You’ve been accepted–now what?

If you’ve been accepted to more than one school, you’ve got options–and this can be both exciting and scary! The best thing you can do is carefully review all your offers and decide which school is the best fit for YOU! Deliberate, but decide on time. Make your decision before May 1, as this is commonly known as “College Decision Day.” You may need to submit a deposit to confirm your spot, so make sure you send in all the required paperwork and submit your deposit before the deadline to secure your spot on campus.

Resources

1. College Decision-Making Guide: Learn tips and key considerations for making your final college decision.

Congratulations! You’re going to college! Now it’s time to make sure you have everything in order before your first day on campus. To prepare for your transition, you will want to make a transition plan and practice self-advocacy. Check out the resources below to prepare for a smooth transition to college:

Resources

1. College Transition checklist: Use this checklist to ensure you are staying on track with financial aid, registration, housing, and other miscellaneous tasks over the summer.
2. Advocate for yourself: Tips on how to speak up and for yourself and ask what you need from your school as you prepare for your transition to college.

In addition to financial aid from the government and the schools you apply for, outside scholarships are a great way to help pay for college. You’ll want to start considering scholarships before your senior year as some major scholarships have early fall deadlines. Check out these resources to help you kickstart your scholarship search.

Resources

1. Important National Scholarships: Learn about scholarship opportunities with early fall deadlines – some scholarships even cover the full cost of attendance!
2. Scholarship search guide: Use this guide to find local, state, or national scholarships and sign up for scholarship alerts.

Just like a compelling Yelp review makes you want to eat at a restaurant, positive recommendation letters can make you stand out when applying for colleges or scholarships. A good recommendation letter highlights not only your achievements, but your character, and helps colleges get a sense of who you are both in the classroom and beyond.

Resources

Use these resources to help you identify a recommender and understand how you can support them in writing a stellar recommendation:

1.  Who Should I Ask to Write My Recommendation Letter?  Read this helpful document to help you identify who you should ask to write your letter of recommendation.
2. Brag Sheet: Sharing highlights of your accomplishments, goals, and character with your recommender can help them write a stronger recommendation letter for you

Did you know schools offer “Fly-In” programs, where they pay for you to come visit their school? That’s right – you could have the opportunity to travel to a school you’re interested in to get firsthand experience with campus life, dorms, food on campus, and more importantly academic programs – for free! Many fly-in programs require applications, but they’re worth it to determine whether a college is a good “fit” for you! 

Resources

Fly-in and Diversity Programs: Search this list of fly-in and diversity programs to find schools you’re interested in.

If you’re a student in California, there are two types of public schools you’ll want to consider adding to your college list: University of California schools (UC’s) and California State Universities (CSU’s).  There are a few key differences between these university systems to consider.

Resources

Use these resources to learn more about the differences between UCs and CSUs, how to prepare for admission, and how to apply:

1. UC/CSU Overview: Learn more about the UC and CSU system, A-G courses, and how to calculate your UC/CSU  GPA.
2. Use this worksheet to calculate your UC/CSU GPA.
3. Assess your CSU eligibility: This table shows you what GPA and SAT/ACT score you need to be competitive for CSU admission. 
4. A-G approved courses: Use this tool to determine which courses at your school count for which A-G requirement
5. Apply to EOP: The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) is a great program to apply for if you are a low-income and/or first-generation college student who will need academic and financial support while in school.

Choosing the right college can significantly impact your success, your comfort level can be impacted by your legal status. The following resources can help guide you with building a college list and understanding your financial aid options in California if you identify as an undocumented student.

Resources

• Financial Aid 101: Undocumented Students: Learn more about financial aid options in California.
• Undocumented Student’s Guide to Building a College List: Review this guide to learn more about what you should consider as you are building your list.
• AB540 Resources: Learn and use the resources to determine if you are eligible for in-state tuition in California.
• Learn more about tuition & financial aid equity for undocumented students

Having a sense of your interests and strengths can inform what academic programs you apply for and can help you better describe who you are and what you hope to accomplish in the future through your personal essays. Exploring your interests, skills, and values can help you have a clearer picture of your college and career goals.

Resources

1. Strengths assessment: Understand your personality and personal strengths
2. Career clusters: Explore career pathways connected to your personal strengths
3. Summer and extracurricular opportunities: Use this guide to help you find opportunities to help you get ahead academically, build valuable skills, and explore your interests!