[BHS etree] COLLEGE|CAREER: Advisor's Bulletin for Wed., Jan 23, 2008

[bhs at idiom.com]

CONTACT:  Ilene Abrams   iabrams at berkeley.k12.ca.us  or  644-6804

College Advisor's Bulletin
Wednesday, January 23, 2008

SAT WORD OF THE DAY:  TAPER – to narrow or decrease in size or  
intensity.  After the hurricane, the rain tapered to a drizzle and then  
stopped altogether.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Lifeguard I – East Bay Regional Park District is hiring students age 16  
years old (by April 26) for lifeguard positions.  Salary begins at $13  
per hour.  Applications available in D221 or at www.ebparks.org .   
Deadline:  March 7.

Tutor needed for 8th grade boy for homework support primarily for  
algebra but some support for other subjects.  Approximately 3 hours per  
week, at a mutually convenient place.  $10/ hour.  For more  
information, call 510-835-5070.

FOR ALL STUDENTS
California Climate Champions Program – Students ages 16-18 can enter a  
competition where you will have a chance to become one of 20 Climate  
Champions for California. As a champion, you'll get to participate in a  
range of activities, including a "climate camp," where you will learn  
more about the issue and plan activities for your time "in office." You  
might also get to take part in meetings in England and Japan with other  
champions from around the world! Entries using audio, video or in  
writing should take the form of a news report, which will help  
applicants demonstrate their communication abilities and their passion  
about addressing climate change. Received deadline:  February 11.   
Applications available in the College/Career Center and at  
http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/climatechampions/climatechampions.htm .

FOR JUNIORS
EXPERIENCE BERKELEY PROGRAM – This FREE summer program includes panels  
with students, faculty and alumni, personal statement workshops,  
academic planning, financial aid sessions and more.  Students stay in  
the UC Berkeley residence halls during the program. There are two  
separate programs – one for high achieving African American students  
(either July 10-12 or July 31-August 2) and one for high achieving  
Latino students (June 19-21).  This is an excellent program.  Pick up  
your applications in D221.  Deadline for Latino student program is  
February 29, for the African American student program it is March 14.

COLLEGE INFORMATION NIGHT FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF JUNIORS – Tuesday,  
February 5, 6:30-8:30 pm in the Berkeley High library.  Enter at 1980  
Allston Way.  Angela Price and I will provide an overview of all  
aspects of the college admissions process.  This meeting is for adults  
only since the students will be receiving this information in their  
English classes.  Come with all of your questions!

Ms. Price and I will be speaking to the junior English classes at the  
beginning of February.  Following the presentations, juniors will be  
able to sign up for individual appointments with their College Advisor.

FOR SENIORS
CAL STATE DEADLINES - February 1 is the last day to file applications  
for admission to the following Cal State campuses: Channel Islands,  
Chico (except nursing and recording arts majors), Fresno, Fullerton  
(open to engineering and computer science majors only), San Jose, San  
Marcos (if space is available), Sonoma (except for interdisciplinary  
studies, human development, liberal studies and nursing) and  
Stanislaus.  March 1 is the application for these campuses: Dominguez  
Hills, East Bay, San Bernardino, Bakersfield, Los Angeles, Sacramento  
State, and Monterey Bay. After March 1, due to budget cuts, you will  
not be able to apply for admission to any Cal State campus for the fall  
2008 term.  If you and need help with your application, please see me  
or Ms. Price as soon as possible.

FINANCIAL AID – Now is the time to work on 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 in the Berkeley High library.  
The next two workshops are:
Thurs., February 7, 7:30 am  
Evening Workshop, Thursday, January 24, 6:30 pm, BHS library
Please sign up in advance in the College/Career Center so that we have  
enough computers for everyone.  Prior to the workshop, pick up the  
FAFSA on the Web Worksheet so that you can prepare the necessary  
information.  For a complete list of workshops, go to  
http://bhs.berkeley.net/index.php?page=workshops .

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 school’s  
financial aid deadline (some are as early as January 15) and the forms  
they require.  We 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.

MIDYEAR REPORTS – IF YOU HAVEN’T TURNED THESE IN, PLEASE DO SO BY THE  
END OF THE WEEK! 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  
number 10 business sized envelope with one first class stamp 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 was Wednesday, January 16.  You must have a separate  
envelope for each college requiring your first semester grades.  This  
is not necessary for any UC campuses, but some Cal State campuses are  
requiring a copy of your first semester grades.

If you missed the presentation on filling out the FAFSA on December 4,  
you may sign up to borrow the DVD for up to 2 nights.  Please e-mail a  
request to Angela Price (angela_price at berkeley.k12.ca.us) along with  
your student’s name, and she will let you know when it is available.   
Senior families only, please.

SAT/ACT TEST DATES – January 29 is the regular registration deadline  
for the March 1 SAT tests. March 7 is the regular registration deadline  
for the April 12 ACT test.  Subject tests are not offered on this test  
date.  Fee waivers for low income students are available in D221.

SCHOLARSHIPS
For the complete list of applications available in the College/Career  
Center, go to  
http://bhs.berkeley.net/uploads/career_center/Scholarships_2007 
-2008%20for%20website.doc

*Morris and Juliet James Achievement Award Application – Open to senior  
planning to attend college.  Priority is given to students who attended  
Berkeley schools for elementary, middle and high schools who  
participates in community service and is interested in becoming a  
teacher or other job working with people. Scholarships of $2,000 and  
up.  Deadline:  April 7.  Applications available in D221.

eQuality Scholarship Collaborative – Open to graduating high school  
senior residing in northern or central California who applied to a two  
or four year secondary institution, including trade schools and has  
promoted awareness and equality for the gay/lesbian/bisexual/  
transgender community.  Scholarship:  $5,000.  Applications available  
in D221 and at  
http://www.pge.com/includes/docs/word_xls/about_us/community/ 
scholarships/equalityscholarshipapplication2008.doc .  Deadline:   
February 15.

Italian American Federation – Open to seniors from an East Bay high  
school who has at least one parent of Italian descent.  Scholarship  
criteria includes scholastic record, activity record, essays and  
recommendations.  Several $500 scholarships will be awarded.  Deadline:  
  April 30.  Applications available in D221.

Kiwanis Club of Berkeley Scholarship – Open to graduating seniors.   
Scholarship criteria includes academic ability, leadership, moral  
integrity, and a commitment to service to school and community.  A  
total of over $40,000 will be awarded.  Applications available in D221.  
  Applications must be received by the Kiwanis Club by March 28.

Hispanic Heritage Youth Award - Graduating senior planning to enroll in  
college in the fall who is a US citizen or permanent resident, has at  
least one parent of Hispanic heritage, minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0  
and is willing to travel to the awards ceremony in your area (Northern  
California).  Grants of $1,000 to $3,000 will be awarded.  Applications  
available at http://youthawards.hispanicheritage.org . Deadline:  March  
14.

Japanese American Citizens League Scholarship – Open to high school  
seniors who are members of the Berkeley Chapter of the Japanese  
American Citizens League and will be attending college in Fall 2008.   
Deadline:  March 1.  Scholarships:  Up to $1,200.  Applications  
available in D221.

PDK Prospective Educator Scholarship Program – Open to any high school  
senior intending to major in education.  A variety of scholarships will  
be offered.  Applications available in D221.  Deadline:  February 1.

Community Network, Lewis Latimer – Open to African-American seniors  
with a minimum GPA of 2.5 who plans to attend a two or four year  
accredited college or business school (majoring in computer science or  
relating to the telecommunications industry).  Scholarships of at least  
$500 will be awarded.  Applications available in D221.  Deadline:   
February 29.

SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES
Information on many more programs is available in D221.

California State Summer School for the Arts (Innerspark) – Program runs  
from July 12-August 8 in a variety of subjects including animation,  
visual arts, dance, music, film/video, theatre and creative writing.   
Applications available at www.innerspark.us Scholarships are available.  
  Application deadline:  February 29.

*New to the bulletin today.