College & Career Center Newsletter
George Mason High School - September 25, 2020
TRANSLATION
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND SIGN UP
Virtual College Visits, Monday, September 28 - Friday, October 2
Please sign up in Naviance at least one day in advance to attend visits. On the day of the visit, you need to login to Naviance, locate the visit, and click on the URL to join the meeting. The URL will be visible 15 minutes before the scheduled start time. If a visit conflicts with a class, you need to obtain permission from your teacher to attend.
Monday, September 28
- Ursinus College, 11:00 AM
- The University of Arizona, 11:45 AM
- University of Rhode Island, 12:30 PM
- Butler University, 1:15 PM
- James Madison University, 2:15 PM
Tuesday, September 29
Gettysburg College, 10:00 AM
- Drexel University, 10:45 AM
- United States Naval Academy, 11:30 AM
- Rutgers University-New Brunswick, 12:15 PM
Wednesday, September 30
Boston College, 11:30 AM
- Fairmont State University, 12:15 PM
Thursday, October 1
Wake Forest University, 10:00 AM
- Northeastern University, 10:45 AM
- University of Missouri-Columbia, 11:30 AM
- University of Mary Washington, 12:15 PM
Friday, October 2
- Washington College, 11:00 AM
- Purdue University, 11:45 AM
- Muhlenberg College, 12:30 PM
- Randolph College, 1:15 PM
- Elon University, 2:00 PM
- University of Chicago, 2:45 PM
NAVIANCE
Naviance Login Change to Clever
Access to Naviance for students has changed. We have aligned Naviance with our single sign-on platform, Clever. As a result of this change, the login process for Naviance should be much easier for students, as they can now use their FCCPS credentials to login. Please review the PDF attachment below with instructions.
Senior Worksheet & Parent Brag Sheet, due one month before the first college application deadline
The Senior Worksheet is completed in Naviance (About Me > My Surveys > Surveys Not Started). The Parent Worksheet is posted on the College and Career Center website; it should be completed and emailed to your student's counselor. These forms are not sent to colleges and universities. They are used to help your counselor write the school recommendation.
COLLEGE FAIRS
Association of International Regional Representatives-North America (AIRR-NA)
Sponsored IB Mid-Atlantic College Fair, Saturday, September 26, 10:30 am – 12 pm ET
European Universities Consortium (EUC) Virtual Fair, October 3
Virginia Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Counselors (VACRAO), Freshman Virtual College Fairs, September 28-October 23
EXPLORE COLLEGES & THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Academic Common Market, Southern Regional Education Board
"Study in a specialized field at an out-of-state college. Pay in-state tuition rates."
Accessible College, Transitioning to College for Students with Paralysis, Monday, Sept. 28, 12-1 pm
Accessible College provides college preparation and transition support for students with health conditions and physical disabilities nationally. The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and Accessible College will be offering a free webinar. Recordings from past programs are available on their website, including:
- Webinar: May 11, 2020, Students with Disabilities: Standardized Tests, College Tours, and Applications in the Age of COVID-19
- Webinar: Monday, March 30, 2020, College Preparation for Students with Health Conditions and Physical Disabilities
AvlBound - The UNC Asheville Admission Podcast on Spotify
A podcast to help students discover everything they want and need to know about applying to one of America's top public liberal arts institutions - UNC Asheville.
Big Ten Academic Alliance Virtual Event, Sunday, September 27, 3 pm
"We are excited to invite you to join us for one of our upcoming student programs where you can dive in and learn more about who is in the Big Ten Academic Alliance and what it is all about!" Learn about Purdue University, Indiana University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, Northwestern University, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, University of Maryland, Pennsylvania State University, University of Iowa, University of Minnesota, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Coast to Coast College Tour, South Atlantic, Saturday, September 26, 3 pm EDT
"Welcome to Coast to Coast, a joint travel partnership among Dartmouth College, Northwestern University, Princeton University, University of California-Berkeley, and Vanderbilt University. Because each of our institutions practices holistic admissions within a highly selective environment, we have partnered to offer insight into the seemingly complex admissions process."
CTCL (Colleges that Change Lives) Virtual Days, September 27-30
"During Virtual Days, each CTCL-member school will host a session so you can learn more about them. In addition, we will offer featured presentations that will cover a variety of aspects of the admissions process." Featured Presentations:
Sunday, 9/27 – CTCL and the Liberal Arts
Sunday, 9/27 – Test Optional – What Does it Really Mean?
Sunday, 9/27 – You Don’t Have a School of Business?
Monday, 9/28 – Starting a College Search in a Virtual World
Monday, 9/28 – CTCL and the Liberal Arts
Monday, 9/28 – Entrepreneurship in the Liberal Arts
Tuesday, 9/29 – Acing the Interview
Davidson College, Access Davidson, application due Monday, September 28
"Access Davidson is a selective virtual college visit program designed for high school seniors from traditionally underrepresented groups (including those who identify as low-income, first-generation, rural, and those from underrepresented racial or ethnic backgrounds)."
Davidson College, Davidson Admission Intensive
"Join the Davidson admission team for a workshop series designed to prepare you for your college search and application process. Sessions are for rising high school juniors and seniors, with session options for parents and mentors in the evening."
September 28, College Application & Financial Aid Basics
September 30, It's Fine - Navigating the College Admission Process
Discovering U, Thursday, October 1, 7 pm CDT
"Join Columbia University, the University of Chicago, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Michigan, and Yale University to discover the exceptional opportunities our schools have to offer!"
Discovering UVM (University of Vermont), application due by September 30
"Discovering UVM is a program geared toward prospective students who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education in the United States. While designed to be an on-campus program offering travel grants to campus for participants, out of an abundance of caution related to COVID-19, we are offering a new virtual version of Discovering UVM from October 12th to October 14th, 2020. Participants will learn about the college application process, hear about the academic experience and student life, and have opportunities to engage with current students, staff, and faculty."
Macalester College Workshop Wednesdays
"What’s the difference between a liberal arts college and a state university? How can my family afford college? How can I really nail my college essay? When you dive into your college search, the questions start piling up. So it’s time to find the answers in our Workshop Wednesdays series, back this fall after a successful summer run. We’ll cover the topics that rise to the top when you’re thinking about college." Past recordings are also available for on-demand viewing.
MAC ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID DEEP DIVE, Wednesday September 30, 6-7:15 pm CT
Loyola Marymount University First-Year Application Workshop, Tuesday & Thursday, 3:30 pm PT
"Applying to college can be complex, but we are here to assist you! LMU Admission Counselors will host these workshops every Tuesday and Thursday at 3:30 p.m., Pacific Time to guide you through the application process and Admission timeline. We will be discussing each of the three LMU Supplemental Essay prompts on a rotating schedule."
myOptions: Discover Your Path to College & Career Success
"myOptions empowers students to explore colleges and careers with free technology, advice, planning tools, and encouragement from family and educators, as they discover more about themselves on their journey through high school."
Northern Virginia Community College, Pathway to the Baccalaureate Program, application due November 15
"Pathway to the Baccalaureate guides selected students on their journey from high school through NOVA to a four-year institution." Students need to apply for admission to both the Pathway program and NOVA.
GMHS Pathway Information Session: Friday, October 9, 1:15 pm
GMHS Pathway Information Session, Friday, November 6, 1:15 pm
Jason Engler, our GMHS Pathways representative, will join us for two information sessions this fall. Students will need to download Zoom to their school computers to participate in these information sessions (Launchpad > search for Self Service > search for Zoom and download the out of the building version).
"Enjoy receiving live advice on country specifics, admissions process, university degrees and student life from the comfort of your laptop or phone."
UChicago Personal Statement Session, Tuesday, September 29, 7-8 CDT
"The personal statement is a common requirement of applications to many US colleges and universities. During this session we will review some basic do’s and don’ts, share some insight into how personal statement essays can add an important perspective to your application, and explain how they are considered in a holistic review process."
ARTICLES, BLOG POSTS, & PUBLICATIONS:
- Demonstrated Interest at the U, Explained. (2020, September 9). Amanda Anderson, Executive Director of Undergraduate Admission, breaks down how demonstrated engagement factors into the admission process at the University of Miami.
- Ewalt, D. (2020, September 17). 2021 Best Colleges in America: Harvard Leads the University Rankings. The Wall Street Journal.
Schiffman, J. (2020, September 22). What Are We Looking for in an Applicant? Tulane University Admission Blog.
COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)
Seniors, and a parent/guardian if the student is under 18 years old, need to complete the FERPA Consent, Release & Waiver for Letters of Recommendation(s): College, Scholarship, Honor, Special Programs & Employment. If you are applying to colleges using the Common Application, the GMHS FERPA form is in addition to completing the FERPA section within the Common Application. To complete the GMHS FERPA form, students need to use their FCCPS email addresses.
Transcript Requests
STANDARDIZED TESTS
Registration to sit for the SAT/SAT Subject Tests on the national test dates is open.
Score Release Dates:
If you take the SAT on September 29 your scores will be available on October 9. For the October 3 test administration date, scores will be available on October 16.
Article:
Jaschik, S. (2020, September 23). More Bad News for the SAT. Inside Higher Ed.
FINANCIAL AID
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will open on October 1. Some schools also require the CSS Profile for financial aid consideration. Please consult individual colleges regarding financial aid forms that are required.
Coalition for College, Panel: Making College Affordable, Wednesday, September 30, 8-9 pm ET
"We're hosting a panel discussion and Q&A on the topic of college affordability, featuring Caltech, Haverford College, The University of Tampa, and the University of Pittsburgh. Students who attend will learn the basics about paying for college and hear expert advice on the best strategies for graduating with low or no debt.""The session will navigate students and families through the process of filing FAFSA, including best tips and practices, what paperwork is needed for each section of the application, how to send the completed application to chosen schools and next steps. There will also be time for participants to get additional questions answered."
Article:
Kerr, E. (2020, September 21). How to Pay for College Using Overlooked Strategies. U.S. News & World Report.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Hagan Scholarship, application due November 15
"The Hagan Scholarship is a nationwide need-based merit scholarship designed to help high-achieving students from small towns and rural areas graduate college debt-free. Recipients must: a) graduate from a public high school located in a county having fewer than 50,000 residents, or b) graduate from a remote rural school located in a county having more than 50,000 residents." GMHS is an eligible school.
"The scholarship provides up to $48,000 over four years to attend college. Recipients must enroll at an eligible four-year not-for-profit college or university the first semester following high school graduation. Free Workshops, Schwab Brokerage Accounts, and Study Abroad provide recipients with a practical understanding of important life skills not typically taught as a part of the school curriculum."
NEW James B. Duke Scholarship at Davidson College
"Beginning with the Davidson College Class of 2025, each year, five students will be awarded the James B. Duke Scholarship of full tuition and fees. The award is renewable for the recipient’s remaining three years at Davidson, provided GPA, progress toward degree, and campus engagement requirements are met."
National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) Scholarship to Study Language Abroad
"The NSLI-Y 2021-22 application is now available! The deadline to submit an application is Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 4 PM Eastern Time."
Science Ambassador Scholarship, application closes December 14
"A full–tuition scholarship for a woman in science, technology, engineering, or math. Funded by Cards Against Humanity."
GAP YEAR
You will find a list of gap year programs on the College and Career Center Gap Year website page.
JOBS
Wegmans in Tysons Corner is gearing up to open in the fall. Here is a link to all of the positions available at Tysons Corner. The Wegmans Scholarship Program is available for full and part-time employees.
Sheri Mural, College & Career Specialist
Email: murals@fccps.org
Website: https://gm.fccps.org/o/gmhs/page/college-career-center--8
Location: 7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043, USA
Phone: (703) 248-5531
This information is provided for your convenience. Postings do not indicate endorsement or sponsorship by George Mason High School, FCCPS, nor any administrator or employee of either George Mason High School or FCCPS.