College and Career Center
C&CC Reception desk (650) 329-3818
Paly's 6-digit CEEB/ACT code is 052350
Paly Link – Primary Resource for C&CC new announcements and updates
Mytonomy – a video-based social network that connects advice seekers and advice givers, to deliver near-peer mentoring about key college and career topics
Post High School Planning Outline
Paly Family Connection – Web-based college exploration and planning tool (from Naviance). If users have misplaced login information distributed during Advisory, please contact Mona Siegel
Palo Alto High School
- School profile – overview of Paly: academics, activities, student population, and contact information; used by college admissions to compare high schools
- Grading key – explanations for notation on Paly grade transcripts
- Graduation requirements – list of courses, subjects and semester credits required for graduation from Paly
- UC approved Paly courses list – list of Paly course titles that meet University of California admission requirements
- Paly Catalog of Courses - list of all classes offered at Paly; revised in March
C&C Center
- Overview of the center – what is here and what goes on
- Staff contact list – Paly directory
- About our staff members – in brief: who does what
- Events and announcements – updates and supplemental information as needed
- Reference materials – available for students and parents to check out from the C&CC
- Viking College and Career Planning Guide – a primary resource; revised in April
College Planning
- Paly Catalog of courses – list of all classes offered at Paly; revised in March
- Standardized tests for college entrance – overview about preparing for and taking standardized tests
- How to calculate GPA for UC – grade point average calculation for students planning to apply to University of California college campuses
- How to calculate GPA for CSU – grade point average calculation for students planning to apply to Cal State University
- CSU-UC Comparison of Admission Requirements for 2012-13 Freshman Admission
- Paly Family Connection – online college and career planning (from Naviance); login information distributed during Advisory; for misplaced login please contact Mona Siegel; you can either Sign In using your login or Enter As Guest, then click the hyperlink topics under About College in the navigation list at left.
- Q & A from “College Admissions: Perfect Storm of Expertise” Presentation by Robin Mamlet & Christine VanDeVelve sponsored by Paly PTSA on Oct. 6, 2011
- California Career Center – your career planning website with tools to help you map your future, whether looking ahead to college, apprenticeship, the military or other options.
For Juniors
- Post high school planning forms – required prior to making an appointment in the C&CC
- UC ELC program – early consideration by University of California for high achieving juniors; updated in April
- UC ELC authorization – form required prior to sending transcript to UC ELC program
- CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP) – college math and English readiness based on 11th grade Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) results
- College Tracking Chart - Juniors
- Post High School Planning Outline
For Seniors
- College Tracking Chart - Seniors
- https://www.facebook.com/PalyCCCSeniors This new Facebook page is intended as a forum for current Paly seniors to ask questions about post high school options and/or college applications. The hope is that students can learn from each others' questions or responses to those questions. If you have a more detailed question than makes sense for a public forum, or one specific to you, contact your College Advisor via email, drop in during brunch or lunch, or make an appointment by coming into the CCC in the Tower building.Ms Cernobori - last names A-K; Ms. Erber - last names L-Z
- Post High School Planning Outline
Choosing a College or University
- About Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA) – information to help you decide whether one of these options would be right for you
- College admission process - rights and responsibilities – what to ask, what to expect, and what to do
- College search tools – web sites to help with choosing a college
- California community colleges
- California universities and colleges
- CaliforniaColleges.edu/ – the state of California's official website that provides information about higher education in California
- U.S. public and private universities, colleges, and community colleges
- Military academies, colleges, and universities
- Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program – out-of-state 2- and 4-year colleges offering reduced tuition
- Learning disabilities resources – for college bound students
- College Honors Programs and Honors Colleges
For Athletes
- Information and strategies for college-bound athletes – information from presentations at NACAC conferences and Naviance member networks
- CBound – CBound can help students navigate the college sports recruiting process
- NCAA resources for college-bound athletes – links to NCAA Clearinghouse resources, initial eligibility at NCAA Division I and II colleges and universities
- Check Paly’s NCAA-approved course list
- NCAA Approved Core Classes for PAUSD (As of 09/14/2011)
College Visits
- Visiting a college campus – tips about what to do before, during, and after visiting a college or university campus
- Questions for Students to Ask a College Representative
- College Visit Checklist – form to use to help you evaluate college visits
- Policy and procedure for parents attending college visits
College Visits to Paly
- College Visits, College Fairs & Events - AND "Admit to Class Form"
- Admit to class form – requires teacher signature giving permission for student to attend during class time
- Questions for Students to Ask a College Representative
College Fair
- About the PAUSD college fair - October 8, 2012 at Gunn – held annually on an October evening at Paly or Gunn
- Colleges attending the fair
- Making the most of a college fair – how to prepare and what to do while there
College Application
- College applications summary – for U.S. and CA public and private universities and colleges, and CA community colleges; updated late September
- Paly deadlines for college applications – Paly deadlines are earlier to make sure student records get to colleges before their deadlines; updated late September
- Registering with Parchment/DocuFide and Ordering Paly Transcripts (pdf)
- Common application – a standard form accepted by many four year colleges: check college web sites
- Common Application Instructions Instructions for completeing the Common App Online
- Unified application for music and performing arts schools – an online form accepted by unified member schools listed on the site
- EDU, Inc. Common Black College Application – an online application delivered by EDU, Inc. to all 33 Historically Black College and University (HBCU) member institutions
University of California
- Entrance requirements for University of California (UC) – list of high school subjects and number of units required by UC; good resource for preparing for most colleges and universities
- Options for Satisfying UC's "A-G" Subject Requirements for Freshman Appicants Applying for 2012-13
- UC Freshman Eligibility for CA Residents – courses, GPA, and exam requirements
- UC Campus Policies and Procedures for Reviewing Freshman Applicants – how different UC campuses evaluate applicants based on ELC status, declared, undeclared, or alternate major, SAT Subject Tests recommended for certain majors
- UC InfoCenter – a new interactive website providing public access to detailed data on undergraduate admissions and enrollment at UC
- UC approved Paly courses list – list of Paly course titles that meet UC admission requirements
- GPA calculation for UC – instructions for high school grade point average calculation for UC application
- Tips for completing the UC application online – guidance for filling out the UC online application
- Tutorial information – the UC personal statement – guidance for preparing a well written essay
- Personal essay worksheet – planning the UC personal statement
- UC online application – the online form to fill out and submit over the web to UC
- UC online topics and resources – information about UC campuses for parents, high school students, and college applicants
- UC ELC program – early consideration for high achieving juniors; updated in April
- UC ELC authorization – form required prior to sending transcript to UC ELC program
- EOP – Educational Opportunity Program for first-generation college students applying to a UC campus
- UC Personal Statement Case Study - October 2012
Cal State University
- Course requirements for California State University (CSU) – list of high school subjects and number of units required by CSU
- CSU Eligibility Index for California residents
- CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP) – college math and English readiness based on 11th grade Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) results
- Tips for completing the CSU application online – guidance for filling out the CSU online application
- CSU online application – the online form to fill out and submit over the web to CSU
- CSU online topics and resources – information about CSU campuses for parents, high school students, and college applicants
- CSU mentor tutorials – slide presentations to download covering assessment, planning, preparation, and online application to CSU
- GPA calculation for CSU – instructions for high school grade point average calculation for CSU application
- EOP – Educational Opportunity Program for first-generation college students applying to a CSU campus
California Community Colleges
- Community college benefits – six benefits of this college path
- Career guide – find degree programs offered by the 26 San Francisco Bay Area community colleges
- Community college online application – a standard form accepted by all community colleges in California
- EOP – Educational Opportunity Program for first-generation college students applying to a CCC campus
- Paly CA Community College Forum
College Essay
- Tutorial information – the UC personal statement – guidance for preparing a well written essay
- Personal essay worksheet - planning the UC personal statement
- Tips for Writing an Effective Application Essay
College Interview
- College inerview basics – reasons to interview, types of interviews, interview lengths, how to be your own advocate, and what not to do
- Interview checklist – getting prepared by checking for items on your list before, during, and after the interview
Scholarships and Financial Aid
- Scholarship opportunities
- Scholarship resources – where to look for scholarships
- Scholarship and financial aid presentation – presented to Advisory classes in December (updated 10/12/11)
- Financial aid – a brief overview
- Basics of Borrowing Money for College – National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) online webinar presentation
- EOP – Educational Opportunity Program for first-generation college students
- FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid, information and form
- CalGrants
- CA Dream Act - state financial aid for undocumented documents
- CSS Profile – College Scolarship Search (CSS)/Financial Aid Profile, a secure online service of CollegeBoard.com for students to provide financial data reports to schools
- Community scholarship application (doc) – revised in December; (pdf is also available)
- Community scholarship FAFSA SAR – Student Aid Report examples of acceptable Expected Family Contribution (EFC) documentation; revised in December
- Community scholarship letter to parents – revised in December
- NCAA scholarship eligibility – information about initial eligibility at NCAA Division I and II colleges and universities
- Understanding Your Financial Aid Award Letter (sample)
- How to Ask the Financial Aid Office to Consider Special Circumstances in Appeal
- Federal Loan Programs
- Selective Service (required for males 18 or older who will file the FAFSA)
Career Planning
- Career exploration – online tool for assessing areas of interest, college courses, and colleges offering degrees toward your chosen career
- Career guide – find degree programs offered by the 26 San Francisco Bay Area community colleges
Work Experience
- Enterprise for High School Students (EHSS) – San Francisco Bay Area organization for youth to discover career opportunities and cultivate interests through training, internships and employment
- Exploratory experience class – class description
- Work experience class – outline of class topics
- Work permit applications – all employers of high school students are required by law to have on file a copy of your permit
- Jobs and Internships – current local opportunities for high school students
- Summer Work Permits – even during summertime all employers of high school students are required by law to have on file a copy of your permit
- Regional Occupational Program (ROP) – skill training and employment for disabled students and out-of-school youth and adults in Santa Clara County
- Summer Internships for high school students
Community Service
Summer and Other Post-High School Choices
- Alternatives after high school graduation – for options other than going directly to a four year college
- Summer enrichment programs – check for enrichment programs offered overseas, at U.S. high schools and colleges, and by special interest organizations on Paly Family Connection (Naviance). You can either Sign In using your login or Enter As Guest, then click the colleges tab at the top, then click enrichment programs in the middle of the page, on the bottom right of the college research box.
- Gap year overview – information and recommendations when considering a Gap Year
- Gap year Planning Guide - Questions, Opportunities and Resources – non-academic and academic enrichment programs
- Gap year panel discussion – panel presentation by representatives from organizations offering programs for high school graduates; held each year during second semester
- Military options – local recruiting centers