College & Career Center Newsletter
George Mason High School - August 7, 2020
TRANSLATION
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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. You can attend virtual information sessions, take virtual campus tours, and participate in online chat sessions with current students. You should visit the admission office website for each college that interests you to find out about specific opportunities.
Coalition for College Virtual College Fairs
Additional fairs are scheduled for September, October, and November.
Virtual College Fair August Session 1, Wednesday, August 26, 2020, 7–10 pm
Virtual College Fair August Session 2, Thursday, August 27, 2020, 7–10 pm
Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL) Virtual Days, Saturday, August 15-Tuesday, August 18
Four days of presentations and information sessions with 42 Colleges That Change Lives. In addition to the featured presentations listed below, there are individual college information sessions. Registration is required for each program.
CTCL and the Liberal Arts – Saturday, August 15, 10 am ET
CTCL and the Liberal Arts, en Español – Saturday, August 15, 2 pm ET
Digital Recruitment and the New Landscape of the College Search Process – Sat., Aug.15, 9 pm ET
The College Athletic Recruiting Process – Sunday, August 16, 11 am ET
CTCL and the Liberal Arts – Sunday, August 16, 5 pm ET
Writing your Personal Statement –Sunday, August 16, 7 pm ET
Engaging and Communicating with a College Admission Office – Monday, Aug. 17, 1 pm ET
Navigating the College Visit – Tuesday, August 18, 3 pm ET
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.”
Exploring College Options, Sunday, August 30, 5 pm ET
"Exploring College Options is a special informational program sponsored by the undergraduate admissions offices of five of the country's leading universities: Duke University, Georgetown University, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
This fall we are pleased to invite you and your family to join us for a 90-minute webinar to help you explore your college options and prepare a strong and reflective application in this time of change and new challenges. During the program, admission officers from our five universities will introduce their institutions, discuss the college application process, answer general questions, and provide individual school breakout sessions. You need to register ahead of time to attend." Additional programs are scheduled for September and October.
Johns Hopkins University, College Search Process and Essay Preparation Workshops
You need to register ahead of time to attend.
Supplemental Essay, Wednesday, August 12, 1-2:30 pm
Personal Statement, Wednesday, August 12, 3-4:30 pm
Breaking Down the College Search, Wednesday, August 19, 1-2:30 pm
Supplemental Essay, Wednesday, August 19, 6-7:30 pm
Supplemental Essay, Wednesday, August 26, 3-4:30 pm
Northern Virginia Community College Pathway to the Baccalaureate Virtual Parent Session
You need to register ahead of time to attend.
Session in Spanish, Wednesday, August 12, 6:30-7:30 pm
Session in English, Thursday, August 13, 6:30-7:30 pm
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.
Southern Tour (Virtual), Tuesday, August 18, 6:30-8 pm ET
Wellesley College Common Application Webinar
"Join our requisite Common App expert—Associate Director of Admission, Anna Young—as she tackles some all too common questions about the Common Application. From how to request a letter of recommendation, to tips on completing the Wellesley-specific application questions, we’ll make sure you’re ready when it comes time to hit submit." In addition to the live program below, there are recorded webinars on the Wellesley admission office website.
A Guide to the Common Application, Tuesday, August 11, 12 noon-1 pm
COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
- Open an application account using your personal email (not your FCCPS email)
- Complete the data sections (name, address, GMHS CEEB code is 470795, activities, etc.) with the content that won't change once your senior year begins
- Begin to write essays and supplemental statements
- Put application deadlines on your calendar to stay organized
Is there a separate application form with a different deadline for a scholarship or honors program?
If the school offers admission interviews, when is the deadline to sign up for or request one?
- Ask your teachers and counselor for letters of recommendation, if appropriate
ApplyTexas
Common Black College Application
University of California
Common Application
Common Application Roll Over & Email Confirmation
If you created a Common Application before August 1, when you log in to your account you will be prompted to roll over your application for Fall 2021 admission. Once you work through the steps, you will receive a confirmation email like the one below to indicate you were successful.
Common Application Matching with Naviance
Once you create or roll over 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. You will need to complete the FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) form. You can then login to your Naviance account and you will be prompted 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.
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.
RaiseMe Financial Aid 101: Webinar Recap
"On July 29, RaiseMe co-hosted a webinar featuring Shannon McCullough, an Assistant Director of Admission at Carnegie Mellon University. McCullough was also joined by representatives from Franklin and Marshall College, Harvey Mudd College, University of Chicago, University of Pittsburgh, New York University, and Washington University in St. Louis."
Topics covered in this webinar included
- How to kickstart the financial aid process
- Using Net Price Calculators to estimate your family’s contribution for college
- The FAFSA, CSS, and your parents’ tax information
- What goes into the cost of college?
- Types of financial aid (merit aid, grants, loans, scholarships, micro-scholarships, work study, payment plans)
- Questions to ask a financial aid counselor
- Overview of RaiseMe micro-scholarships and commonly asked questions
- Introductions to the participating colleges and universities
SCHOLARSHIPS
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
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.