Senior College & Career Newsletter
Week of December 6-12, 2020
Welcome Students & Families
Scroll through for important information regarding College/Career
How to reach us?
For general questions and inquiries please email us at sequoiaccc@seq.org
Student Appointments:
Ms. Ignaitis, All HCA and Study Skills Students and Last names A-L
Ms. Rocha, All DAA and ELD Students and Last names M-Z
Important Dates and Deadlines
Happening in November:
Tuesdays, 4 pm- Have questions? Need help with college applications? Drop by College Club by clicking here: Join us on zoom!
DUE DATES
December 15- CSU Applications Deadline (see 'CSU Section Below)
March 2 - Priority Deadline for FAFSA
March 2 - Deadline for Cal Grant
Get Help with College Applications and/or Financial Aid Applications
We want to support each and every one of you through this process! Below are three ways to get help:
- College club on Tuesdays 4 pm - Click here to join
- Students can also make Individual Appointments via Calendly with college counselors by clicking on their corresponding counselor’s name above. (if you have a free period, email counselor directly and state the time you have a free period)
- Look at How-To Videos (link and more info below)
Sequoia High School Virtual College Visits
Note: If you are having trouble registering on Naviance email nrocha@seq.org or tignaitis@seq.org for the link
Virtual College Events (Information Sessions)
Mount Saint Mary's 2020 Second Saturday Series
December 12
On the second Saturday of each month this fall, we will address important elements of the college application process. The series will wrap up with an Athenian Applicant Day where students will have the opportunity to meet virtually with an admission counselor for a brief interview if their application file is complete and receive an admission decision on the spot.
December 12 - Athenian Applicant Day: Complete your Common Application and meet virtually with an MSMU Admission Counselor for an interview to receive an admission decision that day. Application fee and letters of recommendation are waived.
RSVP link: https://admissions.msmu.edu/portal/fy-sss
Registration for the Athenian Application Day are now available: https://admissions.msmu.edu/portal/aad.
Other Virtual Events
Mindfulness - Teen Resource Center
All students are welcomed to join Ms. Judy from the Teen Resource Center (TRC) for 15 minutes of Mindfulness on Wednesdays! Practice breathing exercises and guided visualizations!
When: Every Wednesday
Time: 12pm until 12:15pm
Zoom Link: https://seq-org.zoom.us/j/92956681963
TWO AND FOUR YEAR BOUND SENIOR INFORMATION:
General Four-Year College Information
Check your portals and emails often and do not wait to respond.
An example of a “to do” on your CSU/UC portal –. Your reaction should be to go on to your College Board/ACT account and see, if and when, they will be sent. If it was weeks ago, you should call the college and inquire if they have received them or not and what you should do. Remember most CSU/UCs are on break soon.
School Documents are sent INDEPENDENTLY from a student’s application; you do not have to wait until your letters or school reports are sent to submit your application.
Want to Check to See If Sequoia Sent Your Documents?
Go to Naviance, Colleges I’m Applying to, and click on “Application Milestones.” A green check will be present when a document was sent to the college. If there is not a green check, contact the teacher submitting your LOR
REMINDERS
Add All College Applications – To “Colleges I’m Applying To” on Naviance
Please list every school that you applied to on Naviance including CSUs and UCs. We can’t submit documents until you list them on Naviance. Also, make sure you note that you submitted your application as well.
TRANSCRIPTS
IF you see a CANCELED TRANSCRIPT request message on your Naviance account – it is because the Guidance department takes out all unnecessary requests (UC, CSU and Common Application Schools)
UC and CSU – Do not require transcripts for your initial application
Common Application Schools – You do not need to request a transcript because they are automatically sent with your school report, counselor letter, and school profile. Students requested a transcript when they completed the SR/LOR form
Out of State Public/Private (Non Common Application Schools) -Request on Naviance on the Colleges I’m Applying to tab
If you have any questions:
Email either Ms Ignaitis (A-L and HCA) or Ms Rocha (M-Z and DAA)
Watch How to Request a Transcript/What Colleges do you NEED to Request a Transcript at Sequoia
COMMON APPLICATION
College Application Review Appointments
If you need to make an appointment with me to review your Common app, please do so through Calendly as of NOW. Appointments are available Before and After School
Appointments are for students only and not during class time.
If you have a free period, email us to schedule an appointment.
UC INFORMATION
Tip About Financial Aid
We know how stressful waiting for an admission decision can be.
Fortunately, you don’t need to wait to apply for financial aid.
March 2nd is the due date for FAFSA
IF you Need Changes AFTER YOU APPLY (Before Semester Ends)
You can log in to your application to review and, if necessary, change your telephone number, email, mailing address or SAT/ACT scores.
Keep in mind: We cannot guarantee that a campus can go back to review an application after correspondence has been received. Make sure to save a copy of your correspondence just in case.
If there are changes to other sections of your application:
Minor changes to your activities, awards, volunteer work or employment are unlikely to have an impact on your admission decision.
NOTE Each Campus has a different policy
CSU INFORMATION
Get Your Application Checked! - CSU Application Deadline EXTENDED 12/15
Make a 15 minute appointment and let us make sure you have your courses listed correctly. Make appointments on Calendly. If you do not have a class during the school day, email us and we will try our best to help you then.
Ms Ignaitis (A-L and HCA) Ms Rocha (M-Z and DAA)
Next Steps: AFTER YOU SUBMIT APPLICATION
Soon after you apply, you will receive an email from the CSU with directions on how to set up its portal. Every school is a little different so make sure to keep track of your login information. To meet all deadlines, check your email and portals weekly and DO NOT WAIT to complete your “To Do” list.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE INFORMATION
Explore Careers through Community College
California’s community colleges are the largest provider of workforce training in the world with more than 200 programs – crafted in collaboration with business and labor and taught by industry professionals – ranging from craft brewing to engineering to automotive technology. Many of our life-changing programs can be completed in less than a year, and – at just $46 per unit – you can’t beat the price. Click here to learn more about opportunities through Community College.
California Promise Program
For eligible California residents, the California Community Colleges Promise Grant permits enrollment fees to be waived. (Assistance for the purchase of books and supplies must be applied for separately). Many California community colleges offer online California College Promise Grant applications through CCCApply. When you use these financial aid online applications, the data you've entered in CCCApply will be transferred automatically, making your financial aid application much easier and faster.
For information of the Promise Scholar Program at Canada Community College click here. Application opens February 2021!
WUE- Discount Program for Regional Out of State Public Schools
What is WUE? (From the WUE website)
WUE (pronounced “woo-wee”) is the Western Undergraduate Exchange, a program of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Through WUE, students in western states may enroll in more than 150 two-year and four-year college institutions at a reduced tuition level: 150 percent of the institution's regular resident tuition. WICHE member states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Search the WUE Online Database to see which institutions participate and which programs are available at the discounted WUE rate.
For more information, go to the their website http://www.wiche.edu/wue/students
Things to Remember
- WUE colleges individually sets their policies and they are all different
- Watch out for details, certain majors are sometimes excluded (nursing and engineering are often excluded)
- Some are automatically given to students if admitted and some students must meet a given criteria
- A way to get the cost down even lower is called "stacking" - they allow you to get the WUE and other scholarships from their school
FOR EXAMPLE University of Colorado, Colorado Springs located one hour outside of Denver offers the WUE automatically if admitted to all majors except nursing (but they offer an out of state Nursing PEAK scholarship similar to WUE). All can STACK a Presidential Out of State Scholarship (4 areas, Athletics, Leadership, Excellence in Arts and Excellence in Sciences) If a student gets both, the price of college is similar to attending a CSU.
GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program and December Scholarship List Updated
The December Scholarship List is Available on the Sequoia Website Click Here
GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program
Deadline Jan 5th
Honoring the legacy and character of our nation’s 40th President, the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program rewards college-bound students who demonstrate exemplary leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship with financial assistance to pursue higher education.
Each year, the Program selects numerous recipients to receive a $10,000 scholarship renewable for up to an additional three years – up to $40,000 total per recipient. Awards are for undergraduate study and may be used for education-related expenses, including tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, and board. In addition, Scholars are invited to participate in a special awards program and receive ongoing leadership-development support. Click here to learn more
How to Request a Transcript for a Scholarship on Naviance (if needed)
Go to Colleges tab
Go to Apply to College (in black not Colleges I’m Applying to)
Go to Manage Transcripts
Click on the red +
Add the scholarship information
Remember it takes up to 5 school days to process a transcript request!
Girls That Code - Online Activities
They “release activities bi-weekly— some online, some offline, of varying levels of difficulty. Each activity features a woman in tech who pioneered innovative technology.” Click here for more information
Bank of America Student Leaders Program
OVERVIEW: The B of A Student Leader Program is a summer 8-week paid internship with a nonprofit organization selected by the bank. It is designed to help students develop and apply leadership skills through hands-on work experience. Also a week-long all-expense paid student leadership summit in Washington DC to introduce students to civic, social and business leadership.
For more information or to apply: https://about.bankofamerica.com/en-us/what-guides-us/student-leaders.html#fbid=hDht81YmR4p
Volunteer Opportunity with Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is in need of volunteers, 16 years old and older, to help at our construction site in Daly City. If you are curious about Habitat and how you can get involved, we are holding informational sessions to provide a glimpse of our work. In these sessions, you can also expect to hear about the Covid-19 protocols currently in place to ensure the safety of volunteers.
For More Information Click Here
Stanford’s The Young Women’s Leadership Summit January 23-24
Deadline to Register: Dec 12th
The Young Women's Leadership Summit is a FREE annual conference that aims to introduce young women to a variety of business disciplines, and during the 2-day-long conference, attendees will listen to and learn from accomplished women leaders, gain hands-on experience through workshops, and interact with industry professionals, Stanford students, and motivated peers. ALL High School Girls are WELCOMED! For more information
http://www.stanfordwomeninbusiness.com/summitCONTESTS
Crate & Barrel at Stanford Shopping Center
Are you looking to earn some extra money this holiday season? Spend your holidays with great design and a 30% discount.
Crate & Barrel at Stanford Shopping Center is currently building their holiday team. Sales ~ Stockroom ~ Merchandising ~ Customer Service
Flexible hours. Day shifts & Evening shifts. Weekend availability is important.
Please fill out an application online.
https://jobs.crateandbarrel.com/?st=Jobs
Location: Palo Alto
Put my name down as a referral. (John Durkin)
Please fill out the online application. 16 years old with a work permit is the minimum age.
Email Mr. Durkin johnfdurkin@yahoo.com for more details or questions.
How To Videos for students now on our website!
All Newsletters Available Online!
Nov 21-Dec 5th
Virtual College Visits and Events
EVENT: BGCP College Application Workshop - Monday Nov 23rd For all
Financial Aid - Adding More than 10 Colleges to FAFSA (Second Week)
General 4 Year - Words of Advice From University of Chicago and Reminders
Private - College Essay Guy - How is a College Assessing Your Application?
UC - Fee Waivers
CSU - Common Errors on How to List Coursework
Community College - Institutional Scholarships
Student Opportunities - Girls that Code Activities, Stanford’s Young Women’s Leadership Summit
Scholarship -, December List Available
Job Opportunities - Crate N Barrel