[BHS etree] COLLEGE/CAREER: Advisor's Bulletin for 10/03/07

[bhs at idiom.com]

PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THE ETREE, CONTACT:  Ilene Abrams  
iabrams at berkeley.k12.ca.us  or 644-6804

College Advisor's Bulletin
Wednesday, October 3, 2007

SAT WORD OF THE DAY:  DISCERN – to detect or understand.  Only an 
expert can discern the difference between an original Rembrandt and a 
well-executed forgery.

UPCOMING SENIOR PARENT NIGHTS
FINANCIAL AID PART ONE – Wednesday, October 10, 6:30 pm in the Berkeley 
High library.  Sue Kim, a financial aid expert, will explain how 
financial aid is calculated for both public and private schools and 
answer your questions.  She will also provide information on merit aid.

FOR SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS
PSAT - This year's PSAT will be held Saturday, October 20 at 8am in the 
C Building.  Sign-ups will be October 1 through 10 at lunch and after 
school (3:15 until 4:00 pm) at the D-building ticket windows on Allston 
Way. The test fee is $22 cash or money order payable to Berkeley High 
School.  This is an excellent practice for the SAT and for Juniors the 
test to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship programs.  Do NOT 
wait to sign up on the last days.  The line will be LONG!

COLLEGE INFORMATION DAY – Saturday, October 20, Wheeler Hall, UC 
Berkeley, 8:30-1:00 pm.  Over 60 public and private college and 
university representatives will be present.  There will also be 
workshops in English and Spanish on admission requirements, financial 
aid, scholarships, college preparation and more.  For more information: 
  510-238-9450.  Pre-register online at www.eastbayconsortium.org .

WORKSHOPS FOR FAMILIES
The Gooden Family Scholarship Fund is holding workshops as follows:
•	Sunday, October 7 - Putting Your Finances in Order, 1:00-3:00, Easter 
Hill United Methodist Church, 3911 Cutting Blvd., Richmond, for 11th 
and 12th grade families
•	Sundays, October 14 and 21, 1:00-3:00 pm.  Writing a Winning Essay.  
This two part series will be held at St. Peter CME Church, 5324 Cypress 
Ave., El Cerrito. for 11th and 12th grade families RESERVATIONS ARE 
REQUIRED
•	Sunday October 28 – College 101 in Spanish, for 10th and 11th Grade 
families, 1:00-3:00 pm at Iglesia Catolica de San Pablo, 1825 Church 
St., San Pablo
•	Sunday, November 4 – College 101 in English, for 10th and 11th grade 
families, Easter Hill United Methodist Church, 3911 Cutting Blvd., 
Richmond.
For more information, contact Joann Steck-Bayat at 510-524-9464 (NOTE 
CORRECTED PHONE NUMBER) or at jsbayat at comcast.net .

FOR SENIORS
*FOR SENIORS APPLYING EARLY – your counselor recommendation forms 
(Secondary School Report Forms), transcript request forms and envelopes 
are due one month prior to your earliest deadline.  If you have not yet 
turned in your forms, please see Ms. Harris, Ms. Abrams or Ms. Price as 
soon as possible.

At the end of August, all registered students were mailed a copy of 
this year's College Application Handbook for Students and Their 
Parents.  The handbook was sent by bulk mail.  If you are a senior who 
registered at Berkeley High School after August 19th or if you did not 
receive a copy in the mail, you can pick up a copy at the 
College/Career Center.  Because of the cost, we can only provide one 
copy per family, even if the student’s parents are no longer living 
together.  This book is an excellent resource, with current information 
on applying for admissions and financial aid, testing, athletics, 
scholarships, etc.

If you missed the Senior Parent meeting on September 10, you may borrow 
a DVD of the meeting.  You may keep it for up to two evenings.  Please 
e-mail Angela Price at angela_price at berkeley.k12.ca.us to get on the 
list to borrow it.

COLLEGE VISITS
Seniors, sign up in D221 to attend college presentations.  All 
presentations will be held in the College/Career Center.  You must also 
pick up an authorization form for your teacher to sign so that you may 
miss his or her class.  This is a great opportunity to find out more 
about what individual colleges have to offer as well as to meet the 
admission officer who may be reading your application.   Students may 
not attend more than 10 college visits during the school year.   A 
complete listing of the September and October college visits is 
available at http://bhs.berkeley.net/index.php?page=finding-a-college .

TODAY - Wednesday, October 3
8:30 Pomona (CA)

Thursday, October 4
8:30 University of San Francisco
10:35 Scripps (CA)
12:20 Wesleyan (CT)

Friday, October 5
8:30 Amherst (MA)
12:20 Dartmouth (NH)
1:20 Evergreen (WA)
2:20 University of Colorado, Boulder

Tuesday, October 9
8:30 Kenyon (OH)
9:30 Holy Names (CA)
10:35 Wilberforce (OH)
2:20 Seattle University (WA)

Wednesday, October 10
8:30 Williams
9:30 McGill (Montreal, Canada)
12:20 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
2:20 College of Wooster (OH)

ESSAY READERS AND WORKSHOPS
Essay readers will be available in the College/Career Center at lunch 
time this week and next.  No sign-ups are necessary; just bring your 
essay draft.

Essay writing workshops:
Morning workshops will be held in the College/Career Center.  Afternoon 
workshops in either Conference Room A or B.  Students must sign up to 
attend.
Fri., 10/5, 7:30 am
Tues., 10/9, 3:30 pm
More to come – for a complete list of all workshops, go to 
http://bhs.berkeley.net/index.php?page=workshops

SAT/ACT TEST DATES –Friday, October 5 is the late registration deadline 
for the October 27 ACT test. Thursday, October 11 is the late 
registration deadline for the November 3 SAT and SAT subject tests.  
Fee waivers for low income students are available in D221.

COLLEGE INFORMATION SESSIONS IN THE BAY AREA
Sun., October 7, 1:00-3:00 pm  – Reed/Sarah Lawrence at Jewish 
Community High School of the Bay, 1835 Ellis Street, SF. Please RSVP to 
1-800-547-4750 by Friday, October 5.  Free off-street parking:  (Please 
set navigation systems to 1227 Pierce  Street (it's the only driveway 
on that side of the block). Press the  garage intercom button from 
driver's seat, and say: "I am attending the  college presentation," and 
the security office will raise the garage gate.
Mon., October 8 – University of Pennsylvania at Rockridge Branch 
Library, 5366 College Ave., Oakland.

SCHOLARSHIPS
AXA Achievement Scholarship – Open to all seniors who are US citizens 
or legal residents, who plan to enroll full-time in an accredited two 
or four year college in the U.S. by fall 2008, who demonstrate ambition 
and self-drive as evidenced by outstanding achievement in an activity 
in school, the community or workplace and who is recommended by an 
unrelated adult.  One student from each state will be awarded $10,000.  
For more information, go to www.axa-achievement.com .  Deadline:  
December 15.

Good Tidings Community Service Scholarship – Open to seniors who live 
in the SF Bay Area, have participated in community service and have 
financial need.  Scholarships range from $2,5000 to $5,000.  Deadline:  
November 9.  Applications available in D221.

*New to the bulletin today.