The College Planning Center

Student Spotlight Kylie Cox, Ponderosa HS, Class of 2021 This sweet young lady is going places! Kylie is a senior at Ponderosa and is a Rural Merit Scholar, an honor given to the top 5% of students in rural areas. She has been having an **amazing** college application season and has continued to maintain her leadership as captain in volleyball and in school clubs, her engagement in AP courses and piano lessons, and more during the pandemic. As president of Club, Ky...lie has taken a typically hands-on organization and sought hands-free opportunities to give back; she’s currently facilitating a card drive to thank the medical staff at UC Davis hospital. Her commitment to continue performing her best work, adjusting as needed given life’s curveballs, is paying off in a big way! Kylie you are such an inspiration for staying motivated, upbeat, and resilient, and we are so looking forward to watching where you end up! See more

It’s time for February’s installment of MEET YOUR PLANNERS! Show some love to Donna Sakabu Read her responses below, and swipe through the photos to see her wonderful family and some fun at the Granite Bay center. Where did you attend college? Began at UCSD (not the right fit for me), then to Santa Barbara CC, and finished up my Bachelor’s degree at Cal Poly Pomona. I got my College Counseling Certificate at UCLA.... What was your major? Business Administration with focus in Finance (I worked in finance for a long time until I had my kids.) How long have you been working for CPC? Almost 5 years What is your favorite part about working for CPC? I consider it a true privilege every day that I get to do what I do. (Editor’s note: Anyone who works with Donna knows how genuine she is when she says this! ) Every family is unique, and I love fostering my connections with the students. ALL of my students matter so much to me. It’s also extremely stimulating and interesting work. What activities are you involved in outside of CPC? Besides involvement in HECA & IECA, touring colleges, and leading a core group with my husband in Community Bible Study, I love traveling, reading, plant-based cooking, and taking online Barre 3 classes, which I started doing during the pandemic. Most importantly, time spent with my family is my favorite activity (her sons Andrew and Tim and her husband Roy featured in pic 2 ). What were you like in high school? Rule-follower, very quiet and reserved. My lifeline was being part of the Usherettes we got to usher at performing arts events throughout Santa Barbara. What advice would you give yourself at age 16? You are valuable and so worthy. You’ll be just just fine. If you weren’t in this line of work, what career would you pursue? Certified Financial Planning, perhaps, which would bring together my finance background and my passion for others, but really just some sort of helping profession. What is your favorite book? I love to read I don’t get to read enough! I love nonfiction. What TV show are you watching? This is Us, The Crown and any Masterpiece Theatre pieces on PBS. I also tend to have crime shows on in the background, like Chicago P.D. or Law & Order SVU. Where is your favorite place you’ve ever been? Anywhere that I get to go with my family! I’m originally from Boston, and having my husband and boys go visit my relatives with me was especially wonderful. We love to travel together and go on all sorts of road trips, camping, college visits, etc. Donna, you are one in a million and a true joy to work with! Stay tuned in to this series to meet more of CPC’s team

We are loving this new essay prompt on the Common App! Great question to help students reflect on positivity in their lives

Student Spotlight Sophia Martin, Class of 2021, HS 1327 We couldn’t be more excited to introduce our first featured student of 2021! Sophia, who is biracial raised in a predominately white community, recognized the privilege of her platform at a young age. She decided to use her (empathetic, eloquent & poignant) voice to bring change to the communities around her. The focus of her passion is keeping at-risk kids in school and out of the juvenile justice system. Sophi...a has been hands-on in her work, serving on youth advisory boards for Marin County Youth Court (@youthtransformingjustice), the CA Association of Youth Courts, discussion panels, social justice protests, seminars, trainings, her OpEd column, and her blog. She also is active in a youth racial equity group to reform curriculum in schools in an effort to mitigate the school-to-prison pipeline. We are so honored to know you, Sophia, and look forward to watch you change the world! See more

A visitor to Palladio today - this guy gets around!

Introducing our new series MEET YOUR PLANNERS! Say hello to our inaugural interviewee, Sara Batchelor. Read her responses below, and swipe through the photos to see her incredibly lovely family Where did you attend college?... Chico State for BA, College of Notre Dame for teaching credential, UCSD for college counseling certificate What was your major? Liberal Studies w/ English minor How long have you been working for CPC? About 5 years What is your favorite part about working for CPC (besides me, of course)? Meeting new people, including all of the students who each bring such interesting experiences What activities are you involved in outside of CPC? My favorite activity is spending time with my two daughters, Lauren and Kate, and my husband, Jack. We just adopted a 9-year-old Great Pyrenees named Allie. In my free time, I like to cook and play card games. I am also an active member of a nonprofit, and I am currently the volunteer coordinator of the College & Career Center at Bella Vista HS. What were you like in high school? I was president of my class every year, involved in various clubs, on the Honor Roll, and played for the tennis team. What advice would you give yourself at age 16? Perms are always a bad idea! If you weren’t in this line of work, what career would you pursue? Mediator I find it similar to being a parent What is your favorite Disney character? He’s not Disney, but definitely Shrek What TV show are you watching? The Man in the High Castle and How I Met Your Mother Where is your favorite place you’ve ever been? Italy I went in Sept. 2019 with my husband and our friends Thank you so much for everything you do for us, Sara! Stay tuned in to this series to meet more of CPC’s team

To better serve students facing university admissions challenges caused by COVID-19, the CSU will extend its application deadline to Tuesday, December 15th at 11:59 p.m. PST.

Let’s practice together! This session will include the 5 top tips for online interviews as well as allow for live practice sessions. Come on, be brave and invite your friends, your brother or sister, your mom or dad... all are welcome! Tomorrow 12/1 at 5:00 p.m. Link to register: https://us02web.zoom.us//tZwrcuqgpz0oGtMy59RIJrL3oSgDpjkMX

Due to the technical difficulties that many were experiencing on Nov. 29, the deadline for the UC application has been extended to 11:59 pm PST, Friday, Dec. 4.

Student Spotlight Brian Delahunty, class of 2021 Say hello to Brian, a senior at HS 1327 in Marin County! We admire Brian’s intrinsic motivation to be of service, which has led him to dedicate his time outside of academia to providing services his community in creative ways. He’s not only heavily involved in developing and publicizing an emergency preparedness group in his area (what is the @?), but he also hosts a radio show on KWMR called The Deep, wherein he examines... a fresh perspective on current societal topics via discussion with peers. Brian, we are so impressed by your drive and your resolute commitment to your purpose! [To listen to the next show on Monday, 11/30, tune in live to KWMR on 90.5 Point Reyes Station, 89.6 Bolinas, and 92.3 San Geronimo Valley, or on our website KWMR.org. The Deep airs every other Monday at 4:30. To listen to an archive, visit the archives section of KWMR.org and search for "the youth dj project".]

SAT & ACT material overlaps by an estimated 80%, but here are some insights into where they differ.