12th
Senior Guidance
Each school year, grade level students meet at least once with their Grade Level Assistant Principal to formulate their individual student educational plan to discuss graduation requirements, credit status, postsecondary goals, and college preparation if a student chooses to apply to college their senior year.
Administration also meet with grade level students who are deficient in credits to enlist ways to recover credits needed for their diploma.
College & Career Counselor visits grade level classrooms to provide informative presentations. Seniors receive lessons on college and career preparation and the application process, understanding their transcript, reminding them of college admission tests, extensive information about scholarships and financial aid.
Senior Guidance Presentations (In Senior Classes)
Senior Classroom Guidance lessons will be held throughout the school year. Return back soon for 2022-2023 updates and information.
Senior Parent Night Slides (8-25-2022)
Senior Fall Guidance #1 - Preparing for Senior Year (8-30-2022) Slides
Applying to the UC Campuses and Fee Waivers (Presented to AVID 12 on 8-31-2022) Slides
UC Campus Updates & Junior Year Opportunities (Presented to AVID 12 on 10/3/2022) - Slides
Fall Financial Aid & Scholarship Presentation (Presentation to all Senior Social Studies classes on 11/8/2022) - Slides
College Bound Senior
You made it to your last year of high school! Congratulations are in order, but don’t relax just yet. It’s important that you finish strong without giving in to senioritis. During your senior year, you can now apply to the colleges you narrowed your choices down to. You can also continue to retake the SAT or ACT. And, of course, make sure you keep in touch with your advisor to ensure you’re on track for graduation.
Meet with your school counselor to review your current academic standing and learn if there are any new scholarships available
Retake the SAT/ACT, if needed by or before December
Research deadlines for the FAFSA and State Financial Aid
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) in October
Apply for State Financial Aid Before the Deadline (March 2 each year)
Narrow your college list down to top 5 and find their application forms, deadlines, and enrollment requirements
Begin applying to colleges
Ask for letters of recommendations
Write college application essays
Finalize your activities resume to submit to colleges
Complete college applications
Find and apply for local and national scholarships
Submit college applications
Review financial aid packages offered by the schools who accepted your application
Revisit your top colleges before accepting if needed
Make your final college choice and enroll
Finish high school strong (avoid senioritis)
High school can be the fastest four years of your life, so a clear plan to prepare for college can keep you from rushing through your college search and applications. Good luck!
-Excerpt from Colleges of Distinction
4 Year College Bound
Senior Year Calendar
August
Start finalizing your college list and begin the online applications process. The University of California application opens August 1st. University of California
The UC application requires you to answer four out eight Personal Insight Questions, select the questions that would best define you UC Personal Insight TipsStart getting familiar with UC, Cal State ,Common App web pages! Here are some helpful YouTube videos to help familiarize yourself that also take you through the step by step process (these videos were dated 2019 so please know that this is for REFERENCE ONLY)
Cal State – https://youtu.be/6NQQdbXnmQI
Common app: https://youtu.be/XQu2x_cm_AE
If you are applying to a private university, it is most likely that they use the “Common Application” which also opens in August 1st. Open an account on Common Application at: Common Application
Start Seriously considering possible careers – take the career survey on California Colleges if you haven’t taken it already.
September
Review your final college list with your family to make sure it fits your career choice and finances. Add or make changes on your college list “colleges I am considering” SAT and ACT is optional this year for Cal States and UC Schools and not part of your evaluation – If you want to try the SAT or ACT, sign up for the October test – SAT or ACT
Check @rhscollegecounselor Instagram account for updates and reminders
Complete your Brag Sheet for your teachers and counselor for letters of recommendation Brag Sheet
Stay in touch with the College & Career Counselor Mrs. Fukuda at dinafukuda@rjusd.org
Check the College & Career Visits on our school website here
Fill out your brag sheet and give to your teachers that are writing your letter of recommendation. You may want to include a thank you card or note. Inform your College & Career Counselor that you will be applying to a private school and will need them to complete your secondary school report and write a letter of recommendation. Make sure that your brag sheet is updated.
Read updates for each of your college choices regarding COVID-19 – it often changes!
Stay organized and track your deadlines – the California State University and the University of California application Deadline is November 30th. Private schools will vary so check their website and visit common application Common Application to check application deadlines and essay questions. Email your College & Career Counselor for questions.
California State Universities application filing period open October 1st – Cal State Apply: California State University Video – CSU Application Help | CSU Application Help website
Attend the Fresno Area College Night in September.
October
California State Universities application filing period open October 1st – Cal State Apply: California State University Apply Video – CSU Application Help | CSU Application Help website
Work on your college applications, personal statement and essays. IF YOU ARE APPLYING EARLY: (Early Applicant or Early Decision), FINALIZE your application(s) and essays!
Check specific majors, such as engineering, for possible test needed such as subject tests.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid(FAFSA) & California Dream Act Application (CADAA) open submission period begins October 1. Ask your parents for their income tax information that they completed in 2020 and begin the FAFSA application. https://fafsa.ed.gov or the CADAA application www.caldreamact.org
Attend the Financial Aid Night at RHS - To Be Determined in November
Explore Financial Aid options including FAFSA https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa and CSS Profile for Private colleges https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/?navId=gf-css
Meet with your counselor (google meet) to review your college choices, review your prompt topics and ask questions.
November
Know your Early Admission deadlines! Early Decision and Early Action deadlines are typically November 1st or 15th. Don’t miss your deadlines. If you need letters of recommendation from your teacher or counselor make sure they have your brag sheet a month prior. For regular admission, the deadline for requesting letters of recommendation is November 15th. Make sure you have spoken to your teachers and counselors by that deadline.
University of California (UC) application filing period is from November 1-30. Don’t wait until the last minute to file!
December
Finalize any college applications with a January deadline. If you will be attending a community college, be on the alert for priority registration.
Check to see if any of the private colleges that you are applying to requires the CSS profile for financial aid. This is an additional application that provides colleges with additional information regarding financial need: CSS Profile College Board
January
Start or continue your search for scholarships. Check the scholarship list on Naviance for community scholarships weekly as it changes with new additions. Stop by the College and Career Center with questions and to inquire about new scholarship postings along with scholarship web searches such as: Fastweb Scholarship Search Good Call Scholarship Search California Scholarship Search Go College Scholarships Scholarship Experts
If you will be attending a college in California, you may be eligible for the Cal Grant. Talk to the College and Career Counselor about qualifications for a Cal Grant (financial aid) Cal Grants
Check to make sure all applications were received (keep all email receipts) and keep checking your email.
February to March
Decisions (rolling admission offers) begin to arrive!
Keep up your grades! You will need to submit your final grades to the college of your choice.
Colleges can rescind your admission if you do not maintain your grade point average.
If there are changes in your academic courses or extra curricular program since your initial application, you must notify your colleges.
Stay on top of financial aid deadlines and check for local scholarships in the college and career center.
Check your email for communications from colleges, especially those regarding incomplete applications or missing information. Respond quickly to any requests.
April
April 1 acceptances arrive! Analyze your acceptances and financial aid packages carefully to determine what is the best match for you.
Decisions and deposits are due by May 1 to the college of your choice. Follow the instructions on your acceptance letter. Note any special procedures for housing. It is considered unethical to make a deposit to more than one school.
Notify colleges you are turning down of your decision.
May
Don’t be late. May 1st is the deadline to notify the college of your choice.
Send any additional AP scores to your college through https://Collegeboard.org
Graduation! Congratulations and Good Luck – Don’t forget to order your final transcript for you college.