College & Career Center Newsletter
George Mason High School - June 4, 2021
TRANSLATION
To translate this newsletter, click on View in your Browser and under Accessibility click on translate.
Para traducir este boletín al español, haga clic en "Ver en su navegador" y en Accesibilidad, haga clic en Traducir y luego elija Español.
SUMMER TUTORING PROGRAM SEEKS TUTORS & STUDENTS IN NEED OF TUTORING SERVICES
Welcoming Falls Church is excited to partner with CASA, a non-profit organization serving the immigrant community, to provide virtual tutoring sessions for high school students in Northern Virginia through the program Mi Espacio which provides structured activities, instruction on life skills, and academic support for area high school students. Volunteer student tutors will help students improve competency in all core academic subjects. For more information about becoming a tutor or receiving tutoring services, click HERE or contact Kevin Hurst or Hannah Jordan. Virtual sessions only!
CAREERS
National Youth Hiring Day, June 16, 2021
"Get resume help. Connect with an employer. Find a job. Join Get Schooled and more than a dozen top employers for National Youth Hiring Day on June 16 from 11 am-3 pm PST!"
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 Resources
- 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."
- How to Write an Outstanding Personal Statement (Part 1) Recording Here - Covering: The Purpose of the Personal Statement (i.e., What Colleges Are Looking for)/ Two Fun Ways to Find Your Personal Statement Topic / How (and Why) to Show Your Core Values / Two Successful Personal Statement Examples / Topics to Potentially Avoid / Q&A
- How to Create an Outstanding College Application (Part 2) | Recording Here - Covering: A Sane College Application Timeline / The Importance of Finding and Showing Your Core Values (Again) / The Other Essential Parts of Your College Application / Tips for Creating a Great Activities List / How to Make Use of the Additional Info Section / How (and When) to Address COVID-19 in Your Application / Q&A
Coursera free class - How to Apply to College
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.
National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)
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
University of Rhode Island Workshops for Prospective Students
- Tips for Creating Your College List, Tuesday, June 22 at 4:00 PM
- Tips for Writing the College Essay, Thursday, June 24 at 3:00 PM
- Recorded Webinar - Tips for Writing the College Essay
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.
Moody, J. (2021, May 19). Colleges Requiring a Coronavirus Vaccine for Fall. U.S. News & World Report.
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)
The SAT will be offered on several national test dates in 2021-2022. Registration will open in early July.
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 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.
College Board Opportunity Scholarships, Build Your List deadline is June 30
The College Board Opportunity Scholarships program helps students stay on track with the college planning process while offering them chances for $500 scholarships for each college planning action they complete. When students complete all six steps, they earn a chance at a $40,000 scholarship. Students whose families earn less than $60,000 per year have double the chances to earn scholarships.
2021 STEM for Her Scholarship Program, application due June 30
Accepting applications for the following awards of $5,000 each:
- Louise Peabody Memorial Scholarship – As the first woman partner at a Tyson’s Corner accounting firm, Louise was committed to her community through her work with Women in Technology where she served as Treasurer and Special Interest Group Chair. Louise then served STEM for Her as Treasurer and, more recently she was devoted to building STEM for Her programs and mentoring young women to develop skills and a love for tech and education.
- Dede Haskins Memorial Scholarship – With a 25 year career in technology, Dede was recognized as an influential businesswoman in the D.C. area. She was president of Women in Technology, and also a founding member and board chair of STEM for Her where she focused on bridging the gender gap to create a more diverse and productive workforce.
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.