SENIOR NEWSLETTER

You've made it! This is your last year of high school! With it will come special memories, as well as responsibilities and deadlines. The more you stay focused, the more opportunities you will have to enjoy your senior year, while keeping your options after high school open.

At the start of your senior year, make sure to:

• Check your transcript for any errors, including credits, GPA and community service hours
• Make sure you know what the plan is to meet all graduation and college application requirements
• Plan out all important dates and deadlines for your personal college and career plan
• Contact your counselor if you need to make up any classes!

Last Names: A - G

Grades: 7th - 13th

Email: christine.araki@sweetwaterschools.org

Calendly: https://calendly.com/ms-araki

Last Names: H - Mt

Days: Tuesdays/Thursdays 8:00AM - 3:15PM

Grades: 7th - 13th

Email: ivan.kerber@sweetwaterschools.org

Calendly: https://calendly.com/ivan-kerber-sweetwaterschools

Last Names: Mu - Z

Grades: 7th-13th

Email: karen.saiki@sweetwaterschools.org

NEW!!! On December 16th, the SUSHD School Board approved the implementation of the California Graduation Plan for eligible Seniors. We are still waiting for the required paperwork. Counselors will reach out to students who qualify. If you have any questions, please contact your counselor. Students who do not qualify will remain on the SUHSD 44 credit plan.

NEW!!! Effective December 2024, SUHSD School Board has reduced the number of required community service hours from 30 to 10.

All community service hours must be pre-approved by the student's Academic Coach prior to completing hours. If you do not go through the pre-approval process, you are at risk of your hours not being counted towards graduation.

Please download the Community Service form here. Hard copies can be made available at Mission Control.

California State University (CSU)

• Filing period is October 1 – December 1 (priority deadline)

• www2.calstate.edu/apply

University of California (UC)

• Filing period is November 1 – December 1

• www.universityofcalifornia.edu

Private Colleges

• Deadlines will vary, so check with each school

• https://www.commonapp.org/

There are 23 campuses in the CSU system, from as far south as San Diego State University to Humboldt State in northern California.

Interested in applying to a CSU? Review the admissions requirements to make sure you are eligible.

Unsure which campus you're interested in? Explore the 23 campuses and programs they offer.

There are 9 campuses in the UC system, from UC San Diego to UC Davis.

Interested in applying to a UC? Review the admissions requirements to make sure you are eligible.

Unsure which campus you're interested in? Explore the 9 campuses and programs they offer.

Information shared by SDSU Compact for Success

Information shared by Marivel Rojas, CSUSM Director of Recruitment.

Click the image below for the PLNU Admissions Presentation:

Thinking about going to a college or university outside of California? Check out the Western Undergraduate Exchange program! WUE is America's largest regional interstate tuition savings program.

Explore the 569 HSIs in 28 different states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico

Explore the 79 HBCU's by location, cost and ranking

Interested in going to college and serving your country as a military officer? Find out more about the military academies, their admissions requirements and programs:

• Army (West Point)
• Merchant Marines (Kings Point)
• Navy (Annapolis)
• Coast Guard (New London)
• Air Force (Colorado Springs)

Explore the Ivy Leagues, some of the most competitive colleges and universities

Explore the colleges known as the Seven Sisters to the Ivy League colleges

There are 116 community colleges in California offering different options from certificate programs to four year college or university transfer pathways. In order to be admitted to a CA community college, students must have a high school diploma or be 18 years old.

Explore the California Community College system!

Ready to apply? Start your application here.

Interested in attending Southwestern College next year? Meet with our Southwestern College Peer Ambassador!

Our Peer Ambassador is a current SWC student who is trained by the Outreach Office to assist students with the college application and can advise you on the programs that are offered through SWC.

Scholarships are available to all Launch Virtual Academy students, grades 7th-12th, but the majority of scholarships will target students in their 11th and 12th grade years.

Stay up-to-date on local scholarships by accessing the Launch Virtual Academy Scholarship Bulletin. This is a live document that is updated on an on-going basis.

Most scholarships will require letters of recommendation. Please use the Request for Letter of Recommendation form and give your recommender at least two weeks notice before a scholarship or college application deadline.

You are also welcome to use any of the national scholarship search engines like Fastweb, Niche or Big Future. Always remember to use a critical eye when reviewing scholarship requirements. You should never pay to apply to a scholarship. When in doubt, reach out to your counselor!

• All students planning on attending a four-year, two-year or vocational college should plan on completing the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application

• Did you know that first-time community college students may qualify for the California Community Colleges Promise Grant, which waives all enrollment fees, including tuition? Find out more!

• Priority deadline is March 2, 2027

• Apply for the FAFSA here

• Apply for the CADAA here

• Saturday, October 17: Castle Park High School, 9AM - 12PM, 1395 Hilltop Dr, Chula Vista, CA 91911
• Wednesday, October 28: Virtual via Zoom, 5:00PM - 7:00PM
• Saturday, November 11: Chula Vista High School, 9AM - 12PM, 820 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91911
• Wednesday, October 28: Virtual via Zoom, 5:00PM - 7:00PM
• Saturday, January 23: Sweetwater Union High School, 9AM - 12PM, 2900 Highland Avenue, National City, CA 91950
• Wednesday, January 27: Virtual via Zoom, 5:00PM - 7:00PM
• Saturday, February 20: Southwest High School, 9AM - 12PM, 1685 Hollister Street, San Diego, CA 92154
• Wednesday, February 24: Virtual via Zoom, 5:00PM - 7:00PM

What kind of life do you want after high school? CaliforniaColleges.edu will help you figure it out and give you the tools to make it happen.

• Discover your interests and values.
• Find careers, colleges, or training to reach your goals.
• Learn how to find money to pay for college.
• Launch college and financial aid applications.
• Monitor all your progress in one place.

Stay up-to-date on these and other events: LVA Counselor Corner Calendar

August

• Meet with your counselor to review your credits and graduation progress
• Sign up for credit recovery if you need to make up any missing credits
• Start applying for scholarships (an ongoing process)
• August 14th: Progress Report #1
• Seniors: Attend the Cal-SOAP Future Forward College and Career Conference on Saturday, August 22nd at 8AM at Hilltop High School

September

• September 2nd: SUHSD College and Career Fair @Montgomery High School
• September 2nd: UCSD Informational Webinar, 5:30PM - 6:30PM
• September 4th: Senior Credit Check forms sent via email to students and parents/guardians
• September 4th: Progress Report #2
• September 9th: Point Loma Nazarene University Informational Webinar, 5:30PM - 6:30PM
• September 9th: CalSOAP's UC PIQs and College Essays webinar, RSVP here
• September 10th: Attend Senior Parent Night, online at 5PM
• September 16th: CSU San Marcos Informational Webinar, 5:30PM - 6:30PM
• Finish your Q1 classes during the Fall Break, if necessary
• September 18th: Q1 Final Grades
• September 21 - October 5: Fall Break
• September 23rd: San Diego Community College District Informational Webinar (Mesa, City and Miramar), 5:30PM - 6:30PM

October

• October 1st: FAFSA and CADAA open for 2027-2028 Financial Aid awards
• Attend Cal-SOAP Senior JumpStart on Saturday, October 1st at 8AM at San Diego High School
• October 17: Cash for College Workshop at Castle Park High School, 8:30AM - 12:00PM
• Begin/Continue to complete community service hours for high school, college & scholarships. Aim for good grades…A’s & B’s.
• Begin applying for scholarships (an ongoing process).
• High School: If you want to participate in Division I or Division II sports in college, start the certification process. Check with your counselor to make sure you are taking a core curriculum that meets NCAA requirements

November

• November 14th: Cash for College Workshop at Chula Vista High School, 8:30AM - 12:00PM
• Have a discussion with your parents about the colleges in which you are interested. Examine financial resources, and gather information about financial aid. Set up a filing system with individual folders for each college’s correspondence.
• Think about college majors and career areas that correspond with your abilities/interests. Begin collecting work samples for colleges that may require a portfolio.
• Meet with your counselor to review the courses you’ve taken and see what you still need to take. Even if your grades haven’t been that good so far, it’s never too late to improve. Colleges like to see an upward trend.

December

• Take a long, hard look at why you want to continue your education after high school so you will be able to choose the best college or university for your needs.
• Make a list of colleges that meet your most important criteria (size, location, distance from home, majors, academic rigor, housing, and cost). Weigh each of the factors according to their importance to you.
• Finish your Q2 classes during the Winter Break, if necessary
• Winter Break: December 21 - January 12

January

• January 13th: Students return
• January 23rd: Cash for College Workshop at Sweetwater Union High School, 8:30AM - 12:00PM
• Start Quarter 3 strong!
• Meet with your counselor to review your grad plan progress. Sign up for credit recovery if you need to make up any missing credits
• Collect information about college application procedures, entrance requirements, tuition/fees, room and board costs, activities, course offerings, faculty, accreditation, and financial aid. The Internet is a good way to visit colleges and obtain this information. Begin comparing the schools by the factors that you consider to be most important.
• VISIT Colleges!

February

• February 20th: Cash for College Workshop at Southwest High School, 8:30AM - 12:00PM
• Stay involved with your extracurricular activities. Colleges look for consistency and depth in activities.

March

• Submit FAFSA/CADAA by March 2nd
• Finish your Q3 classes during the Spring Break, if necessary
• Spring Break: March 22 - April 5

April

• Apply for a summer job, internships and/or continue to do community service.

May

• May 5th: Deadline to submit community service hours documentation
• Scholarship and Awards Ceremony (TBA)

June

• Graduation Ceremony (TBA)

Our counseling team tracks and monitors Individual Student Learning Plans following SUHSD counseling guidelines in order to meet the student’s post-secondary aspirations; college and/or career goals.