Planning for College
By 2025 California’s workforce will require one million additional college graduates. Be one in a million!
Want to go to college, but have no idea on how to get started? You might be surprised to find out that:
- There are a lot of sources of financial aid, not just for tuition, but to cover the cost of books and living expenses.
- Many students qualify for financial aid, but never apply. There are many choices of colleges and universities, and many are close to home.
- There are people whose job it is to help students like you apply to college.
- Did you know that on average, students with a college degree will earn one million dollars over their lifetime versus their peers who only graduate from high school?
Resources for Information About California's Colleges & Universities
California Colleges: http://www.californiacolleges.edu
This is a resourceful, open-ended site that makes finding and applying to a school in California a snap. You can read about and compare California Community Colleges, CSUs, UCs, and Private/Independent Colleges to help you determine what’s best for you. You’ll also find great information about financial aid and paying for college.
KnowHow2Go: http://knowhow2gocalifornia.org
This site is helpful for planning for college for both middle and high school students, including information on what classes and tests to take, how to find the college that’s right for you, and the application process. You can also get advice about planning for college from KnowHow2Go Ambassadors featured on the website.
California Community Colleges: http://www.cccco.edu/
The California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office provides information about the community college system and links to all 112 community colleges.
California State University (CSU): http://www.csumentor.edu/
‘CSU Mentor’ is an online resource designed to help students and their families learn about the CSU system, select a CSU campus to attend, plan to finance higher education, and apply for admission.
University of California (UC): http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/
‘Pathways’ is the University of California's online undergraduate and transfer admission information and application network.
Association of Independent California Colleges & Universities (AICCU): http://www.aiccu.edu/
This site offers information about the AICCU, which serves as the unified statewide voice of independent higher education in California. Each of the 78 private colleges and universities they represent are profiled with a link to their respective websites.
Download a list of additional resources (in English and Spanish) here.