“I love this book! I help manage a Bay Area program that brings volunteer mentors into our local public high school to help first-generation students navigate the college admissions process. This book will be a great resource. It's easy to read, well-organized, and covers all the important info one needs to apply to schools in California. Highly recommended!” — Dale T., Board Member, Non-Profit College Access Organization

“If you are a junior or senior, this book is a must.” —  Alex P., California High School Student

"The California College Playbook is a practical, accessible guide to navigating California’s college systems and admissions processes. The topics are well organized, easy to follow, and thoroughly covered. Any student considering California colleges should read this incredible resource!” — Shannon K., Independent Educational Consultant

"Navigating college admissions in California can feel overwhelming, but this book maps it out perfectly. It gives you real, practical strategies for the UC, CSU, and community college tracks. It fills a massive gap in college counseling and is a must-have resource for anyone navigating this for the first time and looking toward higher education in the Golden State." — Renu B., California Parent

"The California College Playbook is like having a private college counselor in your back pocket! Christine Hees breaks down the daunting task of applying to California universities into manageable chunks, using easy to follow advice, with helpful examples and tips so that anyone can approach college application season feeling confident.  This book is incredibly helpful for families who are helping their first child through the application process, or for anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of what makes applying to California colleges such a unique experience.  After reading The California College Playbook, you too will feel like an expert when it comes to understanding our state's three tier system. As an AVID teacher with over 15 years of experience helping first-generation students navigate college applications I found this book easy to follow, thorough, and reassuring. I wish I had The California College Playbook when I was first beginning my career! — Arantxa A., California High School Teacher

“The California College Playbook is a concise, well-written and very thorough guide to the California college ecosystem. Even those with a good amount of college experience will learn a lot from this book. In addition to covering the "facts" of the college system, Ms. Hees shows students how to approach the college journey with minimum emotion and maximum logic. There is no fat in this book, so it may take several readings of some chapters to really understand everything that is covered. Students and parents will get the most benefit if they read this guide in 9th or 10th grade. I highly recommend this book for determined students, their parents and anyone else who want/need to know more about the CA college system.”  — Lisa E., California Parent

“This book is a valuable resource for students and families considering California colleges. It offers great insight into the California college system in a much more organized way than the internet can provide. Even reading it after having been through college application cycles, I found useful information that I wish I had known while applying for college.” — Joy X., UC Transfer Student

“The California College Playbook is the ultimate college admissions guide for anybody learning about university admissions in the Golden State. Easy to read and accessible to experts, students and their families alike, Hees' work reflects her deep knowledge of the California tertiary education landscape, California's unique allure as an economic powerhouse with a three-tiered public higher education structure, and her overall expertise with college admissions guidance.” — Christopher K., International School College Counselor

"This book is extremely well structured, with multiple layers providing depth of information. Highly recommend this book to every student and parent who is considering applying for California colleges." — Reena A., California Parent

"The California College Playbook demystifies the complex public and private collegiate system in California and provides practical guidance that equips students with the tools to navigate the unique process for admission to California colleges and universities and craft applications designed to maximize their chances of admission. An essential primer for anyone thinking about applying to school in California!" — Cathy M., California Parent

The Big Picture

1 | California College Landscape

Application Strategy

2 | Building a Balanced College List

3 | Strategically Choosing a Major

4 |Three Pillars of a Strong Application

The University of California

5 | The UC System

6 | Eligibility and Pathways to Admission

7 |How UC Admissions Works

8 | Filling Out the UC Application

The California State University

9 |The CSU System

10 | Applying to the CSU System

11 | Filling Out ‘Cal State Apply’

California Community Colleges

12 | The CCC System

13 | Transferring to the UC

14 | Transferring to the CSU

California Private Colleges

15 | Private Colleges

16 | Applying to Private Colleges

The Bottom Line

17 | Paying for College

18 | Bringing It All Together