Samohi Homepage I College Center 

INFORMATION FOR SAMOHI SENIORS


THE COLLEGE and CAREER CENTER General Information

Location: Counseling Area in Administration Bldg.
Phone #: 310-395-3204, X 340
College Counselors: Frank Gatell gatell@smmusd.org,
Julie Honda julie.honda@smmusd.org

Office Hours: 7:30AM-4:00PM - Students are welcome to come in before school, during lunch and after school to research specific colleges and financial aid opportunities - access to the internet is available but you need an appointment to meet with one of the college counselors.

PROVIDED BY SAMOHI COLLEGE CENTER:

  1. SAT I/SAT II and ACT forms
  2. FAFSA, CAL GRANT AND CSS PROFILE financial aid forms
  3. Scholarship listings in the Samohi Scholarship Directory
  4. Request to Waive Admission Application Fee form for Tests and College Application fees
  5. Applications for Cal State & The Common Application - The UC Application will be available online only
  6. UC and CSU Application Workshops will be scheduled in October and early November
  7. Financial Aid Workshops will be scheduled in January and February

College Admission Officers Visits - Students can sign up in the Future Center to attend information sessions when reps come to visit during the school day. See Calendar of Scheduled Visits.

Helpful forms/Mandates
Applying to Private Schools
Brag Sheet
Santa Monica High School Graduation Requirements and UC/CA State Requirements
Scholarship Applications

SUMMARY OF STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Register and take required tests - SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Tests, or ACT with writing.
  2. Arrange for test scores to be sent to colleges.
  3. Obtain college applications & Financial Aid forms from each college.
  4. Review essay topics for all colleges of interest and write the essays.
  5. Complete and send in each college application and financial aid materials - Be sure to make a copy of everything and obtain a "Certificate of Mailing" for each submission.
  6. Schedule a mandatory meeting with either Ms. La Duke or Ms. Carrillo.

    For Private Colleges/Universities and Out of State Public Universities

  7. Private colleges and out-of-state universities require a written recommendation from a school counselor - this could be written by your current academic advisor or one of the  college counselors. Either way, students must obtain and complete the  "Brag Sheet" for the Counselors  by October 1 in order to have this letter written.
  8. Obtain official transcripts for each application and submit application packets to the College Center in timely fashion before specific college application deadlines (Check with College Counselors re: application packet requirements).
  9. Arrange for teacher recommendations to be sent to specific colleges.
  10. All paperwork that must be processed by January 10 is due in the Future Center no later than December 10.

TESTS  -  Santa Monica High School CEEB Code Number:  053320

SAT web site:  www.collegeboard.com

  • UC and Cal State will accept test scores from these dates although December is the last date accepted for Seniors.
  • Other colleges - check individual application deadlines
  • Can only take SAT Reasoning Test or SAT Subject Test  - NOT BOTH on any given test date
  • When signing up for a SAT II test date student may take 1, 2 or 3 SAT II Subject Tests on one test date

ACT web site: www.act.org

  1. STUDENTS MUST ORDER SAT or ACT TESTS TO BE SENT TO EACH INDIVIDUAL COLLEGE THEY ARE APPLYING TO - THIS MUST BE DONE  DIRECTLY WITH THE TESTING COMPANY.
  2. UC REQUIRES ACT with Writing
  3. Scores can be sent by phone or on the internet using a credit card.
  4. There are fees to take these tests.  There is a waiver form for the test fees available in the College Center.

(No SAT or ACT are offered at Samohi)

SAT I and SAT II SCHEDULE

http://www.samohi.smmusd.org/Calendars/tests.htm

UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions

UC Application Requirements:

  1. One application for the entire UC system - check boxes for individual UC campuses
  2. Separate fee of $60 for each campus that a student wants to apply to
  3. Students can apply for a "Request to Waive Admission Application Fee"
    universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/apply/how_apply/personal_statement.html
  4. REQUIRED TESTS:  SAT or ACT with Writing  AND  2 SAT Subject Tests
  5. SAT -2 Required Subjects in different categories
  6. LAST DATE UC's accept SAT tests = December Test for Seniors
  7. Each UC campus is considered a separate institution and has it's own code number that must be entered when ordering scores to be sent   
  8. 2 SHORT ESSAYS INSTEAD OF 1 (prompts in Instruction Booklet)
  9. No Official Transcript should be sent with application
  10. No Teacher Recommendations required
  11. No School Reports or Counselor Recommendation
  12. DEADLINE for application:  NOVEMBER 30
  13. Application can be sent beginning November 1
  14. Complete the application online through the UC Pathways website - THIS IS THE ONLY WAY www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions) The online application is available as of October 1. students can log on with a user name and password which allows them to begin their application right away, save what they have done and finish at another time. BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO WRITE DOWN YOUR USER NAME - YOU CANNOT RETREIVE THIS. IF YOU FORGET IT, YOU HAVE TO START A NEW APPLICATION FROM THE BEGINNING -- DO NOT WAIT UNTIL NOVEMBER 29TH OR 30TH TO SUBMIT YOUR COMPLETED APPLICATION ON-LINE. The server has been know to crash in the past to the number of students applying at the last minute.

NOTE:  The UC application asks students to self report courses and grades.  Courses must be listed in a specific way to comply with UC rules. A list of UC approved courses (available in the College Center) is needed to fill out the application correctly. UC WILL VERIFY ANY INFORMATION THE STUDENT SUBMITS, INCLUDING GRADES, COURSE SELECTION, AND ACADEMIC HONORS/AWARDS. See website for approved courses www.ucop.edu/doorways

UC Application Assistance - (workshops available in the fall)

Students should see College Counselors if assistance is needed with the UC application.

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY
www.csumentor.edu

Cal State Application Requirements:

  1. Students must fill out a separate application for each campus.
  2. The application fee is $55 per application
  3. Students can apply for a "Request to Waive Admission Application Fee" - see the website or pick up the form at the SAMOHI Future Center
  4. REQUIRED TESTS:  SAT Reasoning or  ACT
  5. LAST DATE Cal States accept SAT & ACT tests for Seniors -- December Test.
  6. Each Cal State campus is considered a separate institution and has it's own code number that must be entered when ordering scores to be sent
  7. No Essays required
  8. No Official Transcript should be sent with application
  9. No Teacher Recommendations required
  10. No School Reports or Counselor Recommendation
  11. Send in application by mail with Post Office Certificate of Mailing  (Cal State will not accept Fed Ex or any other type of mail) OR
  12. Send in the application on line via the Cal State website (www.csumentor.edu)
  13. APPLICATION DEADLINES are October 1 to November 30
  • Apply in October to impacted campuses: Cal Poly SLO, San Diego State, Sonoma State, Long Beach & Chico
  • CSU application priority filing deadline is November 30. Individual campuses, if not impacted, may accept applications after this date - check the website for specific dates. Impacted campuses will have shorter filing periods and the sooner you apply the better.

SANTA MONICA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
www.smc.edu

Fall, Winter, and Spring Schedules are available in the College Center.

PRIVATE COLLEGES AND OUT-OF-STATE PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

All private colleges and out-of-state universities have their own applications. However, there are a number (over 300) who will accept the Common Application - www.commonapp.org. Students need to contact each college for their specific admission and application requirements; however, all will require the following which must be sent by the SAMOHI College Center:

1.    Official Transcript

  • An official transcript is printed by the school and sealed in an envelope that must remain sealed when it is sent to a college.
  • Transcripts are available in the counseling office and cost $3 each.
  • It is strongly recommended that students obtain an official transcript to look at before they begin to send them to colleges and check that all the courses are listed and the grades correct.
  • Transcripts are available for students to pick up 1-2 days after the order has been filed
  • It is the student's responsibility to get it to the SAMOHI College Center 

2.  School Report & College Counselor Recommendation

  • Part of the Application includes a "School Report & Recommendation". Brag Sheet and materials are due to the College Center October 1
  • This must be completed by a school official. In order for the counselor to write a recommendation the student must complete a "Brag Sheet" and meet with the counselor
  • The "Brag Sheet" deadline is:

    October 1 for Early Admissions
    November 15 for applications due in December (USC/standard)
    December 1 for all regular applications

Additional required application materials for private colleges/out-of-state universities:

3. Teacher Recommendations - usually two from 11th or 12th  grade sent directly to the college by the teacher. Students should provide an envelope addressed to the school with a first-class stamp.

4.  Multiple Essay Questions 

5.  Test Scores - check with individual colleges/universities for their specific requirements (see info on tests above)

FINANCIAL AID

  1. FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) - Forms are available by December 1 in the SAMOHI College Center and cannot be filed before January 1. Students and Parents need to have the information that will be on their latest tax returns (previous return to student's senior year).
  2. CALGRANT - The California Student Aid Commission requires that the FAFSA form be filed by March 2. Different levels of financial aid depending on student's GPA and a family's financial status. GPAs are submitted electronically. COLLEGE CENTER MUST HAVE STUDENT'S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.
  3. CSSPROFILE - Private colleges may request this form in addition to the FAFSA. This form can be filed in the Fall and is available in the SAMOHI Future Center.
  4. SCHOLARSHIP INFO - There is a Directory of local scholarships in the College Center or apply online at http://www.collegeboard.com/parents/pay/
    Also, see Scholarships page for some ADDITIONAL scholarships.