Class of 2027 Fall newsletter

We hope you are as excited as we are for your final year of high school! We are here to help you reach your post-secondary goals, whether you are applying to a university, going to community college to transfer or learn a trade, or entering the world of work. This newsletter is sent to your school email and also posted to the school website. Make sure you read it to stay in the know for all things Class of 2027! Here are some tools to help support you this year:

• Senior Year Overview
• Graduate Checklist
• CaliforniaColleges.edu-launch all your college and financial aid applications from here!

High School Codes (CEEB codes) are necessary for standardized test results, such as the ACT and SAT, to reach the proper schools and scholarship programs. You may also be asked for it in a college application.

Yosemite Valley Charter 052194

Monarch River Academy 054941

Join us for live information sessions offered this Fall!

• Slides

• CSU Apply slides
• UC application slides

• Slides
• Scholarship Search
• Tuesday November 3rd at 6pm Zoom link

Fall 2027 Online Application Support

Join a Bulldog Bound webinar to get support with your application to Fresno State! Have your transcripts readily available from all institutions you have attended (high school and/or college). Please join the webinar on a laptop or computer. Please do not join on a mobile device or iPad.

• Tuesday, October 6, 2026, from 6 PM - 8 PM
• Wednesday, October 28, 2026, from 6 PM - 8 PM
• Thursday, November 12, 2026, from 6 PM - 8 PM
• Wednesday, November 25, 2026, from 9 AM - 12 PM

The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) announces "Financial Aid 101" a free one-hour financial aid and application overview. Open and free to all students and their families. These free webinars will provide information to help students and families complete their financial aid applications - Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) - for the 2027-28 academic year to maximize their financial aid eligibility.

The University of California Outreach and Educational Partnerships team invites prospective students and their families to participate in an upcoming webinar about financing a UC education. This session will be hosted twice.
Financing your UC education, Thursday, October 22

• Register for the noon–1 p.m. session
• Register for the 6–7 p.m. session

• Get a head start on college by taking a general education course. You can earn 3 or more college units, 10 high school elective credits, and get a grade point boost to your GPA! It's FREE!
• Interested in a trade? Start the first course in the many pathways available to you-Welding, Construction trades, Medical Assistant, Business, Graphic Art...too many possibilities to list! You can earn 3 or more college units, 10 high school elective credits, and get a grade point boost to your GPA! Best of all...it's FREE!
• Want to be prepared for College and Life in general? Try COUNSELING 53 College and Life Management available through the State Center Community College District. You'll earn 3 college credits, 10 high school elective credits, get a grade point boost to your GPA, and it's transferable to both UCs and CSUs! Here's a list of similar classes at other community colleges. And the best part? That's right, it's FREE!
• Watch these slides for an overview of how to take college classes while in high school. Let your teacher know if you're interested or make an appointment with your counselor.

Our high schools are happy to announce our partnership with CaliforniaColleges.edu for College & Career Exploration. This platform provides the tools to match student interests and skills to college and career opportunities. Take career assessments and use search tools to develop college, major, and career lists, write goals and journals, track activities, and read and complete lessons on all things college, career, and financial aid! You can also launch Cal State Apply, CCCApply, the UC application and your financial aid application right from their account! It's a one-stop shop for planning your future!

All students have been assigned tasks to complete during each LP. Please make sure you have completed the LP 2 tasks. Here is your task for LP 3:

☐ Click on My Plan in the top navigation bar, then select Lessons

☐ Under College and Career, complete 12th Grade Module 1 and 2: Preparing for College and Applying to College

Please launch all your college and financial aid applications from CaliforniaColleges.edu!

Here are some tips to help you build a better, cost-conscious college list:

1. Include Variety: Apply to a variety of types of colleges with varying costs. Be sure you include at least one private, public, and community college on your list, as well as at least one "meets needs" university.
2. Know Your Budget: Now is the time to have conversations with your family about how much they can afford to pay out of pocket and if you have any savings.
3. Get Estimates: Use Net Price Calculators and the Federal Student Aid Estimator to give yourself an idea of what your cost might be.
4. Do Your Homework: Learn about the post-graduation outcomes for each of the colleges you’re interested in.

Camp College is a seven-session virtual college application bootcamp by The Western Association of College Admission Counseling (WACAC) that is free and open to all students in the graduating class of 2027. Each session will include a presentation and advice from experts.

The schedule of topics is as follows:

• Building Your College List
• How College Application Decisions Are Made
• Getting Started on App Essays and Activity Lists
• Avoiding Missed Opportunities on Your College Application
• Personal Writing for the Common App and UC App
• Ask the Experts Q&A Session
• Financial Aid

Watch the playlist here.

Trusted by over 70 million people annually, NICHE is on a mission to make researching and enrolling in schools and colleges easy, transparent, and free.

With data-driven rankings, profiles of every institution in the country, millions of student and alumni reviews, and a national direct admissions program, Niche helps sutdents and families find their best-fit schools.

Fresno State Feria de Education

Saturday, October 24, 2026

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

CSU Monterey Bay Open House

Saturday, October 17, 2026

9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.

CSU Stanislaus -Warrior Expo

Saturday, October 17, 2026

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Visit CSU Bakersfield in March

See more CSU campuses here

UC Berkeley: College Information Day Saturday October 24th 9am-3pm

UC Davis: Open House events throughout October

UC Irvine: Fall programming

UCLA: Fall programming

UC Merced: Fall Events

UC Riverside: Virtual Fall Preview Nov 16-20

UC San Diego: Fall Showcases

UC Santa Barbara: no Fall programming

UC Santa Cruz: non Fall on campus programming

See our full 2026-2027 Preparing for College Calendar here

Common application open

• Students who wish to apply to a 4-year college or university should contact the respective schools' admissions websites for application information. More than 700 colleges participate in the Common Application; students can submit one application to multiple colleges.

• Apply to college with Common App | Your future starts here

• Application Guide

UC applications open

Students who wish to apply to a UC for Fall 2027 must complete an application. The personal statement has been updated, so students should review the new personal insight questions; they must answer 4 of the eight questions. Each application costs $80. Deadline is November 30th.

• Application: UC application

• Minimum admission requirements

• Personal Insight Questions

CSU applications open

Students who wish to apply to a CSU for Fall 2027 must complete an application. The CSU uses A-G course completion and GPA to make admission decisions, but has temporarily suspended using the SAT/ACT. Each application costs $70. Deadline is November 30th.

• Cal State Apply | CSU

• Freshman: Admission Requirements

Community college applications open

Students who wish to apply to a community college for Fall 2027 must research the application deadlines for their community college. Community colleges will have different admission timelines and application deadlines for priority registration. However, most colleges recommend you apply early to maximize outreach opportunities, typically October - December.

• California Community Colleges - Find a College

• Community College Application

CA Community College Applying for Admission

• Fresno City College New Student Help

• Reedley City College New Student Help

• Clovis Community Application Instructions, Clovis Community College: Welcome Center, Playlist

• Merced Community College New Student Help

• Monterey Peninsula College New Student Help

• Hartnell College New Student Help

• Gavilan College New Student Help

• The priority application period for the Fall 2027 semester: September 1st -March 1st

CSU Fresno, Monterey Bay, Bakersfield and all other California State Universities:

• Application help: High School Guidance - First-Time First-Year Students | CSU

• Application period: October 1 - November 30

UC Merced and all other University of California campuses:

• Application help: Applying as a freshman | UC Admissions

• Admissions Workshops | Undergraduate Admissions| UC Merced

• Application period: August 1 - November 30

Colleges using the Common Application: An application guide for first-time students

Don't forget our information session:

While UC (University of California), CSU (California State University), and many private colleges are not requiring the SAT or ACT for admission, some colleges may use scores for placement and some scholarships may request scores with applications. Please research whether the SAT or ACT will benefit you!

• Check here to see if your school requires test scores.
• Click here for information about Fee Waivers.
• Go here for free SAT prep from the College Board and Khan Academy or here for a free SAT Boot Camp through Schoolhouse!

Find out more about Apprenticeships here. Check out some options below.

Interested in serving your country, learn new skills, and earn competitive benefits? Explore the individual service branches and opportunities available including full-time and part-time options here.

Find the service commitment option that fits your goals.

The FAFSA application opened on October 1st.

Prepare now by creating an FSA ID, the first step in the financial aid process.

The CADAA application (for undocumented or mixed-status families) is open now.

Need Help?

Attend our information session:

• Tuesday October 20th at 6pm Zoom link

Voice of Democracy

Deadline 10/31/26

The national first-place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college, or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships ranges from $1,000 to $21,000, and the first-place winner from each VFW Department (state) receives at least a $1,000 scholarship. Students interested in participating must submit their audio essay prepared on this year's theme, with a completed 2025-2026 entry form, to their local participating VFW Post. Find your sponsoring local VFW Post as essays must be turned in by midnight, Oct. 31.

The Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards

Deadline 11/1/26

The Youth Awards honor Latinx high school seniors who excel in the classroom and community and for their excellence in various categories including: Community Service, Education, Engineering, Entrepreneurship & Business, Green Sustainability, Healthcare & Science, Media & Entertainment, Public Service & Social Justice and Technology.

Eligibility:

• Be currently enrolled in high school or home school program and graduating in the spring of 2027
• Must have a minimum unweighted 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale or 7.5 on a 10.0 scale
• Must enroll at an accredited higher education institution in 2026-2027
• Be of Hispanic heritage (includes Spain, Brazil, Philippines)
• If selected, attendance to the virtual regional awards ceremony is mandatory

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

Deadline: 11/11/26

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship is the largest undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend the nation’s best four-year colleges and universities. In addition to the monetary award, Cooke Scholars receive comprehensive educational advising, significant cohort-based programming, and graduate school funding. Students must have a 3.5 GPA and unmet financial need. Families making up to $95,000 will be considered.

Fresno State Smittcamp Family Honors College Scholarship

Deadline 12/10/2026

The Fresno State Smittcamp Family Honors College Scholarship is awarded to 50 incoming freshmen per year who are admitted to the honors college. This award covers in-state tuition and includes credit for a dorm room on campus! Open to students in the top 10% of their class or a minimum of a 3.8 high school GPA (grades 9-11). Application opened October 1st. Attend a Zoom webinar for more information

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Attend our information session Scholarship Search

Thursday November 6th at 6pm Zoom link

Click on the button below for our Central Schools Scholarship Bulletin for more scholarships!

• How to create a high school resume (video, tips, and template) with limited work experience
• High school resume template (editable Google Doc)
• Sample high school resume (pdf with explanations of the different sections as well as a word bank of action verbs)

• 📩 Need a letter of recommendation? Fill out this form and make an appointment with us using our link.
• Need an unofficial copy of your transcript? Download from the parent portal, email us or contact your IST.
• Need an official copy of your high school transcript? Request one here

Last Names A-Le

carmen.marroquin@centralvcs.org

(209) 720-7177

Schedule an appointment

Last Names Li-Z

yessenia.medina@centralvcs.org

209-720-7577

Schedule an appointment