College & Career Center Newsletter
George Mason High School - February 26, 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
High School Girls Only STEM Night and Astronaut Convocation, Thursday, March 4, 5-8 pm
United States Naval Academy (USNA) STEM Center is hosting a High School Girls Only STEM Night and Astronaut Convocation (VIRTUAL) on Thursday, March 4, 2021 from 5 to 8 PM. HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS (GRADES 9-12) are invited to participate in a live, virtual, hands-on workshop followed by a livestream of the Astronaut Convocation. Expand your education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, and meet women faculty & college students working with exciting technologies in a wide range of science and engineering careers.
STEM Careers Virtual Workshops, offered by NOVA's STEM Outreach Program, NOVA SySTEMic
- The Career Engineer: Interviewing Workshop, Wednesday, March 3, 6-7:30 pm
- 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
BigFuture Days Midwest, Sunday, April 18, 4:00-8:00 PM ET
BigFuture Days Southeast, Thursday, April 29, 5:00-9:00 PM ET
Culinary Institute of America Virtual Open House: New York Campus for High School Seniors, Wednesday, March 3, 4-5 pm
This event is perfect for any high school senior with a passion for food and hospitality who wants to learn more about our college! In this interactive Open House, you'll learn more about our New York Campus—academic programs, application process, campus life, and scholarships. Associate Dean for Campus Life, Dr. JJ Manley, will introduce you to college life with a culinary twist. Plus, you'll get a sneak peek of the hands-on learning every CIA student receives with a live culinary demonstration by a CIA graduate.
NACAC Virtual College Fair, Sunday, February 28, 1-7 pm EST
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
Real Talk: HBCU Edition, Wednesday, March 3 and Thursday, March 4, 7 pm ET
Real Talk is a series that connects Black students, parents and educators with admissions officers across the country. We'll cover topics such as financial aid, scholarships, academic offerings, career paths, student organizations, Greek life, housing, and more! All ages and academic achievement levels are welcome.
The following HBCUs will be featured during this two-night event:
- Alabama A&M University
- Claflin University
- Dillard University
- Florida A&M University
- Hampton University
- Howard University
- Jackson State University
- Kentucky State University
- Lincoln University
- Morehouse College
- Morgan State University
- North Carolina A&T University
- North Carolina Central University
- Shaw University
- Southern University
- Spelman College
- Texas Southern University
- Tuskegee University
- Xavier University
ARTICLE
- Friedman, Z. (2021, February 23). 50 colleges with no student LOANS, reduced tuition. Forbes.
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.
ARTICLE
- 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.
2021 Donald S. Frady Scholarship for Community Service, application due 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.
Hope Scholarship, application due Sunday, February 28
The Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter (NoVAC) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Higher Education Scholarships, application due Friday, March 12
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.
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. The first session is Saturday, Feb. 27 at 12 p.m. EDT. Can’t make it Feb. 27? Register for another virtual session:
Space is limited, so register now!"
University of Vermont Summer Academy
Our 4-week academically rigorous, and fully online Summer Academy courses are designed exclusively for students who have completed 10th, 11th, or 12th grade and are tailored to provide an in-depth exploration of a specific field of study in subjects ranging from journalism and photography to health and medicine.
What's more, all summer Pre-College programs at UVM (including our courses below) are offered to out-of-state students at 50% off academic year tuition rates. Summer Academy courses include:
- Adventures in Neuroscience
- Biomedical Science and Human Disease
- Drones for Environmental Mapping
- Facing Environmental Futures
- Health and Medicine
- Storytelling with Photographs
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.
- 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
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
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.