College & Career

The earlier you begin preparing for college the better. You’ll have more options for schools to attend and you’ll be better prepared for college-level work.

If you want to attend a CSU or UC campus, the selective admission process requires certain courses from 8th grade on, known as the “a-g” course requirements. The following plan explains the steps to take each year to meet those requirements.

Depending on what grade you are in when you start your planning, some of these steps may not apply to you. If you have not met the requirements or timetable for attending a CSU or UC or are interested in a career path that does not require a 4-year degree, don’t worry! You can enroll in a community college by following the steps outlined on this checklist for the 12th grade:

Early College Program

CTE/ROP Pathways

What is CTE?

Career Technical Education (CTE) is an umbrella term for an array of educational programs that offer learning and experiences beyond the traditional high school and college model. CTE prepares students for the world of work by introducing them to workplace competencies and providing hands-on learning. The high school graduation rate for CTE concentrators is about 90 percent—15 percentage points higher than the national average of all academic programs.

CTE Career Pathways(PDF) - Poster

CTE Standards Introduction (PDF; 4MB) - Executive Summary

By Industry Sector

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop is designed to provide information on in-demand occupations along with the skills and education needed to attain those jobs.

California CareerZone

California CareerZone is a proven, successful career exploration and planning system designed especially for students. Jobseekers, educators, and counselors can also benefit from the wealth of information on this website.

Road Trip Nation

Road Trip Nation is an integrated, statewide marketing campaign encouraging secondary students to plan for their future careers and consider the many opportunities available to them in the CTE programs in our state’s high schools, ROCPs and community colleges.

FAFSA/CADA

Free Application for Federal Student Aid and California Dream Act Application

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and California Dream Act Application (CADAA) will open on December 31, 2023. The state deadline to file these applications is April 2, 2024, however, the CSU encourages students to submit by March 2, 2024.

California College Guidance Initiative (CCGI) Financial Aid Tools
Students, including high school seniors can receive step-by-step guidance on how to complete their FAFSA/CADAA on CaliforniaColleges.edu. Their financial aid lessons are available to do the following:

Help students identify which application they need to complete .
Provide students need-to-know information to help them prepare for December 31.
Include a checklist for students to begin gathering information and document.

To learn more about financial aid tools on CaliforniaColleges.edu, please access this PowerPoint and watch the video above.

Federal Student Aid YouTube Channels
The Federal Student Aid and FSA Outreach YouTube channels have to the following playlists available as resources:

ASVAB

Social Emotional

Student Opportunities