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SENIOR BULLETIN #6
Scholarship and College Information
February, 2015
ADMISSION DECISIONS
· As Tom Petty said, “The waiting is the hardest part.” While some schools like Cal State Fullerton and APU have rolling admissions and have already notified many people of their admission status, most other schools will not announce until at least a month from now. Stanford, for example, will announce admission decisions by 4/1/2015, Brown says regular decisions will “be available in late March,” and most of the UC’s will notify students between March 1st and March 31st.
· You will never know for certain why you did or didn’t get into any particular school. Every March, I hear students explaining to each other why they didn’t get into a school or why another student did get in, but they don’t really know and it makes me crazy! My AP Chemistry grade was a B-, he was in orchestra for three years instead of four, I got a 3 on the AP Calc test, she is the Girls League secretary, I volunteered at the animal shelter instead of the library, he played baseball for 3 years instead of running track for two… These are all just guesses. Even if you talked to two admission officers from the same school, they could take educated guesses about why you did or didn’t get in, but you’d probably get two different guesses. Cal State decisions are easier to figure out because they only consider grades and SAT scores, but the UC’s and most private schools consider such a wide variety of factors that it’s very difficult to pinpoint one reason for a decision. So don’t waste your time with the negative energy of dwelling on possible reasons for a decision – spend your time positively by looking more closely at the schools that have accepted you and trying to figure out which will be the best fit for you.
· Reminder, if you dropped a class or earned a grade below C, you must notify the UC Application Center - [email protected] . Your email must include your name, UC Application ID number and your signature, and it will be shared with all the campuses to which you applied. You could also use the U.S. mail and send your update to:
| UC Application Center |
· If you took a class off-campus at another school besides Walnut HS (eg – a class at Fullerton College, Mt. SAC, BYU online, Rio Hondo College, etc.), you will need to request that school to send an official transcript to any private schools to which you’re applying, unless they say they don’t need that.
· Again, the UC and CSU do not want transcripts at this time. If a UC, CSU, or school outside of the Common Application or Send.edu requests an official transcript from you, you must request it through Parchment. Follow the instructions on our website - http://dbhs.wvusd.k12.ca.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=167814&type=d&pREC_ID=345011.
· Midyear reports are currently being sent by your GLC’s via Common Application or Send.edu. We understand that your universities are telling you that your applications are incomplete until the midyear report is submitted, and we understand that many universities have heightened anxiety by saying the reports are due as soon as possible. Don’t worry about that deadline. Universities understand that we can only submit midyear reports after grades are finalized, and we guarantee your midyear reports will arrive well before those of students from other high schools that are still completing first semester.
· If you’re planning on going to Mt. SAC, please make sure you give Mrs. Williams in the Career Center your email address so she can keep you apprised of important dates and events in the Mt. SAC Connect 4 Program. You can stop by or email her at [email protected]. If you haven’t claimed your Mt. SAC Account, please stop by the Career Center. You must do this to stay on track.
· Assessment Test meeting Friday, February 6. This meeting will be held at lunch in the Golden Horseshoe. It will answer questions about the upcoming Mt. SAC assessment test Feb. 25th & 26th. The tests will be from 1st through 3rd period on the DBHS campus. Mrs. Williams will send notifications and email reminders.
FINANCIAL AID
· The FAFSA has been open for a full month. If you haven’t filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at www.fafsa.ed.gov yet, you’re behind several other people. There are Pell Grants and Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants and other types of aid that financial aid offices can help you receive based on financial need. The sooner you get the FAFSA filled out, the better your chances of receiving financial aid. Research has shown a strong correlation between filling out the FAFSA and succeeding in college, so take this first step on the road to success!
· Cal Grant GPA Verification Forms have been available in the Guidance Office for a full month. If you haven’t picked up a form, filled it out and turned it in to Mrs. Taylor, you’re behind several of your peers. When she returns the form to you, you must mail it yourself to the California Student Aid Commission. No forms will be accepted by Mrs. Taylor after February 27th, 2015.
· Future teachers can apply for the Federal TEACH Grant. This grant (free money you don’t have to pay back) can be up to $4,000 a year if you sign an agreement to serve as a paid full-time teacher in a high-need field serving low income students. Visit www.studentaid.ed.gov or contact the financial aid office at the college or university you plan to attend.
· If you need a loan for school, look into federal student loans before going with a private bank. With a federal loan, you’ll get a fixed interest rate, more flexibility in repayment plans, and you won’t have to start repaying the loan until six months after you graduate.
o Federal Stafford Loan – This is a loan for students at all types of colleges who attend at least half time. The interest rate is fixed at 4.66 % for the 2014-2015 academic year.
o Federal PLUS Loan – This is a loan that allows your parents or grandparents to help pay for college costs. The PLUS loan is currently fixed at 7.21%.
· Cash for College Financial Aid Fair takes place on Saturday, February 21st, 2015. They offer free assistance with the FAFSA, scholarship workshops, and Mt. SAC admission and enrollment information. Space is limited – register at www.mtsac.edu/financialaid.
· Financial aid questions? Feel free to speak to your GLC, but there is another great resource as well. At the Financial Aid Workshop on our campus last December, the Mt. SAC presenters said they would be happy to answer any of your financial aid questions, even if you’re not planning on going to Mt. SAC, because we are in their service area. Their phone number is 909-274-4450.
SCHOLARSHIPS
· Asian Pacific Fund Scholarship – This foundation facilitates 12 scholarship programs ranging from $1,000-$20,000. For information about the different scholarships and how to apply, go to www.asianpacificfund.org/scholarships. Application deadline is February 20th, 2015.
· AT&T Asian Pacific Islanders for Professional and Community Advancement (APCA) Scholarship – AT&T is funding this scholarship, which provides nineteen $2,000 awards for the 2015 school year. “Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of their scholastic and personal achievements, leadership, community involvement, work experience, a letter of recommendation and personal essay,” and they need a minimum 3.40 GPA. For more information, go to www.apca-att.org/scholarship.html. Applications need to be submitted online by Saturday, February 15th, 2015, 11:59 pm.
· Student-View Scholarship Program – One $4,000 scholarship, two $1,000 awards, and 10 $500 scholarships are up for grabs through this website. Just fill out the 15-25 minute survey about colleges in the area – scholarships will be awarded via a random drawing of all completed applications. You hear me, those of you with low self-esteem? Random. For more information, go to www.student-view.com. Application deadline is April 22, 2015.
· Buick Achievers Scholarship – If you plan on majoring in something like engineering or design & business AND you’re interested in a career in the automotive industry, this scholarship is for you. Up to $25,000 a year for 50 students! Applications will be judged based on what students have done “both inside and outside the classroom.” For more information, go to www.buickachievers.com. Applications must be submitted online by February 27th, 2015.
· UCLA Alumni Scholarship – I know you don’t know if you got in or not at this stage, but if you applied to UCLA, you should apply for one of their alumni scholarships. They have three types of scholarships, including one for children of UCLA degree holders, and they range from $4000 - $20000 paid over four years. The application consists of listing extracurricular activities, volunteer work, awards, and any employment as well as one letter of recommendation and two 500-word essays. For more information, go to http://alumni.ucla.edu/scholarships/apply/default.aspx. Deadline for applications is February 27th, 2015.
· Chen Foundation Scholarship – This scholarship is open to any high school senior with a minimum unweighted 3.0 GPA who plans to attend a CSU or California community college and has a household income “at or below the California State Low Income Level.” There are 10 $2000 scholarships. For more information, go to http://apcf.org/2015-chen-foundation-scholarship-program/. Applications must be received by midnight, March 31st, 2015.
· Palmer Hayden Essay Competition – Celebrate Black History Month by writing an essay on “the importance of Palmer Hayden as an artist and the importance to the community of having his collection at the Museum of African American Art.” There are “cash prizes” and entrants must attend the Black History Month Celebration on February 21st, 2015. For more information, contact Betty Johnson at [email protected].
· Taiwanese American Scholarship – There are 14 $2500 scholarships for U.S. citizens who are a “direct blood descendant of a Taiwanese citizen,” plan to attend a university in the fall, have at least a 3.0 GPA, and have a household income “at or below the Federal/State/County Low Income Level.” For more information, go to http://tascholarshipfund.org/. Applications must be received by midnight, March 31st, 2015.
· Don’t forget that you can research scholarships on your own!