

Senior Newsletter
Updated 03/12/2025
Events
San Mateo Community College District
04/24/25 Lunch + Tutorial: Apply for Fall 2025 in room C-5 during tutorial. Canada, CSM, and Skyline College are accepting applications now.
05/06/25: Attend the Super Reg Day (Tuesday A day - 9:45 AM -1:30 PM) to meet with a college counselor, determine your Fall 2025 class schedule, and learn more about the campus.
English permission forms & Spanish permission forms are available in C1 and D9 soon!
Financial Aid Workshops: Lunch and Tutorial in C-6
Friday, 3/14/25
Tuesday, 3/18/25
3/18/25 CSM Disability Resource Center - Priority Enrollment!
Seniors with learning differences and plans to attend CSM in Fall 2025 can complete the required orientation, meet with a DRC counselor to apply for accommodations. Be sure to apply for Fall 2025 first!
Next Steps
Weekly: Check your college admissions accounts (portals) and email to see if a college needs an official transcript (from WHS and the community college, if applicable), your financial aid application, or other information. Housing applications for fall 2025 may be opening soon, too.
25-26 Financial Aid Application Deadline Extended to 04/02/25: Submit your 2025-2026 CADAA or FAFSA by this priority deadline. If your family does not wish to complete a financial aid application, see your school counselor to obtain the opt-out form. Seniors must submit a 25-26 financial aid form or the district opt-out form to graduate.
Waitlisted? Accept the offer if you would like to be considered for a spot after 05/01/25. Students should reserve a spot at another college or complete their Fall 2025 community college application in case they are not selected from the waitlist.
Appeal the Decision: Students not admitted to their first-choice college can explore appeal options if they are offered by the college. UC campuses may accept appeals until 03/31/25, while CSU campuses may consider appeals filed 15 days after the decision notification has been sent. Check in with your college advisor for more details.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Financial Aid Applications
The 2025-2026 CADAA and FAFSA are open. Here is the presentation we shared with seniors about the financial aid process. Use your personal email address to create accounts and complete these applications. Students eligible to use the FAFSA should create their FSA ID with their personal email address first and then help their parent(s) create their FSA ID.
CSS Profile: Some private schools use this application. Check the college's financial aid page for the most current information. The 2025-2026 application is open now.
Local Scholarships Due Soon
Scholarship for Redwood City Residents Due 3/15/25
WHS seniors who live in Redwood City with plans to attend 2 and 4-year colleges can apply for one of twenty scholarships from the Woodside AM Kiwanis Club by completing and emailing their application by 03/15/25.
Redwood City Residents! Application Due By 03/15/25
Seniors who live in Redwood City are eligible to apply for this scholarship opportunity sponsored by the Redwood City Rotary Club.
Scholarship for San Carlos Residents: Due 03/21/25
San Carlos residents who are high school seniors or current post-secondary students (2y, trade, or 4y) are eligible to apply for a scholarship by 5 PM on 03/21/25. Academic achievement, vocational goals, service to school, church, or community will be considered. Applicants cannot be the child of a San Carlos Rotary member.
Scholarship Application Due 03/16/25
Use this one application to apply for up to 15 different scholarships offered to Bay Area high school seniors.
Students of Italian Descent: Application Due 04/13/25
Seniors with at least one parent or grandparent of Italian descent and plans to attend college can apply for this $2,000 scholarship.
10,000 Degrees Scholarship: Still Open
No GPA requirement!
10,000 Degrees scholarship recipients may receive support from our trained Fellows, who provide ongoing mentorship both on campus and off during the entire college journey. After graduation, our Career and Alumni Success Team provides career mentorship, guidance, internship opportunities, networking events, and more.
Tri Counties Scholarships: Due 03/12/25
Scholarships totaling $110,000 will be awarded to students attending community colleges, trade schools, and/or four-year colleges/universities.
Tri Counties Bank offers (2) types of community scholarships:
- Income-based ā Sixty (60) $1,500 scholarships are awarded to students with a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 0 or less, and a minimum GPA of 2.5.
- Merit-based ā Twenty (20) $1,000 scholarships are offered to students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Applications are due by March 12, 2025.
Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors who demonstrate interest in public service, community engagement and business entrepreneurship.
PG&E Scholarships Due 03/22/25
High school students and graduates planning to enroll in full-time in an accredited college in fall who live in a PG&E service area can apply for these scholarships. Amounts vary between $1,000-$5,000. Better Together STEM scholarships offer up to $10,000 to students pursiong STEM studies in California.
San Mateo Panhellenic Alumnae
Female seniors planning to attend a 4-year college with National Panhellenic sororities and a GPA of 3.2+ are eligible to apply for this $1,500 scholarship. Your application is due to Ms. Matavulj in room C-5 by 03/21/25.
Future Physicians: PAMF $30,000 Scholarship Due 03/24/25
Seniors with an aspiration to become a doctor & financial need can apply for this scholarship opportunity by 03/24/25.
JM Social & Service Club $1,000 Scholarship: Due 03/31/25
WHS female seniors who have completed community service and demonstrated outstanding academic performance should apply for this local scholarship by 03/31/25. Use this application linked to the image above.
Scholarship for Students Interested in Legal Career: Due 3/28/25
High school seniors are invited to submit an essay, not to exceed 750 words, detailing their reason for wanting to pursue a career in law (which includes any law-related profession, such as paralegals, lawyers, law enforcement, etc.). Essays are due Friday, March 28, 2025. Scholarships of $1,500, $2,500, and $7,500 will be awarded.
Need-Based Community Service Scholarship Due 4/10
$1,500 scholarships are available to seniors with financial need, plans to attend college, and community involvement. Applicants must complete the application (2 letters of recommendation; transcript; documentation of financial need; autobiography; essay about Tzu Chi).
San Carlos Lions Scholarship Due 4/15/25
Belmont or San Carlos residents who will graduate in 2025 and have plans to attend community college, 4-year college, or trade school can apply for this $750 scholarship by 04/15/25.
Graduating seniors or 2024 grads who took a gap year are eligible to apply for a $4,000 scholarship by submitting a transcript demonstrating a 3.0+ GPA and an essay of 500 words on the prompt by 04/05/25 at 5 PM.
Students with Hearing Loss Scholarship: Due 04/15/25
Students with documented hearing loss and plans to attend a post-secondary institution can apply for a scholarship offered by the Peninsula Chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America.
SMC Association of Grand Jurors Scholarship Due 04/25/25
Graaduating high school seniors or community college students with 24 units can apply for this scholarship opportunity by completing the writing tasks listed on the 2025 application.
Catalino Tapia Scholarships: Due 05/16/25
Bay Area seniors are encouraged to apply for the Tapia scholarship if they meet the following criteria: first-generation college students (neither parent earnd a 4-year degree from a US university); significant financial need; 2.5+ GPA; and plans to attend a college full-time.
WHS Athletic Boosters Scholarship: Due 05/06
WHS seniors who have participated in a varsity team this year are eligible to apply for this scholarship. The complete application, including a recommendation from your WHS coach, must be submitted to C5 or D9 on 5/6/25.
Elks Scholarships
Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities
CA high school seniors who meet the eligiblity requirements of this Elks scholarship can receive up to $2,000 to support their plans to attend post-secondary education (2-year, 4-year, vocational) by mailing their application before 03/15/2025.
Vocational Grant
Students enrolling in a vocational program can receive up to $2,000 for up to 2 years. Applicants must be US citizens. Sponsoring lodge is Redwood City Lodge #1991.
Earn $10,000-14,000 @ Partner Colleges
National Scholarships
Karcher $10,000 Scholarship Due 3/31/25 @ 3 PM
Submit either a short video (30-90 seconds) or a 250-word written response, telling us how higher education will help you pursue your passion. Provide contact info for someone who can write you a glowing recommendation. Just make sure they submit it through the applicant portal before the deadline.
Project Yellow Light: Video or Radio Due 4/1
Create a video ($8,000) or radio spot ($2,000) to motivate, persuade and encourage your peers to not drive distracted. You have a unique opportunity to play a key role in spreading this important message. You can speak to your peers on this subject in a way that adults cannot. The more lives you can impact, the more lives you can save.
Society of Women Engineers Due 03/31/25
$1,000-$19,000 awards available to seniors and college students planning to study at an ABET-accredited program in engineering, technology, or computing in the upcoming academic year.
College & Career Advisors
Zorina Matavulj
Francisco Gil
Collaborating with Ms. Lok and Mr. Thornton
650-367-9750 ext. 40063
Schedule an appointment with me
Yo hablo EspaƱol
Lisa Vasquez
Collaborating with Ms. Grimaldi and Mr. Negri
lvasquez@seq.org 650-367-9750 ext. 40217
Woodside High School College and Career Advisors