ASK UC: UC Admissions Information Night

Have questions about applying to the University of California? Get answers directly from Ffiona Rees, Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions at UCLA. This informative evening will provide insight into the UC admissions process, including what UC's consider when reviewing applications, the UC application and Personal Insight Questions (PIQs), academic preparation, extracurricular activities, and what students can expect from the UC experience. Bring your questions—this is your opportunity to ASK UC about admissions, applying, and life at a University of California campus.

Topics include:

• How UC campuses review and evaluate applications
• What makes a UC application stand out
• UC academic preparation and course selection
• Personal Insight Questions (PIQs): what admissions readers want to learn about you
• Extracurricular activities and achievements
• The UC application process and timeline
• Differences among UC campuses
• What it’s like to attend a UC
• Your questions about UC admissions and the application process

This event will not be recorded.

The College Career Center will offer a PRACTICE ACT or SAT for Seniors and Juniors only, on Saturday, September 26th at 9:00A. (This is not an official PRELIMINARY SAT, aka PSAT, which will be offered in October). This practice test is not official in any way and is intended to provide a simulated test experience for students.

Students must register and can begin on Wednesday, September 3rd in the CCC during Panther time and lunch. Cost is $20, please make checks out to PVPHS CCC or cash is accepted. Registration closes when the limited seats are full or on Friday, September 12th at the conclusion of lunch - whichever comes first. NO LATE REGISTRANTS CAN BE ACCOMMODATED.

Students can decide which test to take, ACT or SAT. Both tests are administered digitally and students MUST bring their own fully charged laptop, chrome book or iPad. They will not be able to sit near an outlet during the test.

Students are expected to arrive by 8:45A on 9/26, to check-in at the CCC and testing should be done by 1:00P.

Students MUST be available for the full practice test time on SEPTEMBER 27.

FALL COLLEGE NIGHT SCHEDULE

SESSION TOPICS

What Colleges Really Look For: Understanding Holistic Admissions – Timothy Brunold, USC

Aiming High: Navigating Highly Selective Colleges – Alejandro Castillo-Sierra, Dartmouth College

Make Your Story Matter: Writing the College Essay – Rick Diaz, Southern Methodist University

SAT/ACT & the UCs: What You Need to Know Now – Torsten Sannar, Compass Prep

Playing Sports in College: What you Need to Know – Chuck Liddiard, The Paratum Scholars

Inside the Application: How Colleges Review & Decide – Vee Alidema, University of Utah

Introduction to Financial Aid – Nancy Shafer, PVPHS 

WHAT COLLEGES REALLY LOOK FOR: Understanding Holistic Admissions

PRESENTER:  Timothy Brunold, University of Southern California (PAC)

What does a college actually see when it reviews a student's application? In this presentation, parents and students will gain a clearer understanding of holistic admissions and how colleges evaluate applicants within the context of their individual experiences and opportunities.

We will explore the many pieces of an application—including academic performance, course rigor, extracurricular involvement, leadership, essays, recommendations, testing, personal circumstances, and demonstrated interests—and discuss how universities use this information to shape an admissions decision.

Most importantly, the presentation will address the misconception that there is a single formula for admission. Students and parents will gain insight into what matters, what may matter less, and why strong students can receive different decisions from different colleges.

AIMING HIGH: Navigating Highly Selective Colleges 

PRESENTER: Alejandro Castillo-Sierra, Dartmouth (Community Room)

What does it really take to be a competitive applicant at a highly selective college? This presentation will help students and families understand the unique admissions landscape at colleges and universities where admission is highly competitive and where strong grades and impressive test scores alone do not guarantee acceptance.

We will explore what highly selective colleges look for in applicants, including academic preparation, course rigor, intellectual curiosity, extracurricular engagement, leadership, personal qualities, essays, recommendations, and the overall story presented through the application.

The discussion will also address the realities of highly selective admissions—including admission rates, institutional priorities, demonstrated interest, application strategy, and the role of context and fit. Students and parents will learn why there is no single formula for admission and why an application can be strong even when the outcome is unpredictable.

MAKE YOUR STORY MATTER: Writing the College Essay 

PRESENTER: Rick Diaz, Southern Methodist University (CCC)

Your college essay is more than an opportunity to demonstrate that you can write well—it is a chance to show colleges who you are beyond your grades, courses, activities, and test scores. This presentation will help students understand how to approach the college essay as an opportunity to share a meaningful and authentic part of their story.

We will explore how to identify meaningful experiences, discover your unique perspective, and develop a story that reveals something important about you. Students will learn how to move beyond simply describing an experience and instead reflect on what they learned, how they changed, what they value, and how the experience shaped the person they are today.

The presentation will also address common misconceptions about college essays, including the belief that students need a dramatic life experience or an extraordinary accomplishment to write a compelling essay. Instead, students will learn that ordinary experiences can become powerful essays when told with insight, reflection, specificity, and an authentic voice.

SAT/ACT & THE UCs: What You Need to Know Now 

PRESENTER: Torsten Sannar, Compass Prep (S33/Choir Room)

The college testing landscape continues to evolve, and students and families are understandably wondering: Do I need to take the SAT or ACT? Will UC campuses use test scores again? And if I take a test, what should I do with my score?

This presentation will provide an up-to-date look at the role of the SAT and ACT in college admissions, with particular attention to the University of California system and its evolving approach to standardized testing. Families will learn the difference between colleges that are test-free, test-optional, test-required, or test-preferred, and how these policies can affect a student's testing strategy.

We will also discuss when students should consider taking the SAT or ACT, how to determine which test is a better fit, how scores may be used by colleges, and what students should be doing now while UC's testing policies continue to develop.

Students and parents who have a specific question/topic they want addressed should provide that information here.

PLAYING SPORTS IN COLLEGE: What you Need to Know 

PRESENTER: Chuck Liddiard, The Paratum Scholars (P104/105)

For many student-athletes, playing a sport in college is an exciting goal—but the path from high school athletics to college competition can be complex. This presentation will help students and families understand the different opportunities available to compete at the college level and what the recruiting process really looks like.

We will explore the differences between NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, NAIA, community colleges, and club sports, as well as the realities of recruiting, athletic scholarships, academic eligibility, and finding the right athletic and academic fit.

Students will learn that playing sports in college is not limited to athletes who receive full scholarships or compete at the highest level. There are many different pathways to continue an athletic career, and understanding those options early can help students make informed decisions about their college search.

INSIDE THE APPLLICATION: How Colleges Review & Decide 

PRESENTER: Vee Alidema, University of Utah (LIBRARY)

What happens when applicants land on an admissions officer's desk? In this interactive case study, parents and students become the admissions committee and are challenged to evaluate college applications from the perspective of an admissions officer and decide who gets in.

Participants will review the applications of three different candidates, examining each student's academic record, course rigor, extracurricular involvement, leadership, essays, recommendations, testing, and personal context. All three students will be qualified for admission—but only one can receive the available spot.

As the committee, participants will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate, consider the context behind their accomplishments, and ultimately answer the question:  Who gets the spot—and why?

The exercise will demonstrate how admissions decisions are rarely based on a single GPA, test score, activity, or essay. Instead, committees must consider the entire application, the individual circumstances of each student, the overall applicant pool, and the institution's needs and priorities.

INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL AID 

PRESENTER: Nancy Shafer, PVPHS (P102/103)

Paying for college is one of the biggest considerations families face during the college search process. Financial Aid 101 will give students and parents a practical introduction to the cost of college and the different ways families can make a college education more affordable.

This presentation will break down the financial aid process in clear, understandable terms, including the difference between need-based aid, merit scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study. Families will learn how colleges determine financial need, what the FAFSA and other financial aid applications do, and how financial aid offers can vary significantly from one college to another.

We will also discuss the difference between a college's sticker price and the actual net price a family may pay, helping families understand why comparing financial aid offers is an important part of making a college decision.