College & Career Center Newsletter
George Mason High School - March 26, 2021
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REGISTER TO ATTEND!
Secrets to Great College Essays, Wednesday, April 14, 7-7:30 pm
This spring, you can get a jump on your college essays. They’re one of the most important and time-intensive parts of the application process. This free 30-minute virtual webinar will be led by experts at Prompt. Juniors and their families are encouraged to attend. RSVP is required.
The discussion will cover:
What the data tells us about essays and admissions
The 5 traits colleges look for in applicants
8 myths about college essays
Helpful essay timelines
Tips to get started and best practices
Q&A session
College Financial Aid Night, Wednesday, April 21, 7 - 7:45 pm
Learn how to qualify for more grants and scholarships for college! Lower your EFC and qualify for more free money for college at any school your student is considering.
We'll teach you how to:
- Lower your EFC to qualify for more aid.
- Analyze and select the schools that offer the most money!
- Attend an expensive out of state, or private school for the same or less than what you'd pay at your local state school.
- Position your finances better to qualify for more grants and scholarships!
- Give your child the education they deserve, without going broke!
If your child is college-bound, you don't want to miss this workshop! Register in advance to attend.
11th GRADE COLLEGE INFORMATION PROGRAM
SPEAKERS FOR UPCOMING CAREER CHATS
Professionals are needed from all careers to talk with high school students about your post-high school career path, including your interests, education, and work experiences during our 2021 Virtual Career Chats. Available dates are April 16 and 27 and May 7 and 14 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. After you sign up, information will be shared with you about accessing the virtual format.
PLANNING FOR POST-HIGH SCHOOL & CAREERS
Edu-Futuro Emerging Leaders Program (ELP)
"In this first track of the three-part Emerging Leaders Program (ELP), we provide students in grades 9-11 with a toolkit of integrative, interdisciplinary, and transferable skills and strategies to support them in their path towards becoming leaders of their own futures."
There are a variety of programs for students in elementary school through college.
If you are interested in a career in health care, this website has several upcoming live programs for you students to hear from speakers in a wide array of fields - infectious disease, nursing, occupational therapy, sports medicine, and more. There is an extensive video archive of past programs.
STEM Careers Virtual Workshops, offered by NOVA's STEM Outreach Program, NOVA SySTEMic
- Becoming a Tech Savage with Digital Resources - Dr. Aaron Smith - Workplace Readiness Solutions, Wednesday, March 31, 2-3:45 pm
Sessions will utilize the Zoom platform and is geared towards High School and current NOVA Students. Some sessions will be recorded and uploaded to the NOVA SySTEMic YouTube Channel with Subtitles. Please register if you would like to receive this information even if you are unable to attend the session in real time.
EXPLORE COLLEGES & THE APPLICATION PROCESS
BigFuture Days, Virtual College Fairs
BigFuture Days West + Southwest, Tuesday, March 30, 5:00-9:00 PM ET
- BigFuture Days Midwest, Sunday, April 18, 4:00-8:00 PM ET
- BigFuture Days Southeast, Thursday, April 29, 5:00-9:00 PM ET
NACAC College Openings Update: Options for Qualified Students
This is a voluntary listing of NACAC member postsecondary institutions that are still accepting applications from prospective freshman and/or transfer students for the upcoming fall term.
Tips for Writing the College Essay, by the University of Rhode Island admission staff, Wednesday, April 7 at 7:00 p.m. ET
ARTICLE
Chan Shifflett, S. (2021, March 22). 7 Things High School Juniors Can Do Now. Inside Higher Ed.
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 update your email address in PowerSchool, you will need to update your email address in Naviance too. 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 (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 your 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 Princeton Review, FREE virtual workshops
- SAT, ACT or Both? LiveOnline, Tuesday, April 6, 7-8:30 pm
- SAT Liveonline Strategy Session, Thursday, April 8, 7-8:30 pm
The ACT will be offered on several national test dates in 2021.
- Saturday, June 12, 2021 - register by May 7
- Saturday, July 17, 2021 - register by June 18 (No test centers are scheduled for New York in July)
The SAT will be offered on several national test dates in 2021.
- Saturday, May 8 - register by April 8
- Saturday, June 5 - register by May 6
2021-22 SAT Administration Dates (Anticipated)
August 28, 2021
October 2, 2021
November 6, 2021
December 4, 2021
March 12, 2022
May 7, 2022
June 4, 2022
The Princeton Review, SAT Virtual Practice Test, Saturday, April 3, 1-5 pm
This program is hosted by Tysons Pimmit Library.
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.
Demystifying the Financial Aid Appeals Process, on demand recording
"COVID-19 has changed our lives in many ways including financial changes. This webinar provides help for families who’ve experienced economic loss or financial instability. Use this time to learn the options to appeal your school’s financial aid decision due to economic changes in financial standing. Launched April 15, SwiftStudent is a free online resource to support students, their families, and financial aid offices in streamlining the financial aid appeal process.
Join this FREE webinar to learn from experts on
What a financial aid appeal is
Factors that may qualify students to seek an appeal
A tool that can help them request the appeal."
FAFSA Assistance for High School Seniors
"Virginia College Access Network and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) are partnering on a statewide FAFSA completion effort meant to address disproportionate effects of the pandemic on low-income and underrepresented students. Four college access organizations have banded together to offer one-on-one FAFSA assistance from March 15th – June 30th."
March Money Mondays, March 15-29
Understanding Your Financial Aid Package, Wednesday, April 7, 8-9 pm
This program is hosted by the Coalition for College. "Congratulations! You’ve gotten into college and are now weighing your options. Making sure you understand your financial aid package is one of the last steps before saying yes to a school. In this panel discussion, admissions and financial aid officers will explain the vocabulary of financial aid and answer common questions about paying for college."
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
You will find scholarship resources on the College and Career Center Financial Aid and Scholarships website page and within Naviance.
- Commonwealth Circle Scholarship, application is due to Ms. Mural by Tuesday, May 4
- Equity Scholarship, application due Friday, April 9
- 2021 Virginia Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Awards, nominations accepted until April 23
GMHS/FCEF Scholarships, applications due Friday, April 9 at 3 pm
2021 applications are posted in Naviance for the following scholarships:
- The Kathleen Halayko Scholarship, $2,000 awarded to a senior who has been a student of the FCCPS system from Kindergarten through 12th grade graduation
- The Felgar-Da Silva Immigrant Community Citizen Award, $2,500 renewable award presented to one senior who is the child of immigrant parents or an immigrant themselves, and who exemplifies the character traits of resilience, hard work, adaptation, and community involvement.
- J. Roger and Patricia A. Wollenberg Memorial Scholarship, one full year's tuition and fees to a Virginia state college or university
- Maria Elena Nudell Award, $1,000 awarded to a senior. This award extends beyond academics to include athletics, family, community involvement and school spirit.
- The Mary and Warren Pace Future Educators Scholarship, $1,000 awarded to a GMHS senior who is a member of the Future Educators of America club. The applicant must be college-bound in the fall after graduating from GMHS and intend to pursue educational licensing in college.
- The Robert and Nancy Perry Scholarship, $1,000 awarded to a GMHS senior who will attend NOVA in the fall
- Jessie Thackrey Scholarship, $1,000 awarded to a junior or senior who is interested in pursuing a non-traditional career path (includes trade school, apprenticeship, business start-up, community & four-year college).
- The Cay Wiant Creative Summer Program Award, $1,000 awarded to a student in grades 8-12 to be applied to the cost of a creative summer program
- The Woman's Club of Falls Church Scholarship, two scholarships of $2,000 each will be awarded, one to a male and one to a female senior
2021 Donald S. Frady Scholarship for Community Service, application due Friday, April 9
The 2021 application for this scholarship is posted in Naviance.
Purpose: Honoring a civic-minded Falls Church engineer, and Lions Club member, who managed the development of streets and utilities in early years of our little city.
- Recognize and reward outstanding efforts and contributions made by our youth in activities of community service.
- Services may be informal or organized activities, programs and activities, that benefitted individuals, groups of people, in the local and larger community.
- Applicants provided such services voluntarily, in addition to their usual daily obligations, without the expectation of monetary reward.
SUMMER PROGRAMS
Black College Institute at Virginia Tech, applications due April 1
Eligibility:
(1) Must be a rising junior or rising senior in high school
(2) Must have an interest in attending Virginia Tech
(3) Must be highly motivated and academically curious
Hispanic College Institute, applications due April 4
This virtual program, hosted by Virginia Tech, is for rising juniors and seniors.
James Madison University Summer Honors Institute, applications due May 14
PREFACE: The Rensselaer Summer Engineering Design Program 2021, application due April 16
"PREFACE is a summer experience hosted by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for talented high school sophomores and juniors (who will enter the 11th or 12th grade in the fall of 2021) interested in pursuing careers in engineering and technological professions, from groups that have been historically and traditionally underrepresented or underserved in science, engineering, and technological fields."
GAP YEAR
You will find a list of gap year programs on the College and Career Center Gap Year website page.
Go Overseas Gap Year Fairs and Webinars
- Mar 29: Gap Time as Career Exploration
- Mar 31: Gap Year in the Wild: Outdoor Experiences & Adventure Trips
- Apr 5: Gap Year in the Arts
- Apr 8: College Credit & Language Learning During Gap Time
- Apr 12: Gap Year Options in Conservation, Sustainability, & Social Justice
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.