[BHS etree] COLLEGE|CAREER: Advisor's Bulletin for Dec. 15, 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
Monday, December 15, 2008

SAT WORD OF THE DAY:  INDIFFERENT -- not caring one way or the other.  When it comes to a choice between ice cream and pie, I'm indifferent; I love them both.  

FOR ALL STUDENTS
Princeton Prize in Race Relations -- Princeton is sponsoring an awards program for high school students to recognize, support and encourage young people who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the cause of relations among the races.  Cash awards of up to $1,000 will be awarded.  The deadline is January 31.  For more information, an application and examples of previous winners, go to www.princeton.edu/PrincetonPrize .  

Morris Weiss Scholarship -- open to 11th and 12th graders from the Bay Area.  Scholarship awarded based on an essay discussing Acts of Kindness during the Holocaust.  The entry will be judged on both the quality of writing & research, and the ability of the author to meaningfully connect the essay topic to the lessons of the Holocaust.  The student with the winning essay will be awarded a $1,500 scholarship to be used towards their post-secondary education.  For more information, go to www.hcnc.org/scholarship.html.  Deadline:  February 26.  If you need help researching information for this scholarship, our librarian Ms. Goldstein-Erickson, will be happy to help you.

FOR JUNIORS
*JUNIORS -- YOUR PSAT SCORES ARE NOW AVAILABLE. You may pick them up any day in the College/Career Center at lunch or from 3:15 to 4:00 pm ONLY.  Scores will not be given out at any other time.  Sophomores will receive their PSAT scores from their sophomore English teachers on Tuesday.  

SCHOLARSHIP FOR JUNIORS -- Discover Card Tribune Award Program -- Students with a minimum cumulative GPA for 9th and 10th grades of 2.75, who demonstrated leadership, are actively contributing to their communities and have experienced and overcome a significant obstacle are eligible.  Apply at https://www.applyists.net/. Use access code DISC. Postmark deadline: January 31. More information available in the College/Career Center. 

FOR SENIORS
*The DVD of the financial aid event on filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) held on December 2nd is now available.  Parents/guardians may borrow the DVD for up to two evenings.  Contact Firecat Breiter at 644-4576 or firecat_breiter at berkeley.k12.ca.us to arrange to borrow it.

Common Application Workshops.  All workshops will be held in the BHS library.  Sign up in D221 to attend so that we have enough computers for all students.
Wednesday, December 17, 7:30 am
Thursday, December 18, 3:30 pm

Berkeley Community Fund Scholarship -- come to a meeting on Tuesday, December 16, third period in the College/Career Center to find out how to apply for this scholarship.  At least 10 scholarships of $4,000 per year for four years will be awarded to Berkeley High students. In addition, other one-time scholarships may also be awarded. Sign up in D221 to attend.  

*DEADLINE TODAY -- UC Merced is still accepting applications.  Their new deadline is December 15.  This is an excellent new and growing campus, one of the most diverse of the UC's with a variety of majors.  You can attend a small school at a UC price!

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.

CSU applicants must send official test scores from College Board or ACT.  See directions on sending your scores above in the UC applicants section.  

ESSAY READERS -- Get feedback on your draft of your college essay/personal statement from experienced essay readers.  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.  For seniors, some colleges will accept test scores from these tests as part of the application process.  Don’t forget to list the colleges you want to receive these scores on your registration form.  

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

*Elena Castañeda Scholarship -- Open to Berkeley High seniors who speak Spanish as their first language and plan to attend a four year college in the fall.  Application available in D221.  US citizenship/permanent residency is NOT required. Scholarship is for $3,000. Deadline: March 15.  

Mahatma Rice Scholarship -- Write an essay on “How will your college education help you to achieve your lifetime goals?” Open to US citizens or permanent residents who are residents of the San Francisco/San Jose area.  Brochures available in D221. Start your application online at www.mahatmarice.com/scholarship .  After registering, you can print out the application. Five $2,000 cash awards will be made.  Deadline:  February 16. 

Murry Jacobs Scholarship, sponsored by Chevron's Black History Awareness Committee -- open to seniors with a minimum GPA of 2.5 who are planning to attend a two or four year college or university, demonstrate leadership ability, are involved in community or extracurricular activities and are US citizens or legal residents.  Scholarships range from $2,000 to $3,500.  Deadline:  January 9. Applications available in D221.  

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.  

*New to the bulletin today