September 2018: 12th Grade
MDHS Counseling Newsletter
12th Grade Monarchs
Hello! We hope you are getting into the swing of things this semester. We know senior year fall semester can also be a stressful time, so be sure to take care of your physical and mental wellness. If you have any questions, please remember that you can email your counselor or stop by the counseling office.
Throughout the fall semester, each counselor will be meeting with seniors one-on-one to review transcripts, college applications, and/or your plans after high school. Please feel free to bring all of your questions.
Our SAT prep class begins this month on September 6th. Please see details below and make sure to register online! There will also be full length practice tests on Saturdays September 15 and September 22.
This month, counselors will also be visiting senior English classes for a Two-Session College Classroom Curriculum September 10-11, 12-13 and work closely with senior English teachers to assist students in completing their college applications and essays. Counselors review with students screen-by-screen through the Common Application, UC Application, and CSU Application. Please take advantage of this time to complete your applications and work with the counselors.
NHS applications will be due September 10th, and the NHS Induction Ceremony will be held on September 25th, 2018 at 7:45AM, LeVecke Center.
If you have not done so yet, please make sure that you:
- Complete and submit your Senior Guidance Questionnaire for Letters of Recommendation early (see more info below)
- Take and send your official SAT or ACT scores
- Send your official transcripts if needed through Parchment
- Turn in Service Hours + Reflection (once you are finished with hours)
- Visit colleges and research/organize with Naviance
- Continue in your commitments to clubs/activities, for example NHS & CSF
- If you are planning to play sports in college, make sure that you have registered with the NCAA/NAIA Eligiblity Center and sent your transcripts to NCAA/NAIA through Parchment
If you need to remediate a class, please speak with your counselor and register for fall Credit Recovery online. Registration is September 4-14 at https://www.materdei.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=285428&type=d&pREC_ID=652511. Classes will run September 17th-November 30th.
MD Wellness
We have a Wellness Wall right outside of the counseling office that we are working on that you can check out! We will also be adding Wellness Workshops to several counseling events this year including our Life After High School: College & Career Night, Office Hours, and more.
Life After High School
MD's College and Career Info Night is Tuesday, October 9th. Mark your calendars! All students and their families are welcome to attend. Wellness and Future Planning Seminar Workshops begin @ 4:45PM and a Fair begins @ 6PM.
Over 100 college and universities (2 and 4 year), technical/vocational schools, and military & service academies will be represented! Don't miss this opportunity to explore your future and get some questions answered.
College Visits
Wednesday, October 10th is a day off for seniors only, and a great day to visit college campuses. Considering signing up for an official tour; info can be found on your college's website.
Here is a Guide to College Visits by the Collegeboard and a Campus Visit Checklist. You can also bring these Tough Questions to Ask on Your College Visit!
College Rep Visits
Be sure to meet with the visiting College Admission Representatives during lunch in Shamrock Plaza. Click here for a list of colleges and visit dates.
Click here for a list of Questions to ask College Admission Representatives.
SAT & ACT
Official SAT & ACT
Please check the SAT & ACT testing requirements of the specific colleges you are applying to. Some schools require the writing section and some specific majors require subject tests. The December SAT & ACT testing dates are the last dates most colleges will accept scores. If you have not taken a test yet, register for a date ASAP!
- To register for the official SAT with writing and/or SAT Subject Tests: www.collegeboard.org
- To register for the official ACT with writing: www.act.org
Applications/Sending Scores
Please self report your test scores on your applications and send your official scores to the institutions you are applying to. Log in to your SAT account at collegeboard.com and ACT account at act.org to send your official scores.
Mock Exams
Do you want more practice taking the SAT or ACT? Mater Dei High School will be administering full-length mock SAT and ACT exams for $15 each.
- Dates: Saturdays September 15, September 22, October 20, and October 27
- Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
- Location: Mater Dei High school--500 & 600 Wings. Students will be notified of their test location through rosters posted on LeVecke or on the doors of the classrooms located in the 500 & 600 Wings.
- Cost: $15 per exam with discount code MD10
- To Register: Go to https://store.triedandtruetutoring.com/collections/mock-tests. Find the MD logos and select your test (SAT or ACT) and date. You can take one test on one date. For example, you can take a mock SAT exam on one Saturday and ACT on the next, but you cannot take a mock SAT and ACT on the same day
SAT Comprehensive Classe
- Please see our Fall 2018 Flyer
- To register, go to: https://store.triedandtruetutoring.com/collections/southern-california/products/mater-dei-hs-fall-2018
- The Comprehensive SAT class will be September 6th - November 1st. Every Thursday, 3:15-5:15pm OR 6-8pm.
Transcripts: Parchment.com
If you need to send an official transcript, please order your official transcripts online through Parchment, www.parchment.com. You can order hard copies or electronic copies of your transcript from Parchment. For example, you can order your transcript to be sent directly to the "Common Application" for Common App Colleges. Please remember to select "Common Application" as the recipient, and not each individual college. The PDF below outlines the steps to ordering your transcript to the Common Application. Please remember that you do not need to send a transcript to the UCs or Cal States unless the college specifically requests you to send one.
Transcripts sent now (select "send now") will include grades through second semester of junior year. You must order a transcript in the fall in order for your counselor to submit your Letter of Recommendation to Common Application. Approximately one in three colleges that are part of the Common App will also request a Mid-Year Report, for which you will order a transcript at the beginning of spring semester senior year, to include your first semester senior year grades. At the end of senior year, you will order a final transcript, including your second semester senior year, to the college/program you choose to attend. When ordering your final transcript, please be sure to select "hold for grades" instead of sending now.
Transcript/Parchment Timeline:
Fall - Order August to December | "Send Now"
Spring - Order Mid-January | "Send Now", if Mid-Year required by Common App or college requests
Final Transcript - Order May-June | "Hold for Grades"
If you have completed enrichment courses outside of MDHS, request an official transcript from that school/program be sent to the colleges you apply to, and to any other school that asks for a transcript as part of its application. For UC/Cal States, you can order the transcript from your enrichment class at the end of the year, when you request your final MDHS transcript to be sent, or only if you specifically requested to do so by a college.
Letters of Recommendation
- Please ask your counselor at least 3 weeks in advance of your first application due date (this does not include the holidays)
- Please complete and submit your Senior Guidance Questionnaire online
- Counselors will only write letters of recommendation when your submitted questionnaire is received. Counselors can submit your letters of recommendation and secondary school report only after you have ordered your official transcripts through Parchment.com
Important Due Dates for 2018/2019
Please ask your counselor for letters of recommendation by these dates. You must have submitted a completed Senior Guidance Questionnaire and waived your rights to view the letter. For the colleges on the Common Application, please send your transcript from Parchment to the Common Application.
- September 14: Early Action, Early Decision, Restrictive Early Action
- October 26: Regular Decision Dec 1-Jan 15 Deadline, Rolling Admissions
- December 7: Regular Decision Deadline after Jan 15, Rolling Admissions
NHS Applications & CSF Sign-Ups
The National Honor Society (NHS) recognizes students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character. NHS applications are available online and in the counseling office Sept 4-7. Applications are due September 10th, and the NHS Induction Ceremony will be held on September 25th, 2018 at 7:45AM, LeVecke Center.
Would you like to continue being recognized for your outstanding academics? CSF (California Scholarship Federation) is an honor club that recognizes students for their academic achievements. Sign-Ups will be held October 23-26, during lunch in the Shamrock Plaza. Please check the calendar for the dates by your last name. A CSF Ceremony/Meeting will be held Wednesday, December 7, 2018, at 7:30AM, LeVecke Center. All CSF Members must attend! If a student has been in CSF for four (4) semesters (do not have to be consecutive) and one of the semesters is for grades earned during the first semester of the senior year, they qualify as a Sealbearer. Sealbearers will be recognized in the graduation program, and in the spring, they will be given a gold cord at the Senior Awards Ceremony. This cord will be worn with their gown at the graduation ceremony and they will also receive a gold seal on their diplomas.
Student Athletes: NCAA and NAIA
If you are planning to play sports in college, be sure to inform your counselor and register with the NCAA and/or NAIA. For more information, please see the Student-Athlete page. You will also need to request that your official MD transcript be sent directly to NCAA through Parchment, www.parchment.com and send your official SAT/ACT test scores directly to the NCAA.
Service hours? Difficulties in any classes?
Service Hours are a requirement for graduation here at MD, and your next 10 hours of Christian Service must be completed and submitted through MobileServe by November 26, 2018. Click here for more info on service hours and a list of service opportunities. If you have any questions, please speak to Mrs. Hopkins in Campus Ministry.
If you are struggling in any of your classes, be sure to visit your teachers during Office Hour. Also check out our Academic Supports page on the Counseling website for more recommendations. You can also pick up an Academic Assistance Program (AAP) tutoring schedule in the Counseling Office. The AAP Tutoring Program is free drop-in tutoring with MD teachers before/after school.
Mater Dei High School Counseling Department
Website: https://www.materdei.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=70016&type=d&pREC_ID=237246
Location: Mater Dei High School, 1202 W Edinger Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92707