College Resources

Are you interested in attending college? Here are some resources to help you find and prepare for the college of your choice.

  • There are many colleges and universities that are available to everyone!

    The four main questions that each family should consider in searching for a college are: location, study/area of interest, cost/aid available and most importantly, is this where God is calling you to be.

    Chesterton Students are formed in a rich Catholic classical education that does not have to end in high school. The Cardinal Newman Society Colleges actively seek out Chesterton Students tailored to meet their needs as a faithful Catholic college.

    Non-Catholic colleges are also not out of reach. Most secular colleges accept CLT scores and do not discriminate private school education.

    We do advise our families to find out all needed requirements and application due dates before applying to ANY college. Please don’t wait till the last minute to find out, most times, this will limit any college choices due to poor planning.

    Need help in discerning your future? Check out our page What’s next, where we provide some resources to help guide you to what God has in store for you!

    Scroll down below to see more on choosing a college for you!

  • The bottom line is that the cost to attend any college will be expensive.

    There are Federal and State level financial aid awards available to those that apply.

    Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form allows you to be considered for federal student aid. In addition, states and colleges use FAFSA information to award their own grants, scholarships, and loans. But, since some aid is limited, you have to meet the deadlines!

    The 2024–25 FAFSA® form will be available by Dec. 31, 2023.

    Click here to learn how to prepare for and stay informed about the FAFSA launch

    You can see more information about financial aid if you scroll towards the bottom of the page!

  • There are copious amounts of scholarships available to students seeking a high education, but they are only available to those seek them.

    A great place to start looking for scholarships is in your own community!

    Please visit our scholarship page for available scholarships!

  • If you are still having college questions, concerns, or are ready to begin forming your academic plan at the college of your choice, academic advisors and counselors are available to assist you at every step of the way! On every college website they will have a page dedicated to help you get connected to staff member, feel free to start reaching out to them today.

1. Choosing a college

  • Catholic Colleges

California State University Applications are distinct in their application process but require about the same requirements of a UC system school.

“With 23 universities spanning the state, and thousands of degrees to choose from, the CSU offers you more choices and connections than any other public higher education institution in the nation. One application opens infinite possibilities. Start your journey today.” -Cal State Apply

To begin applying you need to create an account through California State University: Cal State Apply | CSU Always be on the lookout for the different submission dates for your desired semester entrance.

Westlake HS (CA) College and Career Center provides shared video call from Brittany Hong, Admissions Counselor at CSU Channel Islands, as she reviews the Cal State Apply Application & covers key parts that can cause problems for submissions.

The CSU system does require A-G Requirements and Grade Point Averages (GPAs) to be a minimum of 2.5. An explanation of the A-G reqs. are available on the video provided by Cal State Fullerton program, GearUp. If you do not fulfill these requirements due to being a transfer high school student, community college is the best option for you! Many community colleges are also partnered with CSU schools to help you make a direct transfer after completing your two full-time years. You must talk with an academic advisor at the community college of your choice to get your plan started today!*

*Graduating Seniors Only

Choosing a Catholic College

The Cardinal Newman Society recognizes colleges for their commitment to a faithful Catholic education. No secular education is a complete education, and today much of secular education is opposed to Catholic belief and morality. On the other hand, sadly much of Catholic higher education has been compromised by ideology, infidelity, and scandal, and so we cannot recommend any college that is not listed [on the Newman College guide].

Our reviews are based on extensive research and dialogue with Catholic educators and families and are based on what the Church expects of Catholic colleges. Ultimately, however, The Newman Guide represents The Cardinal Newman Society’s subjective analysis and suggestions for Catholic families.

The bottom line

No college is perfect, and no college is right for every student, but at least one of the colleges listed [on the Newman College guide] is likely a good fit for your needs.

Parents and students should look closely at each college and, most importantly, make a campus visit, overnight if possible. We pray that you successfully find the college that is the best fit for you!

-From the Cardinal Newman Society

  • University of California (UC)

  • California State University (CSU)

Interested in how the UC system application works? The University of California, Santa Barbara, made a playlist of videos to show you how to apply and submit an application for the UC System. There is only one application that includes all of the universities in the UC system, so whether you are only applying to one or multiple, you can indicate so on the application (Nine campuses, one application). To begin applying you need to create an account through the University of California at: apply.universityofcalifornia.edu/my-application/login Always be on the lookout for the different submission dates for your desired semester entrance.

The UC system does require A-G Requirements and Grade Point Averages (GPAs) to be a minimum of 3.0. If you do not fulfill these requirements due to being a transfer high school student, community college is the best option for you! Many community colleges are partnered with UC schools to help you make a direct transfer after completing your two full-time years, for example: Woodland Community College (WCC) is partnered with UC Davis, so WCC Academic Advisors can help set up your years to be transferable to UC Davis and have first priority in applications acceptances.

  • Community or Junior College (JC)

The uniqueness of JCs is that they help anyone get their foot in the door to any four-year university, trade school, or other vocational programs. The pros of JCs are easier admittance, affordability and great transferability to most universities of your choice. At the end of the day, being admitted to a four-year college straight after high school is great for those who have done extensive research on their career choice and the area of study the student would like to pursue. There’s nothing wrong with going through the JC system. We recommend our students to highly consider community colleges because your GPA restarts and you look like a better applicant with a higher GPA from a JC than a high school. We especially encourage this to our students who are transfers to our high school.

Most California Community colleges offer the first 2yrs of college free! Of course, this is contingent upon need-based families and signing up for financial aid or the FAFSA form.

To begin applying you need to create an account through the community college of your choice. There is not a one application fits all. Always be on the lookout for the different submission dates for your desired semester entrance.

You must talk with an academic advisor at the community college of your choice to get your plan started today!*

*Graduating Seniors Only

2. Financial Aid

  • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The FAFSA® form, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is a form used to apply for financial aid. Completing the FAFSA form is the only way to access the largest source of financial aid—federal student aid—to help you pay for your education. Students who submit the FAFSA form may become eligible to receive scholarships, grants, work-study funds, and student loans. Schools use the information provided on the FAFSA form to calculate aid packages and then put together an aid offer. It’s important to submit a FAFSA form every year you plan to attend college or career/trade school to remain eligible and receive aid. There are major changes and improvements coming to the 2024–25 FAFSA® form. As a result, the new form will be available in December 2023.

  • Ready to apply for the FAFSA?

Ready to get started? Be prepared with these seven items first: (click here for more information)

  1. Your FSA ID:

    If you haven’t done so already, create an FSA ID, which is your account username and password. The FSA ID is a digital legal signature that lets you complete and update the FAFSA form, so create your own and keep it safe. Parents of dependent students will need to use their own FSA ID to complete the FAFSA process.

    We recommend creating your account early—even before you’re ready to complete the FAFSA form. This extra step can avoid delays in the process especially since it can take up to three days before you can use your FSA ID. 

  2. Your Social Security Number

    You can find your Social Security number (SSN) on your Social Security card. If you don’t have access to it or you don’t know where it is,  you can request a new or replacement SSN card  from the Social Security Administration.

  3. Your Driver’s License Number

    You’ll need to enter your driver’s license on the FAFSA form. If you don’t have a driver’s license, then don’t worry about this step. 

  4. Your Federal Income Tax Return

    On the 2023–24 FAFSA form, you (and your parents, if you are a dependent student) will report your 2021 income.

  5. Records of Your Untaxed Income

    The FAFSA questions about untaxed income, such as child support, interest income, and veterans’ noneducation benefits may apply to you. On the 2023–24 FAFSA form, you’ll report 2021 tax or calendar year information when asked these questions. Find specific details for parent’s untaxed income and student’s untaxed income.

  6. Records of Your Assets (Money)

    This section includes savings and checking account balances, as well as the value of investments, such as stocks, bonds, and real estate (excluding your primary residence.) Report the current amounts as of the date you sign the FAFSA form, rather than reporting the 2021 tax year amounts. 

  7. List of the School(s) You’re Interested in Attending

    Be sure to add any college you’re considering, even if you haven’t applied or been accepted yet. 

    Even if it’s only a slight chance you’ll apply to a college, list the school on your FAFSA form. You can always remove a school later if you decide not to apply, but if you wait to add a school, you could miss out on financial aid. 

    The schools you list on your FAFSA form will automatically receive your FAFSA results electronically. They will use your FAFSA information to determine the types and amounts of financial aid you may receive. 

    If you add a school to your FAFSA form and later decide not to apply for admission to that school, that’s OK! The school likely won’t offer you aid until you’ve been accepted anyway. 

    You can list up to 10 schools at a time on your FAFSA form.  Find out what you can do if you’re applying to more than 10 schools. 

    Tip:  Several states require you to list schools in a particular order to be considered for state aid. For instance, you might need to list a state school first. Find‌ out whether your state has a requirement for the order‌ you list schools on your FAFSA form. 

If you’re a dependent student, you’ll need information about your legal parents. Uncertain about your dependency status? Visit https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/...

You’ll also want to avoid these 10 common FAFSA mistakes: https://studentaid.gov/articles/10-fa...

For answers to more top FAFSA questions, visit https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/...