College & Career Center Newsletter
George Mason High School - March 5, 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.
PLANNING FOR POST-HIGH SCHOOL & CAREERS
STEM Careers Virtual Workshops, offered by NOVA's STEM Outreach Program, NOVA SySTEMic
- Becoming a Tech Savage with Digital Resources - Dr. Aaron Smith - Workplace Readiness Solutions, Wednesday, March 31, 2-3:45 pm
Learn about Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways at NOVA from college faculty and staff. Sessions will utilize the Zoom platform and is geared towards High School and current NOVA Students. Some sessions will be recorded and uploaded to the NOVA SySTEMic YouTube Channel with Subtitles. Please register if you would like to receive this information even if you are unable to attend the session in real time.
EXPLORE COLLEGES & THE APPLICATION PROCESS
BigFuture Days, Virtual College Fairs
BigFuture Days Northeast, Sunday, March 7, 4:00-8:00 PM ET
BigFuture Days West + Southwest, Tuesday, March 30, 5:00-9:00 PM ET
BigFuture Days Midwest, Sunday, April 18, 4:00-8:00 PM ET
BigFuture Days Southeast, Thursday, April 29, 5:00-9:00 PM ET
NACAC Virtual College Fair, STEM Fair, Sunday, March 7, 1-5 pm EST
Building a Smart College List, Tuesday, March 23 8-9 pm
Sophomore and junior years in high school are a great time to start building your college list. Learn how to build a list of smart college choices – schools that will help you graduate on time and with low or no debt. Featuring admissions professionals from Johns Hopkins University, Lehigh University, Binghamton University, and the University of South Carolina. This program is presented by members of the Coalition for College.
The Princeton Review FREE virtual workshops
- Dream Colleges Monday, March 8, 8:00 PM
- SAT, ACT and Admissions in the Time of COVID Wednesday, March 17, 7:00 PM
- SAT Strategy Session Monday, March 22, 8:00 PM
ARTICLES
- Hebert, N. (2021, February 26). 5 steps to College Accommodations: A guide for students with Learning Differences. ADDitude Magazine.
Kerr, E. (2021, February 23). 10 colleges where graduates have the Least debt. U.S. News & World Report.
Lytle, R., & Moody, J. (2021, March 2). 14 tips for an EFFECTIVE college visit. U.S. News & World Report.
NAVIANCE
Student Access to Naviance
Please review this instruction sheet to learn how to login to Naviance using Clever.
Senior Worksheet & Parent Brag Sheet, due one month before the first college application deadline
The Senior Worksheet is completed in Naviance (About Me > My Surveys > Surveys Not Started). 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 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
They offer practice tests for the PSAT, ACT, and SAT. Anyone who participates will receive a free score analysis that breaks down how you did by section, question type, and content area so you can get a sense for where you might want to do some review prior to the real thing.
Take an SAT/ACT Practice Test with Tysons Pimmit Library
Virtual Test: Zoom login info will be emailed to registrants
- ACT Virtual Practice Test, Saturday, March 6, 1–5pm
The ACT will be offered on several national test dates in 2021.
- Saturday, April 17, 2021 - register by March 12
- Saturday, June 12, 2021 - register by May 7
- Saturday, July 17, 2021 - register by June 18 (No test centers are scheduled for New York in July)
Free, The Princeton Review ACT Practice Test Online
"Don’t procrastinate! Take action NOW to ensure you improve your ACT score. Try a full-length free practice ACT online today. After the practice test, you’ll receive a comprehensive score report detailing your strengths and weaknesses."
The SAT will be offered on several national test dates in 2021.
- Saturday, May 8 - register by April 8
- Saturday, June 5 - register by May 6
2021-22 SAT Administration Dates (Anticipated)
August 28, 2021
October 2, 2021
November 6, 2021
December 4, 2021
March 12, 2022
May 7, 2022
June 4, 2022
FREE, The Princeton Review SAT Practice Test Online
"Don’t procrastinate! Take action NOW to ensure you improve your SAT score. Try a full-length free practice SAT today. After the test, you’ll receive a comprehensive score report detailing your strengths and weaknesses."
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.
The College Funding Coach Speciality Webinar, The Financial Aid Appeals Process: What You Need to Know, Thursday, March 18, 7 pm
ARTICLES
Friedman, Z. (2021, February 23). 50 colleges with no student LOANS, reduced tuition. Forbes.
- McGurran, B. (2021, February 24). Federal vs. private student Loans: 8 Differences. Forbes.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
You will find scholarship resources on the College and Career Center Financial Aid and Scholarships website page and within Naviance.
GMHS/FCEF Scholarships, applications due Friday, April 9 at 3 pm
2021 applications are posted in Naviance for the following scholarships that are stewarded by the Falls Church Education Foundation:
- The Kathleen Halayko Scholarship, $2,000 awarded to a senior who has been a student of the FCCPS system from Kindergarten through 12th grade graduation
- The Mary and Warren Pace Future Educators Scholarship, $1,000 awarded to a GMHS senior who is a member of the Future Educators of America club. The applicant must be college-bound in the fall after graduating from GMHS and intend to pursue educational licensing in college.
- The Robert and Nancy Perry Scholarship, $1,000 awarded to a GMHS senior who will attend NOVA in the fall
- The Woman's Club of Falls Church Scholarship, two scholarships of $2,000 each will be awarded, one to a male and one to a female senior
2021 Donald S. Frady Scholarship for Community Service, application due Friday, April 9
The 2021 application for this scholarships is posted in Naviance.
Purpose: Honoring a civic-minded Falls Church engineer, and Lions Club member, who managed the development of streets and utilities in early years of our little city.
- Recognize and reward outstanding efforts and contributions made by our youth in activities of community service.
- Services may be informal or organized activities, programs and activities, that benefitted individuals, groups of people, in the local and larger community.
- Applicants provided such services voluntarily, in addition to their usual daily obligations, without the expectation of monetary reward.
The Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter (NoVAC) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Higher Education Scholarships, application due Tuesday, March 23
They will be awarding scholarships to ambitious Northern Virginia High School students.
Electronic application: https://forms.gle/AQLPy72MoedbDkZN9
American Association of University Women (AAUW) Educational Equity Scholarship, application due Tuesday, March 23
Find the information and instructions regarding the AAUW Falls Church Area Branch Educational Equity Scholarships for senior women, and the on-line application form and form of recommendation at: https://fallschurcharea-va.aauw.net/scholarship
2021 Virginia Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Awards, nominations accepted until April 23
"The Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Awards annually recognize the significant contributions of Virginia citizens to the life and welfare of the Commonwealth and its people. One award is presented in each of 10 categories." The categories are: senior, adult, young adult, youth, family, corporation, small business, faith-based organization, educational institution, and community organization.
MILITARY
United States Coast Guard (USCG) Virtual Career Q&A, Thursday, March 25, 4-5 pm via Google Meet (Please note that you will not be able to join the Google Meet using your school email)
The Coast Guard is one of our nation’s five military services. Our core values—honor, respect, and devotion to duty, are the guiding principles used to defend and preserve the United States of America. We protect the personal safety and security of our people; the marine transportation system and infrastructure; our natural and economic resources; and the territorial integrity of our nation–from both internal and external threats, natural and man-made. We protect these interests in U.S. ports, inland waterways, along the coasts, and on international waters.
There is no one set career trajectory in the Coast Guard. That’s because we offer a host of diverse and challenging opportunities that span a broad scope of interests, backgrounds, and skillsets - ranging from law enforcement officers all the way to executive chefs.
Members of the Coast Guard receive a comprehensive benefits package. In addition to their salary, members earn free health, dental, and vision insurance; tuition assistance; housing and meals; 30 days of paid vacation; and much more.
If you want to explore some of our many enlisted career opportunities, please follow the provided link. The announcement about this program included the following: "We are also offering a $2,000 bonus for all enlistments."
SUMMER PROGRAMS
Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovation’s Precollege Program
"We’re hosting a series of virtual information sessions so you can learn more about the Engineering Innovation experience.
Space is limited, so register now!"
GAP YEAR
You will find a list of gap year programs on the College and Career Center Gap Year website page.
AmeriCorps NCCC Webinar, Thursday, March 18, 4 pm
Hear about service with AmeriCorps NCCC directly from our alumni! We'll provide a brief presentation about our programs, then host a live Q&A session with a few of our esteemed alums. Get your questions answered and listen to firsthand accounts from those who have served.
From Nov 30, 2020 - March 31, 2021, USA Gap Year Fairs is hosting 40 virtual events to connect students, families, and counselors with the most up to date information about gap year options and summer opportunities in 2021.
- Mar 13: NATIONAL Virtual Gap Year Fair
How to Take a Gap Year: the Ultimate Crash Course: In addition to the 12 regional and national virtual USA Gap Year Fairs, we're thrilled to offer this crash course for all things gap year! For the first time, USA Gap Year Fairs will bring together expert gap year counselors, gap year alumni, and college admissions representatives for this engaging series of panel-style events with live Q&A to tell you everything you need to know about planning the ultimate gap year.
Pre-register once to stay up to date on all things gap year and receive access to these 15 virtual events that will run from 7-8 PM EST:
- Mar 8: How to Choose a Gap Year Program (Session 2)
- Mar 15: How to Win a $10,000 Gap Year Scholarship!
- Mar 22: Gap Year 101: Gapping in the COVID Era
- Mar 24: How to Plan Your Gap Year (Independent vs. Program)
- Mar 29: Gap Time as Career Exploration
- Mar 31: Gap Year in the Wild: Outdoor Experiences & Adventure Trips
- Apr 5: Gap Year in the Arts
- Apr 8: College Credit & Language Learning During Gap Time
- Apr 12: Gap Year Options in Conservation, Sustainability, & Social Justice
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
JOB OPPORTUNITY
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.