College & Career Center Newsletter
George Mason High School - October 23, 2020
TRANSLATION
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND SIGN UP
Virtual College Visits and Information Sessions, Monday, October 26 - Friday, October 30
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, October 26
Landmark College, 9:15 AM
- Cleveland Institute of Art, 11:00 AM
- Macquarie University (Australia), 11:45 AM
- George Washington University, 12:30 PM
- Illinois Institute of Technology, 1:15 PM
- Marine Corps Information Session with Staff Sergeant Hoover, 2 PM in Schoology
Tuesday, October 27
Hollins University, 10:00 AM
- The American University of Paris, 10:45 AM
- West Virginia University, 11:30 AM
- Lees-McRae College, 12:15 PM
Wednesday, October 28
Christopher Newport University, 11:30 AM
- Winthrop University, 12:15 PM
Thursday, October 29
University of the Sciences, 10:00 AM
- Springfield College, 10:45 AM
- Meredith College, 11:30 AM
- Calvin University, 12:15 PM
Friday, October 30
- Temple University, 11:00 AM
- University of Connecticut, 11:45 AM
- Grinnell College, 12:30 PM
- Hawaii Pacific University, 1:15 PM
NAVIANCE
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 & RESOURCE FAIRS
Coalition for College Virtual College Fairs
Attend a free, online virtual college fair featuring Coalition for College schools.
November Virtual College Fair, Day 1, Wednesday, November 4, 6-10 pm
November Virtual College Fair, Day 2, Thursday, November 5, 7-10 pm
National Portfolio Day, 100% Free, Online Portfolio Reviews hosted by the NPDA (National Portfolio Day Association)
If you are applying to a NPDA member college, university, or art school, you may need or want to participate in one of the National Portfolio Day reviews as part of your admission process. Please consult individual institutions for specific application requirements. Undergraduate events:
- October 24 - SATURDAY
- November 1 - SUNDAY
- November 8 - SUNDAY
- November 15 - SUNDAY
- November 21 - SATURDAY
- November 22 - SUNDAY
- December 5 - SATURDAY
Virginia Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Counselors (VACRAO), Freshman admission panel presentations, Monday, October 26-Friday, October 30
EXPLORE COLLEGES & THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Behind the Curtain: A Conversation with Four Admission Deans and Directors, Sunday, October 25, 4-5:30 pm EDT
"Bates College, Claremont McKenna College, Lehigh University, and the University of Chicago invite you to Behind the Curtain: An Intimate Conversation with Four Admission Deans & Directors. This group of institutions has come together as part of the American Talent Initiative (ATI), a growing alliance of top colleges and universities committed to increasing access and opportunity for students of all economic backgrounds. The program is open to all students and their parents and aims to demystify the college admissions and financial aid process. The panelists will also be available to answer specific questions about our individual institutions in breakout Zoom meetings at the end of the program."
Big XII Virtual Experience, Tuesday, October 27, 6 pm CT
"Join member institutions of the Big XII Conference for an evening of virtual information sessions. Each institution will host breakout sessions that covers information on admissions, scholarships, campus life, and much more!" Learn about Baylor University, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Oklahoma State University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University, The University of Kansas, The University of Oklahoma, The University of Texas at Austin, and West Virginia University.
Discovering U, Joint Virtual Information Session, Thursday, October 29, 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!"
Macalister College Workshop Wednesdays, Writing a College Essay, Wed., Oct. 28, 6-7:30 pm CT
"Our most interactive workshop, we’ll lay out the do’s and don’ts of writing a college essay. Discover the ways to represent yourself in an authentic and genuine way to stand out among a sea of applicants. Plus, we’ll cover the basic proofreading steps that will avoid embarrassing errers (see what we did there?)."
University of Mary Washington admission decision day for GMHS applicants!
Admissions staff from the University of Mary Washington will provide GMHS students with their admission decisions on Friday, November 20th at 1pm via email.
To be considered, students must:
1. Submit the Common Application with the application fee waiver code (the fee waiver code was posted on Schoology, Counseling Class of 2021 on Friday, October 16, or you can email Ms. Mural to obtain it) or UMW Application, which does not require a fee, by Friday, November 13th. Students may apply under either Early Action (non-binding) or Regular Decision processes.
2. Register for the event using this link.
3. If not applying test choice, ensure SAT or ACT scores to be considered are provided to UMW through either the high school transcript or directly to UMW. (UMW’s Codes - SAT 5398/ACT 4414)
If you have questions about this admission notification opportunity, please contact Ms. Mural or the UMW admission office at admit@umw.edu or 540-654-2000.
Northern Virginia Community College, Pathway to the Baccalaureate Program Information Session for GMHS, Friday, November 6, 1:15 pm
Application for admission 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.
Jason Engler, our GMHS Pathway representative, will host an information session for our students. Students need to add Zoom to their school computers to participate (Launchpad > search for Self Service > search for Zoom and install the out of the building version). The URL to participate is posted on the calendar in Schoology.
Navigating the College Search for Students Who Learn Differently, Wednesday, October 28, 3:30 pm
"Ferne Bork, an admissions counselor at Landmark College and the mother of an alumnus who has ADHD, developed this webcast to provide in-depth information about the range of supports for neurodiverse students in post-secondary education today."
"Enjoy receiving live advice on country specifics, admissions process, university degrees and student life from the comfort of your laptop or phone."
University of Rhode Island Tips for Writing the College Essay Workshop, Monday, October 26, 6:30 pm
"We know there's a lot of advice out there about how to submit the best application or write the most interesting essay or even which colleges to apply to. So much of this can feel overwhelming or contradictory, which is why we have designed two workshops to help you answer some of these questions. Join us on one of the following dates for a workshop that will be led by University of Rhode Island admission staff."
ARTICLES AND BLOG POSTS:
Dickler, J. (2020, October 19). Coronavirus pandemic may make it easier to get in to college, but not the Ivy League. CNBC.
Kerr, E. (2020, October 20). Harvard Tops 2021 U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings. U.S. News & World Report.
- Moody, J. (2020, October 13). 10 Colleges Where Early Applicants Have an Edge. U.S. News & World Report.
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
The next national test administration date for the ACT is December 12. The deadline to register is November 20. No late fees!
Registration to sit for the SAT/SAT Subject Tests on the national test dates is open. To sit for a test on December 5 you need to register by November 5.
FINANCIAL AID
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opened 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.
Get2College, 2021-22 FAFSA walk-through videos
Intro to the FAFSA | Introducción y Proceso del FAFSA, sponsored by the Coalition for College, Tuesday, October 27, 8-9 pm
"Feeling overwhelmed about applying for financial aid? At this free event, admissions and financial aid officers from Coalition for College schools will walk you through how to get ready to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and answer your questions about the process.
We’re holding two concurrent sessions on this topic, one in English and one in Spanish."
ARTICLE & BLOG
- The College Funding Coach TuitionCents Blog
Gobel, R. (2020, October 19). 12 Financial Aid Questions To Ask Your College. Forbes.
SCHOLARSHIPS
The Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship, application deadline is October 31.
"The Coca-Cola Scholars Program scholarship is an achievement-based scholarship awarded to graduating high school seniors. Students are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities. With the 32nd class in 2020, the Foundation has provided over 6,300 Coca-Cola Scholars with more than $72 million in educational support. 150 Coca-Cola Scholars are selected each year to receive this $20,000 scholarship."
College Board Opportunity Scholarships
The following scholarships close at the end of this month:
- Practice for the SAT®: $1,000
- Strengthen Your College List: $500
Equitable Excellence Scholarship, application period is until December 15, 2020 or when 10,000 applications have been received
"Students have the opportunity to receive a $2,500, $10,000 or $25,000 scholarship."
CAREERS
Virtual Career Exploration & Readiness Workshops, NOVA Systemic
Check out our upcoming FREE Virtual STEM Career Exploration & Readiness Workshops!
- October 27 / 3:00 p.m. – High School Focused Resume, Cover Letter & Interviewing Tips Workshop
Recordings of past NOVA Systemic career events are available to view on YouTube. The following may be of interest:
GAP YEAR
You will find a list of gap year programs on the College and Career Center Gap Year website page.
ARTICLE
- Guide to Taking a Gap Year During COVID-19 and Beyond. (2020, July 22). Study.com.
JOBS
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.