College & Career Center Newsletter
George Mason High School - July 31, 2020
TRANSLATION
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NAVIANCE
Naviance is the informational technology software used to support college and career services at George Mason High School. All students and parents are encouraged to become familiar with the wealth of resources available in Naviance.
Senior Worksheet
Students should complete the Senior Worksheet in Naviance (Naviance > About Me > My Surveys > Surveys Not Started or In Progress). Please save your work in Naviance and email your counselor to notify him or her when you have finished.
Parent Brag Sheet
A parent can complete a brag sheet by accessing it in Naviance. The form is also posted on the College and Career Center website to complete and email to your child’s counselor.
Any student who will need a counselor letter of recommendation for college applications needs to complete the Senior Worksheet and have a parent complete the Parent Brag Sheet. These materials are due one month before the first college application deadline.
EXPLORE COLLEGES
There are many ways you can learn about colleges and the college application process right from home.
Naviance - You can make good use of Naviance to research schools and narrow your college list
College and University Reopening Plans for 2020-2021
Are you curious about how colleges and universities you are interested in are moving forward for the 2020-2021 academic year?
- Virginia Colleges and Universities - The State Council for High Education in Virginia (SCHEV) has plans posted for Virginia institutions of higher education to offer in-person instruction and reopen their campuses. Please note that if an institution changes its plan after certification, it must notify SCHEV; however, you may wish to visit your institution's specific website to see if their plans have changed.
- Nationally - The Chronicle of Higher Education recently posted a list of colleges and their plans for reopening this fall. Please note that the list will not be updated after July 29, 2020.
- The College Crisis Initiative (C2i) at Davidson College - "Born out of the COVID-19 global pandemic, The College Crisis Initiative (C2i) is an initiative of Davidson College to learn how colleges and universities innovate in a crisis mindset."
Coursera free class - How to Apply to College
“Led by expert educators, including Eric J. Furda, Dean of Admissions at the University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Sean Vereen, President of Steppingstone Scholars, Inc., this free course will help students, family members, college counselors and any inquisitive learner to navigate each stage from the start of the college search process through the transition into a college environment.”
Discover Swarthmore Virtual Program - Application due Monday, August 3
"Discover Swarthmore, held in the fall, is our all-expenses-paid overnight program for high-achieving high school seniors. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, this year’s Discover Swarthmore program will be held virtually. The virtual program will allow you to experience college life over the course of the week by interacting with faculty, current students, and staff in our community. Program dates for the virtual Discover Swarthmore program are Sunday, September 27 to Thursday, October 1."
Discovering U: Joint Virtual Information Session, Thursday, August 6, 8 pm ET
“Join Columbia University, the University of Chicago, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Michigan, and Yale University to discover the exceptional opportunities our schools have to offer!”
Johns Hopkins University Open House, August 8-9
Explore Hopkins from wherever you are.
SESSIONS INCLUDE
+Student experience and professor panels
+Research and internship opportunities
+Financial Aid 101
+Holistic Review and our Admissions Process
+Housing and Residential Life
And more!
Mid-Atlantic Association of IB World Schools College Fair, videos from spring 2020
The spring 2020 college fair shifted to be a virtual program. You can find short videos, along with pertinent information, about each school that participated in the virtual program on the Mid-Atlantic Association of IB World Schools College Fair website.
QuestBridge QuestCasts for the National College Match
QuestBridge is a national nonprofit based in Palo Alto, California that connects the nation’s most exceptional, low-income youth with leading colleges and opportunities. You can view many of their past programs and profiles of the QuestBridge College Partners on the QuestBridge YouTube channel.
How to Earn a Full Ride to Top Colleges, Wednesday, August 12, 7 pm ET
Complete Your Best National College Match Application, Wednesday, August 19, 7 pm ET
Three Steps to Securing a Strong Recommendation, Wednesday, August 26, 7 pm ET
QuestBridge Quest for College Sessions, Thursday, August 13, 8 pm ET
"You are invited to attend a virtual college information session and connect with representatives from Colorado College, University of Chicago, University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University, and Yale University. They will provide guidance on making a college list, applying for admission and financial aid, and keeping your search in perspective. They'll also discuss benefits of the QuestBridge application, which allows high-achieving, low-income students to match with highly selective colleges around the country." You need to register in advance.
Virtual College Fairs
Coalition for College August Virtual College Fair, Wednesday, August 26, 2020, 7–10 pm
Coalition for College August Virtual College Fair, Thursday, August 27, 2020, 7–10 pm
Southern Tour (Virtual), Tuesday, August 18, 6:30-8 pm ET
"Students throughout the DMV area are choosing to call universities within the Southeast home. We understand that the choice to go to college can be a stressful one, but we want to provide you with a chance to have any and all of your questions answered! The schools below will be virtually participating in a panel-like discussion and then separating into breakout rooms for further discussions."
Participating schools: University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, Auburn University, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, Louisiana State University, Mississipi State University, University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), University of Missouri, University of South Carolina, Texas A&M University, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
Coalition for College Application
More than 150 colleges and universities accept the Coalition Application for admission. The Coalition Application is accepted by four out of the 15 public four-year colleges and universities in Virginia (Christopher Newport, James Madison, Virginia Tech, and William & Mary).
Common Application
The Common Application is accepted by nearly 900 colleges and universities, including 12 out of the 15 four-year public colleges and universities in Virginia (Christopher Newport, George Mason, Longwood, Norfolk State, Old Dominion, Radford, Mary Washington, University of Virginia, UVA's College at Wise, Virginia Commonwealth, Virginia Tech, and William & Mary).
Rolling Over Your Common Application for Fall 2021
If you opened your Common Application account before August 1, you will need to roll-over your application for Fall 2021 admission. The system will prompt you with what you need to do.
Common Application Matching with Naviance
Once you create your Common Application account, you should go to the My Common App tab and complete at least the Profile and Education tabs, selecting George Mason High School (CEEB code 470795) as your current school. Next, you need to go to the College Search tab and add at least one college. The last step within your Common Application account is to complete the FERPA form. You can then login to your Naviance account and you will be prompted to work through the steps to match your Common Application with Naviance. This video will walk you through the steps.
Common Application Tutorial Videos
There are several First-Year Applicant Tutorial videos on the Common Application YouTube channel that may be helpful to you.
STANDARDIZED TESTS
Care Counts in Crisis: College Admissions Deans Respond to COVID-19, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Make Caring Common Project
"This statement was developed in collaboration with admissions leaders and has been endorsed by leaders at more than 360 institutions across the United States. It describes what college admissions offices value and expect—and don't expect—from students during the pandemic."
Test-Optional and Test Flexible Schools
FairTest, The National Center for Fair and Open Testing, is a resource to review to learn about test-optional and test flexible schools.
ACT experienced problems with their registration system on Monday, July 27. Here is the message about re-opening registration that is posted on the ACT Student Facebook page:
"Thank you for your patience. We’re continuing to work diligently to enhance system performance and deliver a reliable experience in MyACT. If you are looking to register for fall test dates, here’s what you should know."
Registration for SAT/SAT Subject Tests is open.
August 26 is the registration deadline to sit for the test on September 26.
FINANCIAL AID
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will open 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.
Money, “These 75 Colleges Promise to Meet 100% of Students' Financial Need,” November 12, 2019
SCHOLARSHIPS
- College Board Opportunity Scholarship – July 31 is the deadline for the Build Your College List scholarship.
- RaiseMe - Students can earn micro‑scholarships from partner colleges for achievements as early as 9th grade. Each college has a different Follow Deadline, and a college’s Deadline could be as early as August or as late as March during Senior year. If a student does not Follow before the Deadline, the scholarships earned on RaiseMe will not be included in their financial aid package from that college. So, you should take a few minutes and explore RaiseMe to see if any colleges that excite you participate.
GAP YEAR
"Dynamy Internship Year (DIY) is a domestic, long-standing gap-year program created for students ages 17-22 who want to pursue a unique, hands-on learning experience." Registration with the Admission Office is required to attend the Open House.
Dynamy Internship Year Virtual Open House, Wednesday, August 26, 7 pm
Join us for an interactive webinar to discuss NCCC's program options, benefits, and requirements. You need to register to attend.
AmeriCorps NCCC Webinar, Thursday, August 6, 4 pm
Sheri Mural, College & Career Specialist
Email: murals@fccps.org
Website: https://gm.fccps.org/o/gmhs/page/college-career-center--8
Location: 7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043, USA
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.