[BHS etree] COLLEGE|CAREER: Advisor's Bulletin for 01/16/2007

[bhs at idiom.com]

College Advisor's Bulletin
Tuesday, January 16, 2007

SAT WORD OF THE DAY:   DIAPHANOUS - allowing light to pass through;
translucent or transparent.  Many people hang diaphanous curtains in
their bathrooms so that natural light can come in while they can keep
their privacy. 

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
Black College Expo - Saturday, January 20, 9:00-4:00, Hangar 12,
Oakland/Alameda.  (1050 West Tower Avenue).  Meet with representatives
from many Historically Black Colleges & Universities, attend seminars
on preparing for college, hot careers and more.  Seniors - bring your
transcripts and test scores for the opportunity for on-the-spot
acceptance and the opportunity to win scholarships.  For more
information, go to www.blackcollegeexpo.com.  Cost $10.  

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.  

DUE TODAY - 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
PG&E Employees Scholarship - Open to all graduating seniors whose
parent/guardian is a PG&E customer with a minimum unweighted GPA of
3.50 and a minimum SAT score of 1500 or comparable ACT score who is
actively involved in outside activities.  At least ten scholarships of
$2,000 each.  Deadline:  March 1.  

Kiwanis Club Scholarship - Open to graduating seniors.  One
scholarship is for students who are planning to attend a four year
college.  The other is for students who are planning an alternative or
trade school path.  Essay and recommendations are required.  Deadline:
March 29.  A total of $40,000 will be awarded.  Applications available
in D221.  

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.  Deadline, February 2

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.  

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.  

*Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory provides talented high school
students from the San Francisco Bay Area with paid summer internships
in science, engineering, technology, computing sciences, and related
areas.  Selection is based on the applicant's grades, especially in
science and mathematics courses, and demonstrated commitment to a
future career in the sciences, engineering, computer sciences, or
related field and one teacher recommendation.  Students work 40 hours
a week for six weeks from June 27th through August 10th and receive a
stipend. Students also participate in a variety of workshops and
attend lectures and seminars.  Open only to current juniors and
seniors.  Deadline:  March 2.  Applications available in D221 and at
http://csee.lbl.gov/hssrpp.html 

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.  

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.

*New to the bulletin today.