Junior Newsletter
WHS Class of 2025 Resources, Updated March 4, 2024
March Into College
March Into College is for ALL juniors and parents/guardians.
March Into College is an annual event that occurs every Wednesday during the month of March. The topics are meant to help students and families prepare as a lead up to senior year.
Presentation topics:
March 6th: How to create a college list
March 13th: UC and Common App process
March 20th: Evaluate real applications (from past applicants) and college admissions essays
March 27th: Financial Aid and Summer To-dos/recommendations
Stanford Programs
Stanford Clinical Summer Internship
Financial Assistance available (see here).
The Stanford Medical Youth Science Program is a five-week immersive enrichment program focused on science and medicine that is open to low-income, first-generation high school juniors who live in Northern California. Application is due 03/15/24.
Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center Internship
High school students who are at least 16 or juniors can apply to this summer program by 03/08/24. Financial aid is available to qualified applicants. Stanford faculty, surgical residents, and staff will introduce to surgery & technical skills through lectures and laboratory sessions. Time commitment: M-F 9 AM - 12 PM, 1-4 PM, with additional tutorials and office hours.
2 recommendations & PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores required: Contact your College & Career Advisor if you cannot access your PSAT scores.
UC Programs
UCLA Game Lab
Application opens on February 15th. Nedd and merit scholarships available for this residential program. All participants must be at least 15 years of age by the first day of Summer Sessions 2024 on June 24th, no exceptions allowed.
UCSB Pre-College Program
Applications are open for UCSBās two premier pre-college programs, the Summer Research Academies and the Research Mentorship Program. Both provide talented, highly motivated 9th-11th grade students with unique opportunities to earn college credit while engaging in interdisciplinary research. We encourage students to register for an informational webinar to learn more about applying to these transformative programs and start their application today!
Private Colleges
Brown Pre-College Programs
200 course; 1-4 week options in Providence, RI. Apply early to Brown's Pre-College Programs. Rolling admissions process allows students to be accepted as soon as this month!
Georgetown University
Earn college credit and experience college life at Georgetown this summer.
California State Summer School for the Arts
2024 Application Deadline: February 29th, 6:00 pm PST (visit website here)
Apply to one of seven academic programs, including:
- Animation
- Music
- Film
- Theater
- Dance
- Visual Arts
- Writing
WACAC College Fairs
Internship Opportunities
STAR VISTA Health Ambassador
We are looking to engage youth who are passionate about serving communities that have been affected by mental health challenges, interested in raising awareness, and increase access to behavioral health services. Interested youth will participate in trainings focusing on mental wellness. After completion of training, Health Ambassadors will be community agents ready to help others in the community through information sharing or providing referrals when appropriate. Stipend of up to $700 will be provided for youth who complete the training program. Public transportation passes and child care are available upon request. People who have family, communities or they themselves have been affected by mental health challenges are highly encouraged to participate.
REQUIREMENTS:
Be between the ages of 16 to 24
Able to commit to 70+ hours of training.
Participation in community events.
Resident of San Mateo County
Genetics Program@ Stanford: Application Due 2/29/24
GRIPS is a twenty hour, eight-week-long research intensive experience for high school students. Program participants will be placed in a research laboratory for the summer and conduct genomics research under the supervision of a lab mentor.
The summer 2024 program will start on June 17 and end on August 8, 2024. Students in GRIPS must commit to participating for the entire duration of the program. This experience will be four hours per day, five days per week, for the entire internship period. The typical schedule is 9am - 1pm, Monday through Friday.
Concurrent Enrollment
Explore a Future Major or Advance with Community College Classes
WHS students can take up to 11 units each term at our local community colleges for free! (Required textbooks and materials are the student's responsibility.)
Learn more about concurrent enrollment here. Community college classes fill up quickly, so let us help you this month.
Scholarships for Juniors
CTA CƩsar E. ChƔvez and Dolores Huerta Education Award Program
Write an essay or create original artwork that represents the vision and principles championed by Chavez and Huerta to earn a cash award of $550 for yourself and the WHS teacher or counselor who sponsors your entry. (CTA members can sponsor up to 3 entries.) Submissions are due by 03/01/24.
BigFuture Scholarships
No essay, no minimum GPA or test score, or citizenship requirements. Just follow the steps for chances to win. The more steps you complete and the earlier you start, the more chances you have to win!
Project Yellow Light: Stop Texting While Driving
Win $2,000-$8,000 by creating a public service announcement (billboard, radio ad, video, or social video) that discourages texting while driving.
Career Resources
Naviance: Identify Your Interests
My Next Move (Mi Proximo Paso)
College Board: Explore Careers & Majors
College Research Tools
Naviance SuperMatch
College Board Big Future
California State University (CSU)
College Scorecard
Dive into data about graduation rates, median salaries by major, and more.
Niche
Read student reviews about academic and social scene at hundreds of colleges.
Letters of Recommendation
Do I Need a Letter of Recommendation for College or a Scholarship?
CSU: Only applicants who qualify for the Educational Opportunity Program will need two references to complete an online form
University of CA: letters not required
Private colleges: check undergraduate admissions website; 1-2 core teachers (English, math, history, science, world language)
Scholarships: depends on criteria; usually 1-2 letters needed
The Letter of Recommendation (LOR) Survey will open after Spring Break. Juniors will access it in their Naviance account: log in to your seq.org account first; select Single Sign-On > About Me > and then Surveys from Your School.
Strongly recommended: draft your responses on a Google Doc and paste them into the survey boxes when you are ready. This will avoid the horror of losing your responses if the website times out.
College Applications: What Can I Do Now?
Common Application
University of California Personal Insight Questions (PIQ)
Zorina Matavulj, College & Career Advisor
Lisa Vasquez, College & Career Advisor
School counselors: Grimaldi-Rodriguez & Negri
Text/Voice: 650-254-6892
Francisco Gil, College & Career Advisor
School Counselors: Lok & Thornton
650-367-9750 ext. 40063
Schedule an appointment with me
Yo hablo EspaƱol
Woodside High School College and Career Advisors