[BHS Etree] COLLEGE/CAREER BULLETIN: Week of Oct. 4-8, 2010

[BHS etree]

Do not reply to this e-mail; please contact Angela Price
[mailto:angela_price at berkeley.k12.ca.us]

College Advisor's Bulletin: Week of Oct. 4-8, 2010

SAT WORD OF THE DAY: AVERSION – Many Americans show an aversion toward dishes that include insects or dog meat. 

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FOR ALL STUDENTS

1. PSAT - Berkeley High School is offering the PSAT on Saturday, October 16. Sign ups will take place in D173 (the Accountant's Office) at lunch and after school to 4 p.m. between Sept. 27 and Oct. 8. The cost is $22 payable in cash, or check or money order payable to Berkeley High School. All tenth and eleventh graders should be encouraged to take the PSAT. Eleventh graders who score well may qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program. As a practice for the SAT, students get back their test booklet and a printout of their answers and the correct answers and feedback about critical academic skills.

2. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Berkeley Holiday Fund, a small Berkeley based charity, is seeking volunteers for 4 hours work on Wednesday, October 27 from 1-6 p.m. Location is near Solano. Work is stuffing envelopes for a holiday fundraiser. For more information or to schedule a time slot, please email ginnmeyer at yahoo.com.

FOR SENIORS

*1. Both the UC application (www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply) and the Cal State application (www.csumentor.edu) are now available online. The deadline for the UC application is November 30. The priority deadline for the Cal State applications is also November 30.  We urge you to get your applications in by November 30th, and preferably earlier as both websites get extremely busy (and slow) at the end of November. Check the schedule for workshops in your red folders. The schedule is also available in your BHS Moodle site, as well as on the College Advisor's website. Both college advisors are also available to review your applications before they are submitted, but will need a day or two of turn-around time, so don't wait until the last minute.

*2. Seniors please access your BHS moodle account for the latest updated college center information. (College visits, application workshops, college center deadlines, SAT dates etc...)

3. SENIOR PARENT COLLEGE NIGHT - Thursday, October 7, 6:30 pm, BHS library. This is a great opportunity to get information directly from representatives of the UCs, Cal States, community colleges and private schools. This event is for parents of Berkeley High Seniors only (students are not invited to this meeting).

4. Seniors who are applying as Early Action/Early Decision candidates are required to submit the following information by OCTOBER 8 to the College Center, Rm. D221:  College list, secondary school reports, transcript request forms and stamped envelopes. Seniors, please follow instructions in your senior folders or on the Moodle site for submitting this information.

If you are NOT applying Early Action/Early decision this deadline does not apply to you. Regular decision college list, secondary school reports, transcript request forms, and stamped envelopes are due November 1 for all students.

5. Advising Appointments. Sign-up sheets will remain up for the remainder of the semester. Because there are nearly 812 seniors, seniors may have only one scheduled half-hour appointment during the fall. If students miss their appointment, they will not be able to sign up again. Parents/guardians are welcome to attend the meeting as long as it is okay with their student. Seniors may drop in any day at lunch or after school without an appointment to have shorter questions answered. College advisor assignments:  Price - AC students and CPA students, Sandberg - IHS, AHA, SSJE, and CAS students.

6. College Essay Readers Available: There will be a college essay reader in the College/Career center, Room D221, during lunch.

7. FREE SAT PREP CLASS - The class meets on Wednesdays from 3:45-5:45 pm. One day will focus on the math section and the other day on the critical reading section of the test. There is no need to register in advance, just come to D219. (SENIORS ONLY)

8. INCENTIVE AWARDS PROGRAM (IAP) - Find out about this excellent scholarship/mentorship/leadership development program for students applying to UC Berkeley. You are eligible to apply if you are UC eligible, have a minimum unweighted 3.5 GPA from your UC approved classes taken in 10th and 11th grades, come from a low income family, and are a US citizen, permanent resident or eligible non-citizen. See Ms. Sandberg in the College Center for more information.

The Incentive Awards Program provides up to $32,000 in scholarship funds over eight semesters, and student support services to low-income students and first generation college students who have demonstrated leadership potential, high academics, and a commitment to serve others. IAP reaches out to first-generation college students who have overcome great socioeconomic disadvantages through its partnerships with 49 Northern California high schools, and 22 Los Angeles high schools through its Pre-Collegiate Academy. Founded on the UC Berkeley campus in 1991, the program is now the largest privately funded scholarship and leadership development program in the UC system.

*9. The Raza Recruitment and Retention Center at UCB will be hosting its annual H.Y.P.H.E.E (Helping Youth Pursue Higher Education Early) program, a month long mentorship program that provides guidance for completing the UC and or CSU applications. Each High School Senior is paired up with a UC Berkeley admissions trained undergraduate student and receives one-on-one attention on all aspects of the application process, including the Personal Statement. The program consists of a Mandatory Orientation on Sunday, October 17, and six "Application" meetings: Oct. 24 and 31, Nov. 7th, 14, 21, and 28th. All meetings will take place at the UC Berkeley campus and will be held during the hours of 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm. Lunch/light snacks and drinks will be provided at each meeting and transportation costs for students using BART will be covered. This program is FREE! To apply for the program pick up an application in the College Career Center. The application is used
 for pairing up purposes only. All students will be accepted. Application deadline is October 6, 2010

*10. COLLEGE VISITS:
Over 100 college representatives visit Berkeley High's College/Career Center every year. Seniors may attend up to 10 of those meetings, with the permission of the teacher whose class they are missing. Sign up in advance in the College/Career Center and pick up a permission slip. The complete list of visits (updated daily) is available at
http://bhs.berkeley.net/index.php?page=finding-a-college. BHS seniors can also find updated college lists on their Moodle site.

Monday, October 4
 9:58  Clarkson University (NY)
10:46  Goucher (MD)
11:40  Michigan State (MI)
 1:58  Univ Vermont (VT)

Tuesday, October 5
 8:27  Amherst College (MA)
 9:31  Santa Clara University (CA)
10:40  New York University (NY)
12:24  Univ. Chicago (IL)
 1:28  University of Southern California (CA)
 2:32  Mills College (CA)

Wednesday, October 6
 8:27  Northwestern (IL)
10:40  Franklin W. Olin (MA)
 1:28  Tufts University (MA)

Thursday, October 7
 8:27  College of Idaho ((ID)
 9:31  Carleton College (MN)
10:40  Yale University (CT)
12:24  Whitworth University (WA)
  1:28 University of Rochester (NY) 
  2:32 Unites States Military Academy West Point (NY)  

Friday, October 8
8:27   University of Washington (WA)
9:31   Humboldt State (CA)
2:32   Pomona College (CA)

FOR ALL STUDENTS

1. COLLEGE INFORMATION SESSIONS IN THE BAY AREA

a. University of San Francisco: October 22-24 Fall Fest 2010, register for fall fest at www.usfca.edu/fallfest. For more information contact Jenna Bent, Special Events Manager, at usfevents at usfca.edu or (415)422-6441

b. UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture Event: Learn about the variety of performing and visual arts majors at UCLA. Presentations include department descriptions, application process, portfolio/audition requirements, housing, student life, and financial aid/scholarships. October 15, Woodfin Suites, Emeryville, 6:30 pm to  8 pm. RSVP at http://arts.ucla.edu/admissions/rsvp.php

d. Performing and Visual Arts College Fair:  Saturday, October 23, 3:00-5:00 pm, Nob Hill Masonic Center, San Francisco, CA. This is an excellent opportunity to find out about schools from across the country that offer excellent programs in the arts.

e. Emerson College:  Wednesday, October 27, 7:00-9:00 pm, Courtyard San Francisco Downtown, 299 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, 415-947-0700, confirm your reservation online at http://www.emerson.edu/admission/ontheroad 

*f. COLLEGE INFORMATION DAY – October 16, 2010, Wheeler Hall, UC Berkeley. Over 60 public and private college and university representatives will be there to answer your questions. There will also be workshops in English and Spanish on admission requirements, financial aid and scholarships, college preparation and much more! Pre-register online at: www.eastbayconsortium.org

*2. ZOO CAREERS NIGHT – This event is designed to give teens a peek into the lives and careers of zoo employees, and inspire them to consider a career in a zoo or environmental field. Teens will have the opportunity to meet current employees, learn about zoo career choices, and use practical skills in workshops designed to provide hands-on zoo career experience. All interested students between the ages of 12-19 are invited to attend. Registration is available by calling (510) 632-9525 x201 or by emailing melinda at oaklandzoo.org. The fee for teens is $15.  

*3. Are you looking for an internship? Interested in politics/city planning? The Jacquelyn McCormick Campain of Berkeley City Council is looking for volunteers. If you are interested contact Anna or Lara at 843-0318.

SCHOLARSHIPS

1. GATES MILLENIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM - Open to African American, American Indian/Alaska Natives, Asian Pacific Islander American, and Hispanic American students who are citizens, nationals or legal permanent residents of the US, with a minimum cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale who have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular or other activities and meet the Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria. Deadline: Monday, January 10, 2011. Applications available at www.gmsp.org.

2. Horatio Alger Association - Open to graduating seniors, planning to pursue a bachelor's degree (but may start at a community college), with family income no more than $50,000, involved in co-curricular and community activities, with a minimum GPA of 2.0, who is a US citizen. Apply online at www.horatioalger.org/scholarships. Scholarships from $2,000-20,000. Deadline: October 30. 

3. 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. Two deadlines: November 1 (considered for Ron Brown Scholarship and forwarded to additional colleges and scholarship providers) and January 9 (considered for Ron Brown scholarship only). Apply at www.ronbrown.org or pick up an application in the College Center.

*4. MAHATMA RICE/UNIVISION RADIO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM – Mahatma Rice and Univision Radio are offering college-bound High School Seniors who reside and attend school in the Bay Area the opportunity to compete for five, two thousand dollar cash awards. To enter, students must complete an essay of 150 to 250 words. For more information pick up an information brochure in the College Center or visit www.mahatmatrice.com/scholaship. Due date: February 15, 2011.

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