College and Career Center

It may feel overwhelming to start the college planning process. The sooner you start, the better! Even if it is Fall of senior year, the best time to start is NOW. 

There are 3 main areas of college planning:

1. WHERE you will apply/attend – this is the college search process. There are many many sites that explain every step of the process, for free. Some suggestions of sites that include tools and resources for organizing your search:
   • Appily [Formerly Cappex]
   • College Essay Guy
      
2. WHAT you will apply to study – this is the research into your major of study and potential career path. Every LMUSD student has access to the California Colleges platform, with built-in college and career search functions. 
    
3. HOW you will pay for it – this is scholarships and financial aid

APPLICATION PROCESS

1. PREPARE your materials. These templates will help. MAKE A COPY to your local Google Drive and you can start filling them out ASAP:

• Activity Form – Use this to write down ALL of your high school activities: scholastic honors, community service/volunteer, sports, work, family commitments, church, ANYTHING that you have spent your time doing while in high school.  This will be the basis for college applications and scholarship applications.
   
• Application Information Tracker [courtesy of The College Essay Guy] will help you to assess your college search options and organize them into one place
   
• Letter of Recommendation Form – MAKE A COPY and fill out for *each* letter of recommendation you want to request. Be as detailed as you can in order to help the recommender to write a helpful letter
   

2. Create your application portal account:
   • For University of California and California State University campus applications, launch through your California Colleges account. 
   • For private and out-of-state universities, create an account using Common App
      
3. DO NOT SUBMIT your college application without first reviewing it with one of our AGHS Counselors! They are available:
   • Every day in Room 514/515 at break and lunch
   • By appointment with the counseling secretary
   • Friday drop-ins throughout Fall application season
      

FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE

If one or both of your parents DID NOT graduate from a 4-year university in the United States, then you are considered the FIRST GENERATION [First Gen] to go to college. There are many programs to help “level the playing field” for students who need extra assistance with the process.

• ScholarMatch – Includes a program that matches students with mentors who help with the college application process, as well as tools and resources to assist with the process every step of the way
   
• College Essay Guy – A hub of free resources for First Gen and/or Low Income students who want to go to college
   
• Fair Opportunity Project – Dedicated to helping First Gen and/or Low Income students with the college application process. Includes a free comprehensive guide, and Juniors can apply for 1:1 college counseling help throughout the process.

COMING SOON! STAY TUNED

COMING SOON! STAY TUNED!