SENIOR BULLETIN #2
Scholarship and College Information
October, 2012
UC/CSU
· UC Application Workshop will be held on our campus on Tuesday, November 6th at 7:00 pm in the Theater. This is a great opportunity to go over the application in detail and have all your questions answered by a UC Admissions Representative. We strongly suggest that you wait submit your application until after you have attended this informative workshop.
· CSU Application Workshop will be held on our campus on Tuesday, October 16th at 7:00 pm in the Theater. This is the same great opportunity, but this workshop, presented by a CSU Admissions Representative, is for schools in the Cal State system like Cal State Fullerton and Cal Poly Pomona.
· CSU and UC Applications are available online as of October 1st, 2012. Applications for UC can be worked on now and then submitted between November 1st and November 30th. The final due date for CSU applications is also November 30th, but you can submit your CSU application as early as 10/1/12. The earlier you submit, the earlier the CSU can let you know you’ve been admitted. The UC will notify students about admission decisions between March 1st and March 31st, 2013. The CSU notification period varies, but all students will be notified by March 31st, 2013.
· www.collegeweeklive.com is “a free, online event designed to connect prospective students with colleges and universities in a live, interactive environment” and October 4th is UC System Day. This might be a good opportunity to chat with an admissions officer or student from a school that interests you.
· SAT Scores need to be sent directly to all schools to which you are applying through www.collegeboard.org. DBHS does NOT send any SAT or ACT scores. The UC website states: “If you're a freshman applicant, be sure to have your ACT and SAT scores sent by the testing agency. If you have your official score report sent to one campus, it will be available to all campuses to which you applied.” For the CSU, use SAT code 3594 and your test scores will be sent to all Cal State universities to which you apply. For ACT, log onto www.act.org/scores/send/index.html.
· Online applications are convenient and available at www.csumentor.edu for the CSU and www.universityofcalifornia.edu for the UC.
o Applying online helps you to fill out your application accurately because the program takes you through the application step by step and won’t let you go on if you’re missing information or have done something incorrectly.
o Save your application often while working on it, and prepare your personal statement as a word document and then cut and paste to make sure it comes out just the way you want it.
o Be very accurate when self-reporting grades, classes and extracurricular activities to the UC. Self-report all A-G courses taken, including all repeated courses/grades. They will compare your application to your final transcript and everything must match so you should use a transcript when reporting grades.
o There is a section of the application that asks for classes like Algebra, Geometry, or the first year of a foreign language taken in 7th or 8th grade. Don’t worry about these grades negatively impacting your application – the UC just wants to see that you actually took these classes so be sure to list them in this section.
o Every year the UC randomly audits some applications and asks students to provide verification of their extracurricular activities. If the UC determines anything has been falsely reported, you will NEVER be allowed to enter the UC system for the rest of your life.
o Don’t wait until the last minute! Every year there are stories about people who wait until midnight November 30th and then can’t submit their application for some reason at the last minute. Submit before Thanksgiving and enjoy that turkey!
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
· Letters of Recommendation – As you have been told several times, letter requests were due to your GLC’s by October 5th at the very latest. If you are reading this after 10/5/12 and have not turned in your request, that ship has sailed and you need to focus your energies on colleges that do not require a letter of recommendation.
· The October 5th Deadline is for you to have your request and supporting documents to your GLC. It is NOT the due date for you to submit supplemental documents and essays to your prospective universities. Adhere to the universities’ deadlines for those documents.
· The Common Application – You must invite your GLC on your Common Application. Prior to inviting your GLC, you must complete the “Education” and “Academics” sections of your application. Be sure these sections are completed, and then proceed to the “School Forms” section to invite your GLC.
· SAT – UC’s and CSU’s will accept the December SAT or ACT, but some private schools may not. Check on private college websites to be sure, and sign up for the November SAT just to be safe.
· Private School Research – If you haven’t done so already, you should really research the schools you’re considering. Research allows you to weigh all the factors involved with this major decision – distance from home, area surrounding the college, size of the school population, campus atmosphere, etc. Some of you don’t even know the state in which some of your prospective colleges are located, and that’s just silly when you think about it.
· Private Schools have scholarships that they can give out to whomever they want. Don’t let the sticker price of $50K or more necessarily scare you away from applying to a school that’s right for you. Scholarships and grants can help tremendously, and many private school students don’t pay the full advertised cost of attendance.
· CSS (College Scholarship Service) Profile – This is a form provided by College Board for high school seniors who are looking for financial aid, and it’s required by many private colleges and universities. The UC and CSU systems use only the FAFSA (more info on that later) and don’t need it, but several private schools want this form prior to the FAFSA to determine the level of financial aid they will offer you. The CSS Profile is available beginning October 1st at https://profileonline.collegeboard.org/prf/index.jsp, and the sooner you fill it out the better – CSS Profiles will be sent to participating colleges and scholarship programs beginning 10/21/12.
· Early Admission – Early decision and early action plans allow you to apply early (usually in November) and get an admission decision from the college by December or January. While this seems like a great way to lessen the stress of the college application process, it may not be the best choice for you. Read the following information (some of which has been taken from www.collegeboard.org) to help you make the right decision:
o Early decision plans are binding. You agree to attend the college if it accepts you and offers an adequate financial aid package. Although you can apply to only one college for early decision, you may apply to other colleges through the regular admission process. If you're accepted by your first-choice college early, you must withdraw all other applications.
o Early action plans are similar to early decision plans, but are not binding. If you’ve been accepted, you can choose to commit to the college immediately, or wait until the spring. Under these plans, you may also apply early action to other colleges. Usually, you have until the late spring to let the college know your decision.
o It is a common misconception that early admission plans provide you with an advantage, but this doesn’t make sense. Students who are accepted early are exceptional and would have definitely been granted admission through the regular admission process. Selective universities have been doing this for a long time – they wouldn’t accept a marginal student early and then realize they made a mistake.
o You can’t compare financial aid packages if you are accepted through Early Decision and thus bound to attend that one school. You’d be surprised at how the financial aid package offerings vary from school to school.
NATIONAL MERIT
· The following students took the PSAT last year and their scores placed them in the top 1 ½% out of the over one million juniors who took the test. This places them in the nation’s elite group of National Merit Scholar Semifinalists, one of the most prestigious honors a senior can receive. This year’s Semifinalists are:
o Deedee Chao
o Christopher Chen
o Ching Yan Joey Choi
o Stephanie Chow
o Jordan Dang
o Meagan He
o Favian Ho
o Justin Kim
o Casey Lam
o Alice Lee
o Chan Woong Chris Park
o Jonathan Phan
o Michael Sun
o Andrea Tam
o Jonathan Tau
o Willa Wang
o Joyce Yin
· Additionally, the following student’s PSAT score made her one of only 1,600 Black Americans named as a Semifinalist in the 2013 National Achievement Scholarship Program:
o Udodiri Okwandu
ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)
· The ASVAB Test will be offered on Thursday, November 15th. The ASVAB “measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success in the military,” but taking the test does not in any way sign you up for the military. Many students take the test to get an idea of potential careers and majors they may pursue outside of the military. Interested students should sign up with Mrs. Carson in the Career Center or email her at [email protected].
· Service Academy Night will take place at 7:00 on October 25th at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda. “This event provides students a forum in which to learn about our nation’s military colleges and speak directly with representatives from each institution.” If you’re interested in going to West Point, Annapolis, or one of the other military colleges, you should RSVP at 714-257-1142 and plan on attending.
COLLEGE FAIR
· So Cal College Fair takes place October 5th and 6th at the Fairplex. Friday, 10/5, from 3-9 pm and Saturday, 10/6, from 10 am – 4 pm, you and your parents can attend this college fair featuring up to 70 college and career representatives at the Sheraton Fairplex Conference Center at 601 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768. For more information, go www.socalcollegefair.com.
SCHOLARSHIPS
· Free Scholarship Search Engines:
· Gates Millenimum Scholarship – This scholarship is aimed at African-American, Pacific Islander, American Indian and Hispanic Students who fall into the category of low income. Must have a GPA of at least 3.3. Must have demonstrated financial need as identified by the FAFSA. Must show leadership and participation in extracurricular activities and be active in community service. Must be a US citizen. Scholarship will cover the cost of tuition, fees, books and living expenses for the first year of college and is renewable. Applications must be accessed from www.gmsp.org. Deadline is January 16th, 2013.
· Spotlight Visual Arts Awards – This is a competition sponsored by the Music Center. They offer scholarships in two areas: Performance Art and Visual Art. Prizes award from $100 Semifinalist to $5,000 Grand prize. Apply online at www.musiccenter.org/spotlight. The deadline is 10/17/2012 for Performance Art and 12/1/12 for Visual Art.
· University of Maryland Meyerhoff Scholarship Program – This scholarship is open to all high-achieving high school seniors who are interested in pursuing a doctorate in the sciences or engineering at University of Maryland, Baltimore County and are interested in the advancement of minorities in the sciences and related fields. Based on GPA and outstanding SAT. Award includes 4 years of tuition, room and board and fees. See Mr. Desmond to have your name placed on the nomination form by October 8th.
· John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest – The John F. Kennedy Library invites high school students to write an essay “on a U.S. elected official who has chosen to do what is right, rather than what is expedient.” For information, registration and to submit your essay go to www.jfklibrary.org. Essays due 1/5/13. Five $500 awards, one $1,000 award and a first place award of $10,000. This will be presented by Caroline Kennedy at an awards Ceremony at the JFK Presidential Library.
· Beverage Industry College Scholarship – This scholarship is for a student whose parent or grandparent is a full-time employee with a company holding a valid liquor license. Examples given are restaurants, stores, breweries, wineries, distributors, etc. Awards range from $2K - $5K. Apply at www.christermon.com – applications must be postmarked by February 1st, 2013.
· NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing – This is the same scholarship you’ve heard about through Brahma Tech announcements in the Bullsheet. It focuses on girls in grades 9-12 who have at least a 3.0, demonstrated leadership, and demonstrated aptitude and interest in IT/computing. Each national winner will receive $500 in cash, a laptop, and a trip to the Technology Showcase and Awards Ceremony in North Carolina. Apply at www.aspirationsaward.org by 10/31/12.
· First Freedom Center Scholarship – Examine George Washington’s 1790 Letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, “identify the basic principles of religious liberty in this document”, and “assess how well the United States has lived up to Washington’s ideal.” Possible $2500 award. Students must register online at www.firstfreedom.org by 11/12/12 and essays or videos must be postmarked by 11/26/12.
· 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.