College & Career Counseling

CVCHS takes great pride in partnering with students and parents as they embark on their college-planning journey. We offer individual and group counseling to guide and support students and parents, placing a strong emphasis on preparing juniors and assisting seniors as they explore college possibilities, narrow their focus, complete applications, and make their final decisions.

With a 99% college attendance rate, CVCHS graduates consistently gain admission to outstanding four-year colleges and universities nationwide.

Throughout the year, informational meetings, workshops, and programs keep students and parents informed about planning for college and completing the application process.

Browse the College & Career Resources tabs below to learn more!

Click Here for CLASS OF 2026 INFORMATION

Resources

CVCHS Grade Level Programing

Seniors

ACT/SAT- As of March 2022 UC and CSU have suspended ACT/SAT moving forward.
- Private & Out-of-State School may still require SAT/ACT.
Have opportunities to meet with college and career representative.
Access to College Counseling Schoology Group.
Check-in with counselor to determine A-G eligibity.
Receive guidance in navigating their college choices utilizing Naviance.
Senior Parent Night - Counselors provide an overview of the services they provide.
Attend classroom guidance lessons tailored toward college/career research and the overall application process.
College Application Workshops - Receive personalized help on the college application process.
Each student’s college application process monitored through Naviance.
Through Naviance - Required documents submitted on their behalf to their selected colleges (i.e., transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal essays).
Gain assistance and direction in applying for financial aid and scholarships.
Receive guidance on how to deal with acceptances and denials, and how to make the appropriate college choice.

Juniors

Take the PSAT exam and gain free, individualized test prep from Albert.io.
Have opportunities to meet with college and career representative.
Receive guidance in navigating their college choices utilizing Naviance.
Complete the Career Interest Profiler in Naviance.
Use exploration tools to help in identifying potential majors and careers, including the valuable college/career search engines built into Naviance.
Junior Parent Night – Counselors provide an overview of the services they provide.
Attend classroom guidance lessons tailored toward college/career research.
Are encouraged to solidify their extracurricular activities, building their resume for the college application process.
Obtain information on the ACT and SAT, including optional test prep programs (Albert.io).
Meet with a counselor to review course selections for senior year and A-G eligibility is on track.

Sophomores

Take the Pre-ACT and gain FREE, individualized test prep from Albert.io.
Complete the Strengths Explorer in Naviance.
Use exploration tools to help in identifying potential majors and careers.
Sophomore Parent Night – Counselors provide an overview of the services they provide.
Attend classroom guidance lessons tailored toward exploring postsecondary options.
Continue to learn how to navigate Naviance (including a summary of its career resources).
Are encouraged to solidify their extracurricular activities, building their resume for the college application process.
Meet with their counselor to review their course selections for junior year.

Freshmen

Have opportunities to visit college campuses.
Create their Four-Year-Plan in Naviance.
Freshman Parent Night – Counselors provide an overview of the services they provide.
Attend classroom guidance lessons, tailored towards exploring how to successfully transition to high school.
Are introduced to Naviance (including overview of course planner).
Are encouraged to explore extracurricular activities, building their resume for the college application process.
Meet with their counselor to review their course selections for sophomore year.

Naviance

Financial Aid

The Financial Aid Application opens December 2025

During the fall of senior year, students can apply for federal and state financial aid. The College and Career Center will host Cash for College Workshops each fall. The workshop provides FREE, one-on-one financial aid assistance to families completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or the California Dream Act Application (for eligible AB540 students). These forms must be completed by March 2 to receive priority consideration for state and federal financial aid, including: grants, loans and work-study opportunities, if eligible.

The counseling department will electronically upload GPAs directly to the California Student Aid Commission’s system for Cal Grant awards. This is the fastest and most secure way for students to submit their Cal Grant GPAs.

Visit individual college websites for specific financial aid and scholarship deadlines. All local scholarship information is posted on Naviance .

Opting Out?

As of May 20, 2022, the California State Board of Education is requiring ALL Seniors to fill out a FAFSA form or an opt-out form.

If you are choosing to opt out of submitting the Financial Aid/CA Dream Act Application you can download the form using the link below OR pick up an opt-out form in Student Services. Please complete the form and return it to your school counselor via email or in person.

Please keep in mind that:

Some schools won't consider you for merit scholarships until you've submitted a FAFSA, so complete one even if you think you won't qualify for federal aid.
If you are applying to Community College (DVC, LMC, etc.), completing the FAFSA is one of the requirements to be eligible for FREE Tuition.

FAFSA/CA Dream Act OPT-OUT Form

Want to apply to more scholarships?
What Are the FAFSA, CADAA, & Cal Grant Application?

Want to apply to more scholarships?

Below you will find Scholarship Search Engines, to help you find even more scholarships to pay for college

FastWeb

This is a national database. Students receive emails with potential scholarships which match your profile once created.

Scholarships.com

Based on your answers, it’ll try to match the student to scholarships that may be

College Board-Big Future

Find scholarships, other financial aid and internships from more than 2,200 programs.

Niche.com

Search lists of scholarships by choosing a category or get matched to college scholarships you are eligible for.

Immigrants Rising

The Educational Resource Binder is filled with crucial, up-to-date information educators, students and allies can use to increase college access for undocumented students in California.

Goingmerry

Get matched with college scholarships instantly and apply online with a common app for students and tools for counselors and providers.

Let's Go to College CA

Let’s Go to College California is a student-led virtual hub that prioritizes student needs during COVID-19 and promotes resources to support all students on their journey to pursue higher education.

Cappex.com

College and scholarship search in one place.

Raise.me

A new way to earn money for college. With RaiseMe, anyone can earn money for college starting in 9th grade based on their achievements in school and life.

What Are the FAFSA, CADAA, & Cal Grant Application?

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is the form that determines your financial aid from the government and most colleges. The form collects personal and financial information from students and parents, and applies a formula to determine your Expected Family Contribution, or EFC.

At minimum, you must: Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen (including a U.S. national or permanent resident) and have a valid Social Security number. Have a high school diploma or GED certificate. Be enrolled or accepted as a student in an eligible degree or certificate program.

Click below to START/COMPLETE the FAFSA

https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

CADAA (CA Dream Act Application)

The California Dream Act Application allows students interested in attending eligible California Colleges, Universities and Career Education Programs to apply for state financial aid.

The CA Dream Act is for students who are not U.S. Citizens, National or Permanent residents or do not fulfill ALL of the FAFSA requirements. The DREAM application is unique to California promoting access to all students regardless of immigration statues and/or documentation.

Click below to START/COMPLETE the CA Dream Act Application

https://dream.csac.ca.gov/

Cal Grant

The Cal Grant is a California-specific financial aid allocation that does not need to be paid back. Cal Grant applicants must apply for the FAFSA or CADAA by the deadline and meet all eligibility, financial, and minimum GPA requirements of either program. Grants are for students attending University of California, California State University or California Community College, or qualifying independent and career colleges or technical schools in California.

There are three kinds of Cal Grants — A, B and C — but you don’t have to figure out which one to apply for. Your eligibility will be based on your FAFSA or CADAA responses, your verified Cal Grant GPA, the type of California colleges you list on your FAFSA and whether you’re a recent high school graduate.

DVC Kickstart

Student Center - Arts, Communication, and Language

DVC Kickstart Program for Seniors

What is KickStart?

KickStart is an early college preparation program designed to help and prepare high school seniors to make a smooth transition from high school to DVC. Through the KickStart program, seniors will complete all the required steps to attend DVC after high school, including registering for their first semester of college classes before they graduate!

Program Benefits:

Research shows that students who complete an early college preparation process (Orientation, Assessment, and Education Plan) are more successful in achieving their educational and career goals. In addition, completing these steps will provide students with priority registration and prepare them for their first official semester at DVC. Students will also become familiar with DVC programs, services, and resources to help them be successful at and beyond DVC.

With the KickStart program you will:

Complete the DVC application for both Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 through these Enrollment Steps.
Complete a Financial Aid Application (FAFSA or CA Dream Act) to be eligible for Free Tuition “FT3”.
Complete & submit a Special Admissions Form to enroll in the DVC Counseling 095 (COUN 095) course.
Complete the Intro to College (COUN 095) course & develop an educational plan with a DVC academic counselor
Learn about DVC Learning Communities, Programs & Services
EARN PRIORITY REGISTRATION for summer & fall enrollment!

When do the Kickstart Meetings Take Place?

KickStart Meetings happen during October and November of each school year. Please see Mrs. Cash or check the College and Career Schoology page to sign up.

NCAA ELIGIBILITY

As a school that takes pride in both academics and athletics, we want to make sure that our student athletes are properly supported and that they are given all of the information necessary to be successful at the college level.

Watch this video from Mrs. Cash, our College & Career Counselor, who goes more in-depth about the NCAA requirements that our student-athletes must satisfy to become eligible.

Basic NCAA Academic Requirements

The NCAA’s divisions were created in 1973 to align like-minded campuses in the areas of philosophy, competition and opportunity.

Steps to Become NCAA Eligible

Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center no later than the beginning of your junior year.
Register by the Spring semester of your junior year to take the ACT or SAT.
When registering, be sure to use the code "9999" to have your official test scores sent directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center.
Meet with your counselor to make sure that you are on track to graduate and that you have the required amount of core courses at the end of each semester.
Request your final amateurism certificate beginning April 1st of your senior year.
Submit your final transcript with proof of graduation to NCAA.

College & Career Counseling

Click Here for CLASS OF 2026 INFORMATION

Additional Information