SENIOR YEAR
AUGUST
Discussion Topic: Set 12th Grade Goals
Reconnect by recapping summer experiences. Reestablish the norms and expectations for working together in the new year. Review the College Checklist for Senior Year. Set goals for senior year and help mentees create a calendar that maps out exactly when they need to meet each of these goals in order to stay on top of the college application process. Discuss mentees’ hopes and worries for their senior year of high school.
Discussion Topic: Set 12th Grade Goals
Reconnect by recapping summer experiences. Reestablish the norms and expectations for working together in the new year. Review the College Checklist for Senior Year. Set goals for senior year and help mentees create a calendar that maps out exactly when they need to meet each of these goals in order to stay on top of the college application process. Discuss mentees’ hopes and worries for their senior year of high school.
SEPTEMBER
Discussion Topic: Prepare for College Applications
Revisit the college goals they set in 11th grade and check in on their progress and next steps. Review the list of colleges they want to apply to, and review how and when to ask teachers and other members of mentees’ advisor networks for letters of recommendations. Review the expenses they can expect senior year and check on the progress on their financial plan for that. Reflect on the reality of paying for college and brainstorm strategies for how to approach financial aid.
Action Items/Reminders:
Discussion Topic: Prepare for College Applications
Revisit the college goals they set in 11th grade and check in on their progress and next steps. Review the list of colleges they want to apply to, and review how and when to ask teachers and other members of mentees’ advisor networks for letters of recommendations. Review the expenses they can expect senior year and check on the progress on their financial plan for that. Reflect on the reality of paying for college and brainstorm strategies for how to approach financial aid.
Action Items/Reminders:
- Review their transcripts. If they have any Ds or Fs, they need to re-take the classes as soon as possible through an online credit recovery program offered by their high school, especially if the classes are one of those required for CSU/UCs, as a D or F grade will not satisfy the requirement.
- They should complete their Academic Resume by early September.
- They should meet with their Program Director to finalize their College List by late September.
- Ask your student about retaking the SAT and/or ACT in the fall and remind them of registration deadlines.
- Help them get organized to apply.
- Encourage them to start looking for and applying to scholarships. They should create a FastWeb account and check with their Program Director for additional scholarships. Due dates vary by scholarship and occur all throughout senior year.
OCTOBER
Discussion Topic: Complete the College Essay: Telling My Story
Help mentees understand the purpose of the college essays. Review excellent Personal Insight Questions (PIQs) and understand how to write a great essay. Help mentees brainstorm topics for their essays as they will draft their own college essays. Mentors give mentees feedback on their college essays and support them through the drafting and revision process with the assistance of their Program Director and Writer Coach Connection. See this guide from the UCs regarding PIQs.
Action Items/Reminders:
Discussion Topic: Complete the College Essay: Telling My Story
Help mentees understand the purpose of the college essays. Review excellent Personal Insight Questions (PIQs) and understand how to write a great essay. Help mentees brainstorm topics for their essays as they will draft their own college essays. Mentors give mentees feedback on their college essays and support them through the drafting and revision process with the assistance of their Program Director and Writer Coach Connection. See this guide from the UCs regarding PIQs.
Action Items/Reminders:
- UC applications opens August 1 and CSU applications open October 1. Encourage your students to start the application process early.
- Encourage them to attend a college application workshop in the College and Career Center -- early!
- Check on their applications to Educational Opportunity Program (EOP).
- Check the DAHS Calendar, KHS Calendar, or RHS Calendar, to see when college reps will be on the campus. If a rep from a college they are interested in is coming, encourage them to signup to attend.
- Review their first quarter grades. Their senior year grades are still important. They must pass all required courses with a C- or better.
- Your students may be taking the SAT or ACT or Subject Tests. You may want to send them helpful test reminders.
NOVEMBER
Discussion Topic: Stay on Top of College Applications
Support your mentees as they complete their applications to colleges, EOP and scholarships. Continue to instill a sense of both urgency and empowerment in mentees about the college application process and timeline. Celebrate the accomplishment of completing the application process.
Action Items/Reminders:
Discussion Topic: Stay on Top of College Applications
Support your mentees as they complete their applications to colleges, EOP and scholarships. Continue to instill a sense of both urgency and empowerment in mentees about the college application process and timeline. Celebrate the accomplishment of completing the application process.
Action Items/Reminders:
- CSU and UC applications are due November 30. Encourage your students to apply early -- avoid applying at the last minute as it is not uncommon for the systems to crash.
- They will need to have their financial information ready when they apply in order to qualify for a fee waiver and for the EOP application. Ask them if they are prepared for that.
- Have they attended a college application workshop in the College and Career Center?
- Check for EOP deadlines for CSUs to which your students are applying and remind them of deadlines.
- If they are applying to private or out-of-state schools, check with them about deadlines and requirements.
- Your students need to set up portals for each school to which they apply. They will need to establish a system of recording their passwords; the rules for creating passwords are complicated and they must be unique. Students often struggle with remembering them -- a good opportunity to teach organization techniques.
- Ask them about/help them with scholarship applications.
DECEMBER
Discussion Topic: Managing Money
Discuss together how mentors and mentees spend money and help mentees understand the basics of responsible money management, budgeting, and spending restraint. Discuss the expenses mentees are likely to face in college.
Action Items/Reminders:
Discussion Topic: Managing Money
Discuss together how mentors and mentees spend money and help mentees understand the basics of responsible money management, budgeting, and spending restraint. Discuss the expenses mentees are likely to face in college.
Action Items/Reminders:
- Make sure your students have all financial documents ready to apply to FAFSA or CA Dream Act. Applications open October 1 and is due March 2. The earlier your students apply the bigger the financial awards they are likely to receive.
- Encourage students to check their portals weekly! They cannot miss deadlines -- they will be notified through their portals if they are missing documentation, if they need to send their semester grades, when their EOP apps are due, if any fees are due, etc.
- Remind them about the end of the semester coming. Any projects due? How will they prepare for finals? Any grades or missing assignments that need to be addressed now?
JANUARY
Discussion Topic: Mid-Year Reflection: Self-Assessment
Reflect on the first half of senior year by assessing the progress made on the goals mentees set. Celebrate achievements and identify challenges that have come up since the start of the school year.
Action Items/Reminders:
Discussion Topic: Mid-Year Reflection: Self-Assessment
Reflect on the first half of senior year by assessing the progress made on the goals mentees set. Celebrate achievements and identify challenges that have come up since the start of the school year.
Action Items/Reminders:
- Strongly encourage them to attend FAFSA/CA Dream Act application workshops, with their parents, and have all the information needed gathered beforehand.
- Check for EOP deadlines for CSUs to which your students are applying and remind them of deadlines.
- Remind them to check their portals weekly.
- Ask them about/help them with scholarship applications.
- Review their first semester grades with them. If they get any Ds or Fs, encourage them to repeat the classes as soon as possible through an online credit recovery program offered by their high school.
FEBRUARY
Discussion Topic: Learn the Importance of Fighting Senioritis and Finishing High School Strong
Ask mentees to reflect on how they’re feeling now that they’ve submitted their college applications. Help mentees understand that 12th grade is important and that the consequence of slipping grades in the second half of senior year could be rescinded admissions. Talk about senioritis and identify perseverance strategies to combat it. Discuss ways mentors can support mentees in their efforts to finish high school as strong as possible.
Action Items/Reminders:
Discussion Topic: Learn the Importance of Fighting Senioritis and Finishing High School Strong
Ask mentees to reflect on how they’re feeling now that they’ve submitted their college applications. Help mentees understand that 12th grade is important and that the consequence of slipping grades in the second half of senior year could be rescinded admissions. Talk about senioritis and identify perseverance strategies to combat it. Discuss ways mentors can support mentees in their efforts to finish high school as strong as possible.
Action Items/Reminders:
- Strongly encourage your student to attend a FAFSA/CA Dream Act workshop in the career center if they have not yet submitted. Either application must be submitted by March 2.
- Ask them about/help them with scholarship applications.
- Remind your students to check for EOP deadlines.
MARCH
Discussion Topic: Discuss the Transition to College: Leveraging Mentors’ Experience
Mentors can talk about what they felt like at this time in their senior year of high school. Help mentees as they start to prepare for the transition between high school and college. Ask mentees to share their anxieties about going to college and the changes that this will mean for their lives. Mentors can share their personal stories with mentees to normalize mentees’ anxieties.
Action Items/Reminders:
Discussion Topic: Discuss the Transition to College: Leveraging Mentors’ Experience
Mentors can talk about what they felt like at this time in their senior year of high school. Help mentees as they start to prepare for the transition between high school and college. Ask mentees to share their anxieties about going to college and the changes that this will mean for their lives. Mentors can share their personal stories with mentees to normalize mentees’ anxieties.
Action Items/Reminders:
- FAFSA/CA Dream Act are due March 2. The FAFSA/CA Dream Act applications are the basis for multiple types of financial aid.
- Students start hearing back from colleges.
- Your students may have to pay an orientation and housing fee in April or May; make sure they are planning for that.
- Encourage your students to check their portals and emails weekly for deadlines or missing information. Make sure they respond quickly. If they miss a deadline, a college may revoke their admission.
APRIL
Discussion Topic: Understand Options for College
Help mentees sort through the options they have once they have heard back from the colleges they applied to. Discuss the academic, financial, social and geographic factors in making their decisions. If they are not accepted to their top choice colleges, help build excitement about the options they have. Discuss how you can support them as they make their decisions.
Action Items/Reminders:
Discussion Topic: Understand Options for College
Help mentees sort through the options they have once they have heard back from the colleges they applied to. Discuss the academic, financial, social and geographic factors in making their decisions. If they are not accepted to their top choice colleges, help build excitement about the options they have. Discuss how you can support them as they make their decisions.
Action Items/Reminders:
- College decision day is May 1!
- Encourage them to check into the orientation and housing fees that their school of choice might require them to pay when they accept the school -- before their financial aid award is available. Talk to them about how they are going to pay the fee, around $100 to $1000.
- Ask them about/help them with scholarship applications.
MAY
Discussion Topic: Understand the Non-Academic Transition From High School to College
Discuss how high school is different from college and the expectations for the social scene in college. Discuss how mentees will acclimate to a new setting, and give mentees advice about how to stay true to themselves and establish themselves in the college social setting. Help mentees understand the importance of relationship-building in college and how this looks different in college than in high school. Talk about the realities of drugs and alcohol on college campuses and talk realistically about how to handle difficult situations related to these issues. Brainstorm ways to troubleshoot challenging situations that could come up in college. Encourage them to learn about resources available on campus and how to access these resources.
Action Items/Reminders:
Discussion Topic: Understand the Non-Academic Transition From High School to College
Discuss how high school is different from college and the expectations for the social scene in college. Discuss how mentees will acclimate to a new setting, and give mentees advice about how to stay true to themselves and establish themselves in the college social setting. Help mentees understand the importance of relationship-building in college and how this looks different in college than in high school. Talk about the realities of drugs and alcohol on college campuses and talk realistically about how to handle difficult situations related to these issues. Brainstorm ways to troubleshoot challenging situations that could come up in college. Encourage them to learn about resources available on campus and how to access these resources.
Action Items/Reminders:
- College decision day May 1.
- CIR Scholarship application is due in May.
- Remind them about the end of the semester coming. Any projects due? How will they prepare for finals? Any grades or missing assignments that need to be addressed now?
- CIR holds its annual Awards Dinner in late May or early June. Mentors are invited, mentors of seniors are especially encouraged to attend.
JUNE
Discussion Topic: Celebrate Your Successes
Reflect on everything you’ve accomplished together. Reflect on the highlights of your relationship over the last four years.
Action Items/Reminders:
Discussion Topic: Celebrate Your Successes
Reflect on everything you’ve accomplished together. Reflect on the highlights of your relationship over the last four years.
Action Items/Reminders:
- CIR holds its annual Awards Dinner in late May or early June. Mentors are invited - mentors of seniors are particularly encouraged to attend.
- If you would like to attend a Graduation Ceremony, ask your student in advance to get tickets for you if they can.