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Rocklin High School College and Career Center

A California Distinguished School
5301 Victory Ln.
Rocklin, CA 95765
Phone: (916) 632-1600
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College Resources
From beginning the college search to navigating the application process, the College and Career Center is here to support students every step of the way. Please browse through the resouces and information below for help or schedule an appointment with Mrs. Lund to discuss future goals and opportunities.
College Planning

College Planning

Applying to College

Applying to college can be a daunting task, but you don't have to do it alone! Take advantage of the MANY resources available in the College and Career Center. Workshops are scheduled! Please see the previous page or below for links. One-on-one meetings can also be booked with college and career center staff to assist you. Don't be afraid to contact college admission reps at the schools you are interested in. Their entire purpose is to help you get admitted. Everyone wants to see you succeed, so reach out, rally your support team and get to work together!

Finding the Right College

The most critical thing to consider when looking at colleges is the match between college and student. Finding a college that offers a major you want is great, but chances are your interests and major will change before you graduate. Make sure the school is a good fit and feel for all of your needs, not just academic. 
 
Consider things like: 
  • Can I get in to this school?
  • Can I afford to attend this school?
  • Do most students live on or off campus?
  • How many students are there?
  • How big (or small) are the classes?
  • What is the distance from home?
  • What is the weather like?
  • What sports and clubs are available?
 
The answer to these questions will be different for every student, so it is strongly advised that students make independent decisions and not be influenced by where their friends are applying.
 
How to learn more: 
  • College Fairs: Meet different Colleges at Lunch: Please check the College Admissions Rep Visits under the College Planning section.
  • Sierra College Preview Day
  • Avoid Rank Websites and Publications: Their data can be screwed or misleading and often their criteria are irrelevant to your specific needs and interests. Just because a publication thinks a school is great does not mean that it is great for you. You get to determine that for yourself and create your own rankings!
Other Resources While Researching Colleges:
  • AICCU (Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities): AICCU represents California’s private, nonprofit colleges and universities, advocating for student access and success in higher education.
  • BigFuture (by College Board): BigFuture helps students plan for life after high school by providing tools for college exploration, career planning, and financial aid guidance.
  • CaliforniaColleges.edu: CaliforniaColleges.edu is the state’s official college and career planning platform, supporting California students with tools to explore, plan, and apply for postsecondary opportunities.
  • Scoir: Scoir (pronounced like "score") is our college and career research platform. Every Rocklin High School student has an account and just needs to activate it through the invitation in their Rocklin USD email. If the invitation has expired, please email the College and Career Center to request a new one. Scoir includes great college research and application tools that all students should explore!

Sierra College

Starting on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, meet with Alistair Turner, Rocklin High's Sierra College Outreach Specalist, every Wednesday during Flex or during Lunch in the College and Career Center!
 
Rocklin High School Sierra College Transition Counselor Lauri Hodge, helps RHS students with academic planning, first-year course selection and enrollment support.
 
Are you interested in learning more about Sierra College? Check out the following links and the information below to learn about your options!
Dual Enrollment:
  • Rocklin High School offers many courses that qualify for college credit at Sierra College known as Dual Enrollment. The classes are taught by Whitney High teachers on the high school campus. The credit for these courses will show up on the college transcript from Sierra College. Click here to learn more.
Academic Enrichment:
  • Academic Enrichment refers to high school students not required to pay for any Sierra College class while taken as a high school student. These are college courses that will follow students as they apply to other colleges and/or a university. The credit for these courses will show up on the college transcript from Sierra College.
  • Learn how to apply to the Academic Enrichment program in this video
  • Registration for summer/fall 2025 may open as early as April. Make sure you have completed all application steps well ahead of the registration dates for your best selection of courses.  See the page below for help:
  • Academic Enrichment Steps 
Sierra College Workshops:
  • Students planning to take a Dual Enrollment course or would like to take advantage of an Academic Enrichment course at Sierra College will also need to enroll as a Sierra College student. 
Attending Sierra College After High School Graduation:
  • Complete your FAFSA by March 2nd (if you do not, you will not be eligible for 2 years free) 
  • Complete your Sierra College Application
  • Even if you have taken Sierra College Classes before, you must apply for Fall 2025 as a "First Time College Student"
  • Rocklin High is offering application help sessions on Wednesdays starting September 7 from 1:15 pm to 2:15 pm with our Sierra College enrollment specialist weekly in the College and Career Center. 
  • Things a student needs to know for this application session
    • Their current high school GPA
    • Potential major or degrees – Sierra College Degree Programs
    • Enrollment status – First time in college
    • Social Security Number (SSN)
      • (IMPORTANT: If you don’t have one you can still apply )
  • Opt into the 2 years free/Promise Program
    • This is how you will get 2 years of FREE tuition if you are a full time college student. If you have taken previous classes at Sierra College and do not see the option for the Promise Program, please let your transition counsleor know when you meet with her. 
  • Accept the College Terms and Conditions
    • Once you have a MySierra account
  • Complete the Online Career & Academic Planning (CAP) module
    • You will need to log in with your MySierra username and password. Once logged in you need to click on "NEXT STEPS" and it will take you to the homepage of your Career and Academic Planning session. The whole online module should take approx. 30 minutes
  • Transition Plan
    • Once you have completed all of the steps above you will be able to  make an appointment with your transition counselor Mrs. Hodge to create your 1st year college course plan and qualify for Priority registration for classes! You will have a link in your MySierra account, or you can email Mrs. Hodge at lhodge@rocklinusd.org 
Sierra College Representative:

Information for College Admissions Professionals

Thank you for your interest in Rocklin High School students. We value the information you are able to provide to both our students and our staff and your partnership is greatly appreciated.  If you are a college admissions professional and you would like to schedule a visit to our campus please use Counselor Community RepVisits. If you do not have access to RepVisits please email Rachel Lund at rlund@rocklinusd.org. We look forward continuing to build connections between our school and yours!
 
We also hope you'll join us for the upcoming Placer County Foothills High Schools Consortium College Night on Monday, October 6, 2025, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Rocklin High School, featuring participation from 11 high schools across the region. Breakout sessions will be held 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Letters of Recommendation

If you need a letter of recommendation from a school staff member for a college application, scholarship, or program application, please complete the form below and give it to them along with a copy of your transcript and your resume (if you have one). You must give them at least 2 weeks to write the letter (not including breaks/holidays), because these things tend to be seasonal and teachers are often asked to write them for several students.
 
Please have a conversation with the teacher regarding what the letter is needed for and which of your attributes they should focus the letter on. It may feel like bragging, but understanding what exactly you need in the letter will really help the teacher give you the best recommendation possible.  Always remember to thank them for their time for doing this for you.
 

Waitlists and Appeals

Have you been placed on a college admissions waiting list?
The unfortunate reality is that most students placed on a waiting list, do not eventually get and acceptance letter. You should plan to move forward with a school that has accepted you so that you do not miss important deadlines. If you do eventually get accepted from the waiting list, you will need to consider the amount of deposit money you will be forfeiting at the school you have already accepted admission to as well as if any important financial aid, housing or registrations dates have passed at the wait-list school. You will need to weigh anything that you may be missing out on because of your late acceptance. The College Board has published a nice article outlining what to do and how to better your chances of being accepted from a waiting list. You can read that article here.
 
Considering appealing a college admissions decision?
Have you received a rejection letter from your dream school? Are you thinking about appealing? If so, click here to view some information to consider and tips on writing your letter should you decide it is the right thing to do.

College Application Deadlines

California State University (CSU) Applications:
  • Available: October 1, 2025.
  • Due: December 2, 2025
 
University of California (UC) Applications:
  • Available: August 1, 2025
  • Due: December 2, 2025
 
Private and Out-of-State Schools:
  • Dates vary. Please check school websites carefully.
 
Early Decision:
  • This is a binding application. Students may only apply early decision to one school. If accepted, student must withdraw any other applications and attend this school.
Early Action:
  • This is a non-binding application. Students able to apply early action to several schools. Application decision from school comes early, but student's decision to attend is not due until May 1.
 
Early action and early decision programs require students to submit their applications on an earlier deadline than regular admission. Decisions on early action and early decision applications are typically made in December, giving students a larger amount of time to plan for enrollment in the fall. If you are considering early decision, make sure that you are prepared to attend that particular school regardless of what financial aid package you are offered. An early decision applicant will not have the ability to compare financial aid packages from other schools prior to accepting an offer.
 
 
 
SAT/ACT

SAT/ACT

SAT/ACT Exams

The UC (University of California) and CSU (California State University) systems have both moved to being Test Blind for admissions indefinitley.  They do not consider standardized test scores for admissions. Test scores could still be used for other purposes such as course placement and certain scholarships but they will not be used for admissions.
 
Some universities have become “test optional” however there are still some four year universities that require either the SAT or ACT  for admission. Schools are making this decision independently and often on a year-to-year basis, so it is crucial to research the policy at each school for the applicable application year. Students are highly encouraged to research admission requirements as policies from school to school can vary with admission requirements and/or recommendations. 
 
Rocklin High School still recommends that students study for and take either the SAT or ACT so that they have the opportunity to apply to a wide range of schools. Colleges accept either score.
 
Students who have a test score and are applying to test optional schools should consider the policies and admissions statistics of the school before deciding to submit those scores. Your counselor or the College & Career Center staff is available to assist students with this decision.
 
 
 

SAT versus ACT: What's the Difference?

Both the SAT and the ACT are standardized tests that help colleges and universities determine how prepared you are, as a student, to take college-level courses. Colleges and universities accept either score.
 
SAT:
  • Now fully digital for U.S. students. Administered on a computer or tablet at school or a testing center.
  • Emphasizes reasoning and problem-solving. The digital version adapts based on performance—questions may get easier or harder depending on how you're doing.
  • Two sections — Reading & Writing, and Math.
  • Focuses more on algebra, data analysis, and real-world problem-solving. Calculator allowed throughout the digital test.
  • No dedicated science section, but science-related content appears in reading and math.
  • Shorter test—just over 2 hours. More time per question than the ACT.
  • Total score out of 1600 (800 for each section).
 
ACT:
  • Still offered in paper format in most locations, though some test centers offer an optional online version.
  • More fast-paced and straightforward, with consistent difficulty throughout.
  • Four sections — English, Math, Reading, and Science (plus an optional Essay).
  • Includes more geometry and trigonometry. Calculator allowed for the entire math section.
  • Has a full Science section that tests data analysis and critical thinking (not specific science facts).
  • About 3 hours (without essay). Requires faster pacing to get through all questions.
  • Composite score out of 36 (average of four section scores).”
 
Click here to review the SAT to ACT Scores Conversion Chart.
 
 
 
Financial Aid and Scholarships

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Financial Aid

Financial Aid is funding that helps students pay for their education after high school. It can come in the form of grants, scholarships, loans, or work-study opportunities. Financial aid is intended to supplement what you and your family can contribute toward the cost of college or career programs.
 
FAFSA/CADAA: 
To find out if you're eligible for financial aid, you must complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA)—depending on your eligibility status. These applications determine your qualification for various types of aid, including grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans.
 
**Students planning to take advantage of Sierra College's two years of free tuition must complete the FASFA or CADAA form to qualify. Sierra College will also host in-person and virtual FASFA/CADAA workshops during the school year to provide more information.
 
Financial Aid Workshops:
  • The Rocklin Unified School District (RUSD) High School College and Career Centers host FASFA/CADAA workshops during the school year. All high school families from any campus are welcome to attend any of the sessions listed below:
    • Rocklin High School: To Be Announced
    • Whitney High School: To Be Announced
    • Victory High School: To Be Announced
 
Steps to complete a FASFA form:
  1. Create an FSA ID here (both student and parent need an FSA ID):  Create Account | Federal Student Aid
  2. Personal information: Name, Date of Birth & Social Security Number
  3. Account Information: create a username, enter your non-school email address, & new password (must include: uppercase, lowercase, 1 number & be at least 8 characters long)
  4. Permanent Address: Enter Address, City, State, Zip code, and & your mobile phone number.
  5. Communication Preference: Email or Postal Mail (recommend email); optional are email or text message. Select your language preference.
  6. Challenge Questions: Select 4 questions & input answers: used to help you retrieve our username/password if you are locked out of your account.
  7. Confirm & Verify: verify all is correct or edit, then agree to the FSA Terms and Conditions.
  8. Enable Two-Step Verification: Enter your phone number & email address for verification. Set up the Authenticator App by downloading the app & scanning the QR code provided.
Note: If your child is required to report parent information on the FAFSA form, you need to create your own FSA ID in order to sign your child’s FAFSA form online. If you have already filed the FAFSA for another child you will use that StudentAid.gov/FSA ID log in.
 
Other Resources:
 
 
 
 
 

Other Options & Resources

Types of financial aid that start with FAFSA or California Dream Act Application.

Scholarships

Scholarships are financial awards granted based on criteria such as academic achievement, special talents, religious affiliation, ethnic background, personal interests, or even random selection. Scholarships do not need to be repaid.