4-Year Plan

With more than 3,000 colleges and universities in the United States, narrowing down the list of schools to consider can be daunting. To make the college application and selection process easier for our students and families UHS offers a comprehensive, four-year college counseling program for every student. With a 250 to 1 counselor-to-student ratio, not only do UHS counselors develop personal connections with each student, they also recognize the unique gifts, talents, interests, and strengths each student possesses. UHS counselors guide the student and family through each step of the college application process through parent information sessions, financial aid workshops, and one-on-one personalized conferences.

UHS students will:
  • Participate in a group session first semester with principal and counselor.
  • Create a four-year graduation plan.
  • Be assigned a peer mentor that assists with academic and social support services.
  • Become involved in a variety of activities. College applications ask students to list high school activities; depth of involvement and leadership roles are considered.
  • Take the PSAT (practice) in October.
  • Plan meaningful summer activities.
  • Participate in Naviance Student training, which will include a personality assessment.
  • Attend a Freshmen College Entrance Requirement (A-G) Presentation.
  • Be trained in college course etiquette.
  • Complete monthly journal reflections, using the virtual journal function on Naviance Student.
UHS students will:
  • Take the PSAT in October.
  • Participate in a sophomore conference with parent and counselor to review PSAT scores, discuss post-secondary plans, college entrance exams, and extracurricular involvement and plan course selection for Junior & Senior years.
  • (Optional) Take a college preview trip in the fall.
  • Participate in Naviance Student training, which will include career assessments and career pathway information as well as begin the process of building a resume.
  • Get involved and begin tracking extracurricular activities using a resume.
  • Begin gathering information from colleges. Use the Internet and the resources available in the counseling office to research colleges of interest.
  • Participate in meaningful involvements during the summer, such as internships, community service, college entrance exam prep, and/or college and career-focused summer programs.
  • Complete monthly journal reflections and research, using the virtual journal function on Naviance Student.
UHS students will:
  • Attend a local college fair in September at the Fresno Convention Center.
  • Attend visits by college admission officers at UHS.
  • Take the PSAT in October.
  • Visit colleges during fall, spring and summer breaks and take an organized tour. When possible, juniors should attend classes.
  • Participate in Naviance Student training which will include college match assessments and develop a list of prospective colleges.
  • Attend an individual meeting with the counselor to review Naviance Student assessments and refine the college list. This meeting is to ensure the student's college list includes colleges appropriate to academic and personal record.
  • Participate in Junior Career Exploration Day at Fresno State (January).
  • Take the SAT and ACT during the second semester.
  • Take the SAT II subject tests (for most colleges an optional exam).
  • Take Advanced Placement exams in May.
  • Begin a scholarship search.
  • Update student's extracurricular activities on their resume.
  • Determine the teachers from whom they would like a recommendation. Often, colleges request two recommendations. In asking a teacher to write a recommendation, the student should be sure the teacher knows him or her well and is not someone who just gave a good grade. If students ask their teachers to write recommendation letters before the end of the junior year, teachers may compose the letter during the summer break.
  • Begin to work on college applications over the summer. The common application and UC application is typically available in early August.
  • Write college essays over the summer to minimize the amount of work required during the school year, and finalize the essays in September during senior English classes.
  • Complete monthly journal reflections and research, using the virtual journal function on Naviance Student.
UHS students will:
  • Develop a final list of colleges to which student is applying to by October 1st if not sooner. This list must include the application deadline for each college.
  • Complete applications by individual college deadlines. It is the student’s responsibility to complete and submit college applications. If students are applying to a school with rolling admission, submit the application as early as possible.
  • Students should provide their counselor and teacher(s) who will be writing their recommendation letters a Teacher Recommendation Form and Counselor Recommendation Form  (golden ticket), complete teacher and counselor recommendation surveys on Naviance Student, and provide any supporting documents at least one month before application due date.
  • Take the ACT/SAT again if necessary.
  • Participate in Naviance Student Training which will review the college application process and finalize their college list.
  • Attend a senior conference with the counselor.
  • Upon student request Counselors will send to private colleges:
    • The secondary school report
    • The University High School profile
    • The student’s transcript
    • The counselor recommendation letter
    • The mid-year report following first semester grades