As of the 2020-2021 school year, you may have heard that college exams are being cancelled or postponed. This topic is always changing and it is important that you understand this part of the application process. Students have and may be required to submit the results of college admissions exams:  ACT or SAT I;  SAT II for UC and some private universities.  For more information regarding these exams, please see stay current by checking with your University on their requirements. 

Private/Independent Universities as well as University of California will require a written response to a prompt. A college essay will not be required for applications to the California State University.

Universities prefer that admissions applications be completed online.  You can access CSU and UC applications through their prospective websites.  To complete an admissions application to private universities, you will need to  go directly to the school website.  Websites can be found through a search online, or with your counselor. Application fees will vary per institution, and will be due upon submission of your application.  Some universities offer fee waivers for those who qualify.

An undergraduate or an "undergrad" is a student pursuing a bachelor's degree. An undergraduate student either starts at or a community college or university. A student can earn a 2-year associate's degree program at a college, community college or vocational/technical school.

A graduate or a "grad student" is a student who, having obtained a bachelor's degree, is now pursuing a master's or "graduate degree" in a 1-6 year graduate school program that is typically completed in 2-3 years.

It's possible to graduate college in three years or less for some majors, but few students do. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, just 41% of college students graduate within four years.

One of the easiest ways to graduate college early is to start early. Coming into college with credits allows you to start off at higher course levels and stay a step ahead. High school students can knock out a full semester's worth of required courses well before college even starts.

Many high schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) classes and exams, for which some colleges award credit. Other schools allow students to dual-enroll at nearby community colleges.

Once you get to your first year of higher education, get support for challenging courses, subjects, and projects. Whether in a group setting or through one-on-one assistance, these resources will help you develop effective learning and problem-solving strategies.

Most private university and scholarship applications will require that students submit letters of recommendation.  Some will specify who the recommender should be (teachers, employers, coaches, community and church leaders); others simply indicate how many recommendations are required.  Letters of recommendation give evaluators and selection committees' alternate information about you the person.  Keep in mind that these individuals will already have objective information - your grades, classes and test scores - they want to know about your character and who you are outside of the classroom, more appropriately, how others see you. 

Tips for letters of  recommendation

• Aspire to make good connections with teachers and other adults on campus so that when it comes time to request a recommendation, you have many options.
• Choose adults who know you well; those who can write about not only your academic skills, but also your talents and abilities.
• Choose recommenders who will write specific statements about you - not remarks that could apply to any student.

Steps to securing letters of recommendation

1. Ask teachers, coaches, administrators, academic advisors, counselors, employers, community and church leaders who know you well and who will write you a personalized and positive letter of recommendation.  If this person is a teacher, it is preferable that you are currently in his or her class or were a student of theirs the previous year.
2. Plan ahead!  Make an appointment to speak with the person you are asking for a recommendation from no less than 3 to 4 weeks prior to the deadline.
3. Provide your recommenders with important information that they may need to write a letter that truly represents your good qualities, character and outstanding skills.  Providing your recommender with a copy of your student resume, student profile and college essay will assist them in writing a more precise and thorough letter.
4. Provide your recommenders with the following: 1. Name and address of the school or scholarship you are applying to/for and a stamped addressed envelope if the school or scholarship committee requires that the letter be sent directly to them by the recommender (be sure to provide a manila envelope if the recommender is required to send additional documentation such as a copy of your transcript, etc.  2. Deadline or date that the letter needs to be submitted 3. A copy of your high school transcript, student resume, and a student profile (if available).
5. Follow-up by thanking the person(s) who provided you with a recommendation.

Being Prepared and Organized will allow your recommenders to write an outstanding letter of recommendation!!

Common Application or the Coalition Application are used by many private and out-of-state colleges/universities. Check with the individual school to see if you can use one of these apps or if you need to submit a unique application to that school. 

The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is an agreement among WICHE’s 16 member states and territories, through which 160+ participating public colleges and universities provide steep nonresident tuition savings for Western students. This is also the self proclaimed America’s largest regional interstate tuition savings program.

College high school courses requirements such as the "a-g" requirements are specific to public California universities like the UC and CSU systems. However, many private and out-of-state colleges have similiar admission requirements. We highly encourage students to do their research and make sure they are completing the specific requirements for schools they wish to attend such as the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) or the National Association of Indepedent Colleges and Universities (NAICU).

Your college application offers a chance to make a great first impression on higher education institutions. However, you can expect to face plenty of competition, so it’s important to make the most of your application. One of the sections you’ll need to complete on your application is extracurricular activities. These activities provide colleges with more insight into who you are as a person and what your interests and goals are.

Learn more from these blogs (we do not endorse these, however we are providing various ideas on this important topic):

1. The Best Extracurricular Activities for College Applications
2. Extracurricular Activities for College Admissions: The Ultimate Guide (Examples Included)
3. What Extracurricular Activities Will Help Me Get Into College?
4. How to Stand Out through Extracurricular Activities

To complete your CSU or UC application, you will need an unofficial copy of your high school transcript for self- reporting your classes and grades.  Once you have been accepted to a CSU or UC campus, that particular campus will prompt you to have an OFFICIAL transcript sent from CUSD directly to them upon graduation from high school.  If you are applying to a private university, however, an Official transcript will be required as part of the application process. To review the most up to date information to order your high school transcript please click on the following link OHS High School Transcript Request