Junior Newsletter
Fall 2016: Crosby Scholars is here to help!
Junior year...you're almost there
This may still only be the beginning of your junior year, but now is the time to really buckle down and start preparing for what's ahead in order to make the next two years as smooth as possible before you begin college. Don't forget, though, Crosby Scholars is here to help!
Crosby Scholars exists with you in mind. Your junior year is the beginning of some big decisions. Because a lot is going to happen this year, you'll find that deadlines are approaching soon for Junior Crosby Scholars activities and this is so that you can stay focused and on schedule.
Have you attended your Junior Academy yet? If not, only two dates are left! Register through your Crosby portal for the date you plan to attend.
Remember, all Crosby Scholars must complete at least ONE academy per academic year. Sessions for the Junior Academy are SAT/ACT Prep and Financial Literacy - both very relevant topics for your junior year.
REMAINING ACADEMIES:
Friday, October 7, 2016 (this is a teacher workday for ISS and fall break for Pine Lake Prep)
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Check-in at 9:30 a.m
Location: Unity Center, 1145 Salisbury Rd., Statesville, NC
Saturday, November 5, 2016
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Check-in at 9:30 a.m.
Location: Mitchell Community College (Mooresville Campus), 219 N. Academy St., Mooresville, NC
2016-2017 COMMUNITY SERVICE DEADLINE FOR JUNIORS IS
January 31, 2017!
Why such an early deadline for community service, you may ask? Well, a lot is going to happen during the spring semester! By getting your community service hours done earlier in the year, you'll have time to focus on the things happening during the spring semester (like testing).
You only have to do 2 hours of community service. Get your form submitted before the deadline and breathe a sigh of relief.
You have several ways you can submit your community service form:
Snail mail or drop off in-person to the Crosby Scholars office:
124 Fourth Crescent Place, Statesville, NC 28625
- Fax: 704-873-4891
- Email: info@crosbyscholarsiredell.org
- Turn it in at an academy
- Upload it in your portal under My Documents
what counts as community service
You're a high school junior now, and with that title comes the responsibility of selecting more meaningful community service projects. What you do for the next two years is going to be evaluated by college admission representatives. Take the time to research for opportunities that will allow you to explore possible careers, develop leadership skills, and make lasting, professional connections.
If you had to write an admission essay at this very minute and the topic was "Describe the lasting impact you have made on a community service activity and discuss the impact it has had on you", could you provide a response that would "WOW" them and make you stand out against the other applicants to that particular college?
Just because Crosby Scholars requires you to do only two hours doesn't mean that you should stop only at two hours. We want you to always strive for more! Don't just settle for doing the bare minimum. You need to always seek to go above and beyond.
Prepare for Testing
The SAT
Effective March 5, 2016, the redesigned SAT was rolled out for the first time. Your graduating class (2018) will be the first to have no overlap with the old test. The SAT is one of two college entrance exams (with the other being the ACT) widely accepted at most colleges and universities. Here are a few things that the redesigned SAT features:
-A maximum of a three-part test as opposed to four,
-An optional essay. Even though the essay is optional, test prep experts strongly recommend that you complete the essay portion because there may be some colleges that require it. If you don't take it, but later learn you need it, you'll have to retake the entire SAT again and cannot elect just to take the essay portion.
-Scoring only for right answers as opposed to receiving deductions for incorrectly filled bubbles,
-50 minutes to write the essay as opposed to 25, and
-A much more narrowed focus on skills and knowledge, so as to test what students should know instead of a wide array of topics that may not necessarily apply.
A free online source for SAT Prep is found here:
https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/sat
Payment information for the SAT is available when you register for the test. To qualify for a fee waiver, see your Guidance Counselor. Qualifying students can receive up to 2 SAT and ACT fee waivers. You may send your scores to four colleges of your choice.
SAT Registration:
The ACT
The ACT is the other widely accepted national college entrance exam. It is said that the ACT is accepted at every college and university in the United States of America. Every junior in the public school system in the state of North Carolina is required to take the ACT in March, at no cost to the student. The ACT tests students in the subject areas of: English, Mathematics, Science, and Reading. Some key features regarding the ACT are:
-Scores are based on the correct number of answers, with no penalty for incorrect responses,
-Helps students to gauge their level of preparedness for both college and career pathways,
-In addition to English, Mathematics, and Reading, the ACT also measures what students have learned in school as it relates to Science,
-Offers an optional essay. Even though the essay is optional, test prep experts strongly recommend that you complete the essay portion because there may be some colleges that require it. If you don't take it, but later learn you need it, you'll have to retake the entire ACT again and cannot elect just to take the essay portion.
-Aside from being a national college entrance exam, the ACT also offers a profile and planning section for education and career planning to help with planning life after high school.
Again, every junior will take the ACT in March for free. Take the time to study for it and take it seriously because colleges may see this score. Furthermore, without a fee waiver, each additional time that the test is taken will cost $56.50, including the writing component. As with the SAT, please check with your Guidance Counselor if you have questions.
Free ACT preparation can be found here:
Attend a College Fair or Tour 4 Colleges/Universities
During the junior or senior year of Crosby Scholars, you are required to go to a college fair or tour four colleges/universities.
There is a required form that needs to be submitted to document your participation.
If you choose to attend a College Fair, we ask that you meet with 4 college representatives and ask each rep to sign your form verifying your conversation.
If you choose to visit colleges, we ask that you visit 4 college campuses. Upon attending the admission session, ask the admissions representative to sign your form verifying your attendance. After attending the fourth school and collecting all signatures, you must submit this form immediately to the Crosby Scholars office.
College Fair/College Tour forms can be submitted in the same ways you can submit your community service forms.
Crosby Scholars will offer college visit trips during spring break. By attending one of these trips, your college fair/college tour requirement will be fulfilled.
(A signed letter from each school on college letterhead detailing the date of your admissions visit will also suffice or a selfie with your Admissions Counselor will also be accepted.)
junior grade advisor meetings
As a Crosby Scholar, you have the opportunity to attend Grade Advisor Meetings. These sessions are held at your school once a month during the second semester. Grade Advisor Meetings aim to provide insight into the college process. You will discuss important topics such as:
-how to become a competitive college applicant,
-how to select the best school for you,
-filling out the college application,
-writing essays,
-letters of recommendation,
-test-taking tips,
-campus visits, and so much more!
Grade Advisor Meetings are not mandatory, however, they are an excellent opportunity to gain information regarding the college admissions process. Please attend as many of these sessions as your schedule will allow. You will receive an email notification once the meeting dates are added!
Junior Officers
Get to you know your Junior Officer! Junior Crosby Scholars Vice Presidents act as a primary student point-of-contact at your high school. Not sure what's going on with Crosby Scholars? Ask your officer!
CCTL
Crossroads
Crossroads (VPAC)
Lake Norman
Moores-ville
North Iredell
States-ville
South Iredell
West Iredell
The Iredell County Crosby Scholars Community Partnership
Email: info@crosbyscholarsiredell.org
Website: www.crosbyscholarsiredell.org
Location: 124 4th Crescent Place, Statesville, NC, United States
Phone: 704-873-5005
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crosbyscholarsiredell/
Twitter: @iredellcrosby