[BHS etree] COLLEGE|CAREER: Advisor's Bulletin for Nov. 25, 2008

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Do not reply to this e-mail, please contact Ilene Abrams at iabrams at berkeley.k12.ca.us. 

College Advisor's Bulletin
Tuesday, November 25, 2008

SAT WORD OF THE DAY:  PERNICIOUS -- deadly, very destructive, tending to cause serious injury.  The plague in Europe was so pernicious that it killed thousands of people.  

*Dear Berkeley High families,
Ms. Price, Ms. Breiter and I wish you a relaxing and safe holiday weekend.  We realize that this is a very stressful time for students and their families.  Ms. Price and I will check our e-mail once a day during break so that we can answer your questions regarding your UC or Cal State applications. Enjoy your time off!

FOR ALL STUDENTS
JUNIORS AND SENIORS -- UC Irvine Stay-Over Program 2009.  Students who are at least 16 years old can apply to experience college life first hand -- spend the night in a dorm, tour the campus and residence halls, eat in the dining commons, attend class with your host student and find out about other activities on campus.  Program goes from January 14-March 5.  $25 fee includes two meals and a t-shirt.  A limited number of scholarships are available.  Applications available in D221.  

FOR SENIORS
CSU APPLICANTS -- If you are applying to any Cal State campuses, you are required to take the ELM and the EPT tests (assessment tests in math and English).  You are exempt from the EPT (English assessment) test if your SAT Critical Reading score is 550 or above, if your ACT English score is 24 or above or you have a score of 3, 4 or 5 on either the AP Language and Composition or AP Literature and Composition test.  You are exempt from the ELM (math assessment) test if your SAT math reasoning test score or SAT subject test math score is 550 or above or your ACT math score is 23 or above or your AP test score in AP Calculus or AP Statistics is 3 or above.  You can take these tests at any Cal State campus.  The website at CSU East Bay is http://testing.csueastbay.edu/eptelm/eptelmwho.php and the SF State website to sign up for testing is http://www.sfsu.edu/~testing/eptelm.html .  You can also find practice materials and other helpful information at
 http://www.csumentor.edu/planning/high_school/ept.asp  and http://www.csumentor.edu/planning/high_school/elm.asp.

FINANCIAL AID PART 2 -- December 2, 6:30 pm, Berkeley High Library.  A representative from the UC Berkeley financial aid office will walk us line by line through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  This form is required by all colleges to apply for financial aid.  Sessions will be offered in both English and Spanish.  If more than 25 students and/or parents attend, one student will win a $1,000 scholarship; if more than 75 attend, two will win a scholarship.  This event is for senior families only as there is not enough room in the library to accommodate additional people.  We are working on setting up a financial aid event for junior families second semester.

MANY CAL STATE CAMPUSES WILL CLOSE THEIR APPLICATION PERIOD ON NOVEMBER 30.  WHEN WE GET BACK FROM THANKSGIVING BREAK, IT WILL BE DECEMBER 1!  APPLY NOW!  COME TO THE COLLEGE/CAREER CENTER TO GET WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS ON APPLYING TO UC’S AND CAL STATES.  

*ESSAY READERS -- Get feedback on your draft of your college essay/personal statement from experienced essay readers.  After Thanksgiving, readers will be available every day at the beginning of lunchtime.  First come, first served.

SAT/ACT TEST DATES -- December 26 is the regular registration deadline for the January 24 SAT test. January 6 is the regular registration deadline for the February 7 ACT.  Fee waivers for low income students are available in D221.  

SCHOLARSHIPS 
For a complete list of scholarship applications available in the College/Career Center, go to http://bhs.berkeley.net/index.php?page=scholarships.

Elks National Foundation -- 500 four-year scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors who are US citizens, based on scholarship, leadership and financial need.  Scholarships range from $1,000 per year to $15,000 per year.  Applications are available at www.elks.org/enf/scholars .  Received deadline:  January 9, 5:00 pm.  Mail to: BPO Elks, Lodge 1816, 1475 Creekside Dr., Walnut Creek, CA  94596.  

San Francisco Chinatown Lions Club, Miss Teen Chinatown 2009 Scholarship -- applicants must be between 14-18 years on April 11, 2009, be of Chinese descent and be able to write your own name in Chinese characters, minimum GPA of 3.0 for the prior school year.  $2,000 scholarship and round trip to Hong Kong.  Deadline:  December 15.  Applications available in D221.  

Ron Brown Scholarship -- Open to African-American or Black high school seniors who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership ability, participate in community service activities and demonstrate financial need who are US citizens or permanent residents.  Up to 20 students will receive $10,000 per year for four years.  Deadline:  January 9.  Apply at www.ronbrown.org. 

*New to the bulletin today