[BHS etree] COLLEGE|CAREER: Advisor's Bulletin for Wednesday, 01/10/2007

[bhs at idiom.com]

Please do not reply to etree email address.
Contact:  Ilene Abrams   iabrams at berkeley.k12.ca.us  or 644-6804

College Advisor's Bulletin
Wednesday, January 10, 2007

SAT WORD OF THE DAY:  NEOLOGISM – a newly invented word.  Gigabyte is
a neologism that will become increasingly common as computer storage
capacities continue to grow.

PARENTS – We are looking for a volunteer to sit at Ms. Harris' desk
every Tuesday from 1-2 pm so that Ms. Harris can go to lunch and Mr.  
Saraceno and I can assist students.  If you are able to cover this
shift until the end of the school year, please e-mail me.  Thanks.

FOR SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS
*Are you interested in going to a college that is made for high school
students?  Do you want more control over what classes you take and how
you use your time?  Are you ready to move far from home?  Come to a
presentation by a Berkeley High grad who attends Simons Rock College
in the East Coast.  Wednesday, January 17 at lunchtime in Conference
Room B.

FOR JUNIORS AND SENIORS
Thursday, January 11, 7:00 pm in the BHS Library / College and Career
Center - What's Up With College? a reality check!  Come hear the true
story about going away to college.  Recent Berkeley High graduates
will visit Berkeley High to tell personal stories about their
college experiences. There will be an informal discussion with
students from a wide range of schools. While the students talk in the
College/Career Center, parents/guardians of recent grads will be in
the Library to share their first hand knowledge of sending
their children off to college.

FOR SENIORS
FINANCIAL AID – Now is the time to start your application for
financial aid. All colleges require the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid  
(FAFSA).   I strongly recommend that you apply online at  
www.fafsa.ed.gov  This is the only official site for filling out the  
FAFSA.  Beware of other sites that charge money to fill out the FAFSA.

In order to file electronically, you will need two PIN numbers – one
for one parent and one for the student.  These are your electronic  
signatures.   You can apply for the PIN numbers at www.pin.ed.gov   If

you haven’t done so already, I recommend that you do so now.  You can
start the FAFSA while you are waiting to receive your PIN numbers.

FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOPS – We will be holding workshops on filling out
the FAFSA both before and after school. I will post the dates later
this week, once they are confirmed.  There will also be a Cash for
College workshop on Tuesday, February 13 at 6:30 pm in the BHS
library.  
  At the workshop, held in both English and Spanish, you will be able
to get help on filling out the FAFSA.  One participant in the workshop
who completes the FAFSA and the Cal Grant form by March 2 will be
awarded a $1,000 scholarship.  For additional Cash for College
workshops at other locations and dates go to www.calgrants.org and
click on the “Workshops” tab.

CHECK FOR FINANCIAL AID DEADLINES AND REQUIRED FORMS FOR EACH SCHOOL –
Although all colleges require the FAFSA, some schools require  
additional forms.  Financial aid deadlines vary from school to school.

Some schools have January or early February deadlines.  The deadline
to file the FAFSA for all UC’s, Cal States and community colleges is
March 2, although I recommend that you file sooner if at all possible.
The financial deadline for each college can be found on its website or
by calling the financial aid office.  Make a list of each schools’  
financial aid deadline and the forms they require.  I have a form
available in the College/Career Center to help you keep track of this
information.  If you don’t file by the deadline, you are likely to get
less financial aid.  The most important thing is meeting the deadline,
not having the exactly correct information.  You can always go back
and update your information once you complete your tax forms.

CAL GRANTS – Cal Grants are free money from the state of California
based on the student’s GPA and family income. The money may be used at
any accredited California college, public or private. Applying for the
Cal Grant is very easy – just fill out and submit the FAFSA by March 2
listing a California college to receive the information and fill out  
the Cal Grant Information Release Form, available in D173 and D221.   
This is a very simple form which takes less than 5 minutes to
complete.  
  Deadline to turn in the form is January 30.



*UPDATED INFORMATION - MIDYEAR REPORTS – If you applied to any schools
which require your first semester grades as part of the admissions
process, you must turn in the Mid-Year Report form and a completed
Transcript Request Form with the words “Mid-Year Report” written
across the top, paper-clipped to a stamped, business sized envelope
addressed to the Office of Admissions of the college with a return
address of BHS, 1980 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA  94704. The deadline to
turn these in to D173 or D221 is Tuesday, January 16.  You must have a
separate envelope for each college requiring your first semester
grades.

SENIORS – don’t forget to send your OFFICIAL SAT or ACT scores to each
college you applied to.  For SAT, go to www.collegeboard.com and click
on “Send Scores.”  For ACT, go to www.act.org and click on “Send
Scores.”

If you missed the presentation on filling out the FAFSA on December 7,
you may sign up to borrow the DVD for up to 2 nights.  Please e-mail
me a request (iabrams at berkeley.k12.ca.us), along with your student’s
name, and I will let you know when it is available.  Senior families
only, please.

CAL STATE APPLICATIONS – many Cal State campuses are still accepting
applications.  They are:  Cal Maritime, Bakersfield, Channel Islands,
Chico, Dominguez Hills (deadline is April 1), East Bay, Fresno,
Fullerton (open only to Computer Science and Engineering majors),
Humboldt (tentative deadline is June 1), Los Angeles, Monterey Bay,
Northridge, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Francisco (deadline is
January 15), San Jose (deadline is March 1), Sonoma (deadline is
January 22), Stanislaus.  If you need help with your applications, see
Ms. Abrams or Mr. Saraceno in D221.

UC Riverside and UC Merced are still accepting applications.  To
apply, download a paper application from
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/download For more
details about which majors are open at each campus, see
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/openmajors  Mail the
application to:
UC Undergraduate Application Processing Service, P.O. Box 4010,
Concord, CA 94524-4010

SAT/ACT TEST DATES – January 19 is the late registration deadline for
the February 10 ACT test.  Register at www.act.org.  February 2 is the
regular registration deadline for the March 10 SAT test.  Register at
www.collegeboard.com.

SCHOLARSHIPS
*Community NETwork Scholarship – Open to African-American seniors with
a minimum GPA of 2.5 who plan to attend a two or four year college in
the fall or an accredited business school.  Minimum of $1,000 will be
awarded.  Deadline:  February 23.  Applications available in D221.

Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards –  Open to seniors of Hispanic heritage
(at least one parent of Hispanic ancestry) who are a U.S. Citizen or
permanent resident who are intending to enroll as a full-time college
student next year and has a minimum GPA of unweighted 3.0.  Apply
online at www.hispanicheritage.org Scholarships range from
$1,000-$3,000.

Bay Area Council Scholarship Program – open to graduating seniors who
plan to attend one of the following colleges full-time in 2007: Mills,
Santa Clara, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, University of San
Francisco and who lived in an underserved neighborhood (at 80% of area

median income or below – check at www.ffiec.gov/Geocode/default.aspx).

Applications available in D221.  Awards range from $5,000-$10,000.   
Deadline:  March 26.

Kaiser Permanente Asian Association Scholarship - Graduating senior of
Asian descent  with a minimum GPA of 2.5 who demonstrates the
potential to be an Asian leader through school or community activities
or in the face of unusual circumstances.  Five scholarships of $2,000
each.  
Deadine:  March 2.

Beverage Industry College Scholarship Program – Students must have
parents or grandparents who are employed full-time with an
organization holding a valid California beer/wine/spirits alcohol
license and be planning to attend a four year college beginning in the
fall.  Apply online at www.christermon.com.  Deadline:  February 1.

SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS
Below are a few of the summer opportunities available.  Check out the
“Summer” box in the College/Career Center to read about many more.

Intern Exchange International – London-based program offers
internships in a wide variety of areas and Career-Plus programs in
fashion & design, journalism, photography, theater and video
production.  For more information, go to www.internexchange.com or
call 561-477-2434 or 610-527-6066.

Phillips Exeter Academy – Offers more than 100 courses in all areas of

study, July 1-August 4.   In addition, students may participate in  
sports or visual and performing arts activities.  Financial aid is
available.  For applications, go to www.exeter.edu/summer or call
800-828-4325 extension 3488. Deadline: March 1.

Service Learning in Paris – this program offers a mixture of language
and academic classes in your choice of art & architecture, politics &
history or writing & literature, together with work at social service
agencies, July 1-29.  Applications available in D221 or by calling
802-362-5855 or e-mail iss at study-serve.org.  Some financial aid is
available.

Summer in New York City at Barnard College – coed programs available
for four weeks (June 24-July 21) or one week (June 24-30).  Apply  
online at www.barnard.edu/pcp or call 212-854-8866.   Some financial  
aid is available.

*New to the bulletin today.