January Counseling Newsletter
MDHS 2021
1. ✭ Upcoming events ✭
2. ✭ Important information by grade level ✭
3. ✭ Mental health resources ✭
1. Upcoming Counseling Events:
- Jan. 22 - Growth Mindset Workshop, 11:05 in the Counseling Center.
- Jan. 26 - Testing Day
- Juniors: PSAT on campus (For juniors only; no need to register)
- Sophomores: PACT remotely (For sophomores only; no need to register)
- Seniors: Day to visit campuses in person or virtually, and/or attend the SCC Financial Aid Night
- Freshmen: Day to rest and focus on self-care
- Also Jan. 26 - Santiago Canyon College (SCC)
Financial Aid Presentation:
All MDHS students and parents are welcome to join our Zoom Financial Aid Presentation with Santiago Canyon College on January 26th @ 6pm-7pm. Information is helpful and relevant, no matter where you plan on attending college! RSVP here.
- Feb. 1 - NHS applications due. Qualifying students will receive an email invitation to apply. Here’s the application and membership fee link.
- FAFSA college financial aid due March 2nd.
2. Important info by Grade Level:
╱╲╱╲╱ SENIORS ╲╱╲╱╲╱╲
College applications
Click here to see the full senior checklist!
Some Cal State Universities are still accepting applications for Fall 2021! Check to see which schools are still open here.
There are 116 Community Colleges in California; why not consider what they have to offer during this unusual year of change and uncertainty? Applications are easy, credits are affordable, and many community colleges have transfer agreement programs, meaning transferring into a UC or university is more likely than ever.
Virtual College Fairs
Financial Aid
Step-by-step walkthrough of what is FAFSA, how to apply, and what it does.
Jan. 26 - Santiago Canyon College (SCC)
Financial Aid Presentation:
All MDHS students and parents are welcome to join our Zoom Financial Aid Presentation with Santiago Canyon College on January 26th @ 6pm-7pm. Information is helpful and relevant, no matter where you plan on attending college! Please RSVP here.
Transcript / Parchment
Mater Dei processes official transcripts through Parchment.com. You can find the link at materdei.org > Academics > Registrar > Parchment, OR CLICK HERE to get started.
Many private universities may ask for "Mid-Year" transcripts. If that is the case for you, you will need to send transcripts again after your semester grades are complete. You can get a head start by repeating the process, and this time, select "SEND NOW" at checkout. See example on PDF below.
Build a Resume
Students, consider creating or updating your resume. A resume is a document that sums up your background, skills, experiences, and accomplishments, and can be submitted to a potential employer or supplement your college application. You can start building a downloadable resume in your Naviance account (instructions) or through California Career Zone (create a free account first, Resume Builder instructions). Check out these helpful tips, examples, and resume templates for high school students.
╱╲╱╲╱ JUNIORS ╲╱╲╱╲╱╲
Studying for the ACT or SAT? Try free ACT practice through MyACT or free SAT practice through Khan Academy.
Do any schools require SAT/ACT scores this year? What about next year?
1,655 universities have been test-optional or test blind for at least the 2020-2021 school year.
Here are the most current websites that record the testing requirement changes due to the pandemic:
- fairtest.org/university/optional
- insight-education.net
- ivywise.com
- The UC systems are suspending all requirements for SAT/ACT testing until 2024.
The Counseling Department is finalizing plans to start scheduling our junior meetings with our students and families. We will be sending out invites to select a meeting time towards the end of the month. We look forward to meeting with you!
Here are some resources to get a head-start on the college exploration process.
╱╲╱╲╱ SOPHOMORES ╲╱╲╱╲╱╲
Sophomore Practice ACT Test -
All sophomores will be taking a Practice ACT on January 26th. You will receive an email from Tried & True with your login info and a link to OnlineScoreTracker.
See you there at 8:30am!
Check out the PACT flyer for more info and tips.
╱╲╱╲╱ FRESHMEN ╲╱╲╱╲╱╲
We know this year has been a challenging introduction to high school. The counseling team put together this video to show our support and provide resources for a successful high school experience. Find the video and links here.
Want to start earning scholarship money early? Explore Raise.Me. RaiseMe enables students to "earn scholarships throughout high school, starting as early as 9th grade, for doing all the things that best prepare them to succeed, whether that’s getting good grades, volunteering in the community or joining an extracurricular".
3. Mental Health Resources
╲╱╲╱ For Wellness Counseling Support ╲╱╲╱
Feeling down? Needing someone to talk to? Email Mrs. Bauer (Director of MDHS Counseling), and we will connect you with our CHOC partnership program.
For additional support for coping that is
free & confidential, you may contact
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline-1-800-273-8255
or
The Crisis Text Line-Text HOME to 741741.
Resources from Dr. Ana d'Abreu, our on-campus CHOC psychology fellow:
CHOC Wellness
For most people, a new year usually means a new start. With the new year, we encourage you to think about making SMART goals:
- Specific: What is your goal exactly? Make sure to define it clearly. Rather than, “I will be more positive,” a specific goal would be, “I will practice gratitude daily.”
- Meaningful: Does this goal align with your values? Does it matter to you? We are more likely to work towards a goal if it adds meaning to our lives. “I value being present, kind, and gracious to myself and others.” “I value balancing work and school.”
- Adaptive: Will this goal make your life better in any way? “If I practice gratitude, I will feel happier and less stressed.”
- Realistic: Can you actually accomplish this goal? Is it too hard? Are there any resources that might help you? Consider people, time, money, etc. Having someone to participate in this goal with you, may help with accountability! For example, consider having a “study buddy” or “workout buddy” to help you accomplish your goal. “I can buy a journal from the bookstore. My friend and I have both decided to keep a gratitude journal and keep each other in-check!”
- Time-framed: Create a specific timeline or schedule for each step of your goal. “We will practice gratitude every day. Every night before bed, we will write one thing for which we are grateful. Every week we will check-in on each other’s progress.”
Have a happy new year!
Stay tuned for more upcoming MDHS + CHOC mental health & wellness events.
Brain & Computer Refresh
Are you feeling overwhelmed, both on and off screen?
Do you have too many tabs on your browser?
Research shows that having multiple tabs on your computer can lead to information overload. According to research, "even when you think you're only focused on whatever you're doing in a single window, seeing all those open tabs in the corner of your eye takes up mental energy, distracting you from the task at hand. Just like your brain, your browser and your computer can only handle so much information at a time". To optimize your browser's performance (and your own focus), studies suggests keeping only nine tabs, at most!
OneTab is a browser extension that takes all your tabs on your computer and turns them into one tab, which helps alleviate information overload. If you're interested, download here!
╱╲╱╲ OUTSIDE RESOURCES ╱╲╱
CHOC 24/7 Hotline
CHOC 24/7 hotline to speak with a Nurse to answer questions about the Coronavirus
https://www.choc.org/ 1-844-GET-CHOC
Mater Dei High School Counseling Department
Website: https://www.materdei.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=70016&type=d&pREC_ID=237246
Location: Mater Dei High School, 1202 W Edinger Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92707