College Counseling

• Students take the PSAT in October in preparation for the SAT, providing insight that allows us to provide focused guidance and support with the college admission testing process.

• Freshmen are encouraged to attend college fairs on our campus and speak with college admissions representatives

• In preparation for the SAT and ACT, Sophomores take the PSAT and PreACT in October.

• Sophomores are encouraged to attend college fairs on our campus and in the community and speak with college admissions representatives

• Sophomores are introduced to our college planning software MaiaLearning allowing college and career exploration.

• 10th-grade families will meet with their assigned college counselor in Spring to review course selection and academic and extracurricular interests and involvement, discuss the PSAT and PreACT results to help develop a testing timeline that is best for the student, and investigate college admission statistics based on GPA and test scores

• Sophomores who are interested in taking Advanced Placement courses as a Junior can attend information sessions in the Spring.

• Juniors take the PSAT-NMSQT in October and are encouraged to begin taking the college admissions tests the SAT and/or ACT in the spring of Junior year. Cardinal Newman High School will host a school-day test for Juniors in March

• The College Counselors go to the classroom and use Advisory Time to give college application information, point out resources, review timelines, and guide them on using MaiaLearning as a tool to compare their testing and academic achievement with colleges that they are researching

• Juniors will take a personality assessment to help understand optional careers associated with their personality

• Juniors are given the opportunity throughout the year to meet with college admissions representatives when they visit Cardinal Newman

• Juniors are encouraged to attend college fairs on our campus and in the community and surrounding areas.

• 11th-grade families can schedule individual meetings with their assigned college counselor to review transcripts, college admission testing, and timelines, and begin to develop a college list that best fits the student

• College counselors will give questionnaires to Juniors and their parents to gather information for letters of recommendation

• Juniors are encouraged to visit colleges outside of school time

• The College Counseling office will host educational evenings for students and families on topics that include college admission, testing, financial aid, and more.

• College counselors meet with assigned students to help with the submission of applications and support documents and to guide students using MaiaLearning, the college and career software

• Seniors can continue to take the SAT and ACT on our campus if needed

• College counselors provide support for the college application process

• College counselors will host educational evenings for students and families on college application timelines, financial aid, and deadlines

• College counselors will present and explain to the Seniors in the classroom and during Advisory Time how to work and fill out correctly the Common Application, the Coalition Application, the University of California Application, the California State University Application, and other priority or school-specific applications

• Seniors are highly encouraged to attend college fairs and meet with college admissions representatives in the Fall on our campus and in the surrounding community and area

Please note that as a result of the pandemic, many high schools are not able to administer SAT or ACT testing on weekends.  We will offer CN Juniors and Seniors a school-day test option for both the SAT and ACT.  Current Seniors can take either test in March on an assigned day.  Students must sign up prior to the test with the testing coordinators.