Acronyms
These basic (GE) college classes help students build foundational skills before focusing on their major.
What is General Education?
The acronym GEAR UP stands for this long federal program name focused on helping students get ready for college.
What is Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs?
This is when UC, CSU, and Common App applications officially open
What is August 1st
This is the date each year when both the FAFSA and CADAA applications officially open for students.
What is October 1st
This educational institution focuses entirely on teaching practical skills for specific jobs like welding or cosmetology.
What is trade school
This public university system includes 23 campuses across California and is known for its affordable, high‑quality education.
What is California State University (CSU)?
GEAR UP services are designed for students in these two school levels as they begin preparing/planning for college.
What are middle school and high school students?
This is when CSU, UC, and CCC applications are open for submission.
What is October 1st
California students must submit their FAFSA by this important date to qualify for Cal Grants.
What is March 2nd
This major is currently the most popular among college students
What is a Business major
(Health Professions, Social Science & History, Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Psychology)
This group of California campuses is famous for research and high academic achievement, with ten campuses.
What is University of California (UC)?
These four Monterey County high schools are among the additional sites supported by GEAR UP.
Who are Monterey High, Salinas High, Alisal High, and Harbor High?
This is when UC & CSU applications are due
What is November 30th
The minimum number of semester credit hours a typical undergraduate student must take to be considered full-time
What are 12 credits
Informal interviews differ from standard job interviews in this important way.
What are informal interviews, which focus on casual relationship‑building and networking rather than evaluating qualifications for a specific job
This federal application is when students fill out each year to find out if they qualify for grants, loans, or work‑study.
What is Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?
GEAR UP provides these services to help students (seniors) prepare for college.
What are college application fee waivers, textbook funding, workshops, educational field trips, tutoring, advising, and other?
This is the online portal many colleges use for applications.
What is Common Application (Common App)
Your federal financial aid can cover this many years—or this many semesters
What are 6 years or 12 semesters
Job shadowing and apprenticeships differ in this important way.
What is job shadowing, which centers on observation only, versus an apprenticeship, where participants actively perform tasks to build skills
Colleges use this measure to ensure students are successfully completing enough coursework to stay on track and eligible for aid.
What is Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)?
GEAR UP originated in what year.
What is 1998?
What does it mean when you receive ED
It means you have received early decision
Subsidized or unsubsidized, this is what sets the two federal loans apart.
What are subsidized loans, which don’t accumulate interest until six months after graduation
What are unsubsidized loans, which start charging interest as soon as you start school
Professional licenses and industry certifications differ in this important way.
What is a professional license that is legally required to practice a career, while an industry certification that simply demonstrates skill or expertise