12th Grade information

Application Materials Due Dates

 

College Deadline	Recommendation Material Deadline	Sample Colleges
November 1	October 1	Early Decision
November 15	October 15	Early Decision/Early Action
November 1	November 1	USC Scholarship Deadline
January 1	December 1	Various Private Colleges
January 15	December 1	Various Private Colleges

Please verify deadlines with colleges as they may vary. Please give counselors and teachers one month notice for recommendation letters and supporting materials.

 

 August

• Check transcript for accuracy
• Create Common App account 
• Create UC application account

September

• Update the list of colleges you are applying to in Naviance during your small group meeting with your counselor
• Review and note all college admissions requirements and deadlines.
• Student applying via Common App must verbally request a letter of recommendation from teachers 3 weeks in advance.  Give recommendation forms to appropriate individuals. After teacher gives consent please add recommenders in Naviance.
• Check with the financial aid offices of all of the colleges and universities you are applying to and confirm the priority filing deadlines for financial aid applications (March 2nd for CSU, UC, and California Community Colleges, but possibly as early as mid-January or February 1st for some independent colleges and universities).
• Register for October/November/December SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Tests, and October/December ACT tests.
• Work on rough drafts of applications.

October

• Register for December SAT and ACT tests. 
• Take SAT and ACT tests.
• Submit early decision/early action applications.
• Attend application workshops for CSU, UC and Common App
• Begin working on UC and CSU applications (CSU applications can be submitted beginning in October).
• Check with each campus' housing services to determine if your housing application is due at the time you submit your general application for admission.
• FAFSA and Dream Act applications become available October 1st
• Research scholarship opportunities in Naviance and FastWeb throughout your entire senior year.  
• CSS/PROFILE available online (application for non-government financial aid at many private colleges and universities).

November

• Submit college applications for UC and CSU (deadline is November 30th).
• Take SAT tests. 
• Check with each campus' housing services to determine if your housing application is due at the time you submit your general application for admission.
• Create FSA ID before completing your FAFSA
• Attend Cash for College workshop at Gabrielino
• Review your Student Aid Report (SAR) after submitting a FAFSA, make any needed corrections and return it for processing.
• The counseling department will electronically upload GPAs directly to the California Student Aid Commission’s system for Cal Grant awards.  This is the fastest and most secure way for students to submit their Cal Grant GPAs.
• Create college web portal accounts to receive important information about next steps in the admissions process.

December

• Take SAT and ACT tests
• Send official SAT and ACT scores to colleges you've applied to, if required.
• Submit remaining college applications if appropriate
• Check college web portal accounts for important to-do lists
• Sign up to attend community college application workshops

January

• Continue submitting college applications if appropriate.
• Check college web portal to be sure they’ve received all necessary application materials.
• Complete CSS/PROFILE if necessary and submit by priority deadline. 
• Continue to check college web portal accounts.
• Check Naviance for Scholarship information

February

• Continue submitting college applications if appropriate.
• Take math and English assessments for Community Colleges, if needed
• Check college web portal accounts.

March – April

• March 2nd is the deadline to submit Cal Grant and FAFSA forms for students seeking a Cal Grant.  
• Review, compare, and respond to acceptance offers.
• If placed on waitlist accept offer to be placed on waitlist
• Continue California Community College application and orientation/counseling processes.
• Sign up on Naviance to take the ASVAB test to assess career path.
• Check college web portal accounts for to-do lists and placement testing requirements, if applicable.

May

• Complete housing documentation if applicable.
• May 1st is the deadline to submit SIR (Statement of intent to Register) and send in necessary deposits 
• Review and complete student loan documentation, if applicable
• Take AP exams if applicable
• Register for CA Community College classes by priority deadlines and complete enrollment steps for the California College Promise Grant
• Continue checking college web portal accounts

Post Graduation

• Request final transcript on Naviance prior to graduation to have final transcripts sent to your college
• Contact college to determine when tuition and housing fees are due and how much they will be
• Finalize housing plans
• Participate in summer orientation/advising programs for new students.
• Remember that you must reapply for financial aid each year you are in college.  Work with your school's financial aid office to arrange for financing for subsequent years.  When you're at college, be sure to submit your FAFSA each year as soon as possible after October 1st and before priority deadlines.  
• Students attending a California Community College who missed the March 2nd Cal Grant deadline have until September 2nd to apply for the California Community College Cal Grant (BOG fee waiver).   As the number of awards in September is limited, students are encouraged not to miss the March 2nd deadline.