GHMV College Counseling Newsletter
September 2018
How To: Schedule Student Appointments
As a general rule of thumb, I have an open door policy:
If my door is open, you are welcome to drop in.
If you have a particular topic you'd like to discuss or would like to work together without interruption, I recommend that you schedule an appointment. Students can set an appointment by signing up on the doors outside the College Counseling Office.
Appointments are available before school, after school, and during the school day. Appointments made during the school day should be scheduled prudently - students are responsible for scheduling appointments that do not conflict with assessments or major academic projects.
Fun Facts: Types of Scholarships and How to Find Them
There are many different types of scholarships to look for. Here are some examples of types of scholarships and where to source them:
Academic/Merit-Based: Scholarships offered based on GPA and test-score performance
For example, the President's Endowed Scholarship at Texas A&M or the Volunteer Scholarship at the University of Tennessee
Demographic-Based: Scholarships offered based on gender, socioeconomic status, race or ethnic background, marital status, etc.
For example, the Gates Scholars Program or the WIIT Scholarship
Department Specific: Scholarships offered based on intended major or academic department
For example, the Classics Department scholarship at Washington & Lee
Employer/Employee: Scholarships offered by employers for students who plan to attend college
For example, Verizon Scholarship and CVS Health Scholarship
Essay-Based: Scholarships that require writing a short answer or essay in response to a prompt
For example, the Signet Classics Essay Scholarship or the Ayn Rand Essay Competition
Legacy: Scholarships offered by colleges to students whose parents or grandparents attended that institution
For example, Purdue University's Grand Legacy Scholarship or Ohio University's Legacy Scholarship
Micro-scholarships: Small, stackable scholarships offered for individual achievements, such as making an A or taking the SAT
For example, offerings by raise.me
Student-Specific: Scholarships offered to students based on their lifestyle, background, and interests
For example, the Frederick and Mary F. Beckley Scholarship (for left-handed students) or Cancer Survivors' Fund (for students who have lost a family member to cancer)
Unusual Scholarships: Scholarships offered for unusual interests, qualities, or activities
For example, the Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship or the Stuck At Prom Duct Tape Scholarship Contest
Mrs. Bowman's Top Choices for Scholarship Search Engines:
College Board: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search#
Fastweb: http://www.fastweb.com/
Peterson's Award Database: https://www.petersons.com/college-search/scholarship-search.aspx
Raise.me: raise.me
Parent's Corner: Ask Your Senior About a Naviance Tool - Scattergrams
To access the scattergrams, ask your student to log into their Naviance account.
From the Naviance home page:
Select "Colleges"
Select "Colleges I'm Applying To"
Select the red, blue, and green "Graph" icon adjacent to any college or university on your child's list.
For example, if I select Baylor University from a list of "Colleges I'm Applying To", I would have access to the following data:
The black plus sign represents the average accepted in-network student's GPA and standardized test score. (I would encourage you to toggle between scattergrams on the drop-down menu - you can collect data on unweighted vs. weighted GPA and ACT vs. SAT (1600 scale) vs. SAT (2400 scale). For Baylor University, when you hover over the black plus sign, the average ACT is 29 and unweighted GPA is a 3.64.
You can hover over an individual check mark, dot, or x to evaluate an individual student admission decision. (All identifying information is redacted.)
For example, if I hover over an individual red x, I see that the student in question applied regular decision (RD) with an ACT score of 21 with an unweighted GPA of a 2.16 and was rejected. Alternatively, if I hover over an individual green check, I see that the student in question applied regular decision (RD) with an ACT score of 27 with an unweighted GPA of a 3.47 and was accepted.
Use the legend below the scattergram for information on the 15 possible decision types.
If you would like to convert your current (1600 scale) SAT score to the older (2400 scale) scoring system or convert your ACT score to an SAT equivalent score, please feel free to use this official series of concordance tables: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/higher-ed-brief-sat-concordance.pdf
Upcoming Rep Visits and College Counseling Events
September 2018 College Rep Visits and College Counseling Events:
8/30 - University of the Incarnate Word - 2:30 PM in the Lion's Den (Lyceum)
9/4 - Texas A&M San Antonio - 2:30 PM in the Lion's Den (Lyceum)
9/6 - Southwestern University - 2:30 PM in the Lion's Den (Lyceum)
9/7 - Eckerd College - 2:30 PM in the Lion's Den (Lyceum)
9/10 - Austin College - 2:30 PM in the Lion's Den (Lyceum)
9/12 - Pomona/Carleton/Swarthmore/Bowdoin - evening event at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio - Register here
9/20 - Kalamazoo College - 2:30 PM in the Lion's Den (Lyceum)
9/25 - The NUHWE Tour (Emory University, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Virginia, and Washington University in St. Louis) - evening event at Thomas Edison High School - Register here
9/27 - Tulane University - evening event at the Hilton Garden Inn San Antonio Downtown - Register here
10/25 - University of Connecticut - 12:45 PM in the Lion's Den
Additional visits are being scheduled every day. For the most up-to-date postings, please check Naviance and/or the whiteboard outside the Office of College Counseling.
*Students wishing to attend representative visits during class time must pick up a permission form from Mrs. Bowman. This form requires signature approval from both their instructor and the college counselor. The form must be presented at the beginning of the college visit in order to be counted as an excused absence from class. Students without permission from their instructor and counselor will be sent to Office Manager for a tardy pass and sent back to class.
Local Opportunities
ArtPace Youth Council San Antonio
The ArtPace Youth Council is a nine-month, paid program designed for San Antonio area high school students (15-18 years old) to become advocates for contemporary art and young leaders in their community. Teen Council members work with Artpace staff and artists to develop teen programs, support Artpace events, and create a community-based project at the end of the school year.
Kinetic Kids Volunteering Opportunities
Kinetic Kids offers physically-focused programming (sports and arts) for children living with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Trisomy 21, autism, brain tumors, cancers, and other neurological disorders. Volunteers 16 and older are welcome to volunteer independently; volunteers 14-15 must partner volunteer with a parent or guardian.
San Antonio DoSeum Volunteering Opportunities
The San Antonio DoSeum seeks volunteers 14 or older to volunteer at the DoSeum. The DoSeum serves as an interactive learning laboratory for all young children, from birth to age 10, to discover, learn, explore, and create.
The San Antonio Youth Commission is comprised of 22 high school youth leaders, two members from each City Council District and two Mayoral appointees. Each appointee is selected for a two-year term and is vetted through the City of San Antonio's Board and Commission process. The Youth Commission meets monthly to plan events and programs that give a voice to the concerns of San Antonio's youth. More information here, application linked to title
San Antonio Youth Literacy Program
Volunteers are essential to the success of SAYL’s Reading Buddy program! Reading Buddies must be at least seventeen years old and be able to commit at least one hour per week, for a full school year, approximately 16 sessions. During this time, the volunteer works one-on-one with two students, each for thirty minutes. If Reading Buddies are able to commit to more time each week, they are encouraged to work more than the minimum requirement of one hour.
The first step to becoming a Reading Buddy is to sign up for a one time, two hour training session, and complete the Reading Buddy Application. SAYL staff will match you with a school that corresponds with your availability and area of town. At the training you will be asked to complete a criminal background check. Once the background check has cleared, the SAYL staff will contact you to schedule your first tutoring session.
United States Senate Youth Program
The United States Senate Youth Program is for high school students who demonstrate leadership and an interest in government. Students must be a junior or senior in high school to apply. The annual United States Senate Youth Program authorizes the selection of 104 student delegates, two from each state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Office of Dependents Schools. The delegates are immersed in Washington activities throughout their week-long stay. Their stops include visits to the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, and the Pentagon. Delegates hear major addresses by senators, cabinet members, officials of the Department of State and the Department of Defense, as well as other federal departments. The Hearst Foundations pay all expenses for the week-long Washington stay, including transportation, hotel accommodations, and meals. Each delegate is also awarded a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate studies. Members of all branches of the US military chaperone the students for the week.
Youth Vegetable Garden of San Antonio
The Garden is proud to present one of the nation’s oldest youth gardening programs. Children ages 7-16 get their hands-on horticulture with the help of our partner organizations, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Bexar County Master Gardeners. The Children’s Vegetable Garden Program at the San Antonio Botanical Garden is an opportunity for children to grow their own vegetables and ornamental plants with the help of instructors from the Texas A&M AgriLIFE Extension Service and Bexar County Master Gardeners, as well as other volunteer organizations. Each child is allotted a 3.5’x28’ garden plot. Children will have fun growing different types of seeds, vegetables, and ornamental annual flowers. Children can also earn their Junior Master Gardener certification by participating in fun, hands-on activities each week after they have tended their garden. In order to gain the most from the learning experience and to help ensure successful growing, participants are required to attend all sessions (two absences are allowed). A parent or guardian must stay with their child.
Upcoming Test Dates and Registration Deadlines
September 8: Registration Deadline: October SAT
September 9: Test Date: September ACT
September 22: Registration Deadline: October ACT
October 4: PSAT Pre-Session (overview, schedule, bubbling)
October 5: Registration Deadline: November SAT
October 7: Test Date: October SAT
October 10: GHMVN PSAT9
October 11: GHMVN PSAT/NMSQT
October 28: Test Date: October ACT
November 2: Registration Deadline: December SAT
November 3: Registration Deadline: December ACT
November 4: Test Date: November SAT
December 2: Test Date: December SAT
December 9: Test Date: December ACT
For more information on how to register for standardized tests, please check your Naviance account. The pages labeled "Taking the ACT" and "Taking the SAT" are there for your convenience. For further questions or assistance, please contact your college counselor.
Scholarships with September Due Dates
Please use the scholarships posted below as a jumping off point for your scholarship research. For more scholarships or information on how to begin your scholarship search, see your college counselor.
Sponsor: Andala Initiative
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: now closes in September
Description: Scholars program is open to U.S. high school juniors who are Muslim and who want to be leaders and mentors for the next generation.
Beldon Scholarship
Sponsor: Beldon
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: September 1, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to students seeking a degree in business, communications, marketing, or a related field. Applicant must have at least a 3.5 GPA. Applicant must submit an essay on a given topic related to business.
Junior Poet’s Contest
Sponsor: The Critical Pass Review
Amount: $100
Closing Date: September 1, 2018
Description: Contest is open to students between the ages of 13 and 18. Contestant can group up to three poems to be considered for the contest.
Netfloor USA Access Flooring Scholarship Program
Sponsor: Netfloor USA
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: September 1, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors and current undergraduate and graduate students with at least a 3.0 GPA. Applicant must submit a personal essay and an essay on cable management.
Planet of Baseball: Scholarship
Sponsor: Planet of Baseball
Amount: $500
Closing Date: September 1, 2017
Description: Scholarship is open to U.S. citizens who are either an incoming or current undergraduate student. Applicant must submit an essay on what they love about baseball in high school.
NOTE: No update provided for 2018 program; interested students should email the program directly to inquire about updates for this year before starting the application.
Southwestern Tack Scholarship Program – Horse Event Participant
Sponsor: Southwestern Tack
Amount: $500
Closing Date: September 1, 2017
Description: Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors and current college students who have participated in horse events within the past year.
Used Car to Dream Car Scholarship
Sponsor: Autolist
Amount: $1,500
Closing Date: September 1, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to legal U.S. residents who are at least 18 years old and are graduating high school seniors or current undergraduate and graduate students. Applicant must submit two short essays on a given topic related to automobiles and the Autolist’s core values.
Annual Fruit Shoot Photo Contest
Sponsor: California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc.
Amount: Up to $100
Closing Date: September 5, 2017
Description: Contest is open to anyone. Contestant must submit a photo on the subjects of Mango, Citrus, Fig, Avocado, Banana, or Exotic Hawaiian Fruits.
NOTE: No update provided for 2018 program; interested students should email the program directly to inquire about updates for this year before starting the application.
Gunnar Esiason Own It Scholarship
Sponsor: Boomer Esiason Foundation
Amount: Up to $5,000
Closing Date: September 7, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors and college students at any level who have participated in athletics and have Cystic Fibrosis.
Cameron Impact Scholarship
Sponsor: Bryan Cameron Education Foundation
Amount: Up to $50,000
Closing Date: September 12, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors (Class of 2018) who are planning to enroll in a full-time course of study toward a bachelor’s degree at an accredited four-year U.S. college or university. Applicant must maintain a minimum cumulative unweighted 3.7 GPA.
All For Mailers Student Scholarship
Sponsor: All For Mailers
Amount: $500
Closing Date: September 15, 2017
Description: Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors and current college students. Applicant must submit an essay on one of three given topics related to the mail.
CareerFitter Online Scholarship
Sponsor: CareerFitter
Amount: $500
Closing Date: September 15, 2017
Description: Scholarship is open to incoming freshman and current college students. Applicant must take a free career test and submit an essay on their perfect career.
Catching the Dream Scholarship
Sponsor: Catching the Dream
Amount: Varied
Closing Date: September 15, 2018
Description: Applicant must be 1/4 or more degree American Indian and be an enrolled member of a U.S. tribe. Applicant must be attending or planning on attending a college or university within the U.S. on a full-time basis that is fully accredited.
FormsBirds Scholarship Contest
Sponsor: FormsBirds
Amount: $500
Closing Date: September 15, 2017
Description: Scholarship is open to incoming and current college students worldwide who will be enrolled in 2017 and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Applicant must submit an essay on the importance of their major in today’s society.
NOTE: No update provided for 2018 program; interested students should email the program directly to inquire about updates for this year before starting the application.
FormSwift Scholarship Program
Sponsor: FormSwift
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: September 15, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors and current college students. Applicant must create a business plan infographic for one of the given industries provided.
Sponsor: Jazz Education Network (JEN)
Amount: Up to $3,000
Closing Date: September 15, 2017
Description: Scholarship is open to high school and university students with talent and potential in jazz performance and/or education or industry. Multiple scholarships available with different requirements. Applicants should see website for details.
Out-Of-The-Box Thinking Scholarship
Sponsor: AutoPets
Amount: Up to $1,500
Closing Date: September 15, 2017
Description: Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors and current college students in the United States. Applicant must submit an essay, pitch or summary about a pet innovation idea and how the idea was conceptualized.
NOTE: No update provided for 2018 program; interested students should email the program directly to inquire about updates for this year before starting the application.
Staples For Students Scholarship
Sponsor: Staples
Amount: Up to $50,000
Closing Date: September 16, 2017
Description: Sweepstake is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C. who are 13 years of age and older. During the sweepstakes period, visit a participating Staples location and make a purchase of at least $25 to receive one unique code per purchase. Applicant can also receive an entry without purchase by following directions on website.
We the Future Contest
Sponsor: Constituting America
Amount: Varied based on class standing
Closing Date: September 17, 2018
Description: Contest is open to K-12 students, college students, law school students, graduate schools students, adults 25 years of age and older, and seniors 65 years of age and older. Each age group has different requirements, so applicants should visit website for details.
$1,000 September Scholarship
Sponsor: Niche
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: September 20, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to high school and college students, as well as adults looking to attend college in the next year. Applicant must complete a form to login or register for a free account.
Golden Eagle Coins Scholarship Program
Sponsor: Golden Eagle Coins
Amount: $500
Closing Date: September 20, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to students currently enrolled in high school or college within the United States with at least 3.0 GPA. Applicant must be a citizen of, permanent resident, or hold a valid student visa in the United States or Canada. Applicant must have designed an innovative project that makes a difference in the lives of others and submit an essay describing the goal of the particular project and provide supporting documentation.
Innovation in Education Scholarship
Sponsor: LaTutors
Amount: $500
Closing Date: September 20, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to students currently enrolled in high school or college within the United States with at least 3.0 GPA. Applicant must be a citizen of, permanent resident, or hold a valid student visa in the United States or Canada. Applicant must have designed an innovative project that makes a difference in the lives of others and submit an essay describing the goal of the particular project and provide supporting documentation.
The Tree Center Scholarship Program
Sponsor: The Tree Center
Amount: $500
Closing Date: September 20, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to current high school and college students in the United States with at least a 3.0 GPA. Applicant must have designed an innovative product that makes a difference in the lives of others (this could be a website, series of blogs, an app, fundraising event, etc.) and submit an essay describing the goal of the project.
DDSRank Dental Scholarship
Sponsor: DDSRank
Amount: $500
Closing Date: September 23, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors and current college and graduate students who want to pursue a career as a dentist or dental hygienist.
Average to Extraordinary Scholarship
Sponsor: Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: September 30, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to high school students from Texas. Applicant must share an experience that has changed his or her life, entrepreneurial goals, and their passions.
Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship
Sponsor: Digital Responsibility
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: September 30, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to high school students in grades 9-12 and current college or graduate school students. Applicant must complete a short form and share a 140-character statement explaining why they will not text and drive.
Graeme Clark Scholarship
Sponsor: Cochlear Nucleus
Amount: $2,000 per year for 4 years
Closing Date: September 30, 2018
Description: The Cochlear Graeme Clark Scholarship is a unique award open to Cochlear™ Nucleus® Implant recipients. Applicants must be a citizen of the United States or Canada. Scholarship applicants must have a Cochlear Nucleus Implant. Applicants must be a citizen of the United States or Canada. Available to graduating high school seniors. Also available to undergraduate or graduate students that have applied or will be enrolled in an accredited college, university or technical school. Scholarship applicants must receive a 2.75 GPA or above to apply for the scholarship
Hiking Ambition Wellness Scholarship
Sponsor: Hiking Ambition
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: September 30, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to students currently enrolled in a high school, college, university, or trade school. Applicant must have a passion for a healthy lifestyle or hiking. Applicant must submit an essay on a given topic related to a healthy lifestyle.
Illustrators of the Future Contest
Sponsor: L. Ron Hubbard Library
Amount: $500
Closing Date: September 30, 2018
Description: Contest is open to new and amateur artists who have not been professionally published and paid for more then three black-and-white story illustrations, or more than one process-color painting, in media distributed broadly to the general public.
Internet Marketing Scholarship
Sponsor: Best Reviews Hunt
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: September 30, 2017
Description: Scholarship is open to high school, undergraduate and postgraduate students with the passion of “internet marketing.” Students who are currently studying in the areas of Marketing, Business, Information Technology Computer Science, Programming or Communications may be extremely interested in the scholarship. Applicant must submit an essay on a given topic related to Internet Marketing.
NOTE: No update provided for 2018 program; interested students should email the program directly to inquire about updates for this year before starting the application.
Maid Sailors Scholarship
Sponsor: Maid Sailors
Amount: $500
Closing Date: September 30, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to high school, college, university, and trade school students. Applicant must create a 2-4 minute video explaining why they think education is the key to a brighter future.
Money Metals Exchange Scholarship Program
Sponsor: Money Metals Exchange
Amount: Up to $2,000
Closing Date: September 30, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors and current college and graduate students with an interest in economics, specifically the tradition of the Austrian school. However, students do not need to be an economic major to be eligible. Applicant must submit an essay on a given topic related to the economy.
Montem Health and Wellness Scholarship
Sponsor: Montem
Amount: $1,500
Closing Date: September 30, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to students currently enrolled in a high school, college, university, or trade school. Applicant must have a passion for a healthy lifestyle. Applicant must submit an essay on a given topic related to a healthy lifestyle.
Odenza Marketing Group Scholarship
Sponsor: Odenza Marketing Group
Amount: $500
Closing Date: September 30, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to students between the ages of 16 and 25 who are citizens of the United States and have a GPA of at least 2.5. Applicant must submit an essay on a city of the applicant’s choice and an essay explaining why they believe they should win the scholarship.
OppU Achievers Scholarship
Sponsor: OppLoans
Amount: $2,500
Closing Date: September 30, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to U.S. citizens who are graduating high school seniors or current undergraduate students with at least a 3.0 GPA. Applicant must submit an essay on a given topic related to financial literacy.
Scholarship Trust for Hearing Impaired Students
Sponsor: Traveler's Protective Association
Amount: $100 - $1,000
Closing Date: September 30, 2018
Description: The Travelers Protective Association of America established the TPA Scholarship Trust for the Deaf and Near Deaf to provide financial aid to children and adults who are deaf or have a hearing impairment. This program provides assistance for mechanical devices, medical or specialized treatment or specialized education to those who demonstrate financial need. Grants may be used to purchase hearing aids, assistive listening equipment, or may help with the cost of a cochlear implant. A downloadable application is available online in the “Scholarship Trust” section of the web site.
Scholarship Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Live Poets Society of New Jersey
Amount: Up to $500
Closing Date: September 30, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to all U.S. high school students. Applicant must submit an original poem with 20 lines or less.
PostLocations.com Scholarship
Sponsor: PostLocations.com
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: September 30, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors and college students enrolled in an accredited academic institution. Applicant must submit an essay on the most interesting item they have received in the mail.
Shout It Out Scholarship
Sponsor: Unigo
Amount: $1,500
Closing Date: September 30, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to students 13 years of age or older who are legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia and are currently enrolled (or will enroll no later than the fall of 2023) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education. Applicant will need to submit a short response to a given prompt.
Writer’s Square Essay Contest
Sponsor: Hakka Foundation
Amount: Up to $1,000
Closing Date: September 30, 2018
Description: Scholarship is open to all enrolled students from first grade to college. Applicant must write an essay on what nature’s role is in their life.
Writers of the Future Contest
Sponsor: L. Ron Hubbard Library
Amount: Up to $1,000
Closing Date: September 30, 2018
Description: Contest is open only to those who have not professionally published a novel or short novel, or more than one novelette, or more than three short stories, in any medium.
Sponsor: ZipRecruiter
Amount: $3,000
Closing Date: September 30, 2017
Description: Scholarship is open to legal residents of the United States or the District of Columbia who are at least 18 years of age and who are enrolled as a student at an accredited high school, college, or university in the United States. Applicant must submit an essay on their home or college town.
About Us
Email: lauren.bowman@greatheartsmontevista.org
Website: http://greatheartsmontevista.greatheartsacademies.org/
Location: 319 East Mulberry Avenue, San Antonio, TX, United States
Phone: (210) 888-9485