College & Career Newsletter
Week of March 5-11, 2023
Welcome Students & Families
Scroll through for important information regarding College/Career
How to reach us?
For general questions and inquiries please email (Please do not use the link at the bottom of this Newsletter to contact us)
Ms Ignaitis: tignaitis@seq.org
All HCA, Study Skills Students and Last names A-L
and/or
Ms Yeager: tyeager@seq.org
All DAA, ELD Students and Last names M-Z
Ms. Ignaitis and Ms. Yeager will not be in the office from March 6-9th.
Important Dates and Deadlines
UPCOMING EVENTS/DUE DATES:
March 16 - Evening Meeting for Juniors Planning on Applying to a Common App/Private College (see Junior Section)
March 22nd- Sequoia SAT School Day (must pre register)
Coalition College Virtual Events
Registration is now open for the Coalition's series of events this spring, including panel discussions on building college lists, decoding financial aid offers, and more. Each brings the expertise of our members together to help students understand the admissions and financial aid process and make smart college choices.
Scoir + Coalition Presents: Road to Senior Year
March 8
Decoding Your Financial Aid Offer
March 28
Ask Us Anything About Admissions
April 4
Scoir+Coalition Presents: Decoding the Admissions Process
April 12
Black College Awareness Fair
Saturday March 18th at College of San Mateo
NACAC Virtual Fairs
NACAC Virtual Fairs provide students and families the opportunity to connect with college representatives, learn about the admissions process, and discover financial aid and scholarship opportunities. These sessions support all students, including seniors who may still be weighing their college options. Click on the links below to register.
Junior Jumpstart - Opportunity to Learn About Different Small Liberal Arts Colleges
March 14, 2023
Q & A Session (Juniors Only)
Alice Kleeman is back and offering another free session for high school juniors! This session will be an open-ended Q&A for students to ask about public and private colleges, testing, extracurriculars, GPAs, financial aid, senior-year course work, rec letters, OR ANYTHING ELSE! The emphasis of this session is to lower students’ stress level in relation to the college-application process. This session is for high school juniors only, not students at other grade levels or parents. Students who plan to attend must pre-register here.
About the Instructor: "I served as the College Advisor at Menlo-Atherton H.S. for 20 years. Since retiring eight years ago, I have kept well informed so I can be useful to students who need extra help (without ever charging money for my help). I offer college-related help as a volunteer at the Boys & Girls Club and elsewhere. I particularly enjoy serving students whose parents did not go to college. All students (at the right grade level) are welcome to attend the library events."
Highly Encouraged MEETING For Juniors Planning on Applying to a Private College and/or the Common Application College That Requires Letters of Recommendation and/or Counselor School Report March 16th @ 7PM on Zoom
This meeting lays out the process early to relieve a little anxiety about what students need to do to apply to a college that requires letters of recommendation or a counselor school report instead of waiting until the beginning of senior year.
This meeting is for students, parents are welcomed – If a student can’t attend, it is OK for parents to come alone.
Private college deadlines are earlier each year so it is important to learn all the mandatory steps every SHS student must complete to successfully submit your applications including documents sent by Sequoia (counselor reports, transcripts and teacher recommendation letters).
This meeting will go over the general process using the Common Application/Coalition and the connection to Naviance. The meeting also includes information regarding; college search tips, letter of recommendations, general understanding of what admission counselors look for in an applicant and timelines.
English Meeting ID: 933 3097 6617 Pass Code: 242415
Spanish Meeting ID: 929 7370 4386
Or
If you do not go to this meeting, it will be your responsibility to read and understand the process at Sequoia on the posted PowerPoint. Similar resources from this meeting will be given out at the Senior Grade Level Meeting in the fall.
Virtual NACAC College Fairs and How to Prepare
Tips for making your college fair experience productive and fun:
1) Representatives from each college will be waiting to meet you! Make sure you are ready to put your best foot forward and interact with reps when visiting college booths! Not sure what to say? Here are some suggestions:
What do students like/dislike most about your school?
What kinds of students are happiest at your school?
What is the average amount of student loan debt for graduates?
If I am awarded a grant or scholarship, can I expect it to remain constant all four years (assuming my financial circumstances don’t change)?
2) Make sure to reference your College Matchmaking™ email to connect with the schools that best align with your interests!
At the time of registration, you selected the attributes that were most important to you in a college. You then should have received an email that best matched specific colleges and universities to your criteria. Reference this email on the day of the fair to connect with your best fits!
Learn more about College Matchmaking™
3) Don't sweat the small stuff!
Everyone is at a different stage in their college search process. Keep an open mind and enjoy yourself. These events are all about helping you connect and learn about lots of colleges in a short amount of time to help you land at your dream school. Have a quick video chat with a rep, drop in on a virtual presentation, send a question through chat - make a connection YOUR way!
Check out this video to find out more about NACAC College Fairs.
Interested in Majoring or a Career in Biology?
Biology is consistently one of the top majors at most colleges in the USA.
Some colleges (specifically our UC and CSU ) want students to investigate the different types of biology before choosing - General Biology, especially if they admit by major.
Take the time to look at the different types of biology majors a college offers (image below is from Cal's interactive Berkeley Academic Guide). You choose an area of interest, and it gives you the different degree programs they offer.
Another way of deciding what to study in college is to look at what careers are associated with each type of degree.
Look up careers for people with biology degrees or any other major in the Occupational Outlook Handbook through federal government's Bureau of Labor Statistics
UPDATED STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES LIST AVAILABLE
Lists are available in the bin outside of the College and Career Center or by clicking on the purple banner above this message. There are more opportunities than we can highlight each week so make sure to check it out.
INTERESTED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT?
San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue - Law Enforcement Exploring Program
The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Programs are designed to give the youth of our community a chance to experience different levels of law enforcement first hand. This program is nationally known as “Exploring” and is part of the co-ed division of Boy Scouts of America.Explorer Post 830 specializes in Search and Rescue training.
Pick up a flier in the College and Career Center for more information.
Interested candidates can contact us via email at
Interested in Cosmetics?
Physicians Medical Forum - Doctors on Board Pipeline
DUE: March 11
GRADE ELIGIBILITY: 9th-12th
African American/Black, Native American, Samoan, Tonga, Fiji, Guam, Filipino, and Hispanic/Latino students who want to become a physician.
Doctors on Board Pipeline Physicians Medical Forum
Carnegie Mellon Computer Science Scholars (10th grade only)
Due: March 15th
Computer Science Scholars (CSS), CSS provides rising high school juniors who have historically been excluded from STEM fields the opportunity to explore computer science with Carnegie Mellon faculty, staff, and researchers who are leaders in the field. Go here to apply and learn more.
GeneLab for High Schools (10th and 11th grade)
Due: March 20th
Questbridge College Prep Scholars (11th grade only)
Due: March 22nd
The College Prep Scholars Program equips high-achieving high school juniors from low-income backgrounds with the knowledge, confidence, and resources to apply to top colleges. Go here to apply and learn more.
Are you interested in healthcare careers including pharmacy?
FREE ONLINE ART CLASSES AT FOOTHILL COLLEGE
These are FREE ONLINE art classes at Foothill College. Enroll NOW, Classes start April 10
Spring 2023 classes include Graphic Design (CRN 40582) and Illustration & Digital Image (CRN 40583)
The classes are:
FREE to all high school students through the dual enrollment program at Foothill College.
Completely asynchronous, students don’t come to campus
Fulfill the Area-F requirement for high school graduation.
Earn 4-units of college credit, transferable to UC/CSU.
SUMMER PROGRAMS: Do you need an official transcript?
If you need a transcript sent to a summer program, request in Naviance.
DIRECTIONS:
“Colleges” tab on the top of the homepage
Scroll down to “manage transcripts”
Click the red button “Plus”
And then click “Other transcripts”
Finally, complete the information needed for the transcript request.
There is a 5 SCHOOL day turn around to send the transcripts, so plan accordingly!
CALLING ALL FEMALE ATHLETES to Volunteer!
Sequoia Club BAWSI (Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative) is looking for female athletes to volunteer as coaches at Hoover Elementary School. We lead sports activity stations on Wednesdays from 2:55 - 4:10pm. Spring sessions start March 22nd. Come enthusiastic about sports and ready to inspire young athletes.
Become an AYSO VIP Buddy
Healthy Cities Tutoring is Recruiting Volunteers
Become a Healthy Cities Tutor and join our community of volunteers to provide one-on-one tutoring and mentoring to a public school student to improve their academic performance, engagement in learning, and self-esteem. Tutoring sessions are held in-person, once a week for 45 minutes to an hour, on school campus or at a public library.
For 25 years Healthy Cities Tutoring has provided tutoring services to thousands of students in need. Following two years of pandemic, students are falling further and further behind in school. We need volunteers more than ever!!!!!
We hope you or someone you know will get involved in this rewarding volunteer experience.
No tutoring experience required, we can provide training. 8th grade and high school students are welcome to tutor with us. Students can receive community service hours, and use the experience for resume building and college applications.
Adult tutors are always welcome!!!
It only takes one hour a week to make a positive impact on a child’s life.
Please check out our website for the volunteer application https://healthycities.site/
Or contact Janelle Gibson, HCT Program Coordinator at 415-793-1064 or Janelle@healthycitiestutoring.org
Interested in Working with Rescue Dogs?
DPS Rescue is searching for new volunteers for our biweekly events in Palo Alto! We welcome volunteers of all experience levels and backgrounds, ages 14+, and offer community service credits/sign-offs if needed. Complete form on their website. Doggie Protective Services
Volunteer Tutoring at Siena Youth Center
10th and 11th Graders - Need Help with the College Process? FUTURE GRADS Can Help!
Complete the interest form below or contact them for more information.
Foundation for a College Education (9th and 10th graders)
FCE is a nonprofit college access organization based out of East Palo Alto. For more than 25 years, FCE has supported low-income, first-gen students to get to and through college. We offer free tutoring, ACT/SAT prep, case management, college tours, and college application support. See flier for more information
NEW UPDATED SCHOLARSHIP AND CONTEST LIST AVAILABLE
While most are for seniors, it is a good practice to see what is available each month
Doodle for Google - CONTEST
DUE: March 7
GRADE ELIGIBILITY: 9-12th
Open to all grades, to create their own Google doodle inspired by the theme of current year's contest. Submit artwork by March deadline. See website for current theme and entry form
Interested in Politics or Government?
Ninth Circuit Civics Contest
DUE: March 13th
GRADE ELIGIBILITY: 9-12th
An essay and video contest for high school students in the western United States and Pacific Islands. 2023 Topic: What amendment would you propose for our
Constitution? Why? How would you get your amendment ratified?
Growing Up Asian in America Art, Essay & Video Contest
Due: March 15th
Grade Eligibility: All Grades
2023 CONTEST THEME: FREE TO BE ME
For this year’s contest, we want to explore what it means to be free to be your true self. This means having a sense of strength and pride in being who you are. Please reflect and share what “Free To Be Me” means to you and how you can create space for yourself and others to feel safe to be themselves.
All backgrounds (including Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and other Asian, Pacific Islander and multiracial ethnicities) are invited to submit entries. Click here to learn more.Horatio Alger Scholarships (Juniors only)
Due: 3/15
Grade Eligibility: 11th grade
For juniors who have exhibited integrity/perseverance, overcoming personal adversity & who aspire to pursue higher ed. Income 55K or lower GPA 2.0 US Citizen
Girls That Code - Online Activities
They “release activities bi-weekly— some online, some offline, of varying levels of difficulty. Each activity features a woman in tech who pioneered innovative technology.” Click here for more information
Volunteer Opportunity with Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is in need of volunteers, 16 years old and older, to help at our construction site in Daly City. If you are curious about Habitat and how you can get involved, we are holding informational sessions to provide a glimpse of our work. In these sessions, you can also expect to hear about the Covid-19 protocols currently in place to ensure the safety of volunteers.
Click Here for more information on how to volunteer
San Mateo-Foster City School District hiring high school students
Super Soccer Starts Looking for Coaches
Super Soccer Stars is a youth sports program currently looking for Part-Time assistants and Lead Coaches in the Bay Area for our Spring and Summer seasons (Paid training available starting immediately).
Current Openings: https://apply.workable.com/super-soccer-stars/j/52A1133161/
Flyer Here or pick up a flier in the College and Career Center
Studio Host for San Carlos Yoga Studio
Must Be 16yrs old
Yoga Health Center in downtown San Carlos at 677 Laurel Street ia a community-based culture and are seeking a studio host that is a customer service pro with great energy to help our studio soar and provide students with a phenomenal experience.
Part time, minimum of 8-hours / wk
Salary: From $17.00 per hour
If interested, can apply by calling or texting 650-209-0703 or sending an email to mila@yogahealthcenter.com
(Flier with more information in College and Career Center)
City of Palo Alto Camp Counselor
Information about the application process and requirements can be found on our website https://www.mitchellparkteenservices.org/staff-opportunity.
LaserMaxx Marshal
Must Be 16 Yrs or Older
LaserMaxx is now auditioning for the Marshal role which includes delivering an entertaining briefing to our patrons. We are looking for people who are 16 or older, have energy and enjoy working with the public.
This is a part-time role and compensation is up to $30/hr.
To apply use this link888 Monkeys Circus Camp has Full & Part Time Positions for CAMP COUNSELORS & COACHES!
Must be 16 Yrs or Older
No Circus experience required for Counselors / Coaches in Training – enthusiasm, energy, and flexibility are.
Training / Professional Development provided.
Gymnasts, Equestrians, Athletes, Thespians, Acrobats strongly encouraged to apply – skills transfer.
Experience working in one or more of the following disciplines is helpful.
Comedy/Clowning • Partner Acro/Pyramids • Tumbling • Tightwire • Stilt Walking • Unicycle • Rolla Bolla • Globe Walking • Juggling • Diabolo • Devil/Flower Stick • Poi • Tissu/Fabric • Trapeze • Rope/Web • Hula Hoop
COME INTO College and Career Center for a flier with FULL DETAILS
TechKnowHow Tech Camps for Kids
Interested in helping kids build LEGO projects or make games this summer? Positions open for assistant instructors (8:30-4 Mon-Fri) or extended care assistants (1-5:30 Mon-Fri) in Burlingame, Palo Alto and San Francisco beginning the week of June 12, at TechKnowHow technology camps for kids. Students aged 15 or older can apply by sending their resume or email noting interest to Sara at s.robertson@techknowhowkids.com. Pay is $17-$20 per hour.
Goetz Bros. Sporting Goods (P/T) Sales Associates
Foley Electric Needs Warehouse Workers
Over the last two decades Foley Electric Inc has hired several of your high school students to help run our warehouse. Several of these men have gone on to become field electricians. I am once again looking to hire one or two of your student's part time after their school day is completed. Our hourly wage is $17 an hour. Work schedule is very flexible. Looking for hardworking mechanically inclined students.
Please contact John Philpott 650-369-2878
Front Office Assistant (P/T)(Bilingual Spanish) Needed
Duties: Filing, Telephones, Giving Appointments etc.
Timings: After School and Weekends
Contact: Walk-in Siva Cherukuri DDS 198 Arch St Redwood City (Across the street from Sequoia HS) or
email: sivasch@hotmail.com
Lifeguard and Swim Instructors at YMCA
Lifeguard and swim instructor positions available at our local YMCA. Min age 15 for lifeguard and 16 for swim instructors. Pay starts at $20/hour. Apply by scanning QR on the flyers or go here: ymcasv.org/jobs and apply to the appropriate YMCA.
Learningtech.org looking for part-time Administrative Aide
Learningtech.org in San Carlos has an opening for a part-time Administrative Aide, 6-8 hours/week. Pay starts at $15/hr. Come by the College and Career Center to get application information.
Mathnasium of Redwood City, a Math-Only Learning Center
Looking for high school students with exceptional math skills through Algebra I and Geometry to join our team! We offer competitively paid part-time jobs at Sequoia Station with flexible scheduling and ongoing training opportunities. Our starting salaries are $15.50 - $19.00, depending on what level of math the instructors can teach.
Complete the 2022-2023 Meal Application
IF YOU WANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR College Applications Fee Waivers from College Board next year, you need to complete this form and qualify.
Working to make up classes?
If you are working on making up classes (D/F grades) for graduation and/or A-G requirements through our online credit recovery program, Edgenuity, please know that the lab with Mr. Calles is now open for the 2022-23 school year.
If you are not sure if you need to make-up classes please contact your assigned counselor.
Edgenuity Teacher: Mr. Calles, jcalles@seq.org
Where: Room 210
When: Mondays and Thursdays, 4pm-6pm
How To Videos for students now on our website!
Feb 19- March 4 2023 (Winter Break)
COLLEGE TIP: What is the Common App? & Look at what Common App schools you have on your Naviance's Colleges I'm Thinking About list
FINANCIAL AID: Work Study Jobs in College
COLLEGE TIP: CSU/UC Average GPA
CAREER: STEM Careers
COLLEGE TIP: SUMMER Opportunities- Now is the Time to Apply
COLLEGE TIP: What's a College Education Worth, FINANCIAL AID: What is Merit Aid, CAREER: Steps to Become a Police Officer
COLLEGE TIP: Research Universities and Terms to Know
January 15-21, 2023 Click Here
College Tip: School Size JUNIORS: Girls or Boys State Info, FINANCIAL AID: How Families Pay for College
First Semester Newsletters: See school website for full list