Above is a PowerPoint about some general information about how to get into college, including the SAT and ACT dates, A-G eligibility, college application windows and more.
All UC's require students to write personal statements with their application. Even if you are not applying to a UC, most scholarships will require some sort of personal statement with the application. Over the years, I have found that many students do not know how to write a personal statement or are unsure how to begin. Above, OWL Purdue provides a great resource to help students write their personal statements.
Worried about paying for college? Apply for FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). FAFSA determines how much federal aid a student will be eligible for. Even if you think you won't qualify, apply anyway! You never know. Many scholarships applications also require that you have a FAFSA account, so just do it. FAFSA applications for the 2020-2021 school year open October 1st.