College & Career Center Newsletter
George Mason High School - May 28, 2021
TRANSLATION
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CAREERS
Resume Help from Get Schooled
"Free resume review! Need help with your resume? Get Schooled will review your resume and provide actionable feedback." There are also resume resources in Naviance.
EXPLORE COLLEGES & THE APPLICATION PROCESS
College Essay Guy, 2021 Matchlighters Scholarship, application due July 15
"The Matchlighters Scholarship provides two hours of college list development and four hours of one-on-one essay help from experienced counselors — at no cost. It’s awarded to high-achieving, low-income students who have solid grades, but just need a little extra help navigating the college application process."
Coursera free class - How to Apply to College
First Generation Virtual Bootcamp, register by 5 pm on Friday, June 4
The College Access Collaborative (CAC), in cooperation with Cage Free Voices, LLC, is offering a First Generation Virtual Bootcamp for rising 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students to begin to decipher the college jargon, expectations and "hidden curriculum" that sometimes challenge and frustrate students who are first in their families to go to college. Join us for three fast-paced, one-hour virtual sessions that will introduce first generation students to the keys to college success. The bootcamp sessions are as follows:
- Session 1: Fire Producing First Steps, Tuesday, June 8, 11:00 am
- Session 2: Rising from the Ashes, Wednesday, June 9: 11:00 am
- Session 3: Beautiful Wings of Glory: Allow Me to Re-Introduce Myself, Thursday, June 10: 11:00 am
First Generation Virtual Bootcamp participants who attend two of the three sessions will receive a Virginia Tech swag item and a fee waiver to apply for admission to Virginia Tech. Students who attend all three sessions will receive an additional Virginia Tech swag item.
Landmark College Virtual Open House, Friday, June 11, 1-5 pm ET
Join us for an afternoon of online presentations with faculty, staff, and students to learn why we are the college for students who learn differently.
The Princeton Review
- SAT Strategy Session Tuesday, June 8, 7 pm
- Finding Your Dream Colleges Tuesday, June 15, 7 pm
- SAT, ACT, or Both? Tuesday, June 22, 7 pm
- ACT Strategy Session Tuesday, June 29, 7 pm
Free College Essay Bootcamps with Prompt - several upcoming programs in June
How the virtual Bootcamps work - We focus on the most challenging parts of college essay writing—content and structure. One of Prompt's Writing Coaches will spend the first portion of the session sharing practical advice to help students develop their best essays. Then, students will work on their essays, supported by a team of Prompt Writing Coaches.
Sister Colleges Virtual Information Session, Saturday, June 5, 10 am
Sister Colleges Virtual Information Session, Tuesday, June 8, 8 pm
The deans and directors of admission at the Sister Colleges (Barnard, Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, Smith and Wellesley) look forward to connecting with you! Please note that registrants for this event will automatically be added to the mailing lists of the colleges featured in the program.
Texas Tech Application Workshops, June 21-August 6
Cooper, P. (2021, May 24). How Do You Make College Pay? Consider Risk. Forbes.
Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. (2020, November 19). Buyer Beware: First-Year Earnings and Debt for 37,000 College Majors at 4,400 Institutions.
NAVIANCE
Student Access to Naviance
Please review this instruction sheet to learn how to login to Naviance using Clever.
Parent Access to Naviance
All GMHS parents have access to Naviance. If you need assistance accessing your Naviance account, please reach out to Ms. Mural.
Senior Worksheet & Parent Brag Sheet, due one month before the first college application deadline
The Senior Worksheet is completed in Naviance (under the Important To-Dos and Tasks heading). 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 your school counselor write the school recommendation.
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.
STANDARDIZED TESTS
The ACT will be offered on several national test dates in 2021 and 2022.
- Saturday, July 17, 2021 - register by June 18 (No test centers are scheduled for New York in July)
- Saturday, September 11, 2021 - register by August 6
- Saturday, October 23, 2021 - register by September 17
- Saturday, December 11, 2021 - register by November 5
- Saturday, February 12, 2022 - register by January 7
- Saturday, April 2, 2022 - register by February 25
- Saturday, June 11, 2022 - register by May 6
- Saturday, July 16, 2022 - register by June 17 (No test centers are scheduled for New York in July)
2021-22 SAT Administration Dates (Anticipated)
Saturday, August 28, 2021
Saturday, October 2, 2021
Saturday, November 6, 2021
Saturday, December 4, 2021
Saturday, March 12, 2022
Saturday, May 7, 2022
Saturday, June 4, 2022
FINANCIAL AID
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opened 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.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
You will find scholarship resources on the College and Career Center Financial Aid and Scholarships website page and within Naviance.
Coalition for College Exploration Scholarships (for current 9th and 10th graders), due June 1
9th & 10th graders: use MyCoalition tools for a chance to win a $500 scholarship toward the cost of your college exploration and preparation activities – from campus visits, to summer programs, to tutoring.
Coalition for College Path to College Scholarship (for current 11th graders), complete the required steps by July 30
Class of 2022: Get a head start on your college application this summer for a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship.
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
Location: 121 Mustang Alley, Falls Church
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.