During these difficult times, community support and resilience are vital. Click here for Resources. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need extra support. Compassion, empathy, and ongoing communication are key to fostering a sense of security and community.

It’s hard to believe, but second semester is already here! There’s a lot to keep track of this semester, including financial aid, scholarship applications, as well as graduation obligations.

Be proactive—don’t wait until the last minute to take care of these tasks. And remember, check your emails regularly for important updates.

Important Reminder: There are still private and out-of-state colleges with open applications. Be sure to visit their websites to check for deadlines as these can vary.

Also, keep in mind that your senior year grades matter! Even if you've been accepted to colleges, admission offices expect you to finish strong. Failing to do so could result in your acceptance being rescinded. Stay focused, finish the year on a high note, and build a strong momentum into next year!

If you haven’t opened your college portals yet, now is the time to do so. They contain important information, including admission decisions, potential missing requirements, financial aid award letters, and more.

If a college asks you to create an account, make sure to do so by setting up a username and password. Be sure to store this login information in a secure place to avoid forgetting it later.

Most private and out-of-state universities/colleges will require you to submit a Mid-Year Transcript, which includes your first semester senior year grades.

YES, you will need to request another transcript! Be sure to request it from your College/Career Center, before school or during lunch ONLY, just like you did with your initial transcript.

Note: CSU/UC schools typically do not ask for a mid-year transcript, but be sure to check your application portal for any updates.

Deadline: You must request your Mid-Year Transcript by January 27, 3:45 PM. If you do not make the request by this date, there is no guarantee the transcript will be sent on time.

Samohi Scholarship Application is NOW OPEN! This is a tremendous opportunity EXCLUSIVELY for Samohi Seniors to apply for scholarships with over $100,000 in awards up for grabs. Don’t miss out on this chance to support your future—make sure to apply!

Seniors, please check your SMMK12 email for important details. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully and complete ALL Samohi Scholarship Application steps—applications will NOT be processed if any steps are missing.

Deadline: Friday, January 31, 2025, 11:59pm.

Seniors who wish to be considered for federal, state (Cal Grant & SMC’s Promise Program), and potentially institutional aid must submit the FAFSA or CADAA. Some colleges also require the CSS Profile. Deadline: March 2, 2025 is the priority deadline for California colleges. To be eligible for the Cal Grant, you must submit the FAFSA, and Samohi will submit your GPA on your behalf.

The CSS Profile is now open. Please review the [CSS Profile Participating Institutions and Programs list] to determine if any of the institutions you're applying to require it. Deadline: Varies by institution.

Be sure to check each college's financial aid website for specific requirements and deadlines.

Here are recourses the Department of Education are hosting. Please take advantage of them if you have any questions, worries, or wonderings. If you want to learn what you need to do to get started filing out the FAFSA, how to submit FAFSA, what happens after you submit the FAFSA, please click this link Federal Student Aid Web Series and check it out.

Quick and easy access to the most up to date information go to the FAFSA Twitter page.

Scholarship search engines:

• Unigo.com
• Scholarships.com
• Fastweb.com

STEM Admissions Night

Join us to dive into the details of the STEM admissions process, including available majors and offerings, key differences between specialty and non-specialty majors, and strategies to best prepare for the competitive STEM college admissions journey.

Date: Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025

Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Location: Samohi, Barnum Hall

We have a wonderful relationship with the #1 Community College SMC. Please do not wait to submit your application and do all the matriculation steps to receive priority enrollment.

We understand that this can be a stressful time, and we want you to know that we're here for you. Take a moment to breathe. It’s easy to get caught up in the chaos, so remember to pause, relax, and reconnect with yourself. Just breath!

It's second semester of your Junior year! Can you believe that you will be a senior in 6 months. Keep up the good work. Continue to do well in your classes, look for summer opportunities, maybe take an SMC class, find a passion project, and look for things that you love to do. Start doing a little research into colleges. See what you love, hate, like about the institutions.

Soon we will meet you all via English class presentations to give you a brief overview of what to expect this semester and senior year. After that, we will be available to you for one-on-one advising sessions. YAY!!!

Dates and deadlines are crucial in the college application process. If you have any questions or need a refresher from when we met you during English class presentations at the start of the year, the Survival Guide is here for you. It’s your one-stop resource for everything you need to know about deadlines, applications, and milestone checks to keep you on track. Check it out!

Keep up your grades. Continue the good work. Check out summer opportunities, take a SMC class, do something fun, something that you love, go out and find a passion project. If you have time check out some college and see if you like the campus. Yes, the older you get things may change but it's always good to see the possibilities.

If you can’t visit colleges in person, be sure to check out their virtual tours! They’re just a click away and a great way to explore campuses from the comfort of home. Don’t miss the opportunity to get a feel for the schools you’re interested in!

We’re here for you! We’ve got your back. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. It’s always best to clarify things before submitting your applications. You can make an appointment with us, or feel free to drop by before school, during lunch, or after school. We’re eager to help you succeed!

College app season has turned our kids into hangry hangry little kiddos! Unfortunately, our wallets cannot handle their insatiable appetite.

To help meet this need, we are collecting donations of non-perishable snacks. Any contribution is greatly appreciated. Here are some examples of popular items that students enjoy:

• Granola Bars
• Fruit Snacks and Fruit Leathers
• Chips Ahoy Cookies
• Any Type of Chips
• Rice Krispies Treats
• Cheez-Its
• Pop-Tarts
• Popcorn
• Nuts
• Gummy Bears and similar snacks

Your support will make a big difference, and we truly appreciate your generosity. Donations can be dropped off in the College Career Center before/after school.

Thank you for helping us provide students with the nourishment they need to succeed!