Diamond Bar High School
SENIOR BULLETIN #3
Scholarship and College Information
November, 2011
UC/CSU
· Online applications are now open for both the CSU at www.csumentor.edu and UC at www.universityofcalifornia.edu. You can work on applications and submit any time within the month of November, but, again, we always recommend submitting before Thanksgiving. Students who wait until the November 30th deadline run the risk of something going wrong and missing the chance to apply to the UC or CSU. They don’t give second chances.
· The Personal Statement is a great way to show the UC more of who you are. You don’t need to list your academic achievements because those are evident in your transcript, and you don’t need to itemize your extracurricular experiences because those are listed in another part of the application. Take your time, revise and proofread, and above all, be honest and sincere in your response. Don’t waste time trying to write what you think someone wants to read, and don’t get too overwhelmed trying to follow someone else’s rules for these essays. If you truthfully share thoughts about your world and your life experiences, you’ll provide the UC admissions counselors with exactly what they want – a better sense of the person behind the application.
· You do NOT need to send official transcripts to the UC or CSU. You only need to send one to the school you’ll be attending, and that isn’t sent until after graduation.
· Foreign Transcripts – If you transferred in the last three years to DBHS from a school outside of the country, the UC’s will need to have your official transcript from your former school. It may take a while to get them so they suggest that you begin ordering them now.
SAT/ACT
· SAT and ACT scores need to be sent directly to all schools to which you are applying through www.collegboard.org or www.act.org respectively. DBHS does NOT send any scores.
· December scores can be rushed to schools for a fee. If the schools to which you are applying say they’ll accept December scores, you should be fine with the regular process, but you’ll probably feel better if you rush them.
· Your SAT/ACT score is just one of many pieces that admissions officers consider when looking at your application. If you’re disappointed with your scores, remember that they won’t necessarily hold you back from your goals. As many admissions officers acknowledge, what you’ve done in the classroom for three years is a much better indicator of your success on a college campus than what you did in a three hour test.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
· Do NOT send reminders to your GLC’s or teachers about deadlines for letters of recommendation. Worry about your own deadlines and make sure your pieces to your applications are turned in on time, and trust your GLC’s and teachers to take care of their parts.
· Transcripts are sent with the School Report. If you asked your GLC to fill out the School Report and a letter of recommendation for a school, you don’t need to request transcripts from the registrar for that school. If you have any questions, contact your GLC.
FINANCIAL AID
· The Financial Aid Workshop will take place on Monday, December 5th at 7:00 in the Theater. This informative evening will help you understand how the financial aid process works and how you’re going to pay for school.
· You never know what kind of financial aid package you’ll be offered from each school that accepts you. After you’re accepted, each school will look at your financial information from the FAFSA (more on this whole process in next month’s bulletin) and their financial aid office will tell you what they can offer you. Sometimes schools can offer much more than you would guess, so we always tell students to apply to the schools they love and hope for the best.
SCHOLARSHIPS
· Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Project Conference – This conference offers groups workshops on leadership development, cultural identity and awareness and public speaking skills. Students participate in mock legislative sessions, learn about higher education opportunities and take part in various social activities. This is a four day conference in Sacramento 3/29-4/1/12. All travel, lodging and meals will be covered. For application forms go to www.apylp.org. Applications must be postmarked no later than November 14th, 2011.
· US Bank Scholarships – This is in effect a lottery. Register online and have a chance at winning one of 40 $1000 scholarships selected at random. Register at www.usbank.com/student-lending/scholarship.html by March 31st, 2012.
· California Asian Peace Officers Association – Applicant must have a 2.5 GPA or better, and this scholarship has been won by DBHS students in the past! Application includes a one page autobiography, letter of recommendation from someone at your school, and a letter of recommendation from a community organization member (church, volunteer group, etc.). Scholarships of $1000 will be awarded. See Mr. Desmond for an application. Applications must be postmarked no later than January 9th, 2012.
· National Security Agency – Stokes Educational Scholarship – This is a very unique scholarship. Scholarship winners receive tuition and mandatory fees paid to the college of their choice, reimbursement for books, and a year-round salary. In exchange, Stokes recipients work summers for the NSA, and upon graduation agree to work for the NSA for at least 1 ½ times the length of study. Apply at www.NSA.gov by November 15th, 2011.
· KFC Colonel’s Scholars Program – Awards are up to $20000 for tuition, fees, textbooks, room and board for “high school seniors with financial need and an entrepreneurial spirit.” Online applications accepted from December 1st, 2011 – February 8th, 2012 at www.kfcscholars.org.
· California Association of Collectors – This scholarship is based on an application and an essay on the “importance of establishing and maintaining good financial credit during your college years.” Awards are $2500 for first place, $2000 for second, and $1500 for third place. See Mr. Desmond for an application. Applications must be postmarked no later than January 16th, 2012.
· Sons of Italy Scholarship – This scholarship is available for anyone “wholly or partially of Italian descent” who will be enrolled at a trade school, community college or university in fall of 2012. See Mr. Desmond for an application or go to www.sonsofitalyca.org. Deadline for all applications is March 1, 2012.
· Boston University Trustee Scholarship – Each winning scholar receives a renewable scholarship covering full undergraduate tuition plus orientation and undergraduate student fees for four years. Essays and applications must be submitted by December 1, 2011 at www.bu.edu/admissions/trustee. A nomination form is also required by 12/1/11 so see Mr. Desmond by 11/18 if you are applying for this scholarship.
· Cal State Long Beach President’s Scholars Program – This is a tough one to qualify for – students must be either ranked #1 in their class, National Merit Semifinalists, National Achievement Program Semifinalists, or National Hispanic Recognition Scholars. Recipients are awarded full tuition and fees, priority registration, meal plan, book allowance, and even parking. To apply, you must submit an application to CSULB by November 30th, 2011 and submit a President’s Scholar application at www.csulb.edu/presidents_scholars/student_application by January 2nd, 2012.
· The NASSP/Herff Jones Principal’s Leadership Award - This scholarship award affords high school principals the opportunity to recognize a student leader by nominating him or her for a national scholarship. Scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $12,000 will be awarded to 100 outstanding seniors from all 50 states. If you want to be the ONE student nominated by our school, submit your Senior Profile to Mr. Desmond by November 18th, 2011.
· Miss any scholarships from the last Senior Bulletin? Go to the Guidance Office – all past scholarships will remain on display until their deadlines have passed.
· Don’t forget that you can research scholarships on your own!