School Counseling Newsletter
January 2020
Scholarships- Seniors Only
* Scholarship listings are updated monthly. Check your email often for new scholarship infomation *
Young Women STEM Essay Contest- due 1/10/2019
The STEM Essay Contest was launched in 2012 with 170 young women from across the Commonwealth submitting essays focused on their vision for pursuing a STEM career. In the first year, the Council raised $10,000 and awarded three scholarships. Now in its ninth year, the Council has awarded nearly $200,000 in scholarships. Last year, the Council received more than 500 essay submissions, and thanks to the generosity of sponsors, awarded $25,000 in scholarships to five Virginia students. Apply here: https://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/advisory-boards/council-on-women/stem-essay-contest/.
2020 THOMAS PETERSON AND ALVIN JENETTIE ROANE FARY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND: LOCAL- due 1/14/2020
Four college scholarships awarded, each in the amount of $6,000/year. Minimum Requirements: Graduating Senior planning to enroll in four-year college; 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA.; combined SAT Critical Reading and Math score of 1160 OR ACT Composite score of 24; Demonstrated Financial Need (FAFSA Student Aid Report required); Reside in eligible county most recent 2 years - Caroline, King and Queen, New Kent, Charles City, King George, Northumberland, Essex, King William, Richmond, Gloucester, Lancaster, Westmoreland, James City, Mathews, York - Stonehouse District only, Middlesex- Bruton District only. Apply at www.faryscholarship.org
VA JCI Senate- due 1/24/2020
Each year, the U.S. Junior Chamber International (JCI) Senate Foundation grants $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors who plan to continue their education at accredited post-secondary colleges, universities or vocational schools. The number of grants awarded annually is at the discretion of the Foundation and must be used for educational expenses in the first year of full-time study. Checks awarded will be made out in the name of the recipient and the educational institution of the recipient’s choice. Must be postmarked by 1/24. Apply here: http://www.usjcisenate.org/index.php/programs/scholarship
REC Community: LOCAL- due 1/27/2020
This scholarship is open to any senior planning to attend college next year. You must submit 2 letters of recommendation, 1 from a teacher and 1 from a church or community leader. Applications must be emailed to the specified address by 1/27. Applications can be found here http://www.myrec.coop/content-documents/Community_Sch_App_High_School_20_000.pdf and in the main office.
Gloria Wille Bell and Carlos R. Bell Trust Scholarship- due 2/1/2020
Must plan to attend University of Michigan and pursue a degree in engineering, math, physics, computer science, or some other science field. Scholarship is valued at $80,000 over four years. This scholarship requires an essay and a completed application.
For information visit the following website: www.bellscholarship.org
Hispanic Scholarship Fund- due 2/15/2020
Are you a student of Hispanic heritage with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA? Scholarships range from $500 to $5,000. Apply at www.hsf.net.
VSGA-VIP Scholarship Foundation- due 2/19/2020
Must be a Virginia resident who plays or has an interest in golf. You do NOT have to plan to play golf on the collegiate level to receive this scholarship. Awards may range from $1,500 to $6,000. Must have three references, a recommendation letter, SAT scores, and a short essay on the chosen topic. A mailed official transcript is required and must be postmarked by 2/19. The rest of the application can be completed at scholarships.VSGA.org
Hanover-Caroline Soil and Water Conservation: LOCAL- due 2/28/2020
Must be in the top 20% of your class, must plan to attend college and major in a field in the areas environment, conservation, & agriculture. Apply online at the following site:
https://www.hanovercounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3874/HCSWCD-scholarship-2020?bidId=
Community Foundation: LOCAL- due 3/1/2020 at 11 PM
Over 40 scholarships totalling over $149,000! For information, visit the following link:
http://www.cfrrr.org/apply-for-grants-and-scholarships/scholarships
New this year: Applications, Official Transcripts, and your Letters of Recommendation will be completed and submitted via the Community Foundation online system!
Sparta Ruritan Club Scholarship Program: LOCAL - due 3/1/2020
A $600 scholarship to a Caroline County High School graduating senior towards books or tuition at a college or technical education institution of their choice. The scholarship will recognize a student who demonstrates community service, displays strong citizenship and civic involvement through leadership or participation in activities that benefit Caroline County.
To qualify: 1. Student must be a graduating senior at Caroline High School or reside and be homeschooled within Caroline County. 2. Student must demonstrate significant leadership and/or participation in community service projects and civic events in Caroline County. 3. Student should have a 2.5 GPA or higher to be competitive. GPA will only be used as a selection factor when top applicants have very similar qualifications.
Conditions of scholarship. The scholarship money is to be used for books or tuition to an accredited college or technical education institution. Payment will be made directly to the institution by the Sparta Ruritan Club. Scholarship money must be used within one year of award.
How to apply: Please complete the application (type or print your answers), scan and email to the Sparta Ruritan Club (spartaruritans@gmail.com) or send by mail to Sparta Ruritan Club, 18522 Beverly Run Rd, Bowling Green, VA, 22427. Essay and community service list forms may be electronically reproduced and attached. Applications can be scanned/emailed OR postmarked by March 1st.
Applications are in main office.
Allen, Allen, Allen, & Allen George E. Allen Scholarship: LOCAL- due 3/2/2020
15 total $2,000 Scholarships Awarded. Eligibility: Senior who has overcome obstacles and shown significant academic promise.
Apply online: www.allenandallen.com/scholarships
Kenneth R. Scott Aviation Scholarship- due 3/6/2020
Planning a career in aviation? Are you accepted to an aviation-related program? Apply for this scholarship worth $3,000. You must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5, unweighted. Applications are in the main office.
P.E.O. Foundation Rita Berkey Memorial Scholarship- LOCAL- due 3/12/2020
Scholarship of $1,000 will be awarded to a female entering a full time course of study at an accredited college, university or career and tech school for the year of the scholarship award. Only graduating seniors from Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George and Caroline counties or the city of Fredericksburg schools are eligible. Selection will be based on: community service, financial need, academic record, extracurricular activities, and character. Apply here.
Willard G. Plentl Sr. Aviation Scholarship- due 3/13/2020
This scholarship is for students who are planning an aviation career in a non-engineering area. Must have an unweighted GPA of at least 3.5. This scholarship is worth $1,000 and is due by March 13th. Applications are in the main office.
The Council of Citizens with Low Vision International Scholarship- due 3/15/2020
Three scholarships in the amount of $3,000 each to full-time college students.
Applications and information may be found at http://cclvi.org
Caroline High School Blood Drive 19-20: LOCAL- due 3/16/2020
Must be a senior and a member of National Honor Society and participate in the CHS Blood Drive. Applications are in the main office.
This is a $1,620 scholarship for a high school senior. Must be a resident of Virginia and have a 3.0 or above. The application requires a brief resume, a recommendation letter from a current teacher or counselor, transcript, and an essay. Applications may be emailed or mailed. Find the application here: https://virginiamayflower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Mayflower-Scholarship-2020.pdf.
Fredericksburg Area Building: Steigleder Scholarship- due 4/15/2020
Must plan to attend the University of Richmond. Apply online at https://www.fabava.com/steigleder-family-scholarship/
Samsung American Legion Scholarship
This is a $1,000 state-level scholarship for a student who has participated in Boys State and/or Girls State Programs. Must be a direct descendant of a US Wartime veteran: WWI, WWII, Korean, Lebanon/Grenada, Panama, Persian Gulf. Apply online at: http://www.legion.org/samsung-scholarship-application
Important Scholarship Information
1. Deadlines may not be as obvious as they seem. Pay particular attention to paper applications. If an application says "postmarked by", this means it must be in the mail by the specified date. If it says "received by", the application needs to arrive at the address by the date (this means mail it out ahead of the due date!). If it does not specify, call/email the contact person or just assume that you need to mail it out ahead of the due date.
2. If an application requires an official transcript, this means a paper copy of your transcript signed and stamped by Ms. Taylor or your counselor.
3. Do your FAFSA before applying to scholarships. Many of them require your EFC or your SAR. Both of these can be found in your FAFSA confirmation email or by logging into your FAFSA account. If you are having trouble finding this, contact Ms. Taylor.
4. Be aware of the possibility of snow days. If you have a question that requires an in-person advising meeting and/or if you need official documents printed, do it ahead of time so that snow days don't prevent you from getting what you need by the time your deadline hits.
5. Pay attention to eligibility requirements. While these can be bent slightly sometimes (ex: your GPA is on the edge of qualification), other times they are very strict and objective (ex: Hispanic students only). Also, keep in mind that your cumulative GPA covers ALL of your high school grades. If you are not sure whether or not you should apply for a specific scholarship, ask Ms. Taylor or Mrs. Huntsinger.
6. Feel free to reuse essays when appropriate. Many of the essay prompts are going to be very similar. It is very possible to save time by reusing essays or tweaking them when needed.
Financial Aid
If you filed any early action applications, FAFSA deadlines are likely coming up very soon. Check your emails regularly for updates, including any requests for FAFSA verification.
What is FAFSA verification?
Verification is a process that some students may be randomly selected for by their colleges. If it is requested, you will not receive your financial aid if you do not complete this step. When you are selected for verification, you must send the college your parents' IRS tax transcript. This is different from a 1040, and can be obtained electronically here: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript. Check back with the college often to ensure they have received all documents needed.
Upcoming Application Deadlines
* Note: This is not a FULL listing of application deadlines; only colleges that are most frequently applied to by CHS students *
January 15th
- George Mason
- James Madison
- Virginia Commonwealth
- Virginia Tech
February 1st
- Christopher Newport
- Longwood
- Mary Washington
- Virginia Military Institute
Senior Events
- Decision Day, TBA (late April/early May): Decision Day (also sometimes referred to as College Signing Day) is an opportunity to celebrate all of you who have committed to a post-grad plan. This includes anyone who has an offer of employment, enlists in the military, or goes to college. In the morning, all of those who qualify will march the halls of the elementary schools in their caps and gowns. After lunch, we will meet back up for shirt decorating, snacks, and a group photo. In order to attend, you must provide documentation of your plans. This can include college acceptance letters, documentation from your military recruiter, and official offer letters of employment. Please plan to submit these to Ms. Taylor this spring. Do not miss out on this special event! More info to come.
- Senior Awards Night, May 6th: Save the date for Senior Awards Night! We will acknowlege scholarships/financial aid as well as military enlistments. In order to acknowlege financial aid and scholarships, you must send a copy of your financial aid award letters (you should receive these within the next few months) to Ms. Taylor and/or Mrs. Huntsinger. We will acknowledge the total amount of financial aid/scholarships you have been offered- this means you need to send award letters from each college you've been accepted to, regardless of if you plan to attend the college. In addition, please send college acceptance letters as you receive them.
Important Information - Class of 2021
Juniors: Do you plan to attend a 4-year college straight out of high school? Are you finished with Algebra II? If so, now is the time to plan to take the SAT and/or ACT. It is highly recommended that you take at least one of these tests during your junior year. This will allow you plenty of time to work on your weaknesses and retest before college application deadlines your senior year.
Do I really need to take the test?
If you plan to go to community college after high school, you do not need an SAT or ACT score. If you think you might go straight into a 4-year college, you will likely need a test score. While some colleges no longer require test scores, many still do and/or will eliminate you from scholarship consideration if you apply without test scores.
How many times should I test?
You can test as many times as you want, however, remember that there are costs associated with these tests. Both the SAT and ACT are around $50 (without the essay section). The colleges you apply to will look at your highest scores for each section.
What is the difference between the SAT and ACT?
The majority of colleges will accept either test. The SAT includes a critical reading/writing and a math section, while the ACT has science, critical reading, English, and math. Both tests include an optional essay portion for an extra fee. The SAT is said to be more analysis-based while the ACT is more about specific content knowledge.
Another major difference is that the ACT is not offered at CHS. However, you can usually find a testing center within a 30 mile radius. If possible, it is recommended that you try both the SAT and ACT.
Do I need to study?
Yes! The SAT and ACT are challenging tests. Try out free SAT practice resources on Khan Academy.
Can I get a fee waiver?
Fee waivers are available for anyone with free/reduced lunch. For both the SAT and ACT, you are allowed two tests with your fee waiver. If you believe you qualify, please see Ms. Taylor or your counselor in advance of the registration deadline. Important note: If you register with a waiver and miss your test date, you will not get an extra test date!
SAT Dates (Spring 2020)
Test date: March 14th
Online registration deadline: February 14th
Late registration deadline: March 3rd
* Note: Registering late involves an extra charge. This charge is waived if you have a fee waiver!
Test date: May 2nd
Online registration deadline: April 3rd
Late registration deadline: April 21st
Test date: June 6th
Online registration deadline: May 8th
Late registration deadline: May 27th
ACT Dates (Spring 2020)
Test date: February 8th
Online registration deadline: January 10th
Late registration deadline: January 17th
* Note: Registering late involves an extra charge. This charge is waived if you have a fee waiver!
Test date: April 4th
Online registration deadline: February 28th
Late registration deadline: March 13th
Test date: June 13th
Online registration deadline: May 8th
Late registration deadline: May 22nd
How do I register?
For the ACT, you can register on your own at act.org. If you need assistance, make an appointment with Ms. Taylor.
For the SAT, register at collegeboard.org. If you took the PSAT, you already have a College Board account. To figure out your account information, please follow the username/password troubleshooting links on the login page. Your account is linked to your CHS email. Make an appointment with Ms. Taylor if you need assistance.
Opportunities for Underclassmen
Questbridge National College Match
Are you a low-income high school senior who has excelled academically, but feels that the nation’s best colleges are financially out of reach? The QuestBridge National College Match can be your pathway to a top college. Through this college and scholarship application process, you can apply for free to the nation’s best colleges and be considered for early admission and a full four-year scholarship from the college. Applications open Summer 2020. Competitive applicants will be/have: An SAT score greater than 1310, top 10% of class, and a family income less than $60,000. More info here: https://www.questbridge.org/high-school-students/national-college-match
College Board Opportunity
Complete steps of the college process to earn entries into random scholarship drawings. More details here: https://opportunity.collegeboard.org/
Summer Programs
Virginia Tech Black College Institute
The Black College Insititute is a 5-day academic Summer Enrichment Program at Virginia Tech's main campus in Blacksburg. This program invites talented, high achieving, and intellectually curious rising high school juniors and seniors from Virginia and other states.
BLACK COLLEGE INSTITUTE WILL OFFER TWO 5-DAY SESSIONS FOR SENIORS AND ONE 3-DAY SESSION FOR JUNIORS DURING THE SUMMER OF 2020.
More information here: https://vt.edu/admissions/black-college-institute.html
Due April 1st
Scholarship Workshop #1
* Please bring your Chromebook!
Wednesday, Jan 15, 2020, 03:00 PM
CHS Library
Scholarship Workshop #2
Wednesday, Jan 29, 2020, 03:00 PM
CHS Library
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