Events & Important Dates:

De La Salle/Carondelet College Preview Night for Juniors and their Families
On Wednesday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m., De La Salle and Carondelet will host a virtual college preview night, where families will hear from a panel of college admissions representatives about their varying admissions processes, how admissions decisions are made, and how two sample applications are reviewed. An invitation with Zoom link will be sent in the coming weeks. 

SAT AND ACT:
SAT Test Date      Registration Deadline      Late Registration Deadline
May 8                    April 8                                 April 27
June 5                   May 6                                 May 26
Register at www.sat.org

ACT Test Date      Registration Deadline      Late Registration Deadline
June 12                  May 7                                 May 21
July 17                   June 18                              June 25
Register at www.actstudent.org

WACAC VIRTUAL COLLEGE FAIR- Monday, April 19 @ 5pm
Hear from a panel of colleges and join featured presentations, ranging from financial aid to the personal statement to navigating UC and CSU applications. Students should register ahead of time and choose which sessions to attend.

NACAC VIRTUAL COLLEGE FAIRS
NACAC is hosting multiple fairs throughout the spring.  Register ahead of time. Check out this  short video and this quick start guide about how to make the most of your college fair experience. 

• WESTERN US FAIR on Saturday, April 10 
• SOUTHEASTERN US FAIR on Tuesday, April 20

RACC Out-of-State COLLEGE FAIRS - April 14 & April 28 at 4-7:45 PM
During the Virtual College Fairs, you will have the chance to hear from many different colleges. You can choose which colleges you want to hear from by registering for their sessions. You and your family can ask questions of the college representatives throughout the presentations too!

The program will also include college knowledge sessions on topics such as finding a college that fits, paying for college, and writing a college essay presented by college admission counselors. Nearly 100 RACC institutions will join together for 6x6 presentations and out of state admission topic panels. Check out the schedule and Registration is now open.

COLLEGE WEBINAR SERIES
Collegewise will be hosting a webinar series for De La Salle and Carondelet families. Registration is required.

• March 24 at 6:30pm: College Admissions 101 - Webinar Recording
• April 15 at 6:30pm: Financial Fit List
• May 12 at 6:30pm: Highly Selective College Admissions

DLS Career Connections Alumni Program - Mark Your Calendar!

• April 14: ENGINEERING 
• April 21: BUSINESS / REAL ESTATE / CONSULTING 
• April 27: HEALTH / MEDICINE 

Zoom Links will be posted on Schoology. These are all on Flex Days at 12:45-1:45 PM.

Click here for an updated list of more Spring Virtual College Events

News for SENIORS:

COMMUNITY COLLEGE/DIABLO VALLEY COLLEGE:  
If your son did not attend Community College Advisory and is interested in attending a community college, please have him contact his college counselor. He will need to get started now on the enrollment steps.

DVC ENROLLMENT STEPS:

• Students who complete the steps below by the end of April will receive priority registration status, which they will have for all remaining semesters at DVC. If a student does not qualify for priority registration as an incoming student, they cannot qualify in future semesters. Priority registration is essential to get the courses you want and need. 
• Graduating seniors who complete the required enrollment steps and receive priority registration status will be able to register for fall classes as early as May 8.

1. Complete the spring 2021 AND summer 2021 online applications. See Class of 2021 DVC Enrollment Guide for complete instructions.
2. After receiving your DVC ID number, complete the online orientation using the link on your InSite Portal on the DVC website. 
3. Complete the Online Placement Process for English and math and email transcript to DVCMMAP@dvc.edu.
4. Submit the Special Admissions Form from your InSite Portal. De La Salle designee is Ms. Lillian Dickson at dicksonl@dlshs.org 
5. Register for Counseling 95/academic advising. 
6. Register for classes.

UC AWPE PLACEMENT TEST
Seniors who will attend a certain UC campus may be required to take the UC Writing Placement Exam (AWPE) in May. Students should receive information about this test directly from UC in April; information may also be found at http://www.ucop.edu/elwr/index.html. Look for updates on this site or in emails from your UC campus about administration of this exam for Fall 2021 admits. 

MAKING YOUR FINAL COLLEGE DECISION

• Visit (Virtual/In Person) your Colleges; Attend Admitted Student Programs; YouVisit and Campus Reel
• Gather Info/Research; Follow social media accounts, Contact your College Reps, Contact De La Salle Alumni 
• Research Housing; Is it Guaranteed or First-Come, First-Served
• Compare Your College Costs
• Review Financial Aid/Scholarship Offers
• How to read your Financial Aid Award Letter
• Consider submitting Special Circumstances and Appeals
• Create a Spreadsheet of Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid offered

May 1 (May 3) is the National Candidate’s Reply Date/College Decision Date
Student Intent to Enroll and non-refundable Deposit – 1 college only
Decision Time & May 1 Checklist handout

Read:  20 Steps to Take when your High School Senior is Choosing a College - advice from a fellow parent

FINAL COLLEGE ADVISORY- WEEK OF MAY 3
All seniors must plan to attend their final College Advisory session.  Important final steps must be completed to notify De La Salle of college decision, including request final transcripts, and more. Please remind your son to attend.    

News for JUNIORS:

Students should be planning a productive and relaxing summer. We recommend participation in activities such as summer pre-college programs, volunteer work and part-time jobs.  Job opportunities are posted in Schoology.  

SUMMER ACADEMIC/ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AND CAMPS: 
Juniors, especially, are invited to explore the possibility of summer programs as a valuable addition to their summer activities. These programs offer a variety of new and exciting experiences, and can also help in the college admissions process. Some of these programs have deadlines as early as February and March, so it’s a good idea to check out possibilities now. 

COMMUNITY COLLEGE COURSES/ DVC CAREER ACADEMIES
High School students can apply and enroll to take community college courses for the summer at the cost of $1/unit plus minimal student fees. Students are encouraged to take introductory general education courses, for example Intro to Sociology; Psychology; Music History; Art History; Humanities, etc. Most community colleges will offer courses online this summer. Enroll at DVC - see steps for High School Students, Enroll at College of the Siskiyous - see steps for Dual Enrollment. A Special Admit Form must be completed and add Ms. Dickson - dicksonl@dlshs.org as the De La Salle designee.  

DVC offers wonderful Career Academies specifically for high school students.  These are great hands-on programs with guest speakers and possible internship connections.  Registration will open April 7 and these program will fill up quickly.  

VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS
Local volunteer organizations to check out are: Volunteer Match Covid-19 Contra Costa County and Hands on Bay Area, www.teensvolunteer.org,  www.foodbankccs.org, as well as the Monument Crisis Center to see their offerings for remote and in-person opportunities.

SAT and ACT TESTING:

• Registration Links: SAT and ACT. See the information about testing in the Junior Parent Night Booklet and contact the college counselors if you have any questions.
• Students who took the De La Salle School Day SAT March 3 should receive an email notification from the College Board that scores can be accessed as of March 26.
• Many colleges were test-optional, test-free, or test-flexible for the Class of 2021 admission process and colleges are beginning to announce that they will remain so for the Class of 2022. Please refer to FairTest for updated lists.
• This past January, the College Board announced that SAT Subject Tests will no longer be offered and that the optional essay component of the SAT will be discontinued. Students do not need to sign up for the optional essay/writing sections for SAT or ACT.
• METHOD TEST PREP is an online on-demand test prep program for SAT and ACT that De La Salle subscribes to and offers to our juniors and seniors.  Instructions and referral code to create an account were included in the College Advisory presentation and assignments.  Students can take an Evaluation Test, short quizzes, Full Length Practice exams, and complete short lessors.   

COLLEGE ADVISORY FOR JUNIORS
We have had 2 sessions of College Advisory for Juniors, in February - Week 1 - College Exploration, Research, Preparation and in March- Week 2 - Exploring Colleges & Building Your College List. Our third and last session is coming up the Week of April 19- Intro to the College Application. Students have been added to a Schoology Group based on their assigned day to attend. Please remind your son to attend this mandatory session. Students have been given To Do/Assignments from Week 1 and Week 2, please remind them to complete.

UPCOMING EVENTS BY CLASS

SENIORS

• Week of March 22th: College Advisory during 7th or 0 period at 1:35 - 2:55 p.m.  

JUNIORS

• Week of March 8th: College Advisory for Juniors. Students should attend on the same day that they attended College Advisory in February. Check your “DLS College Advisory for Juniors” Schoology group for assigned day. A reminder email and Schoology message will be sent prior to the meetings.
• Wednesday, April 21 College Preview Night at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom for juniors and their families.

SOPHOMORES

• Week of March 15th: College Advisory for Sophomores during 7th or 0 period at 1:35 - 2:55 p.m. Students have been notified via email and Schoology what day of the week to attend.

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR ALL STUDENTS

WACAC VIRTUAL COLLEGE FAIRS
Hear from a panel of colleges and join featured presentations, ranging from financial aid to the personal statement to navigating UC and CSU applications. Students should register ahead of time and choose which sessions to attend.

• Wednesday, March 3 at 5 p.m.
• Sunday, March 14 at 1 p.m.
• Monday, April 19 at 5 p.m.

NACAC VIRTUAL COLLEGE FAIRS
NACAC is hosting multiple fairs throughout the spring.  Register ahead of time. Check out this short video and this quick start guide about how to make the most of your college fair experience. 

• STEM FAIR on Sunday, March 7
• PERFORMING & VISUAL ARTS FAIR on Tuesday, March 16
• WESTERN US FAIR on Saturday, April 10 
• SOUTHEASTERN US FAIR on Tuesday, April 20. 

COLLEGE WEBINAR SERIES
Collegewise will be hosting a webinar series for Carondelet and De La Salle families. Registration is required.

• March 24 at 6:30 p.m.: College Admissions 101
• April 15 at 6:30 p.m.: Financial Fit List
• May 12 at 6:30 p.m.: Highly Selective College Admissions

NEWS FOR SENIORS

COMMUNITY COLLEGE/DIABLO VALLEY COLLEGE:  

• Three weeks of Community College Advisory were offered in February/March. Seniors completed enrollment steps, including the application, web portal setup, online orientation, English and math placement, and registration for academic advising (Counseling 95). 
• Students who completed these steps will receive priority registration status, which they will have for all remaining semesters at DVC. If a student does not qualify for priority registration as an incoming student, they cannot qualify in future semesters. Priority registration is essential to get the courses you want and need. 
• Graduating seniors who complete the required enrollment steps and receive priority registration status will be able to register for fall classes as early as May 8th.
• If your son did not attend Community College Advisory and is interested in attending a community college, please have him contact his college counselor. He will need to get started now on the enrollment steps. 

DVC ENROLLMENT STEPS:

1. Complete the spring 2021 AND summer 2021 online applications. See Class of 2021 DVC Enrollment Guide for complete instructions.
2. After receiving your DVC ID number, complete the online orientation using the link on your InSite Portal on the DVC website. 
3. Complete the Online Placement Process for English and math and email transcript to DVCMMAP@dvc.edu.
4. Submit the Special Admissions Form from your InSite Portal.
5. Register for Counseling 95/academic advising. 
6. Register for classes.

CAL STATE UNIVERSITY:
Check CSU Application Dates & Deadlines for extended deadlines. CSU East Bay (March 2) and Sonoma State (March 10) are still accepting applications for most majors.

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: 

• February & March are the big months with many scholarship deadlines. Check our Monthly Scholarship List for local and national opportunities and other scholarship search sites: Fastweb, Scholarships.com, Cappex, and Chegg.
• The best source of scholarships are usually the colleges themselves. Check each of your colleges’ financial aid/scholarship webpages for scholarship applications and deadlines. TIP: If you used the Common App, click on the Financial Aid tab and scroll down to find links to your colleges’ financial aid/scholarship webpages. 
• For scholarships at CSU campuses, follow this link then scroll down to search for scholarships by campus. 
• Reference these Scholarship Tips, especially how to request transcripts and letters of recommendation.  

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): 

• Submit FAFSA online before the California state deadline of March 2nd. 
• Individual colleges may have priority deadlines in January or February and may also require forms in addition to the FAFSA. Seniors should check financial aid deadlines and forms required on college websites. Don’t miss a deadline and miss out on financial aid available from your college! 
• Some merit based scholarships and awards also require submission of the FAFSA, so it is a good idea for all students to fill it out, even those who feel they won’t qualify for financial aid.  
• If a community college is being considered, be sure to add the to the FAFSA as well. 

CAL GRANT:
The De La Salle Registrar has sent the GPA verification information to the Cal Grant Program for all seniors. Seniors do NOT need to send in a separate form for this program, but must submit their FAFSA by March 2nd in order to be considered for a Cal Grant.

ADMITTED STUDENT EVENTS
As seniors hear back from their colleges, they are encouraged to participate in virtual “admitted student events” hosted by the colleges where they are accepted. In light of the pandemic and challenges with traveling to college campuses, most of these events, which usually take place on campus, have moved online. Check college websites and email and mail communications for opportunities to connect with prospective colleges. 

NEWS FOR JUNIORS

COLLEGE ADVISORY FOR JUNIORS:
Juniors will attend the second week of College Advisory for Juniors during the week of March 8th. Juniors should plan on attending the day of the week listed in their “DLS College Advisory for Juniors” Schoology group. 

SAT and ACT TESTING:

• Registration Links: SAT and ACT. Recommended testing strategies, test dates, timeline, and information about the SAT/ACT were covered at the Junior Parent Night and with the students during their College Advisory classes. See the information about testing in the Junior Parent Night Booklet and contact the college counselors if you have any questions.
• Many colleges were test-optional, test-free, or test-flexible for the Class of 2021 admission process and colleges are beginning to announce that they will remain so for the Class of 2022.  Please refer to FairTest for updated lists and view this Test Optional Colleges list.
• This past January, the College Board announced that SAT Subject Tests will no longer be offered and that the optional essay component of the SAT will be discontinued. Students do not need to sign up for the optional essay/writing sections for SAT or ACT.

SPRING VIRTUAL COLLEGE EVENTS:

• Juniors are encouraged to participate in virtual college events offered by the colleges they are interested in. In light of the pandemic, most colleges have enhanced their virtual offerings, which can include information sessions, student panels, hosted campus tours, open houses, and one-on-one meetings with admissions counselors. Check college websites for offerings and registration information.
• Check the SPRING VIRTUAL COLLEGE EVENTS Google sheet for a list of events, including college fairs (compiled by De La Salle).
• The University of San Francisco is offering a JUNIOR COLLEGE NIGHT on Tuesday, March 23 at 6:00 p.m. College admission counselors will walk you through a few easy things you can do to get in the mindset for college and how you can begin researching different colleges. Register ahead of time.

SUMMER ACADEMIC/ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AND CAMPS: 
Juniors, especially, are invited to explore the possibility of summer programs as a valuable addition to their summer activities. These programs offer a variety of new and exciting experiences, and can also help in the college admissions process. Some of these programs have deadlines as early as February and March, so it’s a good idea to check out possibilities now. 

COLLEGE PREVIEW NIGHT FOR JUNIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES:
Join us on Wednesday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom for College Preview Night. Hear from college admissions representatives about their varying admissions processes, how admissions decisions are made, and how two sample applications are reviewed. More information will be emailed to junior families as it gets closer to the event.

NEWS FOR SOPHOMORES 

COLLEGE ADVISORY FOR SOPHOMORES:
Sophomores have been assigned a day to attend a College Advisory class during the week of March 15th during 7th or 0 period from 1:35 - 3:00 p.m. These are mandatory group classes and all sophomores are expected to attend their assigned day. Sophomores will be introduced to Naviance and college planning tools and will complete an online personality assessment and career interest survey.

SOPHOMORE COLLEGE NIGHT HOSTED BY UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO:
Sophomores are invited to a virtual Sophomore College Night hosted by USF on Tuesday, March 16 at 6:00 p.m. Attendees will learn tips for how to start exploring different schools and seeing what’s out there. Register in advance.

February 2021 College Center News

CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS! 89% of our seniors have completed a little over 2,000 applications to 317 different four-year colleges!  Nearly 400 college acceptances have already been received. THANK YOU to Many Teachers and Counselors who submitted over 1852 recommendations!

Dates to Remember:

SENIORS
February 11:  DVC ENROLLMENT STEPS ZOOM Meeting DVCenroll

JUNIORS
Week of Feb. 1:  COLLEGE ADVISORY FOR JUNIORS- students have been notified via email and Schoology Groups what day of the week to attend during 7^th or 0 period 1:35 p.m.-2:55 p.m.

FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORES
March 3: FROSH/SOPH College Night at 6:30 p.m. via zoom (a link will be emailed)

News for SENIORS

Community College/Diablo Valley College:
Now is the time to begin the required enrollment steps for DVC (and other community colleges).   Interested students who plan on attending or who are interested in having Community College/DVC as an option should attend the following programs listed below. 

1. Attend the Enrollment Presentation from DVC on Zoom on Thursday, February 11th.  Students must register in advance: DVCenroll. The 5 required steps for enrolling at DVC will be explained. 
2. Attend two College Advisory sessions, one each week on Feb. 16 or 18 and Feb. 23 or 25 to complete the Community College application, online orientation, online assessments and other required steps.

Important Note: If these steps are not completed on these dedicated dates with the DLS College Counselors, students will need to complete them on their own (an it can get confusing).  Our goal is to help students complete all the necessary enrollment steps early to qualify for priority registration.  Once an incoming freshman receives priority registration they will have it each semester.  If a student does not qualify for priority registration as an incoming student, they cannot qualify in future semesters.  Priority registration is essential to get the courses you want and need while you’re a student at DVC.

Cal State University:
Extended Application Deadlines - Some campuses are still accepting applications! Check https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/pages/application-dates-deadlines.aspx
Select Entry Level:  Freshman and Enrollment Term:  Fall 2021(leave Special Population blank) 
East Bay- March 2; Humboldt Feb. 28; Maritime Feb. 15; San Bernardino Feb. 1; San Francisco Jan. 31; San Marcos Jan. 31; Stanislaus Feb. 1

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
February & March are the big months with many scholarship deadlines. Check our Monthly Scholarship List

Also, www.fastweb.com and www.scholarships.com are scholarship search sites.

The best source of scholarships are usually the colleges themselves; check each colleges financial aid webpage for scholarship applications and deadlines. 

For scholarships at CSU campuses, follow this link then scroll down to check on Scholarships by Campus https://www2.calstate.edu/attend/paying-for-college/financial-aid/types/Pages/scholarships.aspx

FAFSA: Apply online at www.fafsa.gov before the California State deadline of March 2. Individual colleges may have priority deadlines in January or February and may also require forms in addition to the FAFSA (The Free Application for Federal Student Aid—required by all colleges). Seniors should check Financial Aid deadlines and forms required on each of their prospective colleges’ websites.  Don’t miss a deadline and miss out on financial aid available from your college! Some merit based scholarships and awards also require submission of the FAFSA, so it is a good idea for all students to fill it out, even those who feel they won’t qualify for financial aid.  If a community college is being considered, be sure to add them to the FAFSA as well. 

Cal Grant: The De La Salle Registrar has sent the GPA Verification information to the Cal Grant Program for all Seniors. Seniors do NOT need to send in a separate form for this program, but must submit their FAFSA by March 2 in order to be considered for a Cal Grant.

New for JUNIORS:

COLLEGE ADVISORY FOR JUNIORS:
Juniors will attend College Advisory classes with their College Counselor during 7th or 0 period on an assigned day the Week of Feb. 1, March 8, and April 19. Students have been emailed and included in “College Advisory for Juniors Schoology Groups” with assigned days and details. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Esther Lopez (A-K), lopeze@dlshs.org, 288-8103, or Lisa Sciacca (L-Z), sciaccal@dlshs.org, 288-8128.

SUMMER ACADEMIC/ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AND CAMPS: 
Juniors, especially, are invited to explore the possibility of summer programs as a valuable addition to their summer activities. These programs offer a variety of new and exciting experiences, and can also help in the college admissions process. Some of these programs have deadlines as early as February, so it’s a good idea to check out possibilities this month.  For a listing of programs, check Summer Programs.

SAT and ACT TESTING:
Please refer to detailed information about DLS School Day SAT emailed on 1/28/20

• Go to the websites to register: www.actstudent.org and www.sat.org.
• Many colleges were test-optional/test-free/test-flexible for the Class of 2021 admission process and colleges are beginning to announce that they will remain so for the Class of 2022.  Please refer to www.fairtest.org for updated lists and view this Test Optional Colleges list
• Both SAT and ACT offer an optional writing section. Students DO NOT need to sign up for the optional writing/essay section, going forward it is not required of almost every college, except West Point- US Military Academy.  Go to: https://www.compassprep.com/act-writing-and-sat-essay-requirements/ for information about the essay/writing section and which colleges require it.
• On January 19, 2021 College Board announced that SAT Subjects tests will no longer be offered.   This decision made sense since there no longer remained any colleges that required them.
• Recommended testing strategies, test dates, timeline, and information about the SAT/ACT were covered at the Junior Parent Night and with the students in their Class Meetings.  See the information about testing in the Junior Parent Night Booklet and contact the College Counselors if you have any questions.

News for FRESHMEN & SOPHOMORES:

Frosh/Soph College Night • Wednesday, March 3 • 6:30 PM via zoom (a link will be emailed)
Freshman and Sophomore students and their families are invited to attend this presentation given by Mrs. Sciacca and Ms. Lopez. The DLS Co-Directors of College Counseling are college admission professionals with extensive experience in guiding students through the college exploration, selection, and application process. They will present information that is geared to students in the 9th and 10th grade as they prepare for their future plans and goals.

COLLEGE NEWS FOR SENIORS

Application Deadlines
December – February:  Regular deadlines vary by college. We encourage students to complete all applications by Christmas Break.

Financial Aid

• The FAFSA is required for financial aid consideration at all colleges & universities. Complete the FAFSA now.
• The CSS Profile is a second financial aid application required by 400 colleges and universities. Complete the CSS Profile if required by your colleges. 

Scholarships

• Seniors are advised to check the financial aid/scholarship sections of their colleges’ websites to learn about any additional scholarships they may apply for. These tend to be the most generous scholarships.  
• Students should also check the Scholarship List posted in Schoology in the College Advisory Course materials. 
• Students may also find many scholarships via the internet on Fastweb, Scholarships.com and other sites.
  A word of caution: Do not pay for any scholarships or scholarship services. This is a red flag for a possible scam. 

SAT & ACT  

• If seniors would like to opt-in and send SAT/ACT test scores, they must self-report their scores on applications. Many colleges also require official SAT and/or ACT scores to be sent directly from College Board or ACT. See the College Advisory Course Materials on Schoology or the Senior Application Guide for detailed instructions. Seniors must login to their SAT or ACT account to order (this is not done through Naviance). There is a growing list of colleges that will accept self-reported scores for admission purposes and only require official scores if the student attends. Please find an updated list here.
• Seniors who took the DLS School Day SAT on October 14, should have accessed and viewed their score. If they are pleased with their score, they should order them now (if not already done so). It can take 1-2 weeks for the request to be processed. Submitting a rush order is not necessary.

Applications

• Deadlines for many private colleges and out-of-state schools fall in early January. Some priority deadlines are in December. Seniors need to carefully calendar the deadlines for schools they are applying to and submit applications online, before the deadline.  
• It is recommended that seniors print the confirmation page upon submitting each application and save the confirmation email from the college, if received.
• Applicants should set up individual accounts (web portals) for each of the colleges that provide them, following instructions they will receive from the colleges via email and check them regularly for any to-do items and other communication. 

Communication with Colleges

• Colleges use email to communicate with applicants. It is important that seniors provide accurate, up-to-date email addresses to colleges, that they check email regularly, and that they check their “spam” or “junk mail” folders in case messages end up there. 
• If a student changes his email address, he must notify the colleges. In addition, many colleges provide an ID Number to the student when the application is received. The student is expected to use this number to access his application status on the college’s website and to respond to requests for additional information found there.

Letters of Recommendation

• The final deadline for requesting letters of recommendation was October 30. All initial requests for letters should have been made. If you have additional colleges to which you have decided to apply, you must update your teacher and counselor by email and request that they send to the new additions.  Also, add the Teacher Recommendation request in Naviance.
• The school, including the College Counseling office, will be closed for the Christmas Break and we will not be processing any requests for letters or transcripts at that time.

Transcripts

• All transcript requests added in Naviance will be sent by or before a student’s deadline if requested before Finals.
• When a student has applied early, they may be deferred to the regular decision applicant pool and asked to have first semester senior year grades sent.  Students will request mid-year transcripts, which include first semester senior year grades, in College Advisory in January.

COLLEGE PLANNING NEWS FOR JUNIORS

Junior Class Meeting on Wednesday, January 13 
Juniors will meet with college counselors on Zoom to prepare for the January 26 PSAT and discuss spring SAT/ACT testing. Juniors will also be re-introduced to all of the college planning tools available on Naviance to begin the college search process.

PSAT Testing on Tuesday, January 26
Juniors will take the PSAT at De La Salle.

Junior Parents College Planning and Academic Advising Night on Tuesday, January 26 at 7:00 pm
The college counselors will offer an informative presentation to help parents of juniors embark on the college exploration and selection process with their son. Please mark your calendars for this essential meeting. Please note, this meeting will also include the academic advising information for next year’s course selections for junior parents. Zoom link to follow. 

College Advisory for Juniors, February 1-5
Juniors will be assigned to a 0 or 7th period College Advisory session during the first week of February.These meetings will provide juniors with information about college options and the selection process, admissions requirements, and a planning schedule in preparation for completing college applications in the fall.  

SAT/ACT Testing Advice for Juniors
The general recommended testing strategy has been that juniors take their first set of SAT and ACT exams in the spring semester (March/May/June) with minimal study, using sample tests on each testing website. Once they are able to view and compare results from the SAT and ACT, they can determine which test to focus on, prep during the summer, and retake the exam in early fall of senior year for their best score.

In light of the pandemic, limited testing availability, and many colleges moving towards a permanent test optional policy, we recommend that juniors dedicate more time focusing on their coursework and having a successful spring semester, rather than prepping for SAT and ACT exams that may or may not be required or that may or may not be offered. With that said, DLS plans to host an SAT School Day on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 for juniors who would like to test at school. More information including registration information will be provided in January/February.

For summer test prep, there are free study tools available online. At DLS, we subscribe to Method Test Prep and students will create accounts in the February College Advisory sessions and be able to access self-paced on-demand study for both SAT and ACT. SAT also partners with Khan Academy, and after students get their PSAT results, they can connect to Khan Academy and receive customized online study tools based on how they did on the practice exam.  

Please see list of SAT and ACT Policies and Score Ranges for Popular Colleges and Universities put together by Compass Education Group. 

Application Deadlines
Nov. 1 and Nov. 15---Many Early Action, Early Decision, and Priority deadlines
October 30—Final Deadline to request teacher and counselor letters of recommendation
November 30—Final Deadline for submission of UC applications
December 4- Final Deadline for submission of CSU applications
Dec-Feb- Regular Deadlines vary by college; we encourage completing all applications by Christmas Break

Congratulations to many of our seniors who have already submitted Early Applications!

Financial Aid
FAFSA- Required by all colleges from students seeking financial aid:  www.fafsa.gov
CSS Profile- an additional Financial Aid Form required by 400 colleges: www.cssprofile.org   

Check individual college’s financial aid webpages to find deadlines which vary from Nov-Mar.

COLLEGE NEWS FOR SENIORS

LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION REQUESTS: 

• Oct. 30th - FINAL deadline for students to submit initial requests for both teacher and counselor letters of recommendation for all college deadlines. Students should refer to the College Advisory Schoology course for specific steps and instructions.  
• Students should notify teacher and counselor recommenders if they have deletions or additions to their college list after submitting their written requests.  

Sent School Materials:
Letters that were requested by Sept. 27 for Early Decision/Early Action/Priority Deadlines for Nov. 1 and 15 will be/have been submitted through Naviance to the Colleges by the deadlines students listed in Naviance & Spreadsheet. 

• Check in Naviance>College>Apply to College>Letters of Recommendation to confirm teacher recommendation submission.
• Check in Naviance “Colleges I’m applying to” in the “Office Materials” column if it indicates “Initial Materials sent” that includes Transcript and, if required, Counselor Letter and Report. 
• Students can check their Common App>My Colleges Tab>Recommenders and Ferpa section to see the date and confirmation of submission. 
• Students can also check the status of their application on college webportals (emailed to students).  Please note that it may take colleges up to 3 weeks to process all received materials and update their webportals.

TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS:
Students must add transcript requests in Naviance.  Transcript requests are sent by the deadlines indicated in Naviance.  For Common App Colleges, the transcript must be sent with the Counselor School Report and, if required, the Counselor Letter. 

• To send to a College- They must list the colleges in “Colleges I’m Applying to” and add the request. 
• To send to a Coach or Scholarship Program, they must go to Colleges>Apply to College>Manage Transcripts>and Select Add Other Request. 

SEND OFFICIAL SAT/ACT SCORE REPORTS: 
If a student would like to opt-in and send their SAT/ACT test scores, they must self-report on their applications. Many colleges also require the official SAT and/or ACT scores to be sent directly from the College Board or ACT. See the College Advisory Schoology Course or the Senior Application Guide for detailed instructions.  Students must login to their SAT or ACT account to order (this is not done through Naviance).  There is a growing trend of colleges who will accept self-reported scores for admission purposes and only require official scores if the student attends, you may find an updated list here: https://www.compassprep.com/self-reporting-test-scores/

Students who took the DLS School Day SAT on Oct. 14, should be able to view and access their SAT score this Wed., Nov. 4.  If they are pleased with their score, they should order it on Nov. 4. It can take 1-2 weeks for the request to be processed.  Submitting a rush order is not necessary.  We have recommended that students identify their colleges average SAT score to determine whether or not to send their score.

UC AND CSU APPLICATIONS:
UC applications are due Nov. 30. www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply.
CSU applications are due Dec. 4. www.calstate.edu/apply

If a student has difficulty with internet access, see one of the college counselors for help.

• The UC system requires 4 Personal Insight Questions as part of the application; CSU’s do not require any essays.  If a student is applying to the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) for low-income students at the CSU then they do complete the short written responses.
• Letters of Recommendation are NOT required or accepted by CSU or UC (unless specifically requested via email from the UC after application is submitted).  If a student is applying to CSU EOP program, they will need 2 letters of recommendation.
• Transcripts are not required or accepted, unless requested via email/webportal.  Students self-report A-G approved coursework on the application.

OTHER APPLICATIONS: 
Deadlines vary and students should check each college’s website.  Many early action/decision deadlines are Nov. 1 or Nov. 15.
Check out www.commonapp.org for expediting applications to multiple member colleges.
Consider applying early to colleges with “rolling admissions” policies.

COMMUNICATION WITH COLLEGES: 
Colleges use email as an official means of communicating with students.  It is important that students provide accurate, up-to-date email addresses to colleges, that they check email regularly, and that they check their “spam” or “junk mail” folders in case messages end up there. If a student changes his email address, he must notify the colleges. In addition, many colleges provide an ID Number to the student when the application is received.  The student is expected to use this number to access his application status on the college’s website and to respond to requests for additional information found there.

HOUSING: 
For many CSU’s and some out of state public colleges with impacted housing, it is important to apply for housing as soon as possible—even this fall, before a student knows whether he will attend or not. Some applications are free; some require a deposit which may be refundable. Check the policies of individual colleges and make plans now to assure on-campus housing, which is strongly recommended for freshman year, at the least. Information is available on the college websites by following the links for housing.  For private colleges and UC’s, housing usually does not need to be reserved until admissions are finalized in later spring and is often guaranteed.

FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION:
Check the Financial Aid section of each college’s website to learn about scholarship offerings directly from the University.  These tend to be the most generous scholarships. 

Students also need to check the Monthly Scholarship list posted in the Schoology College Advisory Course materials.  Students may also find many scholarships via the internet on www.fastweb.com, www.scholarships.com and other sites.

• Now available online:  The 2021–22 FAFSA opened Oct. 1, 2020 at www.fafsa.gov
• Income Information reported: From 2019 Income Tax Report.  There is an online DRT- Data Retrieval Tool- within that FAFSA that links to our IRS report. It is highly recommended to use this tool to ensure quick and accurate processing and avoid time consuming verification follow-up.
• California State Deadline is March 2, 2021.  Some colleges and universities may have earlier priority deadlines in Jan/Feb or even earlier.  Check each college’s financial aid webpage for deadlines.
• Helpful Blog with tips: https://blog.ed.gov/topic/federal-student-aid/
• More Information:  https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/

CSS PROFILE:  About 400 private colleges require a secondary financial aid form called the CSS Profile.  This form must be completed online at http://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile. This form may be filed as early as October 1^st. A list of colleges that require the profile is also available on the website.  Be sure to check now if the colleges your son is applying to require the CSS profile and when their deadline is for submission.   

COLLEGE NEWS FOR JUNIORS

Academic Advice:
The most important preparation that juniors can do this fall in regard to college admissions is to stay as focused as possible on their academic course work. Grades in their academic classes this year are the most important ones that colleges will see on their initial applications because it is the most advanced coursework for the most recent full academic year. It’s never too late to turn around a GPA if a student has struggled in the past, colleges pay attention not only to the GPA itself but also to its trend over the last 3 years of high school.

SAT/ACT Testing Advice: 

1. The general recommended testing strategy is that students take their first set of SAT and ACT exams in the spring semester (March/May/June) with minimal study, basically looking at sample tests on each testing website. 
2. Once they are able to view and compare results, they can determine which test is their best to focus on. 
3. Because their grades from junior year are so important and we want them to focus on doing the best they can, we recommend committed studying to SAT/ACT in the summer.  Then they have more time to dedicate and they have identified a focus. 
4. Students then retake the exam in early fall of senior year for their best score.  So many students retake their exams, so it seems that spending time on studying for the first round of tests is not as efficient. 
5. For Test Preparation there are free online study tools available.   At DLS we subscribe to Method Test Prep and students will create accounts with us in January and be able to access self-paced on-demand study for both SAT and ACT. 

SAVE THE DATE:  Junior Parents College Planning & Academic Advisement Night on January 26th.

Exploring College Options: Follow this link for College Virtual Tours

IMPORTANT DATES FOR SENIORS
October 1                    FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid available.
October 10-14             No School for seniors. Spend time completing applications.
October 14                  On-campus SAT at DLS.

COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
UC www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply:  Apply online. Application is due Nov. 30.
CSU www.calstate.edu/apply:  Apply online. Deadline extended to December 4.
COMMON APPLICATION www.commonapp.org: Accepted by over 900 private and out-of-state colleges. Deadlines vary by college.
OTHER APPLICATIONS:  Check university website for online application and deadlines.

• We recommend that all applications be submitted before Christmas Break, even for colleges that have deadlines in Feb/Mar or later.
• Students are strongly encouraged to use the Common Application, and not Priority, VIP or “Fastrack” applications they may have received from colleges via email. These colleges will waive their application fee on the Common Application, if they offer that incentive on the other type of application. There are a number of reasons for this recommendation and the college counselors are happy to talk to parents and guardians about them.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

• Sept. 25 was the deadline for teacher and counselor letter of recommendation requests for colleges with early deadlines (Dec 1 and earlier). Seniors should have completed the College App Spreadsheet and shared it with Ms. Lopez or Mrs. Sciacca, completed Counselor and Teacher Rec Surveys in Naviance, and requested teacher recommendations and transcripts in Naviance.
• Oct. 30 is the FINAL deadline to request teacher and counselor recommendations for students applying with deadlines after Dec. 1.
• Letters of Recommendation are NOT accepted by UC’s or CSU’s at this time.

FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid

• Now available online: The 2021–22 FAFSA opens Oct. 1, 2020 at www.fafsa.gov
• Income information reported: From 2019 Income Tax Report. There is an online Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) within that FAFSA that links to our IRS report. It is highly recommended to use this tool to ensure quick and accurate processing and avoid time consuming verification follow-up.
• California State Deadline is March 2, 2021.  Some colleges and universities may have earlier priority deadlines in Jan/Feb or even earlier.  Check each college’s financial aid webpage for deadlines.
• More Information:  https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/    

CSS PROFILE: Over 400 private colleges require a secondary financial aid form called the CSS Profile.  This form must be completed online. This form may be filed as early as October 1. A list of colleges that require the profile is also available on the website.  Be sure to check now if the colleges your son is applying to require the CSS profile and when their deadline is for submission.   

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS REPRESENTATIVES VISIT DE LA SALLE
Over 85 college admissions representatives have visited De La Salle virtually since school started in August. Over 50 more are scheduled for October through December and even more may still sign up to visit virtually with our students. These meetings are valuable personal contacts with college admissions officers who can provide specific information, answer questions, and assess qualifications. Many are also responsible for reviewing applications from De La Salle students.

• Seniors and Juniors should check Schoology for the list of college rep visits and Zoom links.
• All college rep visits are scheduled for after school and on Wednesdays.

COLLEGE INFORMATION SESSIONS AND PREVIEW DAYS/OPEN HOUSES 
Many colleges have enhanced their online informational offerings for interested students and their parents. Parents and students are encouraged to check individual websites for dates and offerings. Additionally, please see a listing of Fall Virtual College Events, which is updated regularly.

COLLEGE SEARCH DURING COVID: A VIRTUAL EVENT Oct. 8 at 7:00 - 8:30 PM
This winter, high school juniors and seniors must manage all the normal and natural challenges that come with college search and selection PLUS all the variables that come with search and selection during COVID. The College Counseling Office is partnering with New York Times bestselling author Harlan Cohen. During this lively and interactive event, Harlan helps seniors find the best college fit and gives juniors a framework to reduce stress and navigate a year of uncertainty. Harlan delivers the latest facts, stats, and headlines along with practical tools and strategies. This interactive program helps students and parents get comfortable with the uncomfortable during a time of heightened anxiety and unpredictable change. This event includes live Q&A. Register to get access to the recording. Registration Link

JUNIORS
In an ordinary year, we would host the PSAT for juniors on campus for Testing Day in October. Given the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are instead offering an optional SAT Testing Day for our seniors, the majority of whom have not been able to test at all since March. Our plan is to offer the PSAT to the junior class (Class of 2022) on the newly added Tuesday, January 26, 2021 test date. Juniors should wait until at least Feb/March 2020 to take their first SAT and ACT tests. Juniors will be introduced to Method Test Prep and create accounts in January.

SOPHOMORES
We usually host the PreACT for sophomores on campus for Testing Day in October. Given the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are instead offering an optional SAT Testing Day for our seniors on October 14, the majority of whom have not been able to test at all since March. Our plan is to offer the PreACT to the sophomore class (Class of 2023) later this school year.

(Pictures from College Advisory attached)

Blurb:Every Senior at DLS enrolls in College Advisory, for a weekly session with the College Counselors, Ms. Lopez or Mrs. Sciacca. Each week a vital portion of the college application process is covered.  The course provides timely and essential college application information to every senior in classroom groups on a consistent basis. 

DATES TO REMEMBER

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 - SENIOR PARENTS COLLEGE APPLICATION NIGHT at 7:00 PM.  A zoom link will be emailed as the date nears.

SAT/ACT DATES AND REGISTRATION DEADLINES (for seniors)

SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subject Tests: 

ACT: 

Cost: $55 (w/out essay)                                          Register at: www.actstudent.org

*Fee waivers are available for SAT and ACT for students with significant financial need. If you would like more information about qualifying for them, contact your college counselor.

Please visit our Webpage for Class of 2021 College Admission and Testing Covid-19 Updates

SENIOR COLLEGE ADVISORY PROGRAM
Senior College Advisory courses meets weekly through the fall semester and into 3rd quarter. Seniors are required to attend a weekly session with their College Counselor to learn essential information about the college admissions process and to complete college application materials. Check your son’s classes on Schoology to find “College Advisory” to see regular updates, calendar reminders, and materials.

Senior Parents: Please join us in the Hofmann Center during the 7th period time slot at Back to School Night to get an overview of the College Advisory class.

SENIOR PARENT COLLEGE APPLICATION NIGHT
When: Wednesday, September 16
Time:   7:00 pm
Where: Zoom, a link will be sent via email as the date nears

The Co-Directors of College Counseling, Esther Lopez and Lisa Sciacca, will provide an overview of all the steps that need to be taken this fall for successful selection, application, and acceptance to colleges and universities.  Please don’t miss it! Email any questions to Esther Lopez at lopeze@dlshs.org (for students whose last names begin with A-K)  or Lisa Sciacca at sciaccal@dlshs.org (for students whose last names begin with L-Z)

SAT/ACT TEST INFORMATION

• Online Registration at:  www.sat.org and www.actstudent.org
• Over 1500 colleges have announced they are test optional:  www.fairtest.org
• Colleges that require SAT/ACT with Essay:  Only 3 colleges require the essay this year https://www.compassprep.com/act-writing-and-sat-essay-requirements/
• Colleges that require/recommend SAT Subject Tests:  None will require this year  https://www.compassprep.com/subject-test-requirements-and-recommendations/  
• Preparation:  Method Test Prep at www.methodtestprep.com/login .  All DLS seniors have created accounts from last semester. Login to study for SAT or ACT.  DLS provides this service for free to our students.

Juniors should wait until at least Feb/March 2020 to take their first SAT and ACT tests. Juniors will be introduced to Method Test Prep and create accounts in January. Junior parents, please note that we will begin working formally with Juniors and their families at the beginning of second semester this year. If you have any concerns before that time, please feel free to contact one of the college counselors (Esther Lopez, A-K or Lisa Sciacca, L-Z).

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS REPRESENTATIVES VISIT DE LA SALLE:
Representatives from the Admissions Offices of over 100 colleges and universities nationwide (and some abroad) are visiting from September through December. These meetings are valuable personal contacts with college admissions officers who can provide specific information, answer questions, and assess qualifications. Many are also responsible for reviewing applications from De La Salle students.

• Seniors and Juniors should check Schoology for the College Rep Visit posts.
• All College Rep Visits will be virtual this year and scheduled after-school and on Wednesdays.

PARENT RESOURCES:
Visit our De La Salle College Counseling google Site for “College Related News and Publications”.

A particularly relevant TED Talk that may be of interest to parents of 9th through 12th graders is embedded on that page, featuring Julie Lythcott-Haims, former freshman dean at Stanford and author of the book “How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success”.

Events and Important Dates

SAT AND ACT DATES:
SAT: August 29 and September 26 - Information about registration available May 26; priority given to juniors and those without SAT scores

ACT: June 13 - Register May 8 (Late Registration by May 22) Note: this test date may well be cancelled - check email and ACT website if registered; decision may not be made until 5/22
July 18 - Register by June 19 (Late Registration by June 26)
Next round of ACT testing:  September, October, or December—Registration opens in July

Virtual College Fairs/Information Sessions
Strive Virtual College Exploration through May 8th
RACC (Regional Admissions Counselors of CA) Out-of-State Virtual College Webinar Series throughout May.

Please check out the important College Center news and information.

For Seniors:

• Final Steps
• Assessment and Course Placement
• Orientation/Housing
• DVC Enrollment Process

For Juniors:

• Summer To Do List
• Summer Programs
• SAT/ACT
• Student-Athletes

SAT & ACT TEST DATES (primarily for Juniors)

Please see information in the juniors’ testing section below for current information about SAT and ACT testing during the coronavirus pandemic.

VIRTUAL COLLEGE FAIR/PANEL PRESENTATIONS
Strive for College Knowledge Virtual College Exploration Week: April 20-23 (See details in Juniors’ section below)

The joint DLS-CHS College Preview Night for Juniors and their Families, originally scheduled for April 22, has been cancelled, as has The East Bay College Fair normally held the first weekend in May at St. Mary’s College in Moraga.

As indicated above, there are plans underway to provide an online college fair opportunity. We will update DLS families about details as soon as that information becomes available.

GENERAL UPDATES FOR CORONAVIRUS SITUATION
Spring is a busy time for college preparation, exploration, and planning.  We realize that the current situation with the coronavirus pandemic makes impossible most of the “in-person” types of college admission activities that juniors and seniors and their families engage in at this type of year.

We recognize that the current restrictions create a lot of uncertainty and anxiety for college-bound students and we are providing online resources—see below--to help mitigate the lost opportunities as much as possible.

Please also be assured that colleges are committed to being flexible and accommodating for students and their families and they recognize that the admissions process will look at least somewhat different this year—for all students.

See new admissions information from UC and CSU systems in regard to SAT and ACT testing, transcripts, AP scores, etc. in light of the coronavirus situation:

UC’s Response on Admissions to Covid-19
CSU Undergraduate Admissions Covid-19 Impacts

March 2020

SAT & ACT TEST DATES (primarily for Juniors)
 

Additional Dates to Remember

College Preview Night for Juniors and Their Parents
Wednesday, April 22 at 6 p.m.
De La Salle Hofmann Student Center

SAT & ACT TEST DATES (primarily for Juniors)
 

*JUNIORS TAKE NOTE:  Juniors are strongly advised to wait to take the SAT and ACT until one of these (*) dates.  Details about these tests will be discussed in the juniors’ small group meetings and the Junior Parent College Planning Night (see below).  For questions about these tests before those meetings, please contact one of the college counselors.

Additional Dates to Remember

DVC Enrollment Steps Meeting
Wednesday, February 11
6th period at De La Salle

Planning Ahead to Pay for College
March 3, 2020 at 7 p.m. in the Hofmann Center

Families of 9th through 11th grade students are invited to attend the presentation on “Planning Ahead to Pay for College” which will be held on March 3rd at 7 p.m. in the Hofmann Center. Our speaker is a college admission professional with extensive experience in the financial aid process and in college admissions advising. She will present information about how families’ assets and their students’ academic profiles are evaluated and how the amount of aid a student might receive at different colleges is determined. She will also give an overview of the entire financial aid process and will present various ways to prepare for the cost of college.

Sophomore and Junior Class Meetings
The College Counseling Office will hold Sophomore and Junior class meetings on Wednesday, January 15, starting at 8:05 a.m.

Junior Parent College Night
On January 28 from 7-9 p.m., the College Counseling Office will host a Junior Parent College Night in the Br. Celestine Cormier, FSC Threatre. Admission is free and registration is not required to attend this meeting.



 

Important January To Do's for Seniors

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid-FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov
• Complete the CSS Profile, if required by 400 colleges & universities- at www.cssprofile.org
• Order SAT & ACT score reports to College
  o   These scores are not sent by DLS, students must order from Collegeboard or ACT as soon as possible (see Senior Application Guide for instructions).
• Complete any remaining College Applications
• Set up and Check weekly, application portals for each of the colleges that provide them, following instructions received from the individual colleges via email.
• Letters of Recommendation - If you have applied to some new colleges, be sure to add the college in Naviance.  Add the Teacher Recommendation Request in Naviance.  And email your Counselor Recommender to request your materials to be sent.
• Transcripts
  o   Initial Transcripts- If you have applied to some new colleges, be sure to add in Naviance along with adding a transcript request.  
  o   Mid-Year Transcripts- A request form for Mid-Year transcripts will be completed in College Advisory in January.  Mid-Year/7th Semester transcripts include first semester senior year grades.  A Mid-Year Report, required by Common App Colleges, will be completed by your counselor recommender.  

Scholarships

• MONTHLY SCHOLARSHIP LIST: Students should watch for monthly updates to the list. Click Here to view the list. 
• SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH DATABASE: www.fastweb.com  
• INSTITUTIONAL/COLLEGE BASED SCHOLARSHIPS:  Research each college’s financial aid web page to find scholarships you may be eligible for that require an additional scholarship application.
• SCHOLARSHIP BASICS AND TIPS

December 

November 2019

The college counselors at De La Salle High School are committed to providing comprehensive information, guidance, and support for students and their families in the college exploration, selection, and admissions process. 

IMPORTANT DATES

Testing
SAT: Dec. 7 - Register by Nov. 8; Late Registration by Nov. 26
ACT: Dec. 14 - Register by Nov. 8; Late Registration by Nov. 22
To register online: www.sat.org for SAT and www.actstudent.org for ACT

Note: The Dec. SAT & ACT are the last test date that UC’s and many other colleges will accept from seniors.

Application Deadlines
Nov. 1 and Nov. 15 - Many Early Action, Early Decision, and Priority deadlines 
October 31 - Final Deadline to request teacher and counselor letters of recommendation November 30 - Final Deadline for submission of UC applications and CSU applications
Dec-Feb - Regular Deadlines vary by college, we encourage completing all applications by Christmas Break

Financial Aid
FAFSA - Required by all colleges from students seeking financial aid: www.fafsa.gov 
CSS Profile - an additional Financial Aid Form required by 400 colleges: www.cssprofile.org   
Check individual college’s financial aid webpages to find deadlines which vary from Nov-Mar.

Juniors & Sophomores
Midwest College Tour - spring break 2020 Athens Advisors (a private college tour company) is offering a student group tour during spring break for 10th and 11th graders. To register for the tour, please visit the Athens Advisors’ website.

If you have any questions regarding college counseling, please reach out to Mrs. Appel, ext. 8128 or email at appelj@dlshs.org, or Ms. Lopez, ext. 8103, or email at lopeze@dlshs.org. 

October 2019

Seniors—Important Dates

October 1         FAFSA-Free application for federal student aid- Now available
October 7         College Financial Aid Night for Parents of Seniors
October 12-16  No School for seniors—time to make college visits/complete college apps
October 16       Drop in to work on college applications (Computer Lab from 8 a.m.-12 noon)
October 26       ACT Test (late registration deadline Oct. 4)
November 2     SAT Test (registration deadline Oct. 3; late deadline Oct. 22 last test date for 
                         SDSU, SJSU, Cal Poly and some other colleges
December 7     SAT Test (registration deadline Nov. 8) last SAT test date for UC’s and many other
                         colleges
December 14   ACT Test (registration deadline Nov. 2) last ACT test date for UC’s and many other
                         colleges

COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID NIGHT 
When: Monday, October 7, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Carondelet’s Garaventa Center
Who:  Important for ALL senior parents, regardless of whether or not you think you qualify for financial aid (some scholarships based primarily on merit may still require the FAFSA).
What:  Guest speaker, Tony San Nicholas and Karla Henriquez, Assistants Directors of Financial Aid at Saint Mary’s College, will explain the financial aid process and the FAFSA, which is the basic financial aid form required by all colleges.

COLLEGE APPLICATION WORKSHOP IN COMPUTER LAB
When: Wednesday, October 16 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: Computer Lab (Room 400)
Who: Students may drop into the Computer Lab at DLS to work on college applications and essays with the college counselors.  While college advisory meets weekly, students must work on college applications on their own time. This application lab offers us more dedicated time to focus on completing applications.

COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
UC www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply:  apply online; submit Nov. 1-30
CSU www.calstate.edu/apply:  apply online; submit Oct. 1-Nov. 30
COMMON APPLICATION www.commonapp.org: accepted by 800 private and out-of-state colleges; deadlines vary
OTHER APPLICATIONS:  check university website for online application and deadlines

• Sept. 27- Students applying early (Dec. 1 or earlier) should have completed the College App Spreadsheet, The Teacher Rec Request Form, the Counselor Rec Form and Teacher Recommendation Surveys in Naviance, Added Teacher Recommendation and Transcript request in Naviance.
• Students are strongly encouraged to use the Common Application, and not Priority, VIP or “Fastrack” applications they may have received from colleges via email. These colleges will waive their application fee on the Common Application, if they offer that incentive on the other type of application. There are a number of reasons for this recommendation and the college counselors are happy to talk to parents and guardians about them.
• We recommend that all applications be submitted before Christmas Break.  Even for colleges that have deadlines in Feb/Mar or later.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION REQUEST: 

• Students MUST submit written requests for all teacher and counselor recommendations and complete the Naviance – About Me- Surveys. 
• Early Requests were due Sept. 27 for any letters requested with college deadlines in Dec. 1 or earlier. 
• Final Requests are due Oct. 31 for any letters requested with college deadlines in mid-December or after. 
• Letters of Recommendation are NOT accepted by UC’s or CSU’s at this time. 

****FAFSA- Free Application for Federal Student Aid****

• Now available online:  The 2020–21 FAFSA opens Oct. 1, 2019 at www.fafsa.gov  
• Income Information reported: From 2018 Income Tax Report.  There is an online DRT- Data Retrieval Tool- within that FAFSA that links to our IRS report. It is highly recommended to use this tool to ensure quick and accurate processing and avoid time consuming verification follow-up.
• California State Deadline is March 2, 2020.  Some colleges and universities may have earlier priority deadlines in Jan/Feb or even earlier.  Check each college’s financial aid webpage for deadlines.
• Helpful Blog with tips: https://blog.ed.gov/topic/federal-student-aid/
• More Information:  https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/

CSS PROFILE:  About 400 private colleges require a secondary financial aid form called the CSS Profile.  This form must be completed online at http://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile. This form may be filed as early as October 1^st. A list of colleges that require the profile is also available on the website.  Be sure to check now if the colleges your son is applying to require the CSS profile and when their deadline is for submission.

JUNIORS & SENIORS

COLLEGE REP VISITS AT DLS:  College representatives will continue to visit the De La Salle and Carondelet campuses through early December. Interested juniors and seniors may sign up on Naviance to attend these sessions. The list of scheduled college representative visits is available on Naviance and on the DLS website on the Counseling Department’s page. https://sites.google.com/a/dlshs.org/college-counseling/home/college-representative-visits

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! COLLEGE INFORMATION SESSIONS:  Many colleges that don’t come directly to DLS visit the Bay Area to offer information evenings at various locations for interested students and their parents.  Parents and students are encouraged to check Naviance, the colleges’ individual websites and the bulletin board outside the College Center for dates and locations of these meetings.

COLLEGE OPEN HOUSE/FALL PREVIEW DAYS:  Many colleges host visit programs this fall for prospective students and their families.  Check the events section of the colleges’ websites for dates, times, and registration information. 

For the CSU campuses go to: https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/choosing-a-campus/Pages/campus-preview-days-fall.aspx  

Juniors & Sophomores

Midwest College Tour- spring break 2020
Athens Advisors (a private college tour company) is offering a student group tour during spring break for 10th and 11th graders.

The trip will run Sunday, April 12-Saturday, April 18, 2020 and will tour the following schools: Northwestern University, University of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago, DePaul University, Marquette University, University of Wisconsin Madison, University of Notre Dame, Purdue University, Michigan State University, and the University of Michigan

The tour cost is $2600 and includes airfare, coach bus transportation between schools, lodging, and breakfast each day.  Counseling staff from Carondelet HS and other local schools will be on the trip. The priority registration deadline for the tour is November 14, however space is limited so sign up early.  Late registration is subject to actual cost of airfare at the time of booking.  To register for the tour, please visit the Athens Advisors’ website. 

An information session will be held in the Carondelet College and Career Center, Room 13, on Monday, Oct. 7 at 6:00 p.m. for families interested in talking further with Athens Advisors.  Please RSVP for the event.

Please note:

• This program is sponsored by a Private College Tour Company, Athens Advisors (not DLS). De La Salle is offering this information as a service to our families. 
• There will not be chaperones from De La Salle.  Current and former College Counselors from Bellarmine College Prep are part of this program.  
• There is no financial aid available for this program from De La Salle.

September 2019

SENIOR PARENT COLLEGE APPLICATION NIGHT
When: Wednesday, September 18
Time: 7:00-9:00 pm
Where: De La Salle Theatre

The College Counselors, Janet Appel and Esther Lopez, will provide an overview of all the steps that need to be taken this fall for successful selection, application, and acceptance to colleges and universities.  Please don’t miss it! Call Mrs. Appel, Ext. 8128, or Ms. Lopez, Ext. 8103, or email at appelj@dlshs.org or lopeze@dlshs.org if you have questions.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 – Early Start Thursday for Sophomores & Juniors.
Juniors and Sophomores will discuss the upcoming PSAT and Pre-ACT exams.  More details will be announced as the date approaches.

SAT/ACT REGISTRATION DEADLINES (for seniors) 

• SAT:   For Oct. 5 test, register by Sept. 6 (Late registration by Sept. 24)
• For Nov. 2 test, register by Oct. 3 (Late registration by Oct. 22)
• For Dec. 7 test, register by Nov. 8 (Late registration by Nov. 26)
  To register for the SAT, go to: www.sat.org. 
   
• ACT:  For Sept. 14 test, registration closed, students may register online for wait list
• For Oct. 26 test, register by Sept. 20 (Late registration by Oct. 4)
• For Dec. 14 test, register by Nov. 8 (Late registration by Nov. 22) 
  To register for the ACT, go to: www.actstudent.org.

Fee Waivers are available for SAT & ACT for students with significant financial need.  See one of the college counselors for more information.

Events & Important Dates:

SAT AND ACT DATES REMAINING:

            Register online at:  www.sat.org                                Register at:  www.actstudent.org

EAST BAY COLLEGE FAIR: 
Saturday, May 4th, 12:15 to 4:00 p.m. at Saint Mary’s College. Website: www.stmarys-ca.edu/ebcc.

Upcoming Events & Important Dates:

DVC Assessment & Placement Process
Tuesday, March 12 at 1:10-3:30 p.m.
DVC Student Services Center

A field trip to DVC for interested seniors to complete required Enrollment Steps that lead to priority registration status.  Prior to March 12, participating students must complete the (1) Online Applications for Spring and Summer 2019 AND (2) Online Orientation at www.dvc.edu/apply. At DVC students will complete the multiple-measures placement for English and Math, take a tour of campus, and register for the required counseling class in March/April.  Participating students much complete and turn in the blue Special Admission Form and the Off-Campus Consent/Field Trip form by Thursday, March 7 to the College Center.

JUNIOR SAT & ACT Testing
Register for a Spring SAT & ACT exam in March/April/May/June at www.sat.org and www.act.org

COLLEGE ADVISORY FOR JUNIORS
All juniors will be assigned and notified of a once-a-week 7^th period College Advisory class the weeks of March 25 and April 1.  In these two session, juniors will begin creating their college list and preview the college application process.

TEST DATES

        Register online at:  www.sat.org                         Register online at:  www.act.org

*JUNIORS TAKE NOTE:  Juniors are strongly advised to wait to take the SAT and ACT until one of these (*) dates.  Details about these tests will be discussed in the juniors’ small group meetings and the Junior Parent College Planning Night (see below).  For questions about these tests before those meetings, please contact one of the college counselors.

Additional Dates to Remember

DVC Enrollment Steps Meeting
Wednesday, February 13
1st Period at Carondelet

Frosh/Soph College Night
Thursday, March 7
7 p.m. in De La Salle Theater

Freshman and Sophomore students and their families are invited to attend this presentation given by Mrs. Appel and Ms. Lopez.  The De La Salle Co-Directors of College Counseling are college admission professionals with extensive experience in guiding students through the college exploration, selection, and application process. They will present information that is geared to students in the 9^th and 10^th grade as they prepare for their future plans and goals.

TEST DATES

*JUNIORS TAKE NOTE:  Juniors are strongly advised to wait to take the SAT and ACT until one of these (*) dates.  Details about these tests will be discussed in the juniors’ small group meetings and the Junior Parent College Planning Night (see below).  For questions about these tests before those meetings, please contact one of the college counselors.

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR SENIORS

COLLEGE ADVISORY
Four-Year College Bound Seniors are required to attend for three weeks in January - starting on Monday, January 14. Topics covered include using webportals for colleges to which you’ve applied, requesting midyear (7th semester) transcripts, deferrals from early applications and other essential follow-up steps plus what to do before May 1 - National College Decision Day. 

COMMUNITY COLLEGE
College Advisory sessions will be held in February for students applying to community colleges. Specific dates will be communicated to students through Schoology.

DVC Informational Meeting on January 15 during 3rd Period - A representative and student ambassadors from DVC will be here to provide an informative overview.  Interested students need to sign up in Naviance or in the College Center.

FINANCIAL AID

• The FAFSA is required for financial aid consideration at all colleges & universities.  Complete the FAFSA now at www.fafsa.gov
• The CSS Profile is a second application required by 400 colleges & universities.  Complete the Profile at http://css.collegeboard.org/

After Submitting the FAFSA:

• You will receive an email to review your Student Aid Report (SAR) and confirm that the information you provided is correct.
• Your FAFSA information will be provided to each college you listed on the application. Be sure you listed every college to which you are applying, including community colleges. Note:  If you have applied to additional colleges after submitting the FAFSA, log back in and correct/change your FAFSA and add the new college(s).
• You may receive general information about the Cal Grant for your records.
• You will receive much more specific information from each College to which you applied, they will provide more information about their cost of attendance and all financial aid offered.  Colleges vary on the timeline when they send this information, it can take until April.

SAT & ACT TESTS
Remember to order official SAT and/or ACT test scores to be sent to each college.

APPLICATIONS
Deadlines for many private colleges and out of state schools fall in early January and usually no later than February 1^st. Seniors need to carefully calendar the deadlines for schools they are applying to and submit applications online, before the deadline.

Be sure to print the confirmation page upon submitting each application.  Also be sure to save the confirmation email, if you receive one.

Letters of Recommendation
The teacher and counselor letters of recommendation final request deadline was October 31.  All initial requests for letters should have been made.  If you have additional colleges to which you have decided to apply, you must update your teacher and counselor and request that they send to the new additions.

SCHOLARSHIPS: 

• An updated list of current scholarship information is available on the Counseling Department page of the DLS website, and on the Naviance website. Students should watch for monthly updates to the Scholarship List.  https://sites.google.com/a/dlshs.org/college-counseling/college-information-for-seniors-1/scholarships-and-financial-aid-information/monthly-scholarship-list  (If you are able to make this a Hyper-link that may be better)
• There are large free internet scholarship search engines such as www.fastweb.com
• The most generous scholarships come directly from the University.  Be sure to research each of your college’s financial aid web page to find scholarships you may be eligible for that require an additional scholarship application.

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR JUNIORS

JUNIOR PARENTS’ COLLEGE PLANNING AND ACADEMIC ADVISING NIGHT is Wednesday, January 30 at 7:00 pm in the De La Salle Theatre. The College Counselors will present specific details regarding the college exploration and selection process. Please mark your calendars for this essential meeting.  Please note, this meeting will also include the academic advising information for next year’s course selections for junior parents.

PSAT SCORES & PRACTICE ACT SCORES:
On Thursday, January 17, there will be an early-start day to accommodate class meetings. Juniors and sophomores will meet to go over PSAT and PACT test results with the Student Support Services Department staff. The College Counselors will also re-introduce the juniors to Naviance and begin college planning.

SMALL GROUP COLLEGE PLANNING MEETINGS WITH JUNIORS: 
Starting in mid-January, small groups of Juniors will meet with their College Counselor to begin their college search process. These meetings will provide Juniors with information about college options and the selection process, admissions requirements, and a planning schedule in preparation for completing college applications in the Fall.

TEST DATES

*JUNIORS TAKE NOTE:  Juniors are strongly advised to wait to take the SAT and ACT until one of these (*) dates.  Details about these tests will be discussed in the juniors’ small group meetings and the Junior Parent College Planning Night (see below).  For questions about these tests before those meetings, please contact one of the college counselors.

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR SENIORS

Financial Aid

• The FAFSA is required for financial aid consideration at all colleges & universities.  Complete the FAFSA now at www.fafsa.gov.
• The CSS Profile is a second application required by 400 colleges & universities.  Complete the Profile at http://css.collegeboard.org/ if needed.

SAT & ACT 

• The December test dates are the latest that tests can be taken and reported in time for most college applications for Fall 2019.
• When a deadline has passed, it is possible to register for standby testing for ACT, or to sign up for a wait-list for SAT. See Ms. Lopez or Mrs. Appel in the College Center for details.
• Remember to order official SAT and/or ACT test scores to be sent to each college from Collegeboard or ACT as soon as possible.

Applications

• Deadlines for many private colleges and out of state schools fall in early January. Some priority deadlines are in December. Seniors need to carefully calendar the deadlines for schools they are applying to and submit applications online, before the deadline. 
• Be sure to print the confirmation page upon submitting each application.  Also be sure to save the confirmation email from the college, if you receive one.
• Applicants should set up individual accounts (portals) for each of the colleges that provide them, following instructions they will receive from the colleges via email.

Letters of Recommendation

• The teacher and counselor letters of recommendation final request deadline was October 31.  All initial requests for letters should have been made.  If you have additional colleges to which you have decided to apply, you must update your teacher and counselor by email and request that they send to the new additions.

Scholarships

• An updated list of current scholarship information is available on the Counseling Department page of the DLS website, and on the Naviance website. Students should watch for monthly updates to the list.  https://sites.google.com/a/dlshs.org/college-counseling/college-information-for-seniors-1/scholarships-and-financial-aid-information/monthly-scholarship-list
• There are large free internet scholarship search engines such as www.fastweb.com.

Be sure to research each of your college’s financial aid web page to find scholarships you may be eligible for that require an additional scholarship application.

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR JUNIORS

JUNIOR PARENTS’ COLLEGE PLANNING AND ACADEMIC ADVISING NIGHT is Wednesday, January 30 at 7:00 pm in the De La Salle Theatre. The College Counselors will present specific details regarding the college exploration and selection process. Please mark your calendars for this essential meeting.  Please note, this meeting will also include the academic advising information for next year’s course selections for junior parents.

PSAT SCORES & PRACTICE ACT SCORES:
On Thursday, January 17, there will be an early-start day to accommodate class meetings. Juniors and sophomores will meet to go over PSAT and PACT test results with the Student Support Services Department staff. The College Counselors will also re-introduce the juniors to Naviance and begin college planning.

SMALL GROUP COLLEGE PLANNING MEETINGS WITH JUNIORS: 
Starting in mid-January, small groups of Juniors will meet with their College Counselor to begin their college search process. These meetings will provide Juniors with information about college options and the selection process, admissions requirements, and a planning schedule in preparation for completing college applications in the Fall.

Upcoming SAT & ACT Testing Dates (for Seniors):

Fee waivers are available for SAT & ACT for students with significant financial need. See one of the College Counselors for more information.

SAT/ACT TEST INFORMATION & TIPS:

• A number of highly selective colleges require at least 2 SAT Subject Tests in addition to the SAT or ACT.
• Seniors should plan to take the October and/or November tests to ensure that results will be forwarded to colleges in time to complete the application process. Some colleges require testing to be completed by the November test date, and students applying through Early Action or Early Decision programs to any college need to be mindful of early testing requirements.
• Virtually all colleges require testing to be completed by the December test date at the latest.
• De La Salle offers a free test preparation program, Method Test Prep, which provides online preparation for SAT and ACT, currently for DLS seniors. Seniors are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to maximize their preparation for the exams. (Juniors will be introduced to MTP and registered for it early in the spring semester.)
• The College Center maintains a library of test preparation materials which students are welcome to check out. The complete schedule of test dates and deadlines is published on the DLS website at Campus Life/Guidance Services Department/College.
• Juniors should wait until Feb/March 2018 to take their first SAT and ACT tests. Juniors will be introduced to Method Test Prep and create accounts in January. Junior parents, please note that we will begin working formally with Juniors and their families at the beginning of second semester this year. If you have any concerns before that time, please feel free to contact one of the College Counselors (Esther Lopez, A-K or Janet Appel, L-Z).

SENIOR COLLEGE ADVISORY PROGRAM

Senior College Advisory courses will meet weekly through the fall semester and into 3rd quarter. Seniors are required to attend these weekly sessions with their College Counselor to learn essential information about the college admissions process and to complete college application materials. Check your son’s classes on Schoology to find “College Advisory” to see regular updates, calendar reminders, and resources.

Individual counseling sessions and family appointments will be scheduled as requested.

SENIOR PARENT COLLEGE PLANNING NIGHT

When: Tuesday, September 19
Time: 7:00-9:00 pm
Where: DLS Theatre

The College Counselors, Janet Appel and Esther Lopez, will provide an overview of all the steps that need to be taken this fall for successful selection, application, and acceptance to colleges and universities. This meeting will cover different material from that presented at the Junior parents meeting last February. Please don’t miss it! Call Mrs. Appel, Ext. 8128, or Ms. Lopez, Ext. 8103, or email at appelj@dlshs.org or lopeze@dlshs.org if you have questions.

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS REPRESENTATIVES VISIT DE LA SALLE:

Representatives from the Admissions Offices of over 100 colleges and universities nationwide (and some abroad) are visiting from September through December. These meetings are valuable personal contacts with college admissions officers who can provide specific information, answer questions, and assess qualifications. Many are also responsible for reviewing applications from De La Salle students.

• Seniors and Juniors should check the Naviance website for an updated schedule of college visits. The college visit list is also included on the DLS website/Campus Life/Guidance Services Department/College: https://sites.google.com/a/dlshs.org/college-counseling/home/college-representative-visits .
• Students should sign up electronically on Naviance, print out their confirmation page and have their teacher sign it at least one day ahead of time to attend the visit. Detailed instructions are included on the college visit schedule sign up link on Naviance.

In addition, many college representatives will hold evening or weekend meetings in the area for students and parents from local high schools. Announcements of these presentations will be listed on Naviance, as well as posted on the bulletin board near the attendance office in the Student Services Building.

May 2018

Friday, May 4: College T-Shirt Day
Seniors, wear college gear from your college! Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshmen: Wear college gear from any college of your choice.

JUNIORS: East Bay College Fair: Saturday, May 5th, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Saint Mary’s College (www.stmarys-ca.edu/ebcc). Workshops begin at 12:15 p.m.

Testing Dates:

SAT:

Register at www.sat.org.

Next round of SAT tests will begin in August.

ACT:

Register at www.actstudent.org

APRIL 2018

COLLEGE PREVIEW NIGHT FOR JUNIORS AND THEIR PARENTS: Wednesday, April 18, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at DLS Hofmann Center.

EAST BAY COLLEGE FAIR: Saturday, May 5th, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Saint Mary’s College (www.stmarys-ca.edu/ebcc). Workshops begin at 12:15 p.m.

Testing Dates:

Register at www.sat.org.

Register at www.actstudent.org

PLANNING AHEAD TO PAY FOR COLLEGE: Tuesday, March 6^th at 7:00 p.m. in the Hofmann Center.

COLLEGE PREVIEW NIGHT FOR JUNIORS AND THEIR PARENTS: Wednesday, April 18, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at DLS Hofmann Center.

Testing Dates:

Register at www.sat.org.

Register at www.actstudent.org

Testing Dates:

Register at www.sat.org.

Register at www.actstudent.org

*Juniors, take note: Juniors are strongly advised to wait to take the SAT and ACT until one of these (*) dates. Details about these tests will be discussed in the Juniors’ small group meetings and the Junior Parent College Planning night (see below). For questions about these tests before those meetings, please contact one of the college counselors.

Fee waivers are available for SAT & ACT for students with significant financial need. See one of the College Counselors for more information.

Additional Dates to remember:

February 27: DVC Assessment Testing - 2 p.m. in the DLS Computer Lab

March 6: Planning ahead to Pay for College - 7 p.m. in the Hofmann Student Center (all are invited!)

Testing Dates:

Register at www.sat.org.

Register at www.actstudent.org

*Juniors, take note: Juniors are strongly advised to wait to take the SAT and ACT until one of these (*) dates. Details about these tests will be discussed in the Juniors’ small group meetings and the Junior Parent College Planning night (see below). For questions about these tests before those meetings, please contact one of the college counselors.

Fee waivers are available for SAT & ACT for students with significant financial need. See one of the College Counselors for more information.