Costa Mesa High School Home
Important College Links

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
This site contains information for the potential college athlete including eligibility requirements for Divisions I, II, and III schools. This is also the new clearinghouse Web site at which the prospective student-athlete can access the materials and forms necessary to register. The NCAA strongly suggests that prospective student-athletes who plan to participate in intercollegiate athletics at an NCAA Division I or II institution use this online registration.
Peterson's College Quest
This site includes test preparation information, a college search area, online college applications, and suggestions and articles on paying for college.
Private Colleges:
The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (AICCU) represents approximately 77 private institutions in California. They provide an Online Guidebook for Students with college profiles, admission applications, and links to the institution's own web-sites. If you are interested in a private college in California you should check out this site for one-stop access to a variety of schools. It's informative, fun and easy to use.
Schools in the USA
This site claims to be the most comprehensive online resource available allowing students to explore career paths and find the right college.
The University of California:
This site will tell you everything you want to know about the University of California. You can also apply to the University of California online.

The UC Selection Criteria is called a Comprehensive Review. All UC-eligible applicants are reviewed using a combination of academic and personal achievement factors including:
  • Uncapped GPA (maximum of eight semesters of approved honors or AP courses)
  • Scores of all required exams
  • Number of a-g courses beyond the minimum specified for UC eligibility
  • Eligibility in the Local Context (ELC is the top 4% of our senior class calculated at the end of the sixth semester)
  • Educational environment
  • Low family income
  • First-generation college attendance
  • Demonstrated leadership
  • Special talents
  • Achievements and awards
  • Volunteer/community service
  • Special circumstances and/or personal challenges.
  • U.S. Department of Education
    College Opportunities
    This site is a direct link to more than 9,000 colleges nationwide.
    US Government
    This is a US government website that provides information on federal services. The U.S. Department of Education is coordinating with other federal agencies to provide a one-stop-shop, giving students access to information about financial aid, career development, education planning, consumer protection, and a wide variety of other topics.
    Wiredscholar
    This site has an online guide to walk you through the entire college-preparation process
    http://www.csumentor.edu/
    This site will give you information on how to naviagate through the CSU system
    http://www.calstate.edu/
    This site will give you information about Cal-state Universities.  You can also use this link to apply on-line.