The document serves as a comprehensive guide for Southern California high school students preparing for college, offering practical tips on navigating the college admission process, financial aid, and utilizing the Family Connection tool. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration with counselors and making informed decisions regarding college selection, major exploration, and entrance exams. The guide also provides a timeline for college-bound students to keep track of important milestones throughout their high school years.

1. Are you ready
for college
?
A Guide to College planning for
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA High school students

2. University of New Haven
EXPERIENcE L.I.F.E.
THROUGH HANDS-ON LEARNING!
check out our visit opportunities at
www.newhaven.edu/visituNH
L.I.F.E. QuIck FActS
Learning • Athletics: NcAA Division II
through Faculty Mentored Research • Enrollment: 4,300 full-time
Immersion undergraduate students
through Work-Integrated Learning • Location: West Haven, ct
Fulfillment • Majors and Programs: Over 100
through Academic-Service Learning
• Student to Faculty Ratio: 16 to 1
Experience
the world through study abroad
College of College of Business Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Tagliatela College
Arts & Sciences Justice & Forensic Sciences of Engineering
University of New Haven, Office of Undergraduate Admissions
®
300 Boston Post Road, West Haven, CT 06516 | 1-800-342-5864 ext. 7319
www.newhaven.edu

3. University of New Haven
SEVEN Super Ways to Use this Guide
1. Get hip to the suite of Family Connection tools
through the Student Perspective stories­—your
ticket to an easy, breezy college search process.
2. Ease your financial burden by expanding your
financial aid know-how.
3. Show your college entrance exams who’s boss.
4. Use our handy-dandy timeline to check off milestones
on the path to college.
5. Weigh the pros and cons of in-state versus
out-of-state schools.
6. Find out what your college major really says about
the future.
7. Fan yourself on those last warm days of high
school—really, who couldn’t use a fan?
tell me more…
Students: Whether you’re new to Family Connection or you’ve been using it for
a while, this guidebook is full of practical tips you can apply right way. This book is
organized to look like Family Connection, so you’ll find it easy to move straight to
the online portal. If you need more guidance, see your counselors—they’re the experts!
Counselors: Looking for more Family Connection training for you or your students? To register
for a public course, visit www.webexcms.com/naviancepd/listwebinarsbeforelogin.php or call
Counselors: Looking for more Family Connection training for you or your students? To register for a public
(703) 859-7300, option 1 for Sales to purchase Professional Development.
course,
visit: https://www.webexcms.com/naviancepd/listwebinars
beforelogin.php or call 703-859-7300, option 1 for Sales
Colleges: Want to reach high school students by advertising in this guide? Call Chris Zahumensky
to purchase Professional Development.
(800) 927-8439 ext. 6055 or e-mail chris.zahumensky@hobsons.com.
Colleges: Want to reach high school students by advertising in this guide? Want to reach high school students
by advertising in this guide? Call Chris Zahumensky (800) 927-8439 ext. 6055 or e-mail chris.zahumensky@
hobsons.com.
© Copyright 2012 Hobsons. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE. Hobsons®, the
Hobsons logo™, Naviance®, KeyFacts®, CollegeView®, and SuperMatch® are trademarks of
Hobsons. All other trademarks are owned by their respective owners.

4. SmoothSailing:
home
Streamline Your College Search with Family Connection
Family Connection is an online tool, custom-designed for your high school,
that you, your family members, and your school counselor can use together to
determine your best path to college and ultimately a career. This guide will
show you how to maximize your course, college, and career planning using
the resources available through Family Connection. Your school may also use
Family Connection to share information about upcoming meetings and events,
local scholarships, clubs, and other college and career opportunities.
Navigating your Family Connection is easy! It is divided into five main tabs:
Courses, Colleges, Careers, About Me, and My Planner. On the next page you
will find a quick glimpse of the tools found within each tab. Refer to the Student
Perspective boxes found throughout this guide to see many of these Family
Connection tools in action! Your school may not use all the features mentioned,
so talk to your counselor about the options available and how to get started.
Manage your school work and the college planning process
on the go with Naviance Student! Download this easy-
to-use, free iPhone app to access upcoming and overdue
tasks within Family Connection, update your status, and
communicate with counselors directly from your mobile device.
Know what materials each school requires for a complete application and what deadlines are
in place for admission and scholarships. Organization is key as you’ll want to give yourself every
opportunity by meeting deadlines.”
—Mary Ellen Anderson, director of admissions at Indiana University

5. courses colleges careers about me my planner
COURSES > View your current classes as well as those you’d like to
take in the future.
> view my course records > interesting courses > thoughts about my course plan
> manage my course plan > view my current multi-year plan
COLLEGES > Here are all the tools for getting into cool schools.
> colleges I’m thinking about > colleges I’m applying to > upcoming college visits
> SuperMatch® college search > college match > college compare
> college lookup > college search > college resources > college maps
> scattergrams > acceptance history > enrichment programs > scholarship match
> scholarship list > scholarship applications
CAREERS > Learn more about the careers that fit your interests.
> favorite careers & clusters > explore careers & clusters > personality type
> cluster finder > career interest profiler
ABOUT ME > Your personal info, test scores, surveys, and favorite
colleges and careers—it’s all here!
> goals > tasks > favorite colleges > favorite careers & clusters > personality type
> résumé > game plan > documents > journal > completed surveys > profile
> test scores > account info
MY PLANNER > Keep track of your schedules, calendars, and
important tasks using the planner tools.
> to-do items > tasks > goals
www.
school’s
Don’t forget your
Welcome to Family Connection URL.
Nice to see you again! Please log in.
Family Connection
Write it down!
e-mail
password
your
While you’re at it,
d too!
remember me e-mail and passwor

6. courses colleges careers about me my planner
RealTalk:
Maximizing the Student-Counselor Relationship
Counselors possess a wealth of unbiased knowledge, and they can
act as coaches, mentors, and liaisons to the college realm. Get the
most out of meetings with your counselor by:
• Being honest. Talk openly about your college worries—test scores, funding,
moving away from home. Counselors aren’t mind readers, but they sure can be
lifesavers when they have all the facts.
• Asking for (the right) help. Establish early what your counselor’s specific
role in your college quest will be, and revisit your goals and milestones regularly.
• Getting down to business. Be sure that you’re dedicating time to your
most pressing college-bound questions, especially as graduation nears.
• Sticking to a schedule. The college admissions process is rife with important
dates and deadlines. Your counselor can help you to get organized, but you must
be committed to completing each task in a thorough and timely manner.
Student Perspective Kyle
Kyle is excited about college, but he’s a little confused
about what courses to take and what his major will be.
With his counselor’s help, he can › View My Course
Records, start exploring › Interesting Courses, and
keep notes as he navigates the planning process using
› Thoughts About My Courses.

7. HelpfulHints:
Where to Turn for Valuable College Tools and Advice
As discussed, your high school counselor’s office is a great place to go
for guidance, but that certainly isn’t the only tool at your disposal. Here
are some overlooked resources that can prove immensely valuable:
Insider info. Guess what? Your teachers T echnology tools. Family Connection
and faculty members have been to college! is your best and most customized
Granted, their experience will be somewhat resource for accessing everything you
different than yours, but things like need for the college search and application
scheduling classes, adjusting to dorm life, process, as well as for staying on track
and working on campus don’t change now! Be sure to also take advantage of the
much over the years. Hit up the college College Confidential/CollegeView mobile
grads you know for firsthand knowledge. app, which puts expert college advice at
your fingertips, and check out must-have
Peer perspectives. Friends and family student apps like Chegg (for textbook
are great for their honest advice… especially rental), Evernote (for note taking), and
the unsolicited kind, right? But even the PocketMoney (for tracking finances). You
opinions you didn’t ask for can help when can also use Google tools like Calendar
it’s time to make those big decisions for and Reader to stay on top of important
the next two to four years of your life. admissions dates and collect news and
And remember: If the people closest to blogs for your short list of schools.
you aren’t talking college, find folks who
are and jump right into the conversation.
Student Perspective Emily
Social slant. Time to put sites like Emily is using the › Manage My Course
Facebook, Twitter, and College Confidential
Plan and › View My Current Multi-Year
to work for more than scouring juicy
Plan tools to take the guesswork out of
gossip. Once you’ve got a list of prospective
course planning and stay on the right path
schools, begin to search and subscribe
toward her dream of one day working as
to newsfeeds as necessary to learn what
a child psychologist.
other students are saying.
Your friends and family are there to help make recommendations, but so are college guide books
and websites like CollegeWeekLive. Guidance counselors are great for double checking your essay
(“there” or “their”?). All these people join together to be your college resource network—use them!”
—Zack Rosen, assistant director of admissions at the University of New Haven

8. courses colleges careers about me my planner
CheckIt:
Timeline for College-Bound Students
SOPHOMORE YEAR Winter
Fall Gear up for springtime exams using
online test prep tools, such as PrepMe,
Talk with your family members and other
a test preparation solution integrated
adults about their careers to get ideas
with Family Connection!
about fields you might want to pursue.
Spring Spring
Tour campuses and talk with college
Check in with your counselor to make
reps, professors, and other students.
sure you are taking the right classes
to meet college entrance requirements. Take SAT/ACT pre-tests.
Think about summer jobs or volunteer Plan a schedule for senior year with
opportunities that could help you your counselor.
explore career options.
Update your list of potential schools.
Explore AP exam prep and other sources
JUNIOR YEAR of early college credit and funding.
Fall Exchange advice and information
with other students at
Take the PSAT/NMSQT in October.
www.CollegeConfidential.com.
Establish personal interests and college
Look for summer jobs and internships.
“must-haves.”
Research programs and career services Summer
at prospective schools. Continue to visit potential schools and
Gather info about college costs and get ready for senior year.
student aid.
Student Perspective Jerome
To stay organized through the admissions
process, Jerome uses › My Planner to
create › To-Do Lists and complete › Tasks
assigned to him by his counselor.
Many universities, including ours, offer first-year programs to help students fit in quickly and
prepare for the academic challenges ahead. At The University of Tampa, a 15:1 student-faculty ratio
and an average class size of 21 mean close faculty contact with individual attention.”
—Edesa Scarborough, director of first year experience at The University of Tampa

9. SENIOR YEAR Save copies of your applications for
yourself before sending.
Fall
Register for necessary entrance exams.
Winter
Submit completed applications between
Secure letters of recommendation. Jan. 1 and Feb. 15.
Narrow down your list of colleges to
Schedule any necessary admissions
five–ten schools.
interviews.
Organize application materials, noting
admission and financial aid deadlines. File the FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov) soon
after Jan. 1—then watch your mailbox
Use resources at your high school to for a Student Aid Report (SAR).
continue researching local and national
financial aid. Explore funding with online tools like
CollegeView.com and FinAid.org.
Get a head start on the FAFSA by
completing the FAFSA on the Web Check that each school has received
worksheet at www.fafsa.ed.gov. your application materials.
If you have already chosen a school, Update/correct the SAR as needed.
begin the process of early application.
(Some require applications by Nov. 1.) Complete and submit any remaining
scholarship applications.
Have test scores sent to the colleges
on your short list. Spring
Begin drafting application essays. Compare acceptance/financial aid
packages (they’ll arrive by mid-April).
If you’re torn between a few schools, visit
each campus before deciding where to go.
Choose a school by May 1.
Summer
Have your high school send final
transcripts to your college of choice.
Get ready—an exciting college
experience awaits you!
Include challenging courses in your schedule such as honors or AP courses that will prepare you
for your college courses. But, make sure you create an appropriate balance and plan a schedule that
is a good match for your abilities.”
—Mary Ellen Anderson, director of admissions at Indiana University

10. courses colleges careers about me my planner
TestQuest:
To SAT or ACT, That Is the Question
Unsure whether to take the SAT or ACT? If your school hasn’t specified one
test over the other, then the choice is yours. Here are some things to consider.
The ACT may be best if: You may choose to take the SAT if:
• You did well on the PLAN. This ACT • You did well on the PSAT, the SAT
practice test covers much of the practice test.
same material as the ACT.
• You have a large vocabulary and excellent
• You’re “book smart,” and/or you don’t grammar. Both skills are highly useful
feel your SAT score reflects your academic in acing the essay and writing sections.
ability. The ACT is thought to be more
• Reasoning is your strong suit. Its official
straightforward and curriculum-focused
name is the SAT Reasoning Test, so
than the SAT, so it can better reflect past
success is based more on quick thinking
academic performance.
than memorization of facts or formulas.
• You’re worried about schools seeing
• You prefer tests that are fast-paced. Even
disappointing scores. The ACT includes
though the SAT is actually 20 minutes
a “score choice” feature that lets
longer than the ACT, it is broken up in
students take the test several times
a way that makes the pace feel faster.
before choosing which score to send.
• You have great verbal and reading • You’re better at writing essays that call
comprehension skills. If you are a quick, for recollection of specific facts and figures.
thorough reader, the ACT might appeal • You prefer to study/test with a group.
to you since three of its sections involve The SAT is still the most commonly
reading comprehension. required, so there might be more people
• You’re better at “common sense” English to study and compare scores with.
than formal grammar.
Student Perspective Christina
Christina always struggles in the testing environment, so to maximize her chances for
success, she sets realistic score › Goals for herself, uses › Test Scores to analyze her
scores, and keeps track of her top schools’ requirements with › Favorite Colleges.
Standardized tests are an important part of the application process and it is essential you
prepare for them. Many schools superscore (take your highest section scores from multiple test
dates), so it’s a good idea to take the tests more than once.”
—Valerie French, assistant director of admissions at The University of Tampa

11. BestFootForward:
Six Rules for Contacting Colleges
Interacting with colleges takes a bit of finesse. When,
for example, should you contact the bursar versus the
registrar? Is phone or e-mail preferred? What questions
should you ask when you do reach someone? Reach for
this quick list when it’s time to reach out.
1. Make contact in person. Bottom line: Schools want to hear from you—not your
parents. Let others speak for you in letters of recommendation and the like, but not
during routine correspondence or appointments.
2. et the right department.
G Don’t waste time calling the bursar’s office with a
scheduling question. Double-check that you’ve got the right information—like phone
numbers, e-mail addressees, and office hours—before contacting a particular office.
3. ress/behave for the occasion.
D Treat all face-to-face interviews like they matter
by showing up on time, wearing appropriate attire, and being polite and respectful to
everyone you meet.
4. anage your online persona (in advance!). In many cases, admissions reps look
M
at more than just the application. Make sure your online presence is one you wouldn’t
mind an administrator seeing.
5. Bring notes. Come prepared to in-person or over-the-phone interviews with a list of
top questions. Being direct and specific will save time for both you and your interviewer.
6.
Proofread, proofread, proofread. Writing a standard cover letter or personal
essay is totally acceptable, but failing to change the details to match a specific school
is not. Don’t insult an admissions rep (and potentially hurt your chances) by accidentally
referencing another school—or worse, including a lot of spelling and grammar mistakes.
Student Perspective Maria
While gathering application materials for the schools on her short list, Maria’s › Game
Plan lets her explore options for postsecondary pathways while the › Journal tool
lets her jot down personal essay notes and life experiences. She’s starting to explore
best-match careers by completing the › Do What You Are personality assessment.

12. courses colleges careers about me my planner
HereorThere:
Choosing between In-State and Out-of-State Schools
Should you stay close to home for your college career, or venture
across the country? Here are some pros and cons for each option.
A Few Good Reasons to Venture Student Perspective Nguyen
In general, students who attend school
in another state: Nguyen is just beginning to form his
• Enjoy heightened independence, being list of prospective schools, so for now
out on their own the › Colleges I’m Thinking About
and › College Compare tools will help
• Benefit from proximity to career
him narrow down his choices. He can
opportunities they might not get at home
indicate what he’s looking for in a college
• Meet new people and experience new
by using › SuperMatch, which will
cultures through student housing
identify which colleges meet his criteria.
• Tend to be very involved on campus and
in academic/professional groups Later in the process, Nguyen will plan to
attend › Upcoming College Visits at his
The Perks of Staying Put high school and narrow down his final
choices with › Colleges I’m Applying To.
On the flip-side, students who choose
a school in their home states:
• Avoid the difficult transition and
homesickness that can accompany
a big move
• Share their residence status with
the majority of the student body
• Benefit from the often markedly
lower cost of in-state tuition
• Stay in close, personal contact with
family, friends, and career networks
TOP 3 COLLEGE VISIT MISTAKES
3. Choosing the wrong time to visit (like, during summer vacation when the campus is empty).
2. Tuning out during the tour. Don’t just take in the scenery—engage the tour guide with
questions about academics, dorm life, and student activities.
1. Not visiting at all. You may love the photos in the viewbook and the videos online, but nothing
replaces the in-person visit.

13. CollegeCash: What You Need to Know
Want to get a great education while minimizing your financial burden?
Welcome to the club! Here are three things you need to know to keep
your college budget in check.
Know the deadlines. No matter how stupendous your grades, test scores, or athletic
achievements may be, you won’t win scholarships if your applications are late. When
applying to a college, check to see if there is a separate scholarship application and what
the deadline is—then put a reminder in your calendar so you don’t miss it. Hint: Family
Connection’s scholarship search allows you to sort by deadline, so you can see which
apps you need to finish first.
Know the real cost of college. Look for the Net Price Calculator (NPC) on schools’
websites (colleges that participate in federal financial aid programs are required to have
an NPC). Answer a few financial questions, and the NPC will give you these key numbers:
• A median expected family contribution (EFC).
• The average grant and scholarship aid the school awards to students like you.
• The school’s “net price”—the difference between the total cost of attendance and the
average aid award. This is the amount you will have to come up with for your freshman
year; you can do this through a combination of cash, loans, and scholarships/grants.
Know when it’s too good to be true. If a scholarship offer promises you money
for little or no work or asks you to pay a fee to receive an award, just walk away. Focus
your hunt on scholarships from colleges and reputable charities/companies.
Student Perspective Dave & Kim
SuperMatch allows Dave to customize his college search using criteria like cost
and availability of financial aid. Its “smart matching” technology shows both perfect
matches and schools that come close. Kim uses › Scholarship List, › Scholarship
Match, and › Scholarship Application to sort and identify award opportunities while
staying on top of important dates and deadlines.
With leading academic programs, wide-ranging opportunities for student involvement, and a
commitment to providing an affordable education, it’s no wonder IU was named a best value among
public colleges according to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.”
—Mary Ellen Anderson, director of admissions at Indiana University

14. courses colleges careers about me my planner
MajorMisconceptions:
What’s the Connection between Degree & Career?
Choosing a major is important, but it’s not a be-all and end-all career
determinant. Let’s dispel some “major” myths.
Major Myth 1: A liberal arts degree “dream degree” doesn’t appear right away.
doesn’t give you viable career options. Be open-minded and you’ll find your way.
The intellectual skills you develop while
Major Myth 4: Unless you took undergrad
studying the liberal arts apply to a wide
courses in medicine, law, engineering, or
range of jobs, so you’ll have many options
business, those fields are out of reach.
for a long and varied career. Just ask
Actually, an increasing number of graduate
domestic diva and entrepreneur Martha
programs don’t have pre-reqs. Grad schools
Stewart, who studied history, or best-selling
look more for skill in broad academic areas
author J.K. Rowling, who majored in French.
such as writing, research, and critical thinking.
Major Myth 2: When picking a major, Major Myth 5: A bachelor’s degree is
students should base their choice on money.
your best bet for success. Many in-demand
Happy still trumps wealthy on the scale
jobs—such as nurses, engineering technicians,
of human goals. Base your choice on
and paralegals—require an associate
something more than “hot” market trends
degree, which you can get in half the time
and rumors of big dollars—the economy
of a bachelor’s degree. Focus first on what
is anything but predictable.
you want to do, then find out what level of
Major Myth 3: There is a perfect field education you need to land your dream job.
for everyone. The priorities of a college
freshman can differ drastically from those Student Perspective Aisha
of a college grad, so don’t worry if your
Using the › Explore Careers tool, Aisha
can peruse job descriptions, skills required,
and wages for the career paths she’s
considering. She can also learn which
careers are a good fit with › Career Cluster
Finder, and use › Favorite Careers to share
her choices with her counselor and family
members.
UNH prepares its students for a career after college. This shines through our motto of ‘Experiential
Education.’ Our graduates are ready to enter the work field, especially in our music, forensic science,
marine biology, and criminal justice programs.”
—
­ Monique Bolt, admission counselor at the University of New Haven

15. FROM HERE
YOU CAN GO
ANYWHERE
EXPLORE | EXPERIENCE | MASTER YOUR DREAMS
www.ut.edu/explore

16. admit.indiana.edu
College should be like this
Your place for discovery
Go on an intellectual adventure as vast as your imagination. A great
university creates an environment that nurtures new ideas, unique talents,
and burning curiosities. This is Indiana University in a nutshell. IU awards big
scholarship dollars every year to hard-working, bright students from California.
With more than 150 majors to mix and match, you’ll challenge the boundaries of
your abilities, get an exceptional education, and be ready for whatever is next.
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