College Counseling

Re-thinking College Prep

College-Preparatory Program

Oak Grove High School offers a challenging college-preparatory program that is approved by the University of California and is designed to exceed admission requirements for the most rigorous and selective universities across the country.

An Oak Grove School education will include opportunities for hands-on and project-based learning, as well as traditional academic coursework. We believe in collaborating and investigating together and encouraging students to explore, question, and engage the world around them. While memorization has a place, students are also asked to think deeply, approach learning from multiple perspectives, and make connections across disciplines. Beyond the classroom, we encourage self-expression through art, music, and drama, and selflessness through community service opportunities. At Oak Grove, we will empower you with responsibility and ownership of your own learning so you are fully prepared to meet the demands of college and beyond.

College Counseling Series 2025-26

Post-OGS College Counseling Series for 2025-26

Geared towards families of seniors preparing for life beyond high school and for juniors preparing for their senior year, these events are open to all families.

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Overview of the Oak Grove College Counseling Program

The College Advisor plays a vital role in coordinating the college counseling program, working closely with all four High School Advisors, the High School Registrar, and the Head of School. Our goal is to support students and families throughout the college selection and application process.

We hold parent meetings in the fall and spring focused on college issues, and Advisors weave college discussions into Advisory sessions over four years. Students can drop by during office hours, while parents are encouraged to schedule appointments or reach out via email or phone. If additional SAT/ACT prep or college guidance is needed, feel free to seek help outside of school. A student’s worth shouldn’t solely hinge on test scores, and at Oak Grove, we don’t rank students or their post-high school options. We believe in helping each student find the right fit, whether that’s college, military service, a gap year, an apprenticeship, or entering the workforce. We recognize all students who give their best effort.

Every year in Advisory, students receive a four-year college planning calendar with steps starting in 9th grade. Juniors and seniors also get a college counseling handbook covering important topics such as timelines, college evaluations, application procedures, essays, and financial aid. College admissions representatives visit Oak Grove during the fall and spring, and all interested students are invited to attend their sessions.

Planning for college and beyond is a collaborative effort. Parents of juniors and seniors should be ready to engage! This process encourages students to take responsibility for their futures. For an idea of the schools our seniors apply to, please check our list of college acceptances below.

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Helpful College Resources

High School Profile – View or download file

College Board: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/

NACAC: http://www.nacacnet.org/studentinfo/Pages/Default.aspx

Common App: http://www.commonapp.org/how-prepare

Allegheny College

Arizona State University

Austin College

Azusa Pacific University

Babson College

Bard College

Bard College, Berlin

Bates College

Bennington College

Berklee College of Music

Boston University

Bradley University

Brandeis University

Bryn Mawr

Butler University

Calif. College of the Arts

Cal Lutheran

Cal State Polytechnic – Humboldt, SLO, Pomona

Cal State University – Channel Islands, Chico, Fullerton, Long Beach, Northridge, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Sonoma

Centre College

Chapman University

Colorado College

Colorado State University

Cornell College

DePauw University

Dickinson College

Drexel University

Eckerd College

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Emerson College

Fordham College

Franklin University, Switzerland

George Washington University

Goucher College

Guilford College

Hamilton College

Hampshire College

Hunter College, City University of New York – City College of NY

Kenyon College

Lawrence University

Lewis and Clark College

LIM College

Loyola Marymount

Lynn University

Marymount Manhattan College

Montana State University

Mount St Mary’s University, Los Angeles

Northeastern University

Northern Arizona University

Ohio State University

Oregon State University

Otis College of Design

Oxford University, England

Pace University

Pacific University

Pacific Northwest College of Art

Pennsylvania State University

Pepperdine University

Pitzer College

Portland State University

Pratt Institute

Prescott College

Purdue University

Quest University

Reed College

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rutgers University

Saint Mary’s College of California

San Francisco State University

Sarah Lawrence University

Santa Clara University

Scripps College

Sierra Nevada College

Skidmore College

Southwestern University

St. Lawrence University

State University of New York – Binghamton

Syracuse University

The College of Wooster

The New School/Parsons

The Savannah College of Art & Design

Towson University

University of Aberdeen, Scotland

University of British Columbia

UC Berkeley

UC Davis

UC Irvine

UC Los Angeles

UC Merced

UC Riverside

UC San Diego

UC Santa Barbara

UC Santa Cruz

University of Colorado, Boulder

University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

University of Edinburgh, Scotland

University of Glasgow, Scotland

University of Hawaii, Manoa

University of Illinois

University of Kansas

University of La Verne

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

University of Montana

University of Oklahoma

University of Oregon

University of Puget Sound

University of Redlands

University of Richmond

University of San Francisco

University of Southern California (USC)

University of St. Andrews, Scotland

University of The Pacific

University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce, Canada

University of Utah

University of Washington

University of Western Michigan

University of Wisconsin

Vassar College

Westmont College

Whitman College

Whittier College

Willamette University

College Board: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search

Colleges That Change Lives: http://ctcl.org/category/college-search/

Common App: http://www.commonapp.org/explore-colleges

PSAT: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10

SAT: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat

Subject Tests: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat-subject-tests

ACT: http://www.act.org/

Test-Optional schools: http://fairtest.org/university/optional

Free SAT prep: https://www.khanacademy.org/mission/sat

Common App: www.commonapp.org

University of California (UCs – 9 undergraduate campuses): http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/apply-online/index.html

California State University (Cal State – 23 undergraduate campuses): http://www.csumentor.edu/admissionapp/undergrad_apply.asp

Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU): http://www.aiccu.edu/

APPLICATION YEAR TIMELINE TIPS

FAFSA: https://fafsa.ed.gov/

CSS Profile: https://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile

Cal Grants: https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov/

Schools that meet 100% of financial need: http://www.thecollegesolution.com/list-of-colleges-that-meet-100-of-financial-need/

Ojai Rotary scholarship: http://portal.clubrunner.ca/2843

Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) scholarship: http://www.vccf.org/scholarship/index.shtml

Net cost calculator: http://collegecost.ed.gov/netpricecenter.aspx

Common App: http://www.commonapp.org/how-pay-college

Colleges That Change Lives: http://ctcl.org/info-sessions/

NACAC: http://www.nacacnet.org/college-fairs/Pages/default.aspx

Performing and Visual Arts College Fairs: http://www.nacacnet.org/college-fairs/PVA-College-Fairs/Pages/default.aspx

Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be, Frank Bruni

Fiske Guide to Colleges, by Edward Fiske

Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools that Will Change the Way You Think about Colleges, by Loren Pope

College Match: A Blueprint for Choosing the Best School for You, by Steven Antonoff

Begin the application process. If you have any questions, we’re happy to assist you.

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