College & Career Center Newsletter
George Mason High School - December 18, 2020
TRANSLATION
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PLANNING FOR POST-HIGH SCHOOL
"Focusing on the Future (FOF) exposes high-ability learners to career opportunities related to the arts, humanities, mathematics, and sciences. The program also informs parents of considerations and guidelines for effective career and academic planning." This program is open to middle and high school students.
Winter 2021 Transition University, February 6-March 26, 2021
"Transition University will offer a 5-session self-paced online series to help parents/guardians navigate the transition process for their school age child and prepare for the adult world.
Life is full of transitions. For families of children with disabilities thinking about the future can bring mixed emotions. Some families are just trying to make it through day-to-day challenges and might not feel they have the energy to think about what happens after high school. Others may want to plan for that transition, but are confused by unfamiliar language, complex steps, and the many agencies that may be involved in adult services.
Join us for this FREE 5-week SELF-PACED online course that focuses on providing parent-friendly transition information to help make transition planning easier. This course is designed for parents/caregivers of elementary, middle or high school students that receive special education services, but is open to everyone. The goal is to share factual information on transition services and to help make the transition from school services to the adult services world less confusing."
EXPLORE COLLEGES & THE APPLICATION PROCESS
This website has a list of 2-year, 4-year, and post-secondary support programs at colleges and universities across the country.
The Princeton Review, FREE virtual workshops
- SAT, ACT, or Both? Monday, January 11, 2021 8:00 PM
- PSAT Scores, Now What? Wednesday, January 13, 2021 5:00 PM
- SAT, ACT and Admissions in the Time of COVID Wednesday, January 20, 2021 5:00 PM
- PSAT Strategy Session Monday, January 25, 2021 8:00 PM
- Dream Colleges Wednesday, January 27, 2021 7:00 PM
- SAT Strategy Session Monday, February 01, 2021 8:00 PM
- College Application Essay Writing Workshop Wednesday, February 03, 2021 5:00 PM
- SAT, ACT and Admissions in the Time of COVID Monday, February 08, 2021 8:00 PM
- SAT, ACT, or Both? Wednesday, February 10, 2021 5:00 PM
- ACT Strategy Session Wednesday, February 17, 2021 7:00 PM
- Dream Colleges Monday, February 22, 2021 8:00 PM
- SAT Strategy Session Wednesday, February 24, 2021 5:00 PM
Holmes, B., & Duda, C. (2020, December 14). Applying to College as Undecided Major: Pros, Cons. U.S. News & World Report.
Kaiser Heath News. (2020, December 4). Fear and Loathing as Colleges Face Another Season of Red Ink. U.S. News & World Report.
Kerr, E. (2020, November 24). Colleges With the Highest Application Fees. U.S News & World Report.
What Can We Do to Prepare for College. (2020, October). Autism Parenting Magazine. Issue 109
NAVIANCE
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
"Navigate the entire college application journey with our mobile app. Move seamlessly from the web to your phone or tablet without missing a beat."
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.
Transcript Requests
STANDARDIZED TESTS
The ACT will be offered on several national test dates in 2021.
- Saturday, February 6, 2021 - register by January 8
- 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/SAT Subject Tests will be offered on several national test dates in 2021.
- Saturday, March 13 (no subject tests) - register by February 12
- Saturday, May 8 - register by April 8
- Saturday, June 5 - register by May 6
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.
Paying for College, Tuesday, January 5, 5 pm
Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) will host a webinar to provide students information on options to pay for classes.
TuitionCents Series: Save for Retirement or Pay for Your Kids’ College?, Thursday, January 21, 2021
ARTICLE
- McGurran, B. (2020, December 14). Best Student Loans Without A Co-Signer 2021. Forbes.
SCHOLARSHIPS
You will find scholarship resources on the College and Career Center Financial Aid and Scholarships website page and within Naviance.
Amazon Future Engineers Scholarship Program - application due February 18, 2021
This scholarship program provides students with a $40,000 scholarship, plus a paid summer internship programming at Amazon.
College Board Opportunity Scholarships
The program is currently open to the class of 2021 and 2022.
Coolidge Scholarship for current juniors
This is a full-ride college scholarship (tuition, room, board and expenses for four years of undergraduate study).
Dream Project Scholarship, application is due February 1, 2021
The Dream Project Scholarship is an annually renewable scholarship awarded to immigrant students demonstrating academic achievement, leadership, community involvement, and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Scholarship, application period closes on January 8, 2021
"The Foot Locker Scholar Athletes program honors student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and strong leadership skills in sports, in their schools, and within their communities."
The Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong Scholarship Programs, applications accepted January 1 to February 15, 2021
The Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Virginia History Essay Contest for College Scholarship, entries must be postmarked by Friday, March 12, 2021
"The Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Virginia announces an essay contest for any Virginia high school senior who will attend any four-year college or university in the Commonwealth of Virginia beginning in the fall of 2021."
Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship, application due January 30, 2021
This scholarship is open to high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior or a current or entering college or graduate school student of any level. You must also be a U.S. citizen or legal resident. You need to complete the application form and include a 140-character message about technology addiction. The top 10 applications will be selected as finalists. The finalists will be asked to write a full length 500- to 1,000-word essay about technology addiction. The winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
TheDream.US National Scholarship Program, application closes February 25, 2021
U.S. Junior Chamber International (JCI) Senate Foundation Scholarship, application due January 22, 2021
SUMMER PROGRAMS
University of Delaware Edge Summer College Program, application is due April 1, 2021
The UD Edge summer college program prepares high school students moving into their junior or senior year for a future as a successful college student.
Inspirit AI Scholars Summer Program, application is due March 1, 2021
FREE MIT Online Science, Technology, and Engineering Community (MOSTEC) program, application is due February 1, 2021
"The six-month MIT Online Science, Technology, and Engineering Community (MOSTEC) program serves rising high school seniors from across the country – many of whom come from underrepresented or underserved communities. Students selected to participate in MOSTEC demonstrate in their applications a strong academic record and interest in science and engineering. The MOSTEC program begins the summer before students' senior year in high school and extends through students' first semester in 12th grade."
Princeton Summer Journalism Program, application is due Monday, February 22, 2021
"The Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP) is one of the only programs of its kind offering a free, innovative residential journalism and college prep institute for high achieving high school juniors from low-income backgrounds."
Virginia Girls State, self-nomination form due Friday, January 15, 2021
MILITARY
ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps)
Application deadlines are coming up to be considered for ROTC scholarships to have funding for the first semester of your freshman year in college.
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
Steamfitters Apprenticeship Program - the application opens on Monday, January 4 at 8 am and closes on Friday, January 15 at 11 am
"What is a Steamfitter?
A Steamfitter is a person who fabricates, installs and services piping systems.
Steamfitters work on different types of piping systems – Residential, Commercial and Industrial.
Residential systems are in your house or apartment. Commercial systems are heating, air conditioning and refrigeration. Industrial systems are the construction of piping systems for electrical power generators, wastewater treatment, solid waste disposal and industrial manufacturing process.
What is the Steamfitter Apprentice Program?
The Apprenticeship program is a five year training program. Apprentices are assigned to a union contractor and work on assigned work sites, generally forty hours per week, depending on the job conditions and the economy."
GAP YEAR
You will find a list of gap year programs on the College and Career Center Gap Year website page.
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.
- Jan 6: New York, NY Virtual Gap Year Fair
- Jan 13: Brookline, MA Virtual Gap Year Fair
- Jan 23: NATIONAL Virtual Gap Year Fair
- Feb 4: Chicago Virtual Gap Year Fair
- Feb 6: NATIONAL Virtual Gap Year Fair
- Feb 9: Fairfax & DC Area Virtual Gap Year Fair
- Feb 18: Pacific Northwest Virtual Gap Year Fair
- Feb 24: Texas Virtual Gap Year Fair
- Feb 27: Colorado Virtual Gap Year Fair
- Mar 3: Maine Virtual Gap Year Fair
- Mar 4: California Virtual Gap Year Fair
- Mar 13: NATIONAL Virtual Gap Year Fair
Why Gap Years Matter More Than Ever! Free webinar, several sessions in January & February 2021
Gap Year Solutions is partnering with libraries to share information about their programs. Registration is required.
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.