Visit the CCC

The College and Career Center (CCC) is a volunteer-run service provided by the Bella Vista PTSA to the students and parents of Bella Vista. The CCC is staffed at lunchtime and no appointment is needed to come in and use the materials or talk with one of the trained volunteers. Additionally, the CCC is open on Back to School Night and Open House. We encourage all BV students and parents to use the facility. We have information on two and four-year colleges, the US Armed Forces, trade schools, scholarships, major/career exploration and more. Your freshman year is a great time to get acquainted with the CCC.

Create Your Four-Year Plan

Make sure you are taking the classes you need for education beyond high school. Certain courses are required for entrance to college. Athletes, make sure that your classes meet National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eligibility requirements. See www.ncaa.org for more information. Meet with your counselor to make sure you are on the right track. Entrance Requirements for CSUs and UCs can be found at https://www2.calstate.edu/apply  and admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/apply-online/.  College catalogs are a good source for evaluation of what will be needed. In addition, some colleges give credit for Advance Placement (AP) classes taken in high school based on results of an AP exam. The Counseling Office and the CCC have information on courses that are required for the UC and CSU systems. Check private colleges and out-of-state colleges individually for their requirements.

Naviance – Take the Career Interest Profiler Survey

Still trying to figure out what it is that you want to do after you graduate from high school?  Log into your Naviance account through your Portal and take the Career Interest Profiler.  The Career Interest Profiler is an online career interest assessment for students based on Holland's interest codes. It allows students to complete an inventory which analyzes their own interests and pairs the results with potential career matches.

Maintain Good Grades

Sophomore year is an interesting time for high school students.  It is easy to get over involved and grades start to slip.  Find that balance between your academic needs, your family time and extracurricular commitments.  There are many opportunities for getting academic help at Bella Vista.  Check out the tutoring services offered on campus. The key is to realize you need help before failing a class.

Prepare for College Entrance Exams

You should strongly consider taking the PSAT in the fall. This test provides valuable feedback on your college readiness and a free, personalized plan to help you start getting ready for the SAT — and for college.  This is a good way to practice for the SAT that you will take spring of your Junior year. 

Join Teams/Clubs, Volunteering and Getting a Summer Job

Develop hobbies and outside interests. If your goal is to attend a competitive four-year college, these colleges want to know what makes you a well-rounded applicant. Involvement in clubs, academic programs, student government, sports, community service, religious activities and work experience is important. In addition to your GPA, SAT and ACT scores, high school courses, class ranking, teacher recommendations and application essay(s), these colleges want to know what makes you unique. Keep a record of all in-school and out-of-school activities and all awards and honors you receive. If eligible, join the National Honor Society (NHS) and California Scholarship Federation (CSF) as early as your sophomore year. Meeting the criteria for these two organizations entitles you to special recognition at your high school graduation ceremony. All of these activities and club memberships will become part of your resume, which you will need when it is time to fill out college applications. 

Keep a list of these activities with dates!  It will make filling out job/college applications and building your resume much simpler.

Attend College Fairs and On Campus College Visits

Colleges, military recruiters and vocational/technical schools visit our campus every year.  It is important that you sign up in advance at the Counseling Secretary’s desk in order to meet with a representative.  Check the CCC website for upcoming on campus visits and community college fairs often to make sure you don’t miss out on a great opportunity to find out more about these after high school options.

Search for Scholarships

Start looking now for money to pay for your post high school education, whether you decide to go to a career-training school, community college or a 4-year college. Many scholarships are awarded in the junior year, so it is important to start your search early. Not all scholarships are based on academic achievement. More information on scholarships can be found in the CCC or on the CCC website

Follow BV Library social media and listen to the daily Student Bulletin for other valuable information from the CCC.