Palo Alto High School

College and Career Center

Phone Contact – C&CC Reception desk (650) 329-3818

Paly Link – Primary Resource for C&CC new announcements and updates

Paly Family Connection – New web-based college exploration and planning tool (from Naviance), being piloted for the class of 2009. If users have misplaced logon information distributed during Advisory, please contact Ms. Cernobori, College Advisor.

Palo Alto High School

• School profile – overview of Paly: academics, activities, student population, and contact information; used by college admissions to compare high schools
• Grading key – explanations for notation on Paly grade transcripts
• Graduation requirements – list of courses, subjects and semester credits required for graduation from Paly
• UC approved Paly courses list – list of Paly course titles that meet University of California admission requirements

C&C Center

• Overview of the center – what is here and what goes on
• Staff contact list – Paly directory
• About our staff members – in brief: who does what
• Events and announcements – updated weekly
• Reference materials – available for students and parents to check out from the C&CC
• Viking College and Career Planning Guide – a primary resource; revised in April

College Planning

• Paly catalog of courses – list of all classes offered at Paly; revised in March
• Paly teacher advisors list – list revised in April
• Standardized tests for college entrance – overview about preparing for and taking standardized tests
• How to calculate GPA for CSU/UC – grade point average calculation for students planning to apply to Cal State U and University of California college campuses
• Paly Family Connection – online college and career planning (from Naviance) pilot program for the class of 2009; logon information distributed during Advisory; for misplaced logon please contact Ms. Cernobori, College Advisor

For Sophomores

• Sophomore parent night presentation – to prepare parents for the sophomore year ahead

For Juniors

• Junior to do calendar – monthly student tasks for junior year
• Junior parent night presentation – to prepare parents for the junior year ahead
• Junior TA parent night presentation – teacher advisor presentation for parents of juniors
• Post high school planning worksheet – required prior to making an appointment in the C&CC
• UC ELC program – early consideration by University of California for high achieving juniors; updated in April
• UC ELC authorization – form required prior to sending transcript to UC ELC program

For Seniors

• Senior to do calendar – monthly student tasks for senior year
• Senior parent night presentation – to prepare parents for the senior year ahead
• Senior profile forms – to be completed by students, peers, parents and teacher advisors
• Paly deadlines for college applications – Paly deadlines are earlier to make sure student records get to colleges before their deadlines; updated late September

Choosing a College or University

• College admission process - rights and responsibilities – what to ask, what to expect, and what to do
• College search tools – web sites to help with choosing a college
• California community colleges
• California universities and colleges
• U.S. public and private universities, colleges, and community colleges
• Military academies, colleges, and universities
• Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program – out-of-state 2- and 4-year colleges offering reduced tuition
• College-bound athletes – NCAA Clearinghouse, initial eligibility at NCAA Division I and II colleges and universities
• Learning disabilities resources – for college bound students
• Visiting a college campus – tips about what to do before, during, and after visiting a college or university campus

College Visits to Paly

• College visits, fairs, and events schedule – list updated weekly beginning in September
• Admit to class form – requires teacher signature giving permission for student to attend during class time

College Fair

• About the PAUSD college fair – held annually on an October evening at Paly or Gunn
• About the financial aid workshop – presented on-site during the college fair
• Colleges attending the fair – updated late September
• Making the most of a college fair – how to prepare and what to do while there

College Application

• College applications summary – for U.S. and CA public and private universities and colleges, and CA community colleges; updated late September
• Paly deadlines for college applications – Paly deadlines are earlier to make sure student records get to colleges before their deadlines; updated late September
• Common application – a standard form accepted by many four year colleges: check college web sites
• Unified application for music and performing arts schools – an online form accepted by unified member schools listed on the site
• Black college common application – an online application delivered by EDU, Inc. to all 33 Historically Black College and University (HBCU) member institutions
• Transcript request – form required for obtaining official Paly grade records

University of California

• Entrance requirements for University of California (UC) – list of high school subjects and number of units required by UC; good resource for preparing for most colleges and universities
• UC campus policies and procedures – how different UC campuses evaluate applicants based on ELC status, declared, undeclared, or alternate major
• UC StatFinder – a new interactive website providing public access to detailed data on undergraduate admissions and enrollment at UC
• UC approved Paly courses list – list of Paly course titles that meet UC admission requirements
• GPA calculation for UC – instructions for high school grade point average calculation for UC application
• Tips for completing the UC application online – guidance for filling out the UC online application
• Tutorial information – the UC personal statement – guidance for preparing a well written essay
• Personal essay worksheet - planning the UC personal statement
• UC ELC program – early consideration for high achieving juniors; updated in April
• UC ELC authorization – form required prior to sending transcript to UC ELC program

Cal State University

• Course requirements for California State University (CSU) – list of high school subjects and number of units required by CSU
• CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP) – college math and English readiness based on 11th grade Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) results
• Tips for completing the CSU application online – guidance for filling out the CSU online application
• CSU mentor tutorials – slide presentations to download demonstrating the CSU online applications for both 2007-08 and 2008-09
• GPA calculation for CSU – instructions for high school grade point average calculation for CSU application

California Community Colleges

• Community college benefits – six benefits of this college path
• Career guide – find degree programs offered by the 26 San Francisco Bay Area community colleges
• Community college online application – a standard form accepted by all community colleges in California

College Essay

• College application and essays presentation – overview and information about preparing a personal essay
• Why this college? – tips to help you handle this basic essay question
• Telling your story – recommendations for telling a story that no one but you can tell and ten tips to help you make your essay sing
• Personal essay tips – find answers to 22 frequently asked questions about college application essays
• Tutorial information – the UC personal statement – guidance for preparing a well written essay
• Personal essay worksheet - planning the UC personal statement

College Interview

• College inerview basics – reasons to interview, types of interviews, interview lengths, how to be your own advocate, and what not to do
• Practice interviews – what to expect, the importance of being prepared and relaxed, staying cool when dealing with the unexpected
• Interview checklist – getting prepared by checking for items on your list before, during, and after the interview

Scholarships and Financial Aid

• Scholarship opportunities list – updated weekly beginning in September
• Scholarship resources – where to look for scholarships
• Scholarship and financial aid presentation – presented to Advisory classes in December
• Financial aid – a brief overview
• FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid, information and form
• CSS Profile – College Scolarship Search (CSS)/Financial Aid Profile, a secure online service of CollegeBoard.com for students to provide financial data reports to schools
• Community scholarship application – revised in January
• Community scholarship letter to parents – revised in January
• NCAA scholarship eligibility – information about initial eligibility at NCAA Division I and II colleges and universities

Career Planning

• Career exploration – online tool for assessing areas of interest, college courses, and colleges offering degrees toward your chosen career
• Career guide – find degree programs offered by the 26 San Francisco Bay Area community colleges

Work Experience

• Exploratory experience class – class description
• Work experience class – outline of class topics
• Work permit applications – all employers of high school students are required by law to have on file a copy of your permit
• Jobs and Internships – current local opportunities for high school students
• Summer Work Permits – even during summertime all employers of high school students are required by law to have on file a copy of your permit
• Regional Occupational Program (ROP) – skill training and employment for disabled students and out-of-school youth and adults in Santa Clara County

Community Service

• Community service opportunities – find listings and information about volunteer positions and projects
• Volunteering during summer – local volunteer opportunities available during June, July, and August
• Community service instructions – how to keep track of community service hours
• Community service verification form – to record time spent doing community service
• Presidential Service Award application – to apply for recognition of 100 hours of annual community service

Summer and Other Post-High School Choices

• Alternatives after high school graduation – for options other than going directly to a four year college
• Summer programs – check for programs offered overseas, at U.S. high schools and colleges, and by special interest organizations
• GapYear opportunities – non-academic and academic enrichment programs
• Gap Year panel discussion – panel presentation by representatives from organizations offering programs for high school graduates; held each year during second semester
• Military options – local recruiting centers