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Modified - 02/15/2009 06:31pm
Applying to College
Contact Kent Snyder Counselor
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Summary: Information about applying to colleges and scholarships to go there.
You will need the following information when completing a college application:
Pine High School
1700 Fulton Road
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Phone: 707-528-5245 Fax: 707-528-5246
School Code: 053329
A copy of your transcript. A tip: ask your counselor for a copy of your transcript that lists courses by department. It makes imputing the information remarkably easy.
When calculating your GPA, remember that 9th and 10th grade honors classes taken at Piner are not given the weighted GPA for college admission.
A copy of the UC List of Approved Classes at Piner. See Appendix #3 in The Prospector resource guide, available in the lobby of the counseling office.
All of your test scores: SAT/ACT/SAT Subject Tests
Quick Notes/Suggestions
Print copies of every transaction you make on the web.
Always have someone proof read/review your application before submitting it.
If you choose to mail documents, think about getting a certificate of mailing as a receipt.
Many colleges in the CSU system extend their admission deadlines due to a lack of applications during the priority deadline period.
Apply early. On-line systems will crash and menu items are often difficult to navigate. Give yourself time.
Most public and some private schools have an appeals process. If you are not accepted to a college, consider the appeal process to determine why you were not accepted. In other words, don’t give up!
Get help with applications by seeing your counselor.
Consider enrolling in SRJC’s Community Service class. This class offers students the opportunity to formalize and receive credit for community service.
Remember that 9th and 10th grade honors classes taken at Piner are not given the weighted GPA for college admission. Colleges want students to take these classes because they do meet the subject requirements and they are considered more rigorous than academic classes.
College Applications Checklist
___ See your counselor and request a transcript that lists classes and grades by department. This kind of
transcript makes it easier to list your courses on the college application.
___ Take SAT/ACT/ and SAT Subject Tests by December. The UC system requires two SAT Subject Tests.
___ If applying to private schools, get letters of recommendations from teachers/counselors. California public colleges and
universities don’t require them. Ask for them early! Complete the PHS Teacher Recommendation Form and give a copy to
each teacher/staff member completing a letter of recommendation for you. These forms are in the counseling office.
___ Many colleges request a school profile. Copies are available in the counseling office.
___ Use the PHS/UC list of approved college coursework when completing college applications. This list is in Appendix #3 of
The Prospector.
___ Admission cycle for the CSU system is October 1st to November 30th. For UC it is November 1st to November 30th.
___ Repeat any core classes in which you received a grade of ‘D’ or ‘F’. While some campuses have different admission
standards, most require a grade of ‘D’ to be repeated and all require a grade of ‘F’ to be repeated.
___ Exemption from placement testing for the CSU system. Students who do the following will be exempt from taking certain
placement tests for the CSU system:
English
-Score 550 or higher on the SAT (Critical Reading) or 24 on the English part of the ACT
-Receive a score of “Exempt” on the CSU Early Assessment of Readiness for College English
based upon the 11th grade score on the CST/STAR test. This is called the EAP (Early Assessment Program).
Math
-Score of 550 or higher on the SAT Math or 23 on the ACT Math.
-A result of “exempt” on the CSU Early Assessment of Readiness for College Math, or a result of “conditionally exempt”
if you successfully completed an approved math or AP Physics course in the 12th grade. This test is often called the EAP
or Early Assessment Program.
Paying for College
3 Steps to Financial Aid and Paying for College
STEP 1: Resources at Piner
Piner’s Scholarship Binder is located in the counseling office lobby. The binder contains:
-All national and state private scholarships that Piner receives each year.
-All local (Sonoma County) scholarships that Piner receives each year.
Important/Please Note: The scholarship binder lists all scholarships that were received during the previous year and any current applications we may have received for 2008-2009. If there are no current applications, simply do an internet search for the listed scholarship.
Piner’s Website: See the counseling link. Lists of scholarships and additional resources.
Fund Your Future: The best resource for all aspects of public and private financial aid. Copies are available in the counseling office lobby or on line.
Scholarship Searches: Internet and on line resources. One example is FastWeb. Links are at the counseling website and in Fund Your Future.
STEP 2: Apply for Public Aid
Applying for federal and state programs. When you complete the FAFSA and Cal Grant GPA Verification Form you will have applied for the following programs:
Federal Pell Grant (up to $4050)
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (up to $4000)
Cal Grants A (up to 8,322)
Cal Grant B (up to $9873)
Cal Grant C (up to $3,168)
Federal Student Loans
Federal Work Study
Pick up a copy of Fund Your Future in the counseling office lobby. This is by far the best resource for most forms of aid.
Complete the FAFSA: Free Application for Student Aid. See Appendix #6.
Complete the Cal Grant Application. This is a two step process: 1. Complete the FAFSA and 2. Complete the Cal Grant Verification Form. Verification forms are available on line or in the counseling office.
STEP 3: Apply for Private Aid
National, state, and local programs, including:
Private scholarships and grants from corporations, individuals, service organizations, unions, and endowments.
Private scholarships from individual colleges: public and private.
SRJC’s Doyle Scholarship is an example of a private scholarship.
Private Scholarships: Each year Piner receives numerous scholarship applications from local, state, and national organizations from the private sector. These scholarships are in a binder in the counseling office lobby and on line at Piner’s website.
Piner Scholarships: Piner has eight scholarship programs specifically for Piner seniors. Pick up a Common Application in the counseling office lobby or from Mr. Cox to apply.
Applying for Financial Aid Checklist
Priority deadline for most state and federal financial aid programs is March 2nd. This includes:
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). See Appendix #6 in The Prospector.
Cal Grant.
Doyle Scholarship.
Piner Scholarship Programs (Excluding Rotary-which is due December 5th 2008.)
___ Review Piner’s Academic Calendar. In August, pick up a revised calendar from the counseling office.
___ Pick up a copy of “Fund Your Future,” from the counseling office. This is by far the best source of information regarding
state and federal programs for financial aid
___ Apply for Piner scholarships by completing the PHS Common Application Form. These are
scholarships given only to PHS seniors. Visit the PHS College an Financial Aid Resource Center or
see Mr. Cox for the application and up-to-date information. All of Piner’s scholarships are described in detail in
The Prospector.
___ Get letters of recommendation for scholarships early! Many of Piner’s scholarships require letters of
recommendation from Piner staff. Request them early and give staff members plenty of time to
complete them. Give staff members a copy of your common application when you request a letter of
recommendation.
___ Begin completing the FAFSA in December. This can be done on-line or by mail. Do not submit the
FAFSA until after January 1st. Priority deadline is March 2nd
___ Complete the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form. Submit the form to your counselor beginning in
December. Do not mail the form until the FAFSA is completed. The FAFSA and Cal Grant form must
be submitted after January 1st.
___ Each week check the counseling office lobby , or Piner’s web site for lists of scholarships.
___ Complete the Doyle Scholarship if attending SRJC. Deadline is March 2nd. Each year, in early February, Piner and SRJC
counselors meet with the entire senior class and help them complete the Doyle. Watch for notices in the bulletin or for
school-wide announcements for specific dates.
___ 3-6 weeks after completing the FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report or S.A.R. Review the Student Aid Report and
make corrections promptly.
___ If you are a male 18-25 years of age, register for the Selective Service.
___ Complete a FastWeb scholarship search at FastWeb.com.
___ Contact individual colleges for their scholarship programs. Colleges have general scholarships and scholarships by major.
Piner’s Scholarship Binder: 2008-2009
Piner’s scholarship binder is located in the counseling office lobby. The binder contains:
All national and state private scholarships that Piner receives each year.
All local (Sonoma County) scholarships that Piner receives each year.
Important/Please Note: The scholarship binder lists all scholarships that were received during the previous year. When we receive current applications we will place them in the binder. If there is no current application, simply do an internet search for the scholarship you want or see Mr. Cox.
