College Counseling
What is ELEDEF?
Every Lunch, Every Day, Except Fridays – that’s what ELEDEF is! Seniors will find one or both College Advisors available at tables in front of the Counseling & College Center every lunchtime from September through November (except Fridays, of course). We are available to answer questions, proofread applications, brainstorm ideas for essays and PIQs and anything else that seniors need help with.
Cal Grant & Cal Grant Opt Out
The Cal Grant helps pay tuition and fees at California colleges and universities.
Financial Aid for College – FAFSA Delay & CSS Profile
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is typically available on October 1, however, due to major changes in the FAFSA, it will not be available until sometime in December.
Income Questions on College Applications / Fee Waivers for College Applications
Both the University of California and the California State University applications have questions that ask students to enter family income and family size. These questions are for the sole purpose of determining if a student is eligible for a fee waiver for the application; they are not questions related to financial aid, nor are they an application for financial aid.
Colleges Visiting St. Francis
Fifty colleges and universities send representatives to visit the St. Francis campus each year. It is important that students meet with a representative from the colleges/universities they are considering for admission. However, it is equally important that students attend all of their classes and prepare well for college. We recommend that students choose wisely the times and dates to sign up for a visit with a college representative. It is critical that students do not miss tests or important lecture information.
Visiting Colleges
Visiting college campuses is one of the more important means of discovery when evaluating your college options.
Here are a few tips:
- Include visits while vacationing with your family.
- Call colleges ahead of time and request a guided tour. Visit a variety of colleges – big and small, public and private - so that you can compare different types of institutions.