College Applications

LHS is a SEMESTER school, not just for the 2024-25 school year and beyond, but even in the years that we operated on a trimester calendar. This means that on college applications, students should indicate that LHS is a SEMESTER school for all years.

• This is important. If you select the trimester term type, you will be expected to enter 3 grades for every course to meet minimum subject requirements. 

If applying to four year colleges, review the 'College Applications' section of the College & Career Center website. Here you will get information on the steps to take to get ready for applications and find tools to help you fill our your applications, including grade entry tips and visual guides to entering your grades. 

Note that the visual guide to grade entry is specifically for two-trimester courses (the majority of LHS classes).

• Exceptions: Some courses such as Band, Orchestra, Choir, AP Calculus BC, Leadership, and year-long ROP classes that received three grades per year, have special instructions for grade entry. There is a link in the visual grade entry guide to instructions on how to handle these classes.

IMPORTANT: This information is updated annually in the fall. Do not submit applications before reviewing updated grade enry guides for your senior class year. Also recommended: attend a four-year college application workshop held in October/ November so your applications can be reviewed prior to submission.
 

See the Quick Guide: Anatomy of a College Application from the college Board Big Future website.

Check the admissions website for each college on your list to find out what type of applications they require/accept. 

• Private and out-of-state colleges may have their own applications available on their websites and/or may accept the Common or Coalition applications.
• Apply to all California State University (CSU) campuses hrough the system-wide CSU application.
• Apply to all University of California (UC) campuses through the system-wide UC application.

Once you determine which applications you need to fill out, create a free account on each application portal and keep track of your login information.

• See College Application Links & Information for common application formats, essay prompts, application opening dates, and deadline information.

There is no limit to the number of college applications you submit, but there are application submission fees, so the costs associated with application submission can add up . We recommend that students apply to 6-12 four-year colleges.

When creating your "college list" we encourage you to include colleges that fall into these three categories: Reach, Target, and Likely. When deciding on your Reach, Target, and Likely colleges, hese should also be colleges you'd be happy to attend, if admitted.

• See How to Narrow Down Your College List for more details. 

If you are struggling to afford college applications, you might qualify for a college application fee waiver. You qualify for a fee waiver if you are enrolled in or eligible to participate in the federal free or reduced price lunch program (FRPL). Our district offers free lunch to all students, regardless of family income. Students that would traditionally qualify for free or reduced lunch can continue to benefit from additional services, such as application fee waivers, by completing the district's Household Eligibility Form associated with their youngest student's school.

Not all colleges accept fee waivers, but you can search for colleges that do. See College Application Fee Waivers Information.

Once you identify colleges of interest, visit their admissions websites to find out about their college application policies and deadlines. Aside from individual college websites, there are many websites you can use to gather admissions information. Some sites/ tools (this is just a smpling) that may be useful include:

1. Big Future - Input your preferences and generate a list of colleges that meet your preferred criteria. Search for information on individual colleges, including academic profiles.
2. Common Data Set - The CDS compiles some of the most important facts and figures about a college in a standardized format that all participating schools share.

• Google "Name of College" + "Common Data Set" to access information about schools you want to explore. 
• Go to Section C - First-Time, First-Year (Freshman) Admission: Applicant and admissions statistics that cover how many people applied, were accepted, and enrolled, as well as basic facts about the school's admissions procedures, requirements, and standards. This includes how they weigh different elements of the application.

3. College Score Card - US Department of Education site to research average cost of attendance, graduation rates, average salary after graduation, and more.

This article, posted by The Princeton Review, nicely addresses all of these questions: What
Looks Good on a College Application.

Read this article for more information on Extracurricular Activities: Amazing Extracurricular Activity Examples for College Applications.

A college application personal statement is likely to be 500-600 words long while University of California (UC) Personal Insights Questions (PIQs) allow up to 350 word responses. The purpose of the college essay or insight questions is to share who you are and highlight what you will contribute to the college in question. This is your chance to showcase parts of yourself and circumstances that may not be immediately obvious anywhere else in the application. See these resources to help jumpstart your college essays:

• UC Personal Insight Questions - instructions, questions, and guidance
• Personal Insight Questions Worksheet
• Coalition Application Essay Prompts
• Common App Essay Prompts
• Common App How to  Approach the Essay Worksheet
• College Essay Guy Website - this website includes a wealth of free college essay resources including exercises to help generate college essay topics, guidance for the common application personal statement, and sample essays. The site also includes many resources for multiple sections of the college application. Look under "Free Resources".

Keep track of application requirements, deadlines, and progress. Create your own spreadsheet or click to make a copy of the LHS College Application Checklist to make sure you do not miss a deadline.

Some colleges require you to declare a major when applying while others allow you to select “Undeclared” or “Undecided”. If you know what you want to major in, we encourage you to select that major, especially if it is an impacted major (Engineering, Computer Science, Nursing, etc.). If you really do not know what you want to major in and you have the option, then select “Undeclared” or “Undecided”.

As you research colleges, find out how competitive your major of choice is and also investigate how easy or hard it is to switch majors once accepted to that college. This is especially important to know if you don’t yet know what you are going to major in or if you are applying to an impacted major and may be accepted to an alternate major (alternate major should not be used as a “backdoor” into a different, more selective major).

Consideration: If your major is ultra-competitive, think about your overall career goals. You might be able to select a major that is not as competitive, but includes most of the same coursework and has similar outcomes in terms of the types of jobs you’d be applying to after graduation. For example, Data Science on some campuses might be comparable to Computer Science. If the major you are considering falls in the “very selective” category, speak to the admissions representative at your college of interest to see if they have suggestions for potential alternate majors that will provide you with a similar educational experience and the same career opportunities.

Use the following tools to learn about learn about major selectivity at California State University and University of California institutions:

• Impaction at the CSU - you can use this database to find out whether a degree program or campus you're interested in is affected by impaction.

• UC Freshman Selection policies for applying: undeclared, alternate majors, selectivity and more

Early Decision (ED): Only students who are 100% certain they know which school they want to attend, and only those who know they can afford that school, should apply Early Decision. ED is a binding decision, which means if the school admits them and offers adequate financial aid, the student is obligated to attend. Students can apply Early Decision to only one college. Students who are accepted through ED must immediately withdraw all other applications. 

• The typical ED deadline is late October to early November. 

• Applicants receive admission decisions early, usually starting in mid-December.

• If you want or need to compare financial aid packages, do not apply ED. 

• ED acceptance rates are generally higher than they are for Regular Decision.

Early Action (EA): Students who apply Early Action will know if they have been accepted to a school earlier than the regular decision applicant pool. Acceptance through Early Action is not binding, meaning students who are accepted do not have to commit to attending. There are several positives to EA, as applying EA has few restrictions and benefits the student by allowing them to hear early from a school. 

• The typical deadline is late October to early November. 

• Applicants receive admission decisions early, usually starting in mid-December.

• EA acceptance rates are generally higher than they are for Regular Decision.

• Students accepted under EA can wait until May 1 to decide where to enroll, allowing them to compare financial aid packages and other factors.

Regular Decision (RD): The majority of students apply through Regular Decision plans, and they can apply to as many schools as they would like this way. Applying RD is non-binding.

• The application submission deadlines for Regular Decision vary between schools, though typically the deadline will fall between December 15 and January 15.  

• Offers of admission are usually sent out in late March or early April. 

• Accepted students have until May 1 to either accept or decline their offers. 

Priority Admissions/Priority Deadline: Priority Admissions is just like applying Regular Decision, but usually with an earlier deadline. Applying by the Priority deadline may be a necessity to be considered for scholarship or merit aid opportunities. After that deadline has passed, schools accept applications on a case-by-case basis or by a Regular Decision deadline. Applying by a priority deadline is non-binding.

Rolling Admissions: Rolling Admission means colleges review applications on an ongoing basis and schools continue to accept eligible candidates until all first-year spots are filled. Many schools with rolling admissions policies maintain priority deadlines. Rolling admissions is non-binding.

• Students can apply to these colleges almost anytime and then typically hear back sooner than they will from colleges with only standard admissions. Rolling Admission colleges typically issue decisions on average between four to six weeks.

Eligibility in the Local Context (ELC) is a program by which the University of California identifies top-performing California high school students. Unlike the statewide eligibility pathway, which recognizes top students from throughout the state, ELC draws qualified students from among the top 9 percent of each participating high school.

ELC status adds value to an application and is one of the 14 factors considered by all UC campuses when applications are reviewed. ELC students who are not admitted to any of their campus choices are offered a spot at a UC campus that has space, if minimum UC requirements are met. Currently, UC Merced is the only UC campus that will guarantee admission to all ELC students who apply to the campus. 

To be designated as ELC, a student must have attended an eligible, participating California high school (LHS is a participating high school), satisfactorily complete a specific pattern of 11 UC-approved courses prior to the start of senior year, and have a UC-calculated GPA that meets or exceeds the top 9 percent GPA benchmark established by UC for their school. To maintain the ELC status, the student must satisfy the general admissions requirements including the successful completion of the 15 required “A-G” courses and maintain a 3.0 GPA.

California applicants to the UC are automatically screened for ELC eligibility when they apply to one or more UC schools in the fall of their Senior year. There’s no extra paperwork. After submitting the UC application, students can return to the "My UC Application" page to see whether or not they've been designated as being in the top 9 percent of their class. 

For more information about ELC, see https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/admission-requirements/freshman-requirements/california-residents/local-guarantee-elc.html

It is strongly recommended that ALL college bound students complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or CADAA (California Dream Act Application) when the application opens October 1, 2025.

Fill out your financial aid application by March 2, 2026 to be considered for the Cal Grant. 

• See Financial Aid Application & Links for more information. 

Visit the LHS Scholarship & Financial Aid website by clicking here.

Check the LHS Scholarship Page regularly for scholarships that have been posted with the LHS College & Career Center. Most scholarships posted with the CCC are for graduating seniors. Occasionally listings are posted for scholarships open to other grade levels. 

The Pedrozzi Foundation provides scholarships to Livermore students. Applications are historically available from January 1 - March 2, each year. For more information about Pedrozzi and to apply for the Pedrozzi scholarships, click here. 

Also investigate other scholarships to which you may apply. This might include scholarships at the institutions to which you are applying (check the financial aid webpages) and community or professional organizations that you/ your family is involved in.

Preparing your brag sheet before applying to scholarships can help you catalog your accomplishments and involvement in school and non-school related activities. 

Click for Instructions to Create a Brag Sheet.
Tips for How to Apply for Scholarships (by Scholly.com)

Eligibility criteria for scholarships vary. Some are based on academics and some on community and extracurricular involvement. Some are based on ethnicity or race, financial need,or some combination of multiple factors. Visit the LHS Scholarship Page to get an idea of the types of criteria that show up again and again. If you meet the posted eligibility criteria for a scholarship, you can apply to that scholarship.

As you investigate colleges, you can inquire about whether or not the institutions award merit aid and, if so, what the criteria are to qualify. Merit aid is a form of college financial aid that does not consider a student's financial need, but rather is awarded based on academic, athletic, artistic or special-interest merit. 

In some cases, applicants are automatically considered for merit aid based on their submitted admissions applications. Pay attention to deadlines, though. In some cases, students will need to apply prior to regular application deadlines to be considered for merit aid, and some colleges will also advertise a priority deadline for scholarship consideration. Sometimes students will need to complete separate applications for merit aid and scholarships. These applications usually have separate deadlines which could be at the same time as the admission application deadline, earlier than the deadline, or later in the spring after decisions have been released. You may need to include additional materials, such as an additional essay or interview. 

Note that some merit-based scholarships require applicants to file the FAFSA. So it is recommended that students from higher-income households also fill out the FAFSA (and, if your college instructs you, the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE form).
When evaluating whether or not you can afford a college, don’t just look at sticker price. Use the financial aid calculators available at virtually every college website to get a better idea of what the actual college cost will be after your finances, GPA, etc. are considered. Find the net price calculator for your prospective college at the US Dept. of Education Net Price Calculator Center (NPC)

Students who attend colleges located outside of their state of residency pay out-of-state tuition fees, which are significantly higher than the tuition they would pay at public, in-state institutions. Through WUE, eligible students can choose from hundreds of undergraduate programs outside their home state, and pay no more than 150 percent of that institution’s resident tuition rate. WICHE members include: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Visit the Western Undergraduate Exchange website for more information and search for member institutions. You must apply directly to your chosen WUE college or university. Some schools have special eligibility requirements or annual WUE admission quotas which can be found in the school’s WUE Savings Finder profile.

The number of children in college at the same time is not factored into the calculation for need-based financial aid. Families can appeal for more aid based on having multiple family members in college at the same time.

What you can do: Make sure to tell financial aid officers that you have a sibling (or two or three or four) in college and your family cannot afford to pay tuition for all without significant help. If there are other extenuating circumstances that will not be captured by the FAFSA or, if applicable, the CSS Profile, describe what is happening in your family and make your best financial case. College financial aid officers can use their “professional judgment” to adjust your federal aid in special cases, and may consider other factors when awarding their own institutional aid, which is money drawn from their endowment and privately funded scholarships.

An increasing number of institutions have adopted test-optional or test-blind policies. 

Definitions:

Test-Blind/ Test-Free: Schools that are test-blind will not consider an applicant's test scores even if they are submitted.

NOTE: The California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) systems are test-blind. Standardized tests are not required for community college applications.

Test-Flexible: Test flexible colleges allow students to choose which type of test (or tests) they'd like to submit with their application. If students want to submit the SAT or ACT, they're welcome to do so. Other options include an International Baccalaureate exam or an Advanced Placement test. Yale University has announced (February 2024) that they are now test-flexible.

Test-Optional: Schools that are test-optional do not require any test scores from applicants, but will consider test scores if they are included. Click this link to learn more about what it means to be test-optional: Test Optional - What It Means and Things to Consider 

Test-Required: Some schools require SAT or ACT scores from all applicants, including Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Yale (test-flexible), Caltech, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Georgetown, University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Purdue, University of Tennessee, UT Austin, all public Florida universities, military academies and others. 

** It is important that you research the standardized testing policy at the institutions to which you wish to apply. If you would like to submit test scores, or are applying to an institution that requires them, know that the majority of four-year colleges require students to take at least one of these exams by December of their senior years. NOTE: October is the last test date that makes scores available in time for early decision and early action programs.

When you register for the SAT (or ACT), you can designate up to four colleges to receive your test score report free of charge. If you do this, your scores will automatically be sent to the colleges you’ve selected. You will not have a chance to see your score before it is sent.

Now that so many colleges have test-optional policies, there is a benefit to waiting to see what your scores are before deciding to send (or not send) scores to colleges. If your scores fall in the upper range or above a college’s middle 50% test score range, it is a benefit to you to send scores. If your test score falls in the lower range or below a college’s middle 50% test score range, it would be better to apply test-optional and not send scores. 

If you opt to see your scores before sending them, you will have to pay a fee for each score report you send. You can order SAT score reports through your College Board account.

Self-report AP exam scores on your college applications. Unless a college specifically asks for them, you do not need to send official scores at the time of application. You will send official scores only to the college you decide to attend (to which you have committed). You send official AP scores through your College Board account.

See Seniors - Applying to Four Year Colleges

See Planning Timeline for 12th Grade

CSU Admissions Requirements - CSU has a minimum GPA requirement of 2.5.

Any California high school graduate or resident of California earning a GPA between 2.00 and 2.49 may be evaluated for admission based upon supplemental factors that vary by campus.

UC Admissions Requirements - UC has a minimum GPA requirement of 3.0.

To meet the CSU/ UC A-G requirements, you must pass A-G classes with a C or better. Visit the UC  Course  Management  Portal to see which A-G categories your classes satisfy. 

• For out-of-state and private schools: You must check the admissions website for each institution to find their course and admissions requirements.

You can “demonstrate interest” in a school in many ways:

• visiting campus (virtually or in-person)

• following the school's social media channels and joining a mailing list for prospective students

• attending admissions events in your area, including college visits at your school

• scheduling an interview (if the school offers them)

• applying Early Action (non-binding) and especially Early Decision (but only if you're certain that's the top school you want to attend because this is a binding decision).

Some colleges consider demonstrated interest in their college admissions decisions, but not all. If you really want to attend a college that does consider demonstrated interest, engaging with the college through the methods discussed above can make them review your application more closely.

How do you know if a college you are applying to considers demonstrated interest? Check that college’s Common Data Set (CDS). The CDS compiles applicant and admissions statistics that cover how many people applied, were accepted, and enrolled to a college, as well as basic facts about the school’s admissions procedures, requirements, and standards. Click for more information.

• Google “Name of College” + “Common Data Set” to access information about schools you want to explore.

Go to Section C -  First-Time, First-Year (Freshman) Admission. Demonstrated Interest data is located in section C7.