HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELING BULLETIN
January/February 2018
It's Scholarship Season!
There are many scholarships available to our 12th grade students to assist in funding their post-secondary education at 2 & 4-yr colleges & universities and technical/trade schools. Senior students and families are directed to Naviance Family Connection to search for local, Pittsburgh Foundation, and national scholarship applications. Pay special attention to deadlines and requirements for each scholarship and refer to the application or organization’s website for the most up-to-date information. For a summary of some of the scholarships, please click here.
Through Naviance, students also have access to a national scholarship search engine in which they can conduct a scholarship match by selecting specific criteria. They can view electronic applications, requirements, and deadlines for all scholarships. Students should sign in to their Naviance account and go to “my colleges” and then “scholarships” to view the list of scholarships available and the requirements for each. Students are encouraged to search for additional free money available through scholarships to help fund their post-secondary endeavors.
Scholarship transcript requests are made in Naviance. Please watch this video tutorial on how to request a transcript for scholarships. You will be notified by your student email account when your transcript is ready. Due to the high volume of requests for transcripts, please allow at least 2-3 days to process.
Naviance Login for Students:
Click here for Naviance.
Username is the dashboard User id (first initial, last name, last two digits of student id)
Password is the original dashboard password
Then click “Log in”
For questions, please contact your high school counselor
For the smoothest application process for Local Scholarships, follow these easy steps:
First: Add your scholarship applications to your Naviance account and please leave the amount field BLANK.
Second: Request transcripts in Naviance.
From the Colleges tab select...
- Transcripts
- Request Transcripts for Scholarships or Athletics
- Enter the Recipient (name of Scholarship), Due date and other pertinent info
- Click Add Transcript Requests button at bottom right of screen
Third: Watch your student email account for a "Transcript Ready for Pick-up" email (allow 2-3 full school days to be fulfilled)
Finally: Put all your scholarship documents in an envelope and send to the appropriate scholarship committee. Directions for submission are usually on the application and can also be found in Naviance.
Completed applications with all supporting documents for Scholarships due to the Counseling Office may be turned in to the Counseling Office secretaries. Envelopes will be available on the counter in our office. One application per envelope and be sure to check off the items required.
BEST OF LUCK TO EVERYONE!!
RICHARD J. MADDEN SCHOLARSHIP JUNIORS ONLY
The Richard J. Madden Scholarship, established in 2003 by Mr. Madden, a Mt. Lebanon alumni, is awarded annually to one junior student at Mt. Lebanon High School. The recipient may receive up to $11,250 per year, a maximum of $45,000 total, if a 3.0 grade point average is maintained at the student's post secondary selection. This scholarship opportunity is offered each year to juniors who plan to attend a two or four year college or technical school within the United States. Financial need is one of the most important criteria during the review of applications.
Applications for the Madden Scholarship will be available in Naviance. Applicants must type their application using the WORD template provided in Naviance. Students should see their counselor with any questions. Application deadline: February 28th.
Mid-Year Transcript Requests
Mid-Year transcript requests are a common practice required or suggested by colleges/universities to update a student’s application for admission. In order for these transcripts to be received by the colleges in a timely fashion, requests are due by Thursday, January 18, 2018. More detailed Information and request forms will be distributed in homeroom the second week of January. If you have already been accepted
to the college/university, it is usually not necessary to send a mid-year transcript. If you are in doubt that a mid-year transcript is required, you should contact the college/university.
PARKWAY WEST CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER VISIT
Parkway representatives will be here on Tuesday, February 13th from 9-10 AM to answer questions that students have regarding Parkway and its programs. Students who currently attend Parkway will also be present to give information and answer questions. The meeting will be in F-313 (Counseling Office Classroom). Students wishing to attend should stop by the Counseling Office to register Starting Feb. 1, 2018.
Parkway West Career and Technology Center offers high school students the opportunity to gain immediate employment and/or advanced placement within many area colleges and technical schools. Students interested in exploring the following programs: Auto Body Repair, Automotive Technology, Cosmetology, Nail Technician License, Culinary Arts, Digital Multimedia, Health Assistant, Phlebotomy Technician Certificate, Pharmacy Technician Certificate, Informational Technology Essentials,
Public Safety Technology, Construction Technology Cluster consisting of HVAC/R, Construction, Welding and Electrical Systems Technologies, Veterinary Technology, Sports Medicine Rehabilitation Therapy Technology.
Please click here to explore the Career Majors they offer.
Please click here to see the Academic Course offerings.
Shadow Experience at Parkway
Students interested in possibly attending Parkway may shadow two programs to determine if they are interested in applying. The Exploratory Day is Friday, February 23rd from 9:00 - 11:00 AM. Students attending the field trip will be bussed to Parkway (permission required). If you have any questions, contact Mrs. Schneider in the HS
Counseling Office at 412.344.2063.
CUM LAUDE
The Cum Laude rehearsal and ceremony will be held on March 8, 2018. Rehearsal will be held that morning at 7:15am and the ceremony will be held at 7:00 PM in the High School Auditorium. 2018 inductees will be notified by mailed invitation the second full week of February.
NCAA NIGHT
NCAA Night will be held on Monday, February 12, 2018 @ 7:00PM in the Fine Arts Theatre. Please join Mr. John Grogan and Mrs. Shelly Saba for a night entitled “College Recruiting Simplified”. Our featured speaker is Rick Christenson, the Associate Athletic Director for Compliance from Duquesne University.
TIPS FOR STUDENTS WHEN THEY'RE DEFERRED
Students (and their families) often feel all kinds of emotions after they receive Early Decision/Early Action notifications. The Common Application recently asked our colleagues at the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS) to share some key tips for those students who are deferred. Here's what they had to say.
* Stay positive. Deferral means that you may still be competitive, and that the admissions committee wants to learn more information. You're now a regular decision applicant to that college and are free to apply to other schools. Even though it may be disappointing news to you, remember that you’re still in the applicant pool.
* Know that colleges can't accept every compelling candidate who applies early. At some colleges, they often need to see what the regular decision pool looks like before making
final decisions on many applicants.
* Most colleges send or post instructions about what they encourage – or, more specifically, discourage – in terms of sending additional information such as recommendation letters or supplements. Read that information!
* If this information is not shared, ask: "In past years, how many deferred students were eventually admitted? Should I visit (or re-visit) campus to express my interest? If interviews are offered, should I request one?" This information can help you determine reasonable next steps to take.
* Resist reaching out to anyone at the college right away. Take several days to digest and collect your thoughts. Colleges are not rank-ordering who called or emailed first – and impulsively communicating could send the wrong message.
* Take your upcoming assignments seriously, whether these are projects or end-of-term exams. Most colleges that extend an offer of deferral will want to see an updated set of official grades from first semester or the first marking period of senior year.
* Find out if another round of standardized testing would be accepted or even beneficial
for that particular school.
* Be confident in your original application. If the college encourages submission of new information, then consider doing so. But that doesn’t mean that there was anything "wrong” with your application. Resist the urge to blame your essay and spend hours you don’t have writing a new one for your regular decision colleges. You could spend that time instead on your senior year coursework, other applications, and with family and friends.
This post is shared in collaboration with the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS), an organization of more than 1500 college counselors in nearly 550 independent schools, supporting the essential work of college counselors to serve the students in their care.
Special thanks to Steve Frappier, Director of College Counseling, The Westminster Schools; Deputy Executive Director of ACCIS and Emmi Harward, Director of College Counseling, The Bishop’s School; Executive Director of ACCIS.
“Early Decision Notifications: Tips for Students When They’re Deferred.” The Common Application. N.p., 1 Dec. 2016. Web. 1 6 Dec. 2016.
<https://www.commonapp.org/whatsappening/
college-counseling/early-decision-notifications-tips-students-when-theyre-deferred>.
College Testing Information
Test Center Number: 39-442
NEXT ACT DATE: February 10, 2018 NOT @ MTLHS
Mt. Lebanon High School Code 393730 (SAT & ACT)
REGISTER FOR SAT TESTS HERE
REGISTER FOR ACT TESTS HERE
For parking and other test-day information, please visit the High School website.
Contact Mr. Rolf Briegel (SAT Center Supervisor) via email with questions or concerns.
For information on College Testing Accommodations process, please see instructions on the School Counseling/ Forms page here.
AP EXAMS
Advanced Placement Exams will be given at Mt. Lebanon High School the weeks of May 7-11 and May 14-18, 2018. Registration packets will be mailed to AP students in January. However, these examinations are open to anyone who wishes to take one. Information is available on the School Counseling website where you can print the registration form and the cost is $94.00 per exam. If you have any questions, please contact your counselor.
If you are uncertain about your readiness for an exam, we still encourage you to register prior to the deadline of February 21, 2018. You have the option to cancel the exam before Monday, April 23, 2018 for a refund of $79.00.
NACAC Pittsburgh College Fair - February 8th and 9th
The 2018 NACAC Pittsburgh National College Fair will be held Thursday, February 8, 2018, 9am - noon & 6:30pm - 9pm, and Friday, February 9, 2018 from 9am - noon at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
To find out more information about the college fair, and to see a list of what schools will be at the fair and information on the workshops available click here.
IMPORTANT NOTE: No transportation will be provided by MTLSD for this event.
Prior to attending, students should obtain & fill out a pre-approved absence form from the Unit Principal’s office.
10th Grade Career Unit
TEENSCREEN
TeenScreen is a nationally-recognized program developed by Columbia University to identify risk factors associated with depression, anxiety, and alcohol and sub-stance abuse. The program is free and completely voluntary and confidential.
TeenScreen is available to all students in grades 7-12. Look for more information and parental consent forms to follow via U.S. Mail in January.
If you have any questions regarding TeenScreen, please contact Outreach Teen & Family Services, 412-561-5405.
SUMMER ENGINEERING WORKSHOP AT CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY
Do you know what you want to study in college, or what career you want to pursue? Have you considered engineering? How much do you know about it? Come join us for a week to learn more about what engineers do and what it would be like to study engineering in college at one of the nation's top engineering schools!
Try out real mechanical engineering practices! Learn how to make your own products with computer-aided design software, and then fabricate them in a CMU makerspace using
· Laser Cutting
· 3D Printing
· Resin Casting
Learn about other engineering disciplines (electrical, biomedical, robotics, etc.) through daily presentations and tours of CMU labs.
Note: This is not a residential program.
For more Information, click here.
Summer Learning Programs
High School Counseling Office
Email: acarini@mtlsd.net
Website: http://www.mtlsd.org/page.cfm?p=1137
Location: Pittsburgh, 155 Cochran Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15228, United States
Phone: 412.344.2053 412.344.2062