Information for High School Students

Explore the possibilities of your future

Our team is here to partner with you in setting and reaching your post-high school graduation goals – from deciding if college is right for you to finding financial aid all the way to graduation and the start of your career.

College and career success program

Our Making Waves college and career success program provides need-based scholarships and pairs students from low-income backgrounds and students of color with our college coaches, financial coordinators, and career specialists.
1:1 college coaching
Our college coaches provide holistic guidance to help you navigate college life, from picking your major to setting goals to planning your path to graduation and beyond.
Scholarships and financial guidance
We provide yearly scholarships for up to six years of college plus financial literacy and college budgeting guidance so you can graduate with minimal to no student loans.
Career and job support
Our career team provides expert guidance on putting together resumes and cover letters, growing your interviewing skills, searching for internships, building your network, and more.

FAFSA countdown!

FAFSA opens Dec. 1, 2024 and the California state aid deadline is March 3, 2025.

00
Days
00
Hours
00
Mins
00
Sec

Getting started with financial aid

Financial aid is money or funding that helps pay for some or all of the costs of college. It can come in different forms, like grants, scholarships, and work-study. Here are some ways to get started so you don’t leave free money on the table.

What’s the CalKids Grant?

This is a $500 grant from the state of California.
Are you eligible? Find out on the CalKids website

California offers Cal Grant funding to be used at University of California, California State University, or California Community College campuses, as well as qualifying independent, career, or technical colleges or schools in California.
Ready to apply? Learn more on the California Student Aid Commission website.

Submitting FAFSA means you’ll be eligible for federal and state aid. Many states and colleges also use the FAFSA to determine eligibility for their own financial aid, such as grants and scholarships, which can greatly reduce the cost of your education. FAFSA also maximizes your scholarship and loan opportunities. Even if you’re only interested in student loans, you still need to complete the FAFSA. Additionally, most scholarships require a completed FAFSA as part of their application process.

The California Dream Act and other financial aid sources offer funding and scholarships for undocumented students.
Ready to learn more? Visit the Immigrants Rising website.

If you are a senior in high school and planning to apply to private colleges, you might need to submit a financial aid form called the CSS profile.
Check the colleges that require the CSS profile on the College Board website.

Yes! Here are more ways to find scholarships:

Checklists to get ready for college

It’s never too early to start thinking about your plans after high school. A big part of that could be going to college. Though the idea might seem a little scary now, prepping a head of time can make the process a lot easier. Here are the steps you can take to get ready to apply to college and find financial aid.

Get ready for your future career

Exploring different career options? Need an internship and unsure where to start? Wondering how to prepare for job applications and interviews? We’ve got you covered! Grow your career toolkit with our career exploration worksheets, resume builders, cover letter templates, internship listings, insider tips for job interviews, and more.

The latest video resources

Get free, convenient guidance from our AI copilot

Ask questions any time, get responses in seconds, and receive reminders and prompts personalized to your college and career path.

Stay in the know

Email address

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.