August 2018: 12th Grade
MDHS Counseling Newsletter
Hello, Seniors!
A warm welcome to your SENIOR YEAR, Class of 2019! Please know that your counselor is here to help you whenever you may need information, advice, or just someone to listen. Stop by any time before school, at lunch, during Office Hour, or after school, should you have a question or concern, of if you just want to say hi! You can also email to schedule an appointment.
Throughout the fall semester, each counselor will be meeting with their students for a one-on-one Senior Counseling Visit to review transcripts, college applications, and essays. Counselors will also be visiting senior English classes for a Two-Session College Classroom Curriculum September 10-11, 12-13 and work closely with senior English teachers to assist students in completing their college applications and essays. Counselors review with students screen-by-screen through the Common Application, UC Application, and CSU Application.
Check our our upcoming events, such as College Night and College Rep Visits at Lunch.
Please make sure that you:
- Complete and submit your Senior Guidance Questionnaire for Letters of Recommendation early (see more info below)
- Take and send your official SAT or ACT scores
- Send your official transcripts if needed through Parchment
- Turn in Service Hours + Reflection (if you are finished with hours)
- Visit colleges and research/organize with Naviance
- Continue in your commitments to clubs/activities, for example NHS & CSF
If you are planning to play sports in college, make sure that you have registered with the NCAA/NAIA Eligiblity Center and sent your transcripts to NCAA/NAIA through Parchment
Wellness @ MD
We have a Wellness Wall right outside of the counseling office that we are working on that you can check out! We will also be adding Wellness Workshops to several counseling events this year including our College Night, Office Hours, and more.
College Night
MD's College Night is Tuesday, October 9th. Mark your calendars! All students and their families are welcome to attend. Workshops begin @ 5PM and the College Fair begins @ 6PM.
Over 100 colleges will be represented! Don't miss this opportunity to explore and get some questions answered.
College Visits
Wednesday, October 10th is a day off for seniors only, and a great day to visit college campuses. Considering signing up for an official tour on the college's website.
Here is a Guide to College Visits by the Collegeboard and a Campus Visit Checklist. You can also bring these Tough Questions to Ask on Your College Visit!
College Rep Visits
Be sure to meet with the visiting College Admission Representatives during lunch in Shamrock Plaza. Click here for a list of colleges and visit dates.
Click here for a list of Questions to ask College Admission Representatives.
SAT & ACT
Official SAT & ACT
Please check the SAT & ACT testing requirements of the specific colleges you are applying to. Some schools require the writing section and some specific majors require subject tests. The December SAT & ACT testing dates are the last dates most colleges will accept scores. If you have not taken a test yet, register for a date ASAP!
- To register for the official SAT with writing and/or SAT Subject Tests: www.collegeboard.org
- To register for the official ACT with writing: www.actstudent.org
Applications/Sending Scores
Please self report your test scores on your applications and send your official scores to the institutions you are applying to. Log in to your SAT account at collegeboard.com and ACT account at act.org to send your official scores.
Mock Exams
Do you want more practice taking the SAT or ACT? Mater Dei High School will be administering full-length mock SAT and ACT exams for $15 each.
- Dates: Saturdays September 15, September 22, October 20, and October 27
- Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
- Location: Mater Dei High school--500 & 600 Wings. Students will be notified of their test location through rosters posted on LeVecke or on the doors of the classrooms located in the 500 & 600 Wings.
- Cost: $15 per exam with discount code MD10
- To Register: Go to https://store.triedandtruetutoring.com/collections/mock-tests. Find the MD logos and select your test (SAT or ACT) and date. You can take one test on one date. For example, you can take a mock SAT exam on one Saturday and ACT on the next, but you cannot take a mock SAT and ACT on the same day
SAT/ACT Comprehensive Classes
This Fall we are offering two prep classes on campus through Tried & True Tutoring. Our 8-week SAT Comprehensive Course starts on September 6th and ACT Comprehensive Class starts in August 29th. Please see more info below and register soon!
- Please see our Fall 2018 Flyer for SAT & ACT Prep Classes @ Mater Dei!
- To register, go to: https://store.triedandtruetutoring.com/collections/southern-california/products/mater-dei-hs-fall-2018
- The Comprehensive SAT class will be September 6th - November 1st. Every Thursday, 3:15-5:15pm OR 6-8pm.
- The Comprehensive ACT class will be August 29 - October 24. Every Wednesday, 6-8pm.
Transcripts: Parchment.com
Order your official transcripts through Parchment, www.parchment.com to be sent directly to the Common Application for Common App Colleges, or to the college directly if requested. Please remember that you do NOT send transcripts to the UCs or Cal States.
If you have completed enrichment courses outside of MDHS, request an official transcript from that school/program be sent to the private colleges you apply to, and any other school that asks for a transcript as part of its application. For UC/Cal States, request the transcript for your enrichment class at the end of the year, when you request your final MDHS transcript to be sent.
Letters of Recommendation
- Please ask your counselor at least 3 weeks in advance of your first application due date (this does not include the holidays)
- Please complete and submit your Senior Guidance Questionnaire online
- Counselors will only write letters of recommendation when your submitted questionnaire is received. Counselors can submit your letters of recommendation and secondary school report only after you have ordered your official transcripts through Parchment.com
Important Due Dates for 2018/2019
Please ask your counselor for letters of recommendation by these dates. You must have submitted a completed Senior Guidance Questionnaire and waived your rights to view the letter. For the colleges on the Common Application, please send your transcript from Parchment to the Common Application.
- September 14: Early Action, Early Decision, Restrictive Early Action
- October 26: Regular Decision Dec 1-Jan 15 Deadline, Rolling Admissions
- December 7: Regular Decision Deadline after Jan 15, Rolling Admissions
NHS Applications & CSF Sign-Ups
The National Honor Society (NHS) recognizes students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character. NHS applications are due in the guidance office by 3pm on September 7th, and the NHS Induction Ceremony will be held on September 25th, 2018 at 7:45AM, LeVecke Center.
Would you like to continue being recognized for your outstanding academics? CSF (California Scholarship Federation) is an honor club that recognizes students for their academic achievements. Sign-Ups will be held October 23-26, during lunch in the Shamrock Plaza. Please check the calendar for the dates by your last name. A CSF Ceremony/Meeting will be held Wednesday, December 7, 2018, at 7:30AM, LeVecke Center. All CSF Members must attend! If a student has been in CSF for four (4) semesters (do not have to be consecutive) and one of the semesters is for grades earned during the first semester of the senior year, they qualify as a Sealbearer. Sealbearers will be recognized in the graduation program, and in the spring, they will be given a gold cord at the Senior Awards Ceremony. This cord will be worn with their gown at the graduation ceremony and they will also receive a gold seal on their diplomas.
Student Athletes: NCAA and NAIA
If you are planning to play sports in college, be sure to inform your counselor and register with the NCAA and/or NAIA. For more information, please see the Student-Athlete page. You will also need to request that your official MD transcript be sent directly to NCAA through Parchment, www.parchment.com and send your official SAT/ACT test scores directly to the NCAA.
Mater Dei High School Counseling Department
Website: https://www.materdei.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=70016&type=d&pREC_ID=237246
Location: Mater Dei High School, 1202 W Edinger Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92707