College Workshop

Reading Transcripts

  • p = college prep course (next to course listing)

  • A = 4 (Extra = +1, counting for c and above)

  • For most schools it is total weighted gpa considered

  • privates only look at UW gpa

  • Preliminary gpa = not updated as of now

  • Weighted looked at y UCs and CSUs

  • Any D’s = need to make up class for college applications to anywhere

Honors

  • Uses 7th semester grades for honor cords

  • does not bring down despite getting lower grades

Seniors medallions

  • 3.5 gpa+

  • WCHS students for 2+ years

  • School involvement/leadership

What are colleges looking for?

  • Aguilar - B1 (College advisor)

  • A-G College eligibility

  • College prep elective can be any extra college prep classes

UCs

  • deadline is december

  • ~$80 for applications but can have fee waivers for 4 campuses

  • Only 4 PIQs accepted

  • test blind

  • LOR not needed Unless campus requests it (Useually for continued interest)

  • March 1-30 acceptance notifications

  • 3.0 gpa minimum to apply

  • What is considered: class diffficulty, top 9%, projects, achievements, academic accomplishments, location

CSUs

  • Application open in Oct

  • Due in Dec

  • 23 campuses

  • $70 app fee

  • Test blind

  • No LOR

  • 2.5 gpa minimum for admission

  • Impaction = more qualified individuals than can be admited = higher academic bar required

  • Can check via CSU site

  • More local schools are willing to accept closer students

Privates

  • LOR

  • Essays

  • Ex: La verna & APU

  • Vary in deadlines % financial aid (CSS profile)

Local agreements

  • APU

  • La Verne

  • Instant admission as long as min requirements met

  • All fees waived

Acceptances

  • Early decision restriction

  • Instant admission = potential accidential acceptance

FInancial Aid

  • Open from Dec to March 3rd

  • FSA ID needed for FAFSA

Notes

  • Use professional email for college apps

  • At least 2 weeks for LORs and heads up for teachers

  • Apply year in advance for studying abroad & 2 classes regarding culture there (residential courses)

  • Make sure to swap email to personal on application to avoid email used and information being lost to deletion

PIQS

  • Accomplishments, talents, experience

  • Still significant for decision > Acts as context to choices in education

  • Avoid typos & grammatical errors > Wants concise and clear responses

Longer PIQ video

  • Opens Aug 1

  • Submit Nov 1-30

  • Can use one submission for all campiuses

  • Over 100 questions

  • No legacy, genes, or ethnic looked at unless added

  • Clarify context for choices

  • Avoid essays > Personalized > Talk about oneself (I, me, myself, is recommended)

  • 20 minute timer > Work offline > Make sure to save

  • Don’t include talent/skill as is in the application, if it’s already present > make sure to enhance it and specify what and why it is

  • Consider why the change is relevant in the piqs

  • Make sure to define what the question is asking then clarify and specify in next part

  • Still need to act selfish and specify what one did

  • Question 8 > Won’t judge individual, looks at what student accomplished > Clarifies the person as an individual

  • Overthinking, biased, etc

  • Be brief and accurate, don’t need to make piq too immersive

  • Remember the piqs add into a holistic review

  • Avoid generalizations

  • Comments, facts of individual for context, does not cntinue PIQ > Like limited AP courss, pandemic > causes schedule change, no wifi (Setting/environment of individual)

  • UCSB4ME chanel