Upward Bound has compiled a list of useful resources for you.
Open the sections below to find a variety of websites and
documents related to college planning and success.
College & Career Resources
Here is a brief list of financial
aid, college, entrance exams and career
planning websites. Take your time with each site; they will
definitely provide great ideas.
Financial Aid
College Sites
College Entrance Exams
Career Planning
Financial Aid
Although many students determine where they will attend college
depending on how much money they will receive through financial
aid, keep in mind that an education should be considered an
investment in your future, not an unwelcome expense.
If you and your family need help paying for your education, there
is considerable financial support available from both public and
private sources. Please read our information on college
expenses, the FAFSA, the Cal Grant and
scholarships.
Formula used for to determine Financial Aid Eligibility
Cost of Attendance – Expected Family Contribution = Amount Needed
Cost of Attendance
When you begin college, you do encounter new bills that you may
have never been responsible for. Here are the most common bills
college students are responsible for:
- Fixed expenses set by the university
- Registration fees
- On-campus (dormitory) housing
- Meal plan
- Expenses that will vary
- Books & course supplies
- Off-campus housing
- Transportation
- Food (snacks and off-campus meals)
- Utilities (phone and cable)
- Personal expenses
- Medical care (all UC students are covered by campus
health insurance)
Keep in mind that these are the general college-related bills.
There may be more that you can avoid if you regulate your
expenses and try to stay away from additional bills (credit cards
for example).
FAFSA
The best known application to fill out in order to
receive financial aid is the Free Application for Student
Federal Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is filled out for any university
you are applying to with a deadline of March 2. It must be filled
out every year up until you graduate from college if you wish to
receive aid.
Financial aid consists of:
- scholarships or grants (that do not have to be paid back)
- loans (that must be paid back; some during the time you are a
student and others with a grace period after you graduate)
- jobs or work-study
Cal Grants
Students who want to be eligible for Cal Grants must
fill out a GPA Verification Form that they can attain from their
high school counselor. This form must also be submitted by the
March 2nd deadline. Here is a short description of Cal Grants:
-
Cal Grant A
- Population Served: Students from low- to
middle-income families
- Type of Assistance: Tuition assistance only
- Application Materials: FAFSA and GPA Verification
Form
- Eligibility Based On: Financial need and GPA of
about 3.0
- Renewal Process: Complete FAFSA annually and
satisfactory academic progress
- Eligibility Time Limit: Freshman will be eligible
until completion of BA/BS or 4 years full-time
- Special Award Categories: Eligible students
attending a CC will have their Cal Grant A placed on
“reserve” once they enter a CSU or UC
-
Cal Grant B
- Population Served: Students from disadvantaged to
low-income families
- Type of Assistance: Living expenses first year;
tuition fees and living expenses afterwards
- Application Materials: FAFSA and GPA Verification
Form
- Eligibility Based On: Financial need and GPA, family
size, parents educational level, and whether or not student
is from a single parent family
- Renewal Process: Complete FAFSA annually and
satisfactory academic progress
- Eligibility Time Limit: Freshman will be eligible
until completion of BA/BS or 4 years full-time
- Special Award Categories: Students enrolled at a CC
who will be transferring to a four-year university can then
receive one of 250 “special awards”
-
Cal Grant C
- Population Served: Students from low- to
middle-income families
- Type of Assistance: Tuition fees and books/supplies
- Application Materials: FAFSA and GPA Verification
Form
- Eligibility Based On: Financial need, educational
history, GPA
- Renewal Process: Satisfactory academic progress
- Eligibility Time Limit: 2 years max
- Special Award Categories: NONE
For Cal Grants, students must be a US citizen, permanent resident
or eligible non-resident; be a California resident attending an
eligible California high school; apply prior to March 2nd; not
have received a prior bachelor’s degree; and meet income and GPA
guidelines.
Scholarships
Internet scholarship searches are important resources.
Keep in mind that these are just a few webpages that contain
financial aid information. Ask your school counselors or local
community agencies to recommend additional support. Aid is
available; you just have to apply for it.
College Board
College Entrance Exams
As you apply to colleges during your senior year, you must submit
scores from one of two college entrance exams including the SAT
Reasoning Test and/or the ACT exam.
The Tests
These tests can be nerve-wracking, but they should not stop you
from wanting to apply to college. The more you know about the
testing process, the better you will feel when you take the exam.
These tests are not pass or fail; they measure what you have
learned so far in school. If you do not receive a high score, it
does not mean you will not be eligible for college nor that you
will not graduate from college, but you want to do your best when
you take them.
The list below describes which admissions tests are required for
each system:
UC
- ACT with writing or SAT Reasoning Test
- The UC no longer requires the SAT subject tests, but
certain programs on some campuses recommend them. You can
also use subject tests to satisfy the “a-g” requirements.
CSU
- ACT or SAT Reasoning Test
Independent/Private
- ACT or SAT Reasoning Test
Community College
Make certain that you take the ACT/SAT Reasoning Test by December
of your 12th grade since all UC campuses and some CSU campuses
will not accept the scores after December. We
do not recommend using score choice.
Remember, if you attend a community college after high school and
did not take these exams, when you transfer you are NOT required
to take these exams. However, if you do not attend a community
college and then decide to apply to a UC or CSU, you must meet
their requirements by taking these exams.
The PSAT
Students also have the option of taking the PSAT, a test that
allows you to prepare for the SAT exam which helps in learning
hints and to practice. The fee for the PSAT is $14, but some
programs offer free exams for qualified students. Check with your
school counselor for more information.
Advanced Placement Courses and Exams
These exams are offered in almost all high schools, but are
not required for admission. High schools differ in how many
courses offer the AP exam, but taking these classes will offer a
good indication of what freshman in college will experience in
their college classes. There are many benefits to taking AP
courses:
- preparation for college work
- improves chances of being admitted to a competitive college
- helps explore a possible major
- builds self-confidence for college work
- increases the likelihood that you will graduate from college
AP exams cost $87 each, but some students can qualify for fee
waivers. Get more information on earning college credit
with AP
exams.
Test Preparation
You can prepare for the SAT and ACT exams by:
- taking challenging courses
- reading books
- taking your education seriously
- doing your homework and getting good grades in your exams
Visit the following web sites for more specific information like
application deadlines, test hints and practice problems.
Upward Bound or your school counselor can offer you an exam fee
waiver if you qualify but will not help you cover late fees.
California College Information
If you find yourself questioning whether a college education is
worth all the time and money, consider this:
- a college educated student receives a greater salary than a
non-college graduate
- college graduates tend to receive better health care and
retirement plans
- you choose and receive more options instead of someone else
giving them to you
- you serve as a role model for your family and your community
College is for you because in life you will always be a student!
California’s four major college systems are the California
Community Colleges, California State
Universities, University of California,
and Independent/Private Colleges.
California Community Colleges
There are over 100 community colleges in California that
offer two-year associate degrees and certificate programs.
Many students attend a community college first to take their
prerequisites and then transfer to receive a bachelor’s degree at
a four-year institution. Students at a community college have the
opportunity to meet with an advisor for a Transfer Admission
Guarantee (TAG) or an Intersegmental General Education
Transfer Curriculum (IGETC). IGETC is a series of courses
transfer students take at a community college to satisfy the
lower division general education requirements for both UC and
CSU. It is best to consult with an admissions representative at
the campus you wish to attend.
For more information, visit ASSIST which describes more in
detail the TAG and the IGETC. You can also look at
UC Answers for Transfers. Or learn more about community
college transfers to UC
Davis.
California State University (CSU) System
The CSU system is considered to be the nation’s largest
system of higher education with 23 campuses. Degrees available
include bachelor’s, master’s and a limited number of
doctoral degrees that are offered jointly with the University of
California (UC) and with private institutions in California.
Additionally, the CSU offers Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree
programs for educational administrators.
A great resource is the Cal State Apply
website, which provides an excellent overview of all CSUs
and the degrees/majors available for students. You can also
create a personal email account. This email account allows you to
email university advisors about anything you wish to know. Before
registering for Fall quarter or semester classes at a CSU,
you must take the English and math placement tests, known as the
EPT/ELM exams. Students who applied and are admitted to a CSU
should receive information in the mail about these exams.
The English Placement Test assesses the
reading and writing levels of entering students to place them in
the appropriate classes. You do not have to take the EPT if you
present proof of one of the following:
- A score of 500 or above on the critical reading section of
the SAT Reasoning Test
- A score of 22 or above on the ACT English Test
- A score of 3 or above on either the Language and Composition
or Composition and Literature AP test
- Completion and transfer to CSU of the credits for a college
course that satisfies the CSU General Education requirement in
English Composition, provided such a course was completed with a
grade of C or better
- A score of “Exempt” or “Ready for college-level English
courses” on the CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP) taken along
with the English Language Arts California Standard Test in grade
11
The Entry Level
Mathematics Test must also be
taken before students register for classes; students may not
enroll in any required GE or math course if they do not pass the
ELM test. You do not have to take the ELM if you present proof of
one of the following:
- A score of 550 or above on the mathematics section of the SAT
Reasoning Test
- A score of 550 or above on a SAT Subject Test in Mathematics
(level 1 or level 2)
- A score of 23 or above on the ACT Mathematics Test
- A score of 3 or above on the AP Calculus AB or Calculus BC
exam
- A score of 3 or above on the AP Statistics examination
- Completion and transfer to CSU of a college course that
satisfies the requirement in Quantitative Reasoning, provided
such a course was completed with a grade of C or better
- A score of “Exempt” or “Ready for college-level Mathematics
courses” on the CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP), taken in
grade 11 in conjunction with the CST in Summative High School
Mathematics or Algebra II
- A score of “Conditionally ready for college-level Mathematics
courses” or “Conditional” on the CSU Early Assessment Program
(EAP) taken in grade 11 along with the California Standards Test
in Summative High School Mathematics or Algebra II, provided you
successfully complete a CSU-approved 12th-grade math course that
requires Algebra II as a prerequisite
Exemptions may vary for each institution, so you should check
with each testing office at the university. You must take either
the SAT I or the ACT exam, but you are not required to take the
SAT II exam for admission to CSU. However, if you plan to apply
to both CSU and UC, you must take the SAT II to be eligible for
UC admission.
University of California (UC) System
Considered to be one of the nation’s most prestigious systems of
higher education, the UC system offers
bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees. Undergraduate
education, graduate work and cutting-edge research are all
emphasized. There are currently nine general campuses (Berkeley,
Davis, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, Irvine, Riverside,
Merced and San Diego) and one which only offers professional
programs in health science (UC San Francisco).
All students who are admitted to the UC system as freshmen must
demonstrate their command of the English language by fulfilling
the Entry Level Writing Requirement (formerly known as
Subject A requirement).
Students can meet this requirement by scoring:
- 30 or better on the ACT Combined English/Writing test; or
- 680 or better on the College Board SAT Reasoning Test,
Writing section; or
- 3 or above on either Advanced Placement Examination in
English; or
- 5 or above on an International Baccalaureate High Level
English A exam
- 6 or above on an International Baccalaureate Standard Level
English A exam
Students who have not met the Entry Level Writing Requirement
must take the UC Analytical Writing Placement Examination. During
the examination, students will be required to read a passage and
then write an essay responding to a single topic based on the
content.
Those students who do not pass the examination can still satisfy
the Entry Level Writing Requirement before enrolling in the
University by achieving a satisfactory score on one of the tests
listed above or by completing an acceptable college course in
English composition with a grade of C or better. Students who
have not satisfied the Entry Level Writing Requirement at the
time they enroll in their classes must take a writing course
designated by their campus.
There is a $110 fee for the Analytical Writing Placement
Examination. This fee will be waived if you have already received
a waiver of your UC application fees.
California Independent Colleges
Independent Colleges, known as private colleges,
are very popular among many students for several reasons. Their
smaller student population may mean that classes are smaller and
more intimate so that you can get to know your professor.
Although independent universities may cost more to attend, they
may offer a very good financial aid package for students who
cannot pay for all their college expenses.
California’s independent universities offer tremendous diversity
and specialized support for students. To find out more about a
specific independent university, contact the office of admissions
about application deadlines, how to obtain an
application and fee waiver information.
With all these opportunities to attain a postsecondary education,
you should really consider the value of an education for life.
TRIO Links
This page is designed to give you an opportunity to explore
information on our national organization (COE), regional
organization (WESTOP) and other Trio related programs.
Links to Organizations
Links to Programs
