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Your Path Beyond High School
Happy Holidays!
I hope that this newsletter finds you and your family safe and healthy. This has been an incredibly challenging year for all of us. My thoughts go out particularly to our senior students who have not gotten the year that they deserve. I continue to be impressed with so many of our seniors that are looking toward the future by making plans for life after high school, even in this very strange time that we are all experiencing, the college application and acceptances move forward. Senior students who have applied early action to college, are starting to hear back from their schools and the process of financial aid is in full-swing. If you have received an acceptance letter, please screen shot it and send it to Ms. Campbell via email at scampbell3@bcps.org on as an attachment on Schoology. We look forward to celebrating your successes, even if we can not do it in person.
Make sure that you are connected to the PHHS College Counseling Schoology Group where all things college and career related are posted. Join code is: 9BXF-ZC87-VV3SM
Also, if you would like to be able to view your child's progress in their Naviance account, please email Ms. Campbell for a registration code.
This newsletter is chock full of info so grab a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate, and catch up on the latest college info. I wish you and your family the most wonderful of holiday seasons and I wish us all a brighter, safer, calmer year ahead. See you in 2021!
Seniors: What Should I Be Doing Now?
-Begin searching for scholarships. See below for scholarship resources and make sure that you are checking your Schoology page, both the College Counseling page and the Class of 2021 page for scholarships as they are announced. Begin checking the scholarship page in Naviance and check there regularly for new additions to the scholarship list. Just as with college applications, if you need something from a counselor or teacher for a scholarship application, please make that request at least two weeks in advance of the deadline.
-Complete the FAFSA. This is the place all financial aid starts. Even if you don't think you will qualify for federal student aid, many colleges require the completion of the FAFSA in order to make acceptance decisions, offer scholarships and create your financial aid package. Make sure that you have added any schools that you are applying to in the FAFSA. In order to access any MD money, your FAFSA must be done by March 1st and include at least one MD school in your FAFSA list. http://www.fafsa.gov or download the myStudentAid app (iOS or Android) and fill it out from a mobile device.
-Create an MDCaps account to access State of MD Aid, including the College Promise Scholarship (see below for more information). To those who have completed their FAFSA's, the MD Higher Education Commission (MHEC) will begin sending out notifications to students via email who are eligible to receive the Guaranteed Access Grant for the 21-22 academic year. https://mdcaps.mhec.state.md.us/MDCAPS/login.aspx?c=-8586565387562627690&ReturnUrl=/MDCAPS/int/FinAid/index.aspx
Juniors: What Should I Be Doing Now?
-Perry Hall High School will offer the PSAT for 11th grade students on Tuesday, January 26th, 2021. This is not required. This is an option that allows students to qualify for college scholarships based on their PSAT score.
For high schools, January 26th will be an asynchronous or independent learning day. Mid-terms and final exams will be scheduled to accommodate PSAT Day. If your 11th grader would like to take the PSAT, please complete the PSAT Participation and Transportation Form here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=3cPDSRs_g0GOdLONSDpa_YTdjI0DyNFCrce8m2vadqhUNEdVSEVZTFBJVlBaSFFMMEdVODRCSjJQMC4u by Wednesday, December 16. The form is also available on the BCPS home page under “For students and families” and on the Perry Hall High School Website.
-Beef up your resume! Start the new year by joining a new club or volunteering in the community! Colleges want to see that you are actively engaged in your school and surrounding community (even virtually)!
-Interested in a career in the military? Check out the websites below!
How To Research Colleges Virtually
HOW TO RESEARCH COLLEGES VIRTUALLY
Virtual Tours College Blogs
College Instagram Account College Facebook Account
College Twitter Account Join a class virtually
Virtual College Fairs niche.com
bigfuture.collegeboard.org Online Panels – Students & Faculty
Connect with a professor in your area of interest
Connect with alums from your school:
Scholarships: Also check on Naviance for updated scholarships as well as the College Counseling and Class of 2021 Schoology Groups
-The Jackie Robinson Foundation provides a multi-faceted experience designed to not only address the financial needs of minority students who aspire to attend college but also to guide them through the process of higher education.https://www.jackierobinson.org/apply/ Deadline is 2/1/21
-Morgan State University FUSE Scholarship Now Available!
Award
The award will be up to $6000 a year and will be renewable for years 2-4 if you maintain good academic standing.
Eligibility
The program is eligible for Baltimore area freshmen who pursue degrees in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics at Morgan State. The minimum GPA is 3.2/4.0 and four years of high school math and science. Students must obtain Pell grant eligibility to receive an award. (Must complete your FAFSA and be eligible for a Pell Grant on your Student Aid Report
Deadline for submission is February 15, 2021 - https://www.emailmeform.com/builder/form/053w51j031nKEeDctr7dyZPF
-First Financial Credit Union: $3,000 given to one senior in every BCPS high school. Student must be a member of FFCU. Applications available online at https://www.firstfinancial.org/youth-young-adults/scholarship-program/ Deadline to Ms. Botteon by 2/17/21
-Baltimore County Retired School Personnel Association - http://www.bcrspa.org for application. Deadline is 2/19/21
Junior Family College Night
Join Perry Hall's College Counselor, Stephanie Campbell for a virtual information session on preparing for the college application process. We will discuss the admissions process, college visitation, testing, etc.
This will be a joint virtual session held with Loch Raven High School so it is important for parents and students to attend together if possible using the student's BCPS Google account as there is a participant cap.
Join code is posted on Schoology in the College Counseling Schoology Group and the Class of 2021 Schoology Group.
Wednesday, Feb 10, 2021, 07:00 PM
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Keep in Touch!
Email: scampbell3@bcps.org
Website: http://perryhallhs.bcps.org/
Location: Perry Hall High School, Ebenezer Road, Nottingham, MD, USA
Phone: 443-809-5110
Facebook: facebook.com/perryhallhighschoolcounseling