Cal-SOAP Resources

California Community College System

The California Community Colleges is the largest higher education system in the nation. The system is comprised of 73 districts, 116 colleges and enrolls more than 2 million students. Community colleges provide basic skills education, workforce training and courses to prepare students to transfer to four-year universities. Colleges also provide opportunities for personal enrichment and lifelong learning.

General Requirements:

• Apply (generally through California Community College Apply)
• Earn a High School Diploma or its equivalent

Local District - Kern Community College District:

• Bakersfield College
• Porterville College
• Cerro Coso Community College

Partner Local Community College:

• Taft College

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California State University (CSU) System

The CSU is a leader in high-quality, accessible, student-focused higher education. With 23 campuses, almost 454,000 students, and 63,000 faculty and staff, we are the largest, the most diverse, and one of the most affordable university systems in the country.

General Requirements:

• Submit an application to the university via Cal State Apply
• Earned a High School Diploma or its equivalent
• Graduate with A-G courses met with a grade of C or better
  • History and Social Science - 2 Years
  • English - 4 Years
  • Math - 3 Years (4 Years Recommended)
  • Laboratory Science - 2 Years (3 years Recommended)
  • Language Other Than English - 2 Years
  • Visual and Performing Arts - 1 Year
  • College Preparatory Elective - 1 Year
• Graduate with a 2.50 Grade Point Average minimum

CSU Campuses:

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University of California (UC) System 

The 9 campuses of the University of California open their doors to all who work hard and dream big. Through its teaching, research and public service, UC drives California's economy and leads the world in new directions.

General Requirements:

• Submit an application to the university via UC Admissions
• Earned a High School Diploma or its equivalent
• Graduate with A-G courses met with a grade of C or better
  • History and Social Science - 2 Years
  • English - 4 Years
  • Math - 3 Years (4 Years Recommended)
  • Laboratory Science - 2 Years (3 Recommended)
  • Language Other Than English - 2 Years
  • Visual and Performing Arts - 1 Year
  • College Preparatory Elective - 1 Year
• Graduate with a 3.0 Grade Point Average minimum

UC Campuses:

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Private College/University 

General Requirements:

• Vary by institution - please see individual campuses for admission requirements

Partner Local Private Campuses:

• University of La Verne, Bakersfield Campus

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Federal

Assistance classified as federal is financial aid granted from the federal government. In the United States, this aid is administered by the agency known as Federal Student Aid.

Federal Student Aid

Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, ensures that all eligible individuals can benefit from federally funded financial assistance for education beyond high school. We consistently champion the promise of postsecondary education to all Americans - and its value to our society. Federal Student Aid plays a central and essential role in supporting postsecondary education by providing money for college to eligible students and families. We partner with postsecondary schools, financial institutions and others to deliver services that help students and families who are paying for college.

General Requirements

• Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident, or a T-Visa Holder
• Attend an eligible post-secondary institute within the United States

Common Federal Aid

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
• Direct Subsidized Loans
• Direct Unsubsidized Loans

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State 

 

Assistance classified as state is financial aid granted from the state government. In California, this aid is administered by the agency known as the California Student Aid Commission.

California Student Aid Commission

The California Student Aid Commission is the agency through which the state administers its state-funded financial aid to those pursuing public and private post-secondary education. Its mission is to make education after high school financially accessible for all California residents.

General Requirements

• Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) OR California Dream Act Application (CADAA)
• Be a Resident of California of have AB 540 status
• Be attending a post-secondary institute within the United States

Common State Aid

• Cal-Grant
• California Chafee Grant
• Middle Class Scholarship

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Institution

Assistance classified as institutional is financial aid granted by the institution the student is attending. This aid is administered by the college from which it is being offered.

General Requirements

Vary by institution - please see individual campuses for information on their institutional aid requirements. Some examples are:

1. UC - Blue and Gold Opportunity Grant
2. CSU - State University Grant
3. CCC - California College Promise Grant

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Common Types of Financial Aid

Grants

• Grants are a form of financial aid given to student who meet specific requirements, usually in the form of academic requirements or financial need. This money is given and does not need to be paid back.

Scholarships

• Scholarships, similar to grants, are given to students who meet specific requirements and do not need to be paid back. These differ from grants however in that they can be much more specific in regard to who may receive them including not only demographic information but interests, skills, and area of education the student may be pursuing.

Work Study

• Work study is a form of financial aid in which the student will work in a position that has been classified as a work study position at the institute they are attending. They generally obtain their payment in the form of a paycheck similar to traditional jobs that are worked.

Student Loans

• Student loans are money which is taken out but are expected to be paid back to the loaning agency over time. Student loans can come from the federal government, from private sources such as a bank or financial institution, or from other organizations. The interest percentage will differ from loan to loan and should be looked into before acceptance. Federal student loans usually have more benefits than private loans.
  
  • Subsidized Loans are loans which do not gain interest and do not have payments until 6 months after you stop attending your post-secondary institution.
  • Unsubsidized Loans start gaining interest the moment you accept them but does not start payments until 6 months after the student has stopped attending their post-secondary institution.

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If you are a high school student thinking about college, consider this: Someone with a Bachelor’s Degree earns nearly $1 million more over his or her lifetime than a high school graduate!

California Career Zone

California Career Zone is a website that allows students to explore not only potential careers but also themselves. One of the tools that students can find on this site is a personality assessment which can help them determine what their strongest personality traits are and can even link them to potential careers suited towards those traits. Students can also take a look at careers and explore various facts about them such as average pay, what is required to get the job, degrees to have before, and even look up colleges which offer those degrees. A unique feature of this website is that students can even take a glance at what budgeting their income would look like when working in a particular position.

Naviance

Some schools within the Kern High School District also have access to an online database called Naviance. Naviance offers students assistance in planning their future by providing resources and information for careers, colleges, degrees, and even scholarships. Included in it are multiple personality assessments to help students find their strengths and provide them with potential careers they may find interesting.

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