College and Career Center adviser on admissions during the pandemic Ori Gal, Multimedia Manager May 14, 2021
CCC provides guidance to students during uncertain times Maia Johnsson and Sofie Zalatimo February 13, 2021
Seniors go to great lengths to take standardized tests Sophia Krugler, Managing Editor September 30, 2020
Shultz, “tireless advocate” for students and counselor of 26 years, to retire Ethan Chen, Editor-in-Chief and Webmaster June 4, 2020
Pressed for prestige: addressing our Ivy League fixation Nisha McNealis, Micaela Wong, and Evan Baldonado April 12, 2019
![Assembly Bill 104 passed in the state of California to remove the numerical value grades usually have during a normal school year. Paly’s College Counselor, Sandra Cernobori, has witnessed many Paly students wishing to alter sufficient grades to build a better GPA-based college application. Although, Cernobori believes many students overlook what actually goes on during the admissions process, “[Colleges] do something called a holistic review,” said Cernobori, “And so they’re looking, not only high school, courses, grades, GPA, they ask for a whole activity list.” Graphic: Arati Periyannan](https://palyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_4604-900x675.png)
![Junior Nisha Mata uses resources from her post high school planning folder, which she received at Palo Alto High School’s College and Career Center Orientation. After her orientation, Mata met with a Paly college advisor to discuss post-Paly plans, and Mata said the meeting provided her with helpful information and advice. “Before the meeting, I knew roughly what I had to do, but I didn't know how to follow through with it or actually do it,” Mata said. “She [Mata’s advisor] went over the specific steps of what I should start doing and how I should start preparing. … I definitely think I would go back if I have questions.”](https://palyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Nisha-Mata-CCC-Folder-900x504.png)
![With the college application season in full swing, many Palo Alto High School seniors have had to adjust to working on applications in an online environment. Senior Medha Atla said her virtual appointments with Paly College Advisor Sandra Cernobori have helped her with her applications. “I’m an only child,” Atla said. “I don’t have any older siblings who went through this college process. My parents didn’t go to undergrad here [in the U.S.]. So I needed help with, you know, ‘what does this mean on the FAFSA?’ ‘what do I put here for the Common App?’”](https://palyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/collegestory-01-900x540.jpg)
![Palo Alto High School senior Kimi Lillios studies for her November SAT, after the two previous test dates she had signed up for were canceled. Although Lillios has tried to take the SAT multiple times, she said she trusts colleges with test-optional policies will not disadvantage students who do not submit scores. “I think that the biggest impact going test-optional is going to have is that it’s just going to make the college admission process more unpredictable than it was before,” Lillios said. “I know that they [colleges] are also going to be under a lot of scrutiny ... so I’m hopeful that they’ll do their best to stay true to their word.” Photo: Sophia Krugler](https://palyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_2271-900x600.jpg)
