years, give you clarity on what your course fulfills, and inform you on what you need to fulfill the A-G Requirements.
Blog.prepscholar.com
Blog.prepscholar.com is a great resource where you can find a variety of blogs answering any specific questions relating to standardized tests, college admissions, and more!
Blogs like:
- 262 SAT Vocal Words You Must Know
- PSAT Practice Tests: Free Questions and Full-Length Tests
- What Colleges Should I Apply To? Making a College List
Niche.com
Niche is an online ranking site where you can explore different colleges, universities, and scholarships from all across America! From their acceptance stats to campus life, you can discover which school is best for you! You can also explore tons of scholarships - some of which don't require essays!
Kaplan/Kaptest
Kaplan provides a diverse variety of educational services! For high school students, it serves as an SAT prep resource! They have a 3 Month Study Plan which provides SAT practice questions, pop quizzes, tips & tricks, and a practice test. "Three months is a great amount of time to prep for the SAT. You can spread out your studying and you’ll have ample time to master the concepts tested on the SAT" (Kaptest.com).
Learn more about the PSAT
The standardized tests you take in high school are vital and key factors of the college process. They hold quite a lot of weight in determining your eligibility to become admitted into higher institutions - college/universities.
Be prepared! Understand them, take advantage of the resources, and take them early!
10th Grade - Sophomores
A Pivotal Time
Sophomore year is a pivotal time to excel academically, begin any extracurriculars, start any programs, or become an athlete. Colleges are not heavily focused on your Freshmen year but rather more Sophomore year. When deciding whether to admit, they take your Sophomore and Junior years into account most.
If you are thinking about becoming an athlete, becoming a class president, or beginning a project, start as soon as possible! Fulfill the colleges' wants of being a "well rounded student" by doing what you are passionate about! Thus, you have more to write about in your college applications to show them your growth!
***Keep in mind that excelling academically does not necessarily mean that all of your classes need to be Honors, AP, or IB courses. To excel academically means that your grades are as high as they can be. Meaning, if you are taking higher courses but your grades are low, think about transferring classes if you feel you can excel much better in another level course.
Standardized Tests
Important factors taken into account in college applications are standardized tests - the SAT, SAT Subject Tests, and ACT. All three tests measure your academic abilities in different ways, and Sophomore year is the year to really begin to understand which test is right for you to take, when you will take it, and how you will study! To learn more about the tests, click this tab: Standardized Tests.
Understand the tests? Here are some great resources (free and for purchase) to help you prepare!
Ask your counselor about any workshops or PSATs coming up!
Official SAT Study Guide books. You can purchase the SAT Study Guide 2020 Edition from Barnes & Noble, or find another one similar to it.
Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy. You can use the free practice tests on Khan Academy, including their official SAT Practice. You'll just need to create an account.
Taking the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test), which helps you practice for the SAT. Technically, you can take it in 8th & 9th grade as well, but why overwhelm yourself. It can also help you qualify for the National Merit Scholarship program Junior year. You can take the PSAT for free online through various sites, including the Khan Academy.
There is also a 3 Month Study Plan from Kaplan which provides SAT practice questions, pop quizzes, tips & tricks, and of course, a practice test. Get more info from Kaplan here: Kaptest.com.
Also, you can get:
Practice Subject Tests from The College Board (for purchase).
And remember to breathe and take care of yourself!
Standardized tests
These Standardized tests weigh heavily in college admissions. Be prepared! Understand them, take advantage of the resources, and take them early!
11th Grade - Juniors
Keep Going!
Like Sophomore year, Junior year is still a pivotal time in which colleges look at you heavily. 11th grade is really all about being an “execution year.” Whatever projects, sports, or programs you are passionate about, 11th grade is really the last year to execute them so that you could throughly write about them in your apps!
Standardized Tests
Senior year should be all about applications and celebration. Therefore assure that you take your standardized tests Junior year so that you won't have to worry Senior year!
What test should you take? Need more information, go to the SAT vs. ACT page!
Need some study resources?
Ask your counselor about any workshops!
Official SAT Study Guide books. You can purchase the SAT Study Guide 2020 Edition from Barnes & Noble, or find another one similar to it.
Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy. You can use the free practice tests on Khan Academy, including their official SAT Practice. You'll just need to create an account.
Taking the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test), which helps you practice for the SAT. Technically, you can take it in 8th & 9th grade as well, but why overwhelm yourself. It can also help you qualify for the National Merit Scholarship program Junior year. You can take the PSAT for free online through various sites, including the Khan Academy.
There is also a 3 Month Study Plan from Kaplan which provides SAT practice questions, pop quizzes, tips & tricks, and of course, a practice test. Get more info from Kaplan here: Kaptest.com.
Also, you can get:
Practice Subject Tests from The College Board (for purchase).
And remember to breathe and take care of yourself!
Committed
Colleges want to see how committed you still are to what you have been doing. Junior year is a real test in itself, and colleges want to see that you are still committed to your academics, standardized tests, extracurriculars, and that you are still continuing to push yourself as you are nearing closer to application season.
Because Junior year is so compact, the end of it and into the Summer are great times to really begin narrowing which colleges you're applying to, understanding the application process, and which major(s) you want to pursue.
College Applications
As application season approaches, it is totally acceptable for it to feel overwhelming! Don't worry, you can start off by understanding the applications, getting familiar with where you will applying, the colleges, the costs, how many essays there will be, and brainstorming some ideas on what to write!
12th Grade - Seniors
Application Season!
We understand how busy you may get in these next couple of months, and so below we have provided a checklist to help you along the way so that you don't forget anything! Remember to reach out to us if you need any guidance or have questions!
***IMPORTANT: Begin looking at scholarships! You can go to our "For Students > Aids, Grants, and Scholarships" tab for more information.
Have you taken a standardized test?
Have you thought of which application portals you will be going through? (UC, CSU, Coalition, or Common App)
Have you looked over the applications for a glimpse of what you will need? (Visit our College Applications page for more!)
Have you made the accounts for them?
Are the schools you are applying to suitable to give you an education to fulfill your desire?
How many schools are you applying to? Do you have some backup schools listed? And reach schools?
Making a list can of course be helpful when deciding which colleges you are applying to. Based on the school's average test scores and acceptance rate, you can compare your stats and then self determine your probability of getting in. It's great to apply to "reach" schools, but don't be little applying to "back up
schools too!
Do you know which major or majors you will be applying with?
There is nothing wrong with applying to schools with different majors! If you know that the major is impacted at that school and that you have a better chance at applying to similar one(& then changing it once you're admitted) that is a smart plan! Or, if they do not offer your top major, but offer a similar one - go for it!
Have you reflected on meaningful moments or projects in your duration of high school that you could write about in the applications?
Maybe it was one of your swimming competitions...
Or maybe you tutored and helped students in one of your classes...
Could be an injury that shaped you into who you are now...
Really think about moments that reflect who you are and highlight you! It does not have to an award winning moment, but rather a moment that impacted you.
Have you selected who you would ask to write a recommendation(s)?
Tends to vary by school, but sometimes you could pick a coach, a pastor, and/or someone who knows you well!
Have you written a brag sheet? Do so!
Have you spoken to your counselor about ensuring that they are on board to submit or fulfill what they need to in the app?
Do you know when the deadlines are?
Have you done your FAFSA? Or CSS profile?
Do you have a trusted adult whom you can consult with on your application/essays?
Sometimes doing your essays during one sitting or working on them for long periods of time can cause you to just miss the simplest of grammar errors. Don't let that be you! Have someone. A teacher, parent, friend, sibling, or even contact us!
Have you sent your test scores(AP/IB/SAT/ACT) to the colleges you have applied to?
You can visit our standardized test page for information on how to send your scores!
Have you looked into scholarship opportunities?
You can visit our Aids, Grants, and Scholarships page to find some opportunities!
Helpful Resources You Should Utilize!
Kaplan/Kaptest
Running out of time to prep for the SAT? Try this 3 month study plan!
Kaplan provides a diverse variety of educational services! High school students can use it as an SAT prep resource! They have a 3 Month Study Plan which provides SAT practice questions, pop quizzes, tips & tricks, and of course, a practice test. "Three months is a great amount of time to prep for the SAT. You can spread out your studying and you’ll have ample time to master the concepts tested on the SAT" (Kaptest.com).
Big Future Scholarship Search - College Board
Big Future Scholarship Search is a scholarship finder by College Board. Students can use this finder by putting in their personal information, academic information, and more to be matched with scholarships for them!
"Find scholarships, financial aid, and internships from more than 2,200 programs, totaling nearly $6 billion" (Collegeboard.org).
Scholarship Owl
Scholarship Owl recognizes that it could be difficult and time consuming to apply to receive scholarships. They also know that if students don't apply, the possibility of them attending college is less likely.
Scholarship Owl is a one-stop platform where you get to focus on your application process and still get matched with a variety of scholarships - they do it for you! You won't be overwhelmed because they've made earning scholarships a whole lot easier! They're a resource all students should utilize!
Rate My Professor
The educators who teach the classes impact the experience you might have taking a course. RateMyProfessor.com is an online site with over 15 million ratings - all from students! You get to learn more about a school's instructors and ratings on schools as a whole. This can help you better explore your college options and ensure you choose the right school for you!
College Transitions
Collegetransitions.com is an admissions consulting provider dedicated to helping and supporting students find good-fit schools and secure admisson. They are a team of counselors, academics, and former admissions counselors who can help in all areas of the college admissions process. Their Dataverse includes a variety of lists and data to help students better navigate the process! Do you have a major in mind that you'd like to pursue but don't know which colleges and universities are best for it? Visit this online resource and find the top colleges for your major!
CollegeData
CollegeData is a free online college advisor with tools designed to help you find the right colleges for you, calculate your admission chances, and understand and explore the financial aspect of college!
College Applications
Which applications are you applying to? Don't stress if you don't know because we have a breakdown of all of the applications and how much they are, what's in them, and so much more!