May 2019: 12th Grade
MDHS Counseling Newsletter
MD Seniors
Check out our upcoming events and reminders for the month of May! We are so close to the finish line.
5/6: Counseling End of Senior Year Survey Due
5/6 - 5/17: AP Exams, Counseling Office Closed
5/22: Senior Awards Night, 6pm
Please remember to complete and submit the mandatory End of Senior Year Survey by Monday May 6th. This information is used to help us understand where MD students are going and your responses will be kept confidential. More information is below.
Mark your calendars and join us in celebrating the class of 2019 at Senior Awards Night on May 22, 2019 at 6pm!
Senior Student-Athletes
Student-athletes who plan to compete in sports at an NCAA Division I or NCAA Division II college/university as a freshman should request a final transcript to go from Parchment to the NCAA Eligibility Center and a final transcript to go from Parchment to the college/university they will be attending in the Fall (be sure to select the option Hold for Grades).
If they have not already done so they should log into their NCAA Eligibility Center account and request their final amateurism certification (use the link below if you have questions).
Student-athletes who plan to compete in sports at an NAIA college/university as a freshman should request a final transcript to go from Parchment to the NAIA Eligibility Center and a final transcript to go from Parchment to the college/university they will be attending in the Fall (be sure to select the option Hold for Grades).
SCC Spring Financial Aid Workshops
If you have not yet completed your FAFSA or need help with the FAFSA, Santiago Canyon College is offering Spring Financial Aid Workshops. Workshops are open to all, and RSVP instructions are below.
Senior Awards Night: May 22, 2019
Senior Awards Night is a special convocation held to laud the graduating seniors receiving honors, awards, and scholarships from Mater Dei High School, MD alumni and families, universities, and state and national organizations. Seniors will be recognized for their many special gifts and talents, from academic distinction to athletic excellence, for personal character, dedication to service, and more. This year Senior Awards Night will be on May 22, 2019 at 6:00pm in the LeVecke Center. All students and their families and guests are welcome to join the celebration. Recipients of honors and scholarships are expected to attend. For more information on the Senior Award Night and scholarship applications, please visit www.materdei.org/apps/pages/seniorawards.
End of Senior Year Survey
We are asking all Seniors to fill out the END OF SENIOR YEAR SURVEY through Naviance by May 6, 2019. Completion of this survey is MANDATORY for all seniors. Your Cap and Gown will be withheld if you do not complete the Senior Survey and complete it correctly. Your responses will not be seen by the public, so please answer as truthfully as possible. The only thing that will be posted will be the school you are attending (your name will not be used). Only the Administrators and Counselors will see your admissions decisions.
Please fill out the questions VERY CAREFULLY. The information you submit for the scholarships/awards/honors programs may be used for Senior Awards. Be sure to be accurate when listing the names and amounts of the scholarships and awards. This will include all Merit Scholarships and College/University-specific scholarships (Dean’s, Regents, Chancellors, Presidential, etc.)
PARENTS: Please review your student’s information. Only students can fill out the survey. To review your students responses, log on to their Naviance account.
To submit the surveys, please complete the following three steps:
- Log on to Naviance (www.materdei.org/naviance) through the students account.
- Your user name is your Mater Dei Email address and your password should be the word “college”
- Go to the “About Me” tab and click “Class of 2019- Senior Survey” (it is on the left hand side under “Surveys to take”)
Be sure to answer ALL parts of Question #18
- Colleges you applied to
- Type of deadline (Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision)
- Final decision with each school (Accepted, Denied, Waitlisted, Deferred, Spring Admit, Guaranteed Transfer)
- Click the ATTENDING box for the school that you will be attending in the Fall of 2019.
When filling out the Scholarship information, please include ALL Scholarships and Awards received from the colleges and universities, even those you are not attending.
At the end of the survey on Naviance, click “save and return later” or “save and I am finished” to submit the survey. You will NOT receive a confirmation. You have until May 6, 2019 to make changes and corrections.
AP Exams
AP testing begins Monday May 6th and ends Friday May 17th. For morning exams, students are to report to their assigned location by 7:30 AM and for afternoon exams, by 11:30 AM. Students who arrive late will not be admitted to the test.
Due to the exams, the counseling office will be closed during this time. You are welcome to contact your counselor by email.
What if I Earn a D or F in a Class?
Seniors, if you have have any classes that you are concerned about, please reach out to your teachers and counselor.
Refresh for Finals
Please see the following tips for studying/relaxing around finals, written by the University Health Services at Cal (https://uhs.berkeley.edu/refreshforfinals).
Final exams can generate a considerable degree of stress. Many students experience stress and test anxiety as they prepare for final exams. Take time to figure out how to effectively manage your stress so that you can perform well academically.
Stress Management
Stress is your body's mental, emotional and physical response to changes and challenges in (your) daily life. Stress can be positive - such as helping you concentrate and focus - or negative - such as causing anxiety and excessive worrying.
Relaxation Techniques
- 10-Second Breathing: Slow down your breathing to a 10-second cycle (i.e. six breaths per minute). Inhale for 5 seconds, then exhale for 5 seconds. Keep it up for a few minutes.
- 5-Minute Vacation: Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, visualize a relaxing vacation spot and let your imagination transport you there.
- LOL: Think of something funny that happened recently and laugh out loud.
When to Study
- Study difficult or less interesting subjects first. If your problem sets put you to sleep, do them while you're fresh. Save subjects you enjoy most for later.
- Avoid marathon study sessions. When possible, study in shorter sessions as they tend to be more productive. If you do a long session, take a planned break every hour, work on different projects and avoid studying similar subjects back-to-back.
- Be aware of your best time of day. Many students learn best in daylight hours, while others are most productive at night. Observe yourself and schedule study time for your most difficult subjects when you feel the most alert and productive.
- Use waiting time. Have short study tasks ready to do during wait times (e.g. between class, in line, etc.), such as reviewing lecture notes or using 3x5 cards to quiz yourself on equations, formulas or definitions.
Where to Study
- Use a regular study area. When you use the same place to study, your body becomes trained that it's time to study when you're there and you become able to focus and concentrate more quickly.
- Don't get too comfortable. Avoid studying on your bed because this can lead to lower productivity while studying as well as insomnia while trying to sleep at night.
- Set up study groups. A study group doesn't take the place of individual study but it forces you to articulate concepts and can feel more fun and productive.
- Avoid noise distractions. Avoid your phone, the internet, TV and music while studying. While many students insist they study better with music, research actually shows that you benefit from listening to music before studying, not during.
Service Hours/Reflection
As a reminder, to graduate from Mater Dei students must complete 10 hours of volunteer service per semester, and at least half of all hours must be "direct service." For seniors who have been at MD all four years of high school, your requirement is at least 80 total hours of service, 40 hours or more of these must be direct service hours. The deadline in spring for service hours was March 18, 2019. Seniors also must submit a Reflection essay. If you have not submitted your reflection essay, please do so as soon as possible.
Visit the Christian Service Program web page for more information. Be sure you have submitted your hours through our new app, MobileServe. Please check that they have been verified. If you have any questions, talk to Mrs. Hopkins, our Director of Christian Service, in Campus Ministry.
Community College
- Will you be attending a California Community College next semester? Make sure to apply now!
- Create an OpenCCC account: https://www.openccc.net/uPortal/p/AccountCreation.ctf1/max/render.uP
- Check your community college's requirements for assessments and orientation and sign up for these dates
- Don't forget to file FAFSA or the CA Dream Act Application for financial aid and list your community college
College Application To Do's
- May 1 is National College Decision Day, the deadline for seniors to submit their intent to register at their college
- Remember to check your email or college portals periodically for updates on your application status
- If you are committed to attending a college, please order your final official transcript directly to the college through your Parchment account. Please select "hold for grades" so that we may send your transcript when second semester senior grades are available.
- Send your official AP scores to colleges that accept/require them through your Collegeboard account.
- Student Athletes: Check your NCAA account and make sure your documents (transcript, SAT/ACT score) have been received by the Eligibility Center: http://eligibilitycenter.org
You Got Accepted, Now What?
- Attend a College Admit day or campus visit, ask questions
- Calculate and compare the cost of attendance (tuition, housing, etc.)
- Contact financial aid office if needed
- Respond to your acceptance letter
- Make a deposit
- Respond to financial aid letter, if required
- Check for any other required items
- Let your school counselor know! We'd love to congratulate you in person and hear where you're going next.
Here are some articles with information that can help you to navigate your next steps. You are also welcome to ask your counselor for support.
You Got Accepted, Now What? https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/making-a-decision/you-got-accepted-now-what
Calculator for Comparing Financial Aid Package/College Costs: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/financial-aid-awards/compare-aid-calculator
Explanation of Types of Aid: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/financial-aid-awards/your-financial-aid-award-explained
Offer Letter Decoder
http://myfinancialaidletter.org/
How To Calculate The Cost Of College: A Guide To Financial Aid Terms
9 Steps to Take After Acceptance: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/chuck-cohn/the-9-steps-you-should-ta_b_9128546.html
What to Do if You're Wait-Listed: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/making-a-decision/what-to-do-if-youre-wait-listed
How to Handle the Wait-list
https://collegeadmissionsstrategies.com/how-to-handle-the-wait-list/
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