College Career Center Newsletter

Happy New Year! We can’t believe it’s already your final semester at Samohi (cue the sad face with a tear). We hope Winter Break gave you some well-deserved rest and time to recharge as we head into this exciting and important semester.

As the college application process begins to slow down, please remember that while most college and university deadlines have passed, a few schools still have later deadlines. Our focus now shifts to financial aid and scholarships, including completing the FAFSA and, for some schools, the CSS Profile.

With the new semester officially underway, stay focused and continue to give it your best effort. Seniors, your grades still matter, and colleges will review your final semester performance.

Keep up the great work, and remember: if you have any questions, feel free to stop by before school, during lunch, or after school. You can also schedule a meeting anytime.

We’re cheering you on as you finish strong!

If you haven’t opened your college portals yet, now is the time to do so. They contain important information, including admission decisions, potential missing requirements, financial aid award letters, and more.

If a college asks you to create an account, make sure to do so by setting up a username and password. Be sure to store this login information in a secure place to avoid forgetting it later.

Most private and out-of-state colleges and universities require a Mid-Year Transcript, which includes your first-semester senior year grades.

If you have already submitted an application, we will automatically send your Mid-Year Transcript through SchooLinks.

Note: CSU and UC campuses typically do not require a Mid-Year Transcript; however, be sure to check your application portal regularly for any updates or additional requests.

Samohi Scholarship Program is up and running, please follow steps below and submit everything by 2/1/26.

STEP 1: View the 2026 Samohi’s Scholarship List with criteria and requirements

• Note that scholarship titles that begin with an “*” require additional documents.
• If the scholarship title DOES NOT have an “*” it DOES NOT require any additional materials; only complete the Samohi Scholarship Application.

STEP 2A: Selection of Scholarships Applying To & Completion of Samohi Scholarship Application (REQUIRED via SchooLinks)

Complete your 2026 Samohi Scholarship Application in SchooLinks

• Once logged in,
  • Home page -> “To Dos” -> Samohi Scholarship Application
  • Click “Start” and if you haven’t already reviewed these Application Steps, click on the link provided
  • Click “Next” (towards bottom)
  • Click “Start Survey” and start to fill out the application (similar to the Brag Sheet)
  • You will be prompted to select the scholarships you to apply to the third question; make sure you select all that apply
    • This question is CRITICAL as towards the end of the Application, you will be prompted to upload additional document(s) based on these responses
  • Complete thoughtfully and thoroughly! This is what scholarship donors will review.

  A template of the questions can be found here; use it to draft your responses, then copy and paste onto the Samohi Scholarship Application in SchooLinks

STEP 2B: Additional Material Submission

To submit your additional document(s) for scholarship titles with an “*”:

• You will be prompted to upload documents within the Samohi Scholarship Application
  • If a scholarship isn’t coming up, it’s because you haven’t selected it in the third question (Select Scholarships Applying to)
  • Be sure to have all materials ready before beginning this step

FAFSA is open!

Seniors who want to be considered for federal, state (Cal Grant & SMC’s Promise Program), and in some cases, institutional aid, the FAFSA or CADAA is required, and for some colleges, so is the CSS Profile.

CSS Profile is NOW open. Please see the CSS Profile Participating Institutions and Programs list to see if the institution(s) you are applying too will require the profile.

FAFSA is proposed to open in December but you can create your FSA ID # now. Creating FSA ID

Check the college's respective financial aid website to confirm what is required and by when.

Cash for College Workshop online webinars:

Get help with your FAFSA/CADAA online - Register here:

https://www.csac.ca.gov/c4c

Cash for College Workshops in person:

Get help with your FAFSA/CADAA in person

https://cash4college.csac.ca.gov/

We have a wonderful relationship with the #1 Community College SMC. Please do not wait to submit your application and do all the matriculation steps to receive priority enrollment.

Because SchooLinks is a new, schoolwide college and career platform, all students must activate their accounts.

To log in to SchooLinks, go to https://app.schoolinks.com/, click Log in with Google, and sign in using your SMMK12 username and password. You may also access SchooLinks through your Clever account.

Once logged in, please complete the onboarding steps. This process takes approximately 10–15 minutes. Be sure to read each prompt carefully, as your responses and preferences will personalize your SchooLinks experience.

If you have any questions as you work through the tools and assessments, feel free to stop by the College Career Center before school, during lunch, or after school. You may also email us or send a message through SchooLinks by clicking the envelope icon in the top-right corner.

What is a Brag Sheet?

A Brag Sheet is a document required by your teachers and advisor if you are requesting a letter of recommendation for college applications. It helps them get to know you beyond grades and test scores so they can write a strong, personalized letter. It’s never too early to start working on one.

Please complete the Google Doc version of the Brag Sheet found HERE. Once finished, save it and store it in your “College” folder. You can return to it at any time to update or add new information.

This document will be especially helpful during the first semester of your senior year, so getting started now will save you time later.

If you have any questions, feel free to stop by or reach out!

If you can’t visit colleges in person, be sure to check out their virtual tours! They’re just a click away and a great way to explore campuses from the comfort of home. Don’t miss the opportunity to get a feel for the schools you’re interested in!

Scholarship search engines:

• Unigo.com
• Scholarships.com
• Fastweb.com

We understand that this can be a stressful time, and we want you to know that we're here for you. Take a moment to breathe. It’s easy to get caught up in the chaos, so remember to pause, relax, and reconnect with yourself. Just breath!

We’re here for you! We’ve got your back. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. It’s always best to clarify things before submitting your applications. You can make an appointment with us, or feel free to drop by before school, during lunch, or after school. We’re eager to help you succeed!