College & Career Center Newsletter
George Mason High School - September 18, 2020
TRANSLATION
To translate this newsletter, click on View in your Browser and under Accessibility click on translate.
Para traducir este boletín al español, haga clic en "Ver en su navegador" y en Accesibilidad, haga clic en Traducir y luego elija Español.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND SIGN UP
Virtual College Visits, Monday, September 21 - Friday, September 25
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, September 21
University of Miami, 9:15 am
Marist College, 11 am
Texas A & M University-College Station, 12:30 pm
Syracuse University, 2:45 pm
Tuesday, September 22
- Richard Bland College of William and Mary, 10:45 am
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 11:30 am
- Hampden-Sydney College, 12:15 pm
Wednesday, September 23
Tulane University, 11:30 am
- Loyola Marymount University, 12:15 pm
Thursday, September 24
Sweet Briar College, 10 am
- Moravian College, 10:45 am
- Hamilton College, 11:30 am
- Pace University-New York, 12:15 pm
Friday, September 25
- University of Richmond, 11 am
- Randolph-Macon College, 11:45 am
- Eckerd College, 12:30 pm
- St. Bonaventure University, 1:15 pm
- University of Vermont, 2 pm
- Haverford College, 2:45 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 the counselor write the school recommendation.
COLLEGE FAIRS
Association of International Regional Representatives-North America (AIRR-NA)
Sponsored IB Mid-Atlantic College Fair, Saturday, September 26, 10:30 am – 12 pm ET
CollegeVine, Student Panel College Fair, September 21-26, various times
"Unlike a traditional college fair where you'd meet with admissions officers from each college, our Student Panel College Fair allows you to hear directly from current students that attend the colleges you're interested in. You'll have the opportunity to ask questions and hear unfiltered perspectives from actual students." Choose from Q&As with current college students representing over 100 universities. You need to register for sessions in advance. If you can't make a session, register anyway and they will send you an email message with a link to the recording.
European Universities Consortium (EUC) Virtual Fair, September 19 and October 3
HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) College Fair, Saturday, September 19, 1 pm
Latino College Expo, National College Resources Foundation, Friday, September 25, 4-7 pm ET
"The Virtual Latino College Expo is an ONLINE Experience for students to get access to colleges, highlighting Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and other educational programs. It also is a celebration of “Hispanic Heritage Month”."
Study and Go Abroad Virtual Education Fair, Thursday, September 24, 2-8 pm ET
"Meet virtually with universities from Canada and around the world from the comfort of your home. Chat live with representatives from universities and professional schools during the fair. Learn about undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, diplomas, and certificate programs at home and abroad. Ask about admission requirements, and available scholarships. Taking a gap year? Visit the student travel booths to find out more about gap year options, including work abroad."
EXPLORE COLLEGES & THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Big Ten Academic Alliance Virtual Event, Sunday, September 27, 3 pm
"We are excited to invite you to join us for one of our upcoming student programs where you can dive in and learn more about who is in the Big Ten Academic Alliance and what it is all about!" Learn about Purdue University, Indiana University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, Northwestern University, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, University of Maryland, Pennsylvania State University, University of Iowa, University of Minnesota, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Coalition for College, Coalition Group College Access Information Programs
"Please join Coalition schools Colby College, Northeastern University, the University of Michigan, Vanderbilt University, and Washington University in St. Louis for a virtual presentation to learn more about navigating the college search, application, and financial aid processes this fall." You need to sign up in advance.
Tuesday, September 22, 5-6:30 pm EDT
Wednesday, September 23, 5-6:30 pm EDT
Coast to Coast College Tour, South Atlantic, Sunday, September 26, 3 pm EDT
"Welcome to Coast to Coast, a joint travel partnership among Dartmouth College, Northwestern University, Princeton University, University of California-Berkeley, and Vanderbilt University. Because each of our institutions practices holistic admissions within a highly selective environment, we have partnered to offer insight into the seemingly complex admissions process."
CTCL (Colleges that Change Lives) Virtual Days, September 27-30
"During Virtual Days, each CTCL-member school will host a session so you can learn more about them. In addition, we will offer featured presentations that will cover a variety of aspects of the admissions process." Featured Presentations:
Sunday, 9/27 – CTCL and the Liberal Arts
Sunday, 9/27 – Test Optional – What Does it Really Mean?
Sunday, 9/27 – You Don’t Have a School of Business?
Monday, 9/28 – Starting a College Search in a Virtual World
Monday, 9/28 – CTCL and the Liberal Arts
Monday, 9/28 – Entrepreneurship in the Liberal Arts
Tuesday, 9/29 – Acing the Interview
Davidson College, Access Davidson, application due Monday, September 28
"Access Davidson is a selective virtual college visit program designed for high school seniors from traditionally underrepresented groups (including those who identify as low-income, first-generation, rural, and those from underrepresented racial or ethnic backgrounds). "
Davidson College, Davidson Admission Intensive
"Join the Davidson admission team for a workshop series designed to prepare you for your college search and application process. Sessions are for rising high school juniors and seniors, with session options for parents and mentors in the evening."
September 21, Visiting Colleges Virtually & Demonstrating Interest
September 23 and October 21, How to Talk About Yourself: Interview Prep
September 28, College Application & Financial Aid Basics
September 30, It's Fine - Navigating the College Admission Process
Discovering U: Access and Financial Aid, Thursday, September 24, 7 pm CDT
"Join Columbia University, the University of Chicago, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Michigan, and Yale University for a conversation about access and financial aid."
Discovering UVM (University of Vermont), application due by September 30
"Discovering UVM is a program geared toward prospective students who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education in the United States. While designed to be an on-campus program offering travel grants to campus for participants, out of an abundance of caution related to COVID-19, we are offering a new virtual version of Discovering UVM from October 12th to October 14th, 2020. Participants will learn about the college application process, hear about the academic experience and student life, and have opportunities to engage with current students, staff, and faculty."
Exploring Educational Excellence, Wednesday, September 23, 5 pm ET
"Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Rice University and the University of Chicago have traveled together for many years to speak to students and their families about college admissions." Programs to learn about these schools are virtual this fall.
First Things First: Parent Panel, Wednesday, September 23, 7-8 pm CDT
"Join us for a conversation with the parents of UChicago first-generation college students to learn about the impact a college education can have on families."
Macalester College Workshop Wednesdays
"What’s the difference between a liberal arts college and a state university? How can my family afford college? How can I really nail my college essay? When you dive into your college search, the questions start piling up. So it’s time to find the answers in our Workshop Wednesdays series, back this fall after a successful summer run. We’ll cover the topics that rise to the top when you’re thinking about college."
WHAT IS A LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE?, Wednesday September 23, 6-7:15 pm CT
MAC ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID DEEP DIVE, Wednesday September 30, 6-7:15 pm CT
Past recordings are also available for on-demand viewing.
- What is a Liberal Arts College? July 8
- Finding Your Sense of Belonging, July 15
- Being the First: Navigating the College Process as a First Generation Scholar, July 21
- Decoding the College Search Process (U.S. Students), July 22
- Writing a College Essay, July 29
- Being Your Best Advocate, August 5
- Navigating Financial Aid, August 12
- Application Tips and Pointers, August 19
- Filling Out the Common Application, August 26
Northern Virginia Community College, Pathway to the Baccalaureate Program, application 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.
"Enjoy receiving live advice on country specifics, admissions process, university degrees and student life from the comfort of your laptop or phone."
UChicago Personal Statement Session, Tuesday, September 29, 7-8 CDT
"The personal statement is a common requirement of applications to many US colleges and universities. During this session we will review some basic do’s and don’ts, share some insight into how personal statement essays can add an important perspective to your application, and explain how they are considered in a holistic review process."
Virginia Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Counselors (VACRAO)
ARTICLES & PUBLICATIONS:
- The Best Colleges in America, Ranked. (2020, September 14). U.S. News and World Report 2021 College Rankings.
Moody, J. (2020, September 14). How to Apply to College for Free. U.S. News and World Report.
- Murtagh, A. (2020, September 14). Ways Families Can Prepare for Mental Health Issues in College. U.S. News and World Report.
- Powell, F., & Kerr, E. (2020, September 14). See the Average College Tuition in 2020-2021. U.S. News and 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
Registration to sit for the SAT/SAT Subject Tests on the national test dates is open.
Score Release Dates:
If you took the ACT on August 29, your scores will be available on September 21. Scores from the test on September 29 will be available on October 9. For the October 3 test administration date, scores will be available on October 16.
FINANCIAL AID
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will open 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.
Coalition for College, Panel: Making College Affordable, Wednesday, September 30, 8-9 pm ET
"Save the date for this panel discussion and Q&A, featuring Coalition for College schools sharing advice about how to make college affordable."
ARTICLE
Bruecker, E. (2020, September 17). Appealing Your Financial Aid Package.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Ursinus College Speciality Scholarships, application for admission due January 1
All applicants for admission are considered for scholarships. While there are several specialty scholarships, the Abele scholarship jumped out because it applies to residents of Virginia.
- "Abele Scholars are high-achieving students who reside in PA, DE, NJ, NY, MD, VA, Washington D.C. or HI and have demonstrated financial need. They receive $10,000/year and additional financial and programmatic support during their four years at Ursinus, as well as assistance paying off federal loans after graduation."
GAP YEAR
You will find a list of gap year programs on the College and Career Center Gap Year website page.
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.