Finding and Applying

Finding and Applying
Updated Fall 2022

LOWELL COLLEGE COUNSELING CENTER

Pro Tip:

Contact information for the Lowell College Counselor, Ms. Aguirre AguirreM1@SFUSD.edu
The Volunteers in the Lowell Counseling Center, called the VICCI ( Volunteers in College and Career Information) Volunteers, offer guidance, essay reading and more. Don't know where to start your search? Need help narrowing down a list? Want a another set of eyes on your essay? Click here to make an appt with the seasoned Lowell parents.

A FEW VIDEO RESOURCES

Coalition for College YouTube Channel has videos on selecting colleges, interviews with admissions directors, advice about essay and much more. All free. The Coalition for College is a member organization of more than 150 colleges and universities, with a shared commitment to access, affordability and student success.
Road2College YouTube Channel has videos on all aspects of the college search, application and financial aid process. They do have a fee for their extra products but the videos are all free.
How to build a college list AND consider the financial obligation.
Lowell April 2022, PTSA Webinar: Holistic Admissions use Password: 0zazG#3#

ESSAY WRITING TIPS

LISTS AND LISTS OF COLLEGES

U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Search and compare colleges: their fields of study, costs, admissions, results, and more.
Western Undergraduate Exchange: The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is an agreement among WICHE’s 16 members, through which 160+ participating public colleges and universities provide steep nonresident tuition savings for Western students. Click here for the full list of participating WUE schools!

Colleges that Change Lives: Colleges That Change Lives, Inc. (CTCL) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and support of a student-centered college search process.
Fiske Guide to Colleges 2023, The #1 Best Selling College Guide Book
Big Future: Based on your own scores, Big Future will help you find reach, match, and safety colleges so you can build a balanced college list. Service is free.

QUICK LINKS FOR PUBLIC CALIFORNIA COLLGES AND UNIVERSITIES

APPLICATION QUICK LINKS

Common Application: You can create a Common App account even if you don’t plan on applying for another few months or another few years. You can answer questions in the Common App and build a college list at any time.

RESOUCES YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

Fair Test Schools (List of Testing Optional Schools)
UStrive is an online mentoring platform that connects students to qualified mentors who provide guidance through the college admissions and financial aid process, as well as the transition into college, through college, and into their careers. Watch their introduction video here

GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)

Unweighted GPA is measured on a scale of 0 to 4.0. It doesn't take the difficulty of a student's coursework into account. An unweighted GPA represents an A as a 4.0 whether it was earned in an honors class, AP class, or lower-level class.
Weighted GPA is often used by high schools to better represent students' academic accomplishments. Weighted GPA takes into account course difficulty rather than providing the same letter grade to GPA conversion for every student. Usually, weighted GPA is measured on a scale of 0 to 5.0, although some scales go higher. An A in an AP class may translate into a 5.0 weighted GPA, while an A in a regular-level class will give you a 4.0 weighted GPA. Many schools also have mid-level classes (such as honors classes) where the highest weighted GPA you can earn is a 4.5.
GPA Calculator
How do the UCs calculate GPA Learn more here.
Cal State University (CSU) Calculator

Please let us know if you see any needed corrections, additions or links that don't work. Email: cecekaufman@comcast.net