Senior Year Guide Class of 2026

Our upcoming college visits can be found HERE.

Westview's CEEB Code: 052986

Term you are applying for: Fall 2026

Grading System/Term Type: Semester (NOT Quarter)

Class Size: 526

Class Rank: PUSD does NOT rank students

Graduation Date: June 4, 2026

Here is a quick reference guide on the different application types and requirements for each application. Please review the comparison chart below.

Example Teacher Letter of Recommendation Brag Sheet

Letter of recommendation counselor requests/appointments for Early Decision and/or Early Action will begin on September 15, 2025. Requests/appointments for Regular Decision will begin on October 13, 2025. All counselor letter of recommendation requests must be received by December 5, 2025.

Please verify if the colleges/universities that you applied to require mid-year transcripts and reports. Most UC & CSU campuses do not require mid-year grades, but some do. Please check your online portal to see if these need to be sent. In order to have the colleges receive these materials, you will need to complete the Mid-Year Report Counselor Request Form. It is critical that you confirm the accuracy of your grades in Synergy prior to completing the form. Once received, we will be submitting via Common App or Xello on a weekly basis. Make sure the colleges you applied to are accurate in Xello and in your Common App account. You can start requesting mid-year reports on January 5, 2026. The deadline to submit your mid-year report request is February 13, 2026. Please contact your counselor with any questions.

SCOIR will no longer be used for college and career planning. We're now using Xello as our official college and career planning platform.

Xello is a comprehensive online college, career, and future readiness platform. It's designed to help students discover who they are, explore post-secondary options, and create plans for the future. Students can research various colleges, universities, trade schools, military options, and career paths, exploring career clusters, understanding requirements, and envisioning their future. You can access Xello through MyPlan. For any questions or concerns regarding Xello, please reach out to Mrs. Beccarelli.

Login to MyPlan and find the CaliforniaColleges App to Access your Account

CaliforniaColleges.edu Informational Flyer

CaliforniaColleges.edu is California’s state-funded, comprehensive, digital platform with the tools students need to develop their college and career plans, available at no cost to students, educators, and parents/guardians in public school districts. Whether students are pursuing postsecondary education or going directly into a career or the military, CaliforniaColleges.edu empowers students for college and career success. Students will be able to:

Academic Planning:

• Track coursework, grades, and progress toward graduation requirements (including A-G requirements for CSU/UC).

Application Support:

• Launch and track applications for California Community Colleges, CSU, UC, and financial aid (FAFSA/CADAA).

Career Exploration:

• Discover potential career paths based on interests and strengths, and learn about the steps needed to achieve career goals.

College Planning:

• Search for colleges, explore majors, and track application deadlines.

Portfolio Building:

• Create a portfolio to store documents, track experiences, and reflect on goals.

Progress Monitoring:

• Track progress toward college and career goals and access resources for financial aid.

This Community College Bachelor's Degree Programs quick reference guide, highlights the California Community Colleges that now offer 4-year bachelor’s degree programs. The overview includes a snapshot of each program along with enrollment details, estimated costs, and projected career pathways.

California Community Colleges (CCC) are public, two-year colleges. No matter where you live in California, there's probably a CCC pretty close to you. There are 115 physical campuses all over the state.

Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) is here to make sure students disadvantaged by social, economic, educational or linguistic barriers get the resources they need to enroll and succeed at any California community college. How? By offering comprehensive academic and support counseling, financial aid and a bevy of other services aimed at keeping students from dropping out and helping them reach their educational and career goals. Click Here to find out more information.

Please complete your financial aid application, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) OR the California Dream Act Application (CADAA). The state priority deadline is March 2, 2026. Meeting this deadline is required to qualify for a Cal Grant, Middle Class Scholarship (MCS), and other state financial aid. Submitting by the priority deadline ensures that students can compete for the maximum amount of state and institutional aid available.

It is important that you, as the student, begin the application first. After you complete your portion, your parent/guardian will then complete their section. Each portion takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. You may be surprised at how simple the process is.

You now have a CaliforniaColleges.edu account through MyPlan, which you’ll use to launch and track your financial aid application (FAFSA/CADAA). Tracking your application through your account allows us to monitor your progress - whether you’ve launched, submitted, or completed your application. Please note, we do not have access to view any personal information you include.

Launching your application through CaliforniaColleges.edu is simple and quick. Be sure to log in through MyPlan only - do not create a separate account, since you already have one set up.

For step-by-step guidance, watch the video below and review the Financial Aid Information section of the Senior Year Guide.

How to Launch Your Financial Aid Application from CaliforniaColleges.edu

Additional Resources

• To support students and families, the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), offers free Cash for College webinars where expert staff offer financial aid walk-throughs and answer questions. We encourage you to register here for a free webinar.

• CSAC is also offering office hour webinars (5:30 - 6:30 pm) to provide hands-on support in completing the FAFSA and CADAA. Register here for a free webinar.

Review the cheat sheet on the types of California financial aid.

To apply for federal student aid, such as federal grants, work-study funds, and loans, you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. Completing and submitting the FAFSA form is free, and it gives you access to the largest source of financial aid to help pay for college or career school. The state priority deadline is March 2, 2026.

In addition, many states and colleges use your FAFSA information to determine your eligibility for state and school aid, and some private financial aid providers may use your FAFSA information to determine whether you qualify for their aid.

25-26 FAFSA Updates Presentation

FAFSA FAQ

Filling Out the FAFSA® Form

Who Counts as a Parent on the FAFSA?

6 Things Students need before they Fill Out the FAFSA Form

Pro Tips for the FAFSA Form

FAFSA Help Center

What Happens after Submitting your FAFSA Form

Understanding Work-Study Jobs

Understanding Loans

Learn About the FAFSA Submission Summary

Quick Reference Guide on Creating and Using an FSA ID - Creating your StudentAid.Gov Account

The California Dream Act Application (CADAA) allows undocumented students, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients (valid or expired), U Visa holders and students under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), who qualify for a non-resident exemption under Assembly Bill 540 (AB 540), Senate Bill 2000 (SB 2000) and Senate Bill 68 (SB 68), to receive certain types of financial aid such as: private scholarships funded through public universities, state administered financial aid, university grants, community college fee waivers, and Cal Grants. In addition, the California Dream Act, allows eligible students to pay in-state tuition at any public college in California. The state priority deadline is March 2, 2026.

For additional information, visit the Resources for the California Dream Act Application.

CADAA for Mixed-Status Families

California Dream Act Application FAQ

The CSS Profile is an online application used by some colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid. Check your colleges’ information to determine whether they require the CSS Profile. A list of participating school is available online.

The application opens on October 1. Schools may have different deadlines - be sure to check with each school you are applying to. The CSS Profile may only be submitted through the sign on link available at cssprofile.org.

It's important to note that, even if a college requires the CSS Profile, students should still complete the FAFSA to maximize their eligibility for financial aid opportunities.

A Cal Grant is a California-specific financial aid grant that does not need to be paid back. It's designed to help eligible California students pay for college expenses at various qualifying institutions within the state. To qualify, you must apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) by the March 2, 2026 state priority deadline and meet eligibility and financial requirements as well as any minimum GPA requirements. Cal Grants can be used at any University of California, California State University, or California Community College, as well as qualifying independent and career colleges or technical schools in California. There are three kinds of Cal Grants - A, B, and C - but you don't have to figure out which one to apply for. Your eligibility will be based on your FAFSA or CADAA responses, your verified Cal Grant GPA, the type of California colleges you list on your FAFSA and whether you're a recent high school graduate.

After you have filed a FAFSA or CADAA, you can go online and check the status of your Cal Grant application by visiting WebGrants for Students and creating an account. This secure site provides you with resources, information, and tools to assist you with the college financial aid process. It will also let you view the status of your Cal Grant or Chafee Grant application, update your address, submit corrections, update your college of attendance, or satisfy outstanding requirements.

Your aid offer explains the types and amounts of aid a college is offering you, and your expected costs for the year. If you've been accepted to multiple colleges, compare the costs and aid offers. Accept the aid from the school that's best for you and inform them of other sources of aid (such as scholarships) you expect to receive.

Comparing School Financial Aid Offers

Accepting Financial Aid

Understanding College Costs

CalSOAP will be offering several opportunities this fall for students, families and educators to learn more about college admissions, financial aid, scholarships, and more. Register here.

CSAC Statewide Cash for College Webinars are available through March to help you complete your FAFSA or CADAA. Register here.

California State University (CSU) Application - The California State University (CSU) application is for all 23 campuses within the CSU system. The CSU App simplifies the process of applying to CSU campuses. Once your application is received by Cal State Apply, your application and materials are transmitted to all the campuses you have indicated on your application.

University of California (UC) Application - The University of California's application for undergraduate admissions and scholarships. All University of California campuses use the UC application.

Common Application - The Common Application is a streamlined college application system that allows you to apply to multiple schools at once. Over 1,000 colleges and universities use the Common Application including the majority of private schools and many public institutions. Note that many schools have a supplemental application found on the platform that students will need to complete.

Common Black College Application - The Common Black College App can be used for 67 member Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU's). The cost is $20 and students can apply to as many of the schools as they would like, ranking their top four choices.

Coalition Application - The Coalition for Access, Affordability and Success is a relatively new application option for college admissions which partners with SCOIR. The Coalition App can be used for 170+ college and universities.

California Community Colleges - The California Community Colleges site will connect you with community college applications throughout the state of California.

NOTE: There are some colleges and universities that may require their own application for admission. Please check their college website for more information.

The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is a regional tuition discount program, which enables students from one of 16 WICHE states and territories in the Western U.S. to enroll as nonresidents in 170+ participating public colleges and universities and pay 150 percent (or less) of the enrolling school’s resident tuition. Please visit the WUE website for more information.

Review our College Entrance Exams website to learn more about the SAT and ACT exams. For the latest updates on SAT exam registration and information, please visit College Board. For the latest updates on ACT exam registration and information, please visit ACT.

Many colleges are reviewing their admissions policies in regards to college admissions exams due to COVID-19. Please check each college's website for the most-up-to-date information. For a list of colleges that are test optional, please click here.

Do you enjoy making things, being creative, solving problems, and working in settings that are not in an office environment? The world's economy will experience a major shift in the next decade with an increase in automation across every industry. An estimated 31 million skilled trade workers in the United States retired in 2020, and many of those jobs remain unfilled.

Review the information below to learn more about a career in the military.

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a timed multi-aptitude test designed to determine if you are qualified to enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces and assign the appropriate job in the military. The test covers standard academic areas, such as math and English, but also measures your knowledge of mechanics, electronics, science, and assembling objects. For more information about the ASVAB, click here.