Welcome to the counseling page for River Oaks Academy!

Visit this page often to locate resources that will help you plan your journey towards high school graduation, and beyond! The process of preparing for your future can seem overwhelming at times but trust us… it will all work out! River Oaks offers ongoing support through Claudia, your teachers, our staff, and your counselor, Richard Intlekofer. Take full advantage of all that this very special school has to offer. Enjoy your journey!

Counseling Information for Twelfth Grade Families

River Oaks will offer the SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) on the Westlake Campus on Thursday, October 27, at 8 am. This is intended for 12^th graders who will be applying to colleges that require testing for admission, or who are now test optional. While many colleges no longer use the SAT for admission purposes (for example, the UC and the CSU} , some schools will still accept, or require it. This is a good chance to check your college preparedness skills. And, the test is free for our students, on our campus, in a friendly setting! If you would like to take the SAT on October 27, simply email Richard at rintlekofer@roavc.com.

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the primary source for financial aid for universities, community colleges, and career-oriented schools. Beginning October 1, you may submit the FAFSA, which asks for family income and assets for the calendar year 2021. If you hope to attend a California institution, you may be eligible for a Cal Grant, which is free, renewable money to attend school. One of the requirements for the Cal Grant, in addition to demonstrating financial need via the FAFSA, is to submit your GPA to the California Student Aid Commission. The good news is, I will submit your GPA for you! If you DO NOT want me to submit your GPA, please email me to that effect as soon as possible.
You may have questions about the FAFSA, as well as other financial aid and scholarship opportunities. Let me know how I can help you!

It is important to remember that the FAFSA is now required for all graduating students. If you choose not to file the FAFSA, you need to complete and submit the opt out form that was emailed to all 12^th grade families last week.

COLLEGE APPLICATION SEASON HAS BEGUN!

FOR ALL 12TH GRADERS, AND FOR 11TH GRADERS PLANNING TO GRADUATE EARLY:

1. The college application season is upon us! If you are interested in applying to four-year colleges, many applications are already available. Deadlines vary, from November 30 for the UC and CSU to February for some independent schools, to open enrollment for some schools. The community college applications will open in the spring.
2. Whether or not you have made decisions about schools you may want to include in your application list, please reach out to me for assistance. Appointments in person and on Zoom are open!
3. Here are some resources for you:
   UC Application: https://apply.universityofcalifornia.edu/my-application/l
   CSU Application: calstateapply.edu
   College Confidential (search engine for schools throughout the country): https://www.collegeconfidential.com/
   Colleges in California: https://www.californiacolleges.edu/#/
   Financial Aid Resources: https://www.csac.ca.gov/and finaid.com
   There are more, but that is enough for now!

Counseling Information for All Students

The 2022/23 school year is off to a great start! Here are some items of interest:

1. Do you need assistance with high school specific information for ROA students? Be sure to download a copy of the High School Handbook, found on the River Oaks website at https://www.riveroakscharter.com/high-school/. I also encourage you to make appointments to meet with me for all your counseling needs!
2. Would you like to prepare for college admission? It may seem like high school graduation is far away... but it isn't! We want you to be prepared for whatever you wish to do after you graduate from River Oaks. If a four-year university is in your future, now is the time to begin to prepare! Here are a few websites of interest:
   comcollegeconfidential.com: a huge website that helps you discover schools and fields of study that might fit you best!
   californiacolleges.edu : a nationwide website with a particular emphasis on California schools, including universities and community colleges.
   https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/index.html : information about the admissions process for the University of California.
   https://www.calstate.edu/apply : information about the application process for the California State University.
   The college preparation and application process can be challenging. As always, let me help you!
3. Are you interested in taking a community college course in the spring? Many of our students earn college credits while in high school. And, if you take a transferable college course, you can earn up to ten high school credits for each class! Community college registration fees are waived for high schoolers, so ask your teacher for assistance if you would like to take advantage of this opportunity! (Community college registration for our students begins as early as November 17!)
   Because of the changes in the registration process for our students who wish to take college coursework, we have developed a new ROA approval process. We will reach out to you with more information soon!

We will be offering the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT) on Wednesday, October 12, at 8:30 am on the Westlake campus. This exam, which is designed to prepare juniors for the SAT, is a terrific way to measure your skills in English/Language Arts and Math. We may have a few openings for students in grades 9 and 10. While many universities no longer require testing as a requirement for admission, some schools might do so in the future. This is a practice exam, so your scores will only be shared with you, your coaching teacher, and me. And the exam is free for our students!  Should you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to your teacher or to me, at richard.intlekofer@roavc.com
To register, simply send me an email indicating that you will be taking the PSAT. For information from College Board, check out the PSAT page:

https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt

Here’s to a healthy and safe start to the new school year!

Richard Intlekofer, Counselor