College Guidance at Arcadia High School begins in the 8^th grade when counselors visit the middle schools to program students for their 9^th grade classes. UC and Cal State requirements are discussed with both students and parents. This process is repeated in the 9^th, 10^th, 11^th and 12^th grades for students and parents via group guidance and evening workshops. Group guidance meetings twice a year afford counselors the opportunity to discuss college options with students, including required courses for the public four-year, private, and community college systems, as well as technical and vocational institutions. Parents are updated via yearly College Night programs and ongoing interaction with counselors.

Senior year guidance begins with the counselor assembly to discuss the college application process. Procedures for obtaining college applications, assistance with filling them out, and processes for requesting private college recommendation letters are all detailed to students. Counselors run Cal State and UC application workshops in the fall. College representative visits occur in the Career Center throughout the year, especially in the fall. To accommodate individual questions and problems, Counselors make themselves available in the Career Center at lunch between the middle of October and the end of November to seniors only, to work with them on their college applications. Students who need private college letters of recommendation follow a well-detailed process in requesting letters. The process begins in the Career Center.