<p>Make an appointment to see your guidance counselor ASAP. They can fill in some gaps, let you know what their process is (limits to applications, timeframes for sending supplemental materials, etc). You can also get a copy of your transcript to look for errors and to make sure that you met all the course requirements for UCs.If you need a class, they can switch your schedule. Not all GCs are great, but you can find out from them whether your stats, EC and test scores are in line with certain UCs. </p>
<p>Also, ask for teacher recommendations right away. </p>
<p>Now is also a good time to sit down with your parents and talk about your finances. Run the FAFSA calculator to get a good idea of the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). That is the amount that estimeates what your family will need to provide for your education. If it is higher than your family thinks that you can afford, you will need to look at outside scholarships, applying to schools that offer merit aid and other alternatives. Since you are in California, also check into your community colleges. Many have direct admission policies that allow you to do two years at community college and then have guaranteed acceptance into most UCs. </p>
<p>Good luck on your journey!</p>