College Access Mentor Program

Hello, CAMP Mentees and Mentors!
This is your section of the College Access Portal!  Click on the links below to be directed to so many college access goodies!  We encourage you to make every effort to hold your meetings at the Living Lab. If your time doesn’t match our public hours, try to make an appointment with Isabel Herrera to use the lab during our non-public hours, or approve an alternate location.

Use this CAMP checklist as a timeline to make sure you are on track to reaching your CAMP goals!  Download the full checklist (Excel Spreadsheet, Google Sheets)  to keep track of your application, financial aid, and college transition tasks offline.  This accompanying worksheet will also help you stay on top of the checklists!  And this CAMP Scavenger Hunt is another activity you can do together regardless of the time of year.

Junior Year/Summer

Take the SAT and/or ACT more than once (if applicable; see college websites for testing requirements).
Begin researching and visiting different types of colleges.

August

Narrow Your College Search and send final options to Isabel.
Visit colleges you intend to apply to and request Southwest tickets if applicable.

September

Create your UC online account and begin application.
Create your CSU online account and begin application.
Select your 4 UC Personal Insight Questions.

October

Request expert review on your personal statements.
Create an FSA ID to register for federal financial aid (required for student AND parent).

November

Apply for the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), or your campus’s equivalent (EOPS at community college).
Request UC and CSU application review with Ocean Discovery before submitting.
Submit UC and CSU applications, by Nov 30.
Complete private school and out-of-state applications.

December

Confirm your test scores have been sent to the schools you are applying to, if needed.
Sign up for student portals for each college you applied to.
Create your FAFSA account to qualify for federal student aid.
Complete FAFSA and request final review from Ocean Discovery before submitting.
Create and submit San Diego Foundation Common Scholarship Application (make sure to select the Community Scholars Initiative).

January-March

Learn what YEAR-ROUND student support programs for first-gen, historically under-represented students exist on campus.
Create your CalGrant account to qualify for state financial aid.
Confirm your FAFSA includes all the schools you are applying to.
Submit the FAFSA and CalGrant, by March 2.
Send Student Aid Report (SAR from FAFSA) to Isabel.
Send California Aid Report (CAR from CalGrant) to Isabel.
Create your CSS Profile account to qualify for financial aid at a variety of private colleges.
Submit your CSS Profile application.
Submit Stephen Effron scholarship application.
Submit 20+ scholarships.

April-June

Request to have a financial aid consultation.
Send financial aid offer(s) to Isabel prior to financial aid consultation.
Submit any required additional financial aid materials/paperwork to colleges.
Petition financial aid for a better financial aid offer, or find other ways to fill the financial aid gap.
Accept financial aid offer.
If planning to attend community college, submit application for selected campus.
Visit colleges accepted to (ie: Open House, campus visit, orientation, etc.), and request Southwest tickets if applicable.
Learn what student support SUMMER programs for first-gen, historically under-represented students exist on campus.
Apply for the Summer Bridge Program, or your campus’s equivalent.
Submit Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) to selected college, by May 1.
Submit proof of residence.
Send official transcripts to selected college.
Send official test scores to selected college, if needed.
Return any additional acceptance materials/paperwork to selected college.
Inform Isabel of your final college decision.

Summer

Attend campus orientation and/or summer program. Take college placement tests.
Apply for housing.
Complete immunization requirement by campus.
Send proof of health insurance to your campus.
Create an Education Plan with your school counselor.
Register for classes and pay.

Return to CAMP Checklist

Download the CAMP checklist by category here:

CAMP College Application Checklist
CAMP Financial Aid Checklist
CAMP College Transition Checklist

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Go to the College Access Resources section for more tools and resources to assist in your application process.

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