Next Steps - College & Career Information
College and Career Center
January 2009
Next Steps
Getting students ready for life after high school...
Welcome to this first edition of Next Steps formerly known as The College Connection. Over the years we've endeavored to establish a line of communication with families around issues related to the college admissions process. Given that not all students choose the college path, we wanted to expand the audience for our newsletter by including topics related to technical training and careers that don't necessarily require a 4-year degree.
For those seniors planning to attend a 4-year college, we are keenly aware of your anxious feelings this time of year as words of enrollment cut-backs are in the air and students are awaiting admission decisions from colleges. Many students who applied early decision were denied or deferred to the regular admission pool. Following our College Freshman Day, which included a panel of 12 SRV '08 alum who are now in college, we were once again reminded of the resiliency of young people, how they thrive in new situations, can and do reach out for help when they need it, and can be very happy even if they're not in their first or second choice school .... One parent remarked, "It's amazing what our kids can do on their own if we just let them." Almost every student on the panel said that when they first walked onto their school's campus to visit, it felt like the place for them; hence, the value of packing your bags and going to check out each school.
We plan to issue at least one more edition of Next Steps before the end of the year. Our College and Career Center is a wealth of information and we endeavor to share it with you. We also welcome your comments and suggestions as we go forward!
Candy Jewett (cjewett@srvhs.org)
Carolyn Mackell (cmackell@srvhs.org)
College and Career Center Coordinators
(925) 552-3007
In This Issue...
:: Counseling Contacts
:: Free Publication!
:: On The Bookshelf
:: What I Wish I'd Known In High School
:: Counselors Corner
:: Two-Year Degrees Bring Home the Bacon!!
:: Career Training Programs
:: Financial Aid 101
:: FAFSA & Profile - What Are the Differences?
:: FAFSA & Profile Sites
:: Test Prep Options
:: The ABC's of GPA's...
:: Frequently Asked Questions
:: What Will You Do This Summer?
:: On The Calendar...
Counseling Contacts
(A - Cha)
Jessica Coulson, 552-3035
(Che - Fo)
Ian Farr, 552-3092
(Fr - Ki)
Nancy Conti, 552-3027
(Kl - Ni)
Melissa Bergstedt, 552-3045
(No - San)
Jennifer Levy Wendt, 552-3025
(Sap - Z)
Vivian Srouji, 552-3033
Counseling Secretary
Mary Carlson, 552-3016
Counseling Technician
Linda Clay, 552-3021
Counseling Website
Free Publication!
The Career Center has a limited supply of Getting Ready for Life After High School - A Career and College Planning Guide for California Students and Their Families. This helpful guide discusses ways to prepare for post-secondary options including college, career/technical schools, the military, or a year of travel or service. Also included are sections on preparing a resume, how to interview for a job, and a planning calendar for college. One per family!
On The Bookshelf
A new addition in the Career Center is a book titled The College Finder which is one good place for students to start their college search.
This is a book full of lists! Interested in colleges with strong game design or video game design programs? There's a list for that! Want to know which colleges are known for an environment which fosters success among those with learning disabilities? There's a list for that! Want to know which colleges have strong women's wrestling programs? There's even a list for that! You get the idea. This is 470 pages of great lists and there's probably more than one you'd find useful!
What I Wish I'd Known In High School
Katharine O'Hara
SRV '08, Freshman at Kenyon College
In high school, I felt anxious - a lot. The first few years I worried about grades, then I worried about narrowing down and applying to the right colleges, hoping I had picked the right schools, that I had hit the right tone in my essays and that I had not forgotten to include a detail on my applications. Then, I worried about whether I would be accepted to the schools I had so carefully chosen, and whose applications I had poured my soul into for months. By the end of senior year, once I knew where I would be attending school, a whole new set of worries consumed me, figuring I would spend my first months 2000 miles away from home with few friends, overwhelmed by an increased workload, and missing the family and friends I had left behind.
Much to my surprise, I adjusted to college life more successfully than I ever imagined, despite, as luck would have it, being diagnosed with mononucleosis the day after my parents dropped me off, my boyfriend breaking up with me the second week, and Hurricane Ike rolling through the third week, causing a two-day power outage, a food shortage in the cafeteria, and canceled classes. Amidst this series of unfortunate events, I was met with a series of pleasant surprises, within the first few weeks. I laughed and connected with my roommate over conversations that went into the wee hours of the morning, bonded with my floor-mates over sing-alongs by flashlight during the blackout, and secured some of the best friendships I have ever had over the course of the semester. I continue to be inspired by my professors and class discussions, engaged in the books and articles I read, and find the college workload appropriately challenging and manageable, which I attribute to the preparation I received at SRVHS and the fact that I enjoy what I am learning. My fears of social isolation and an unmanageable academic workload, on which I had ruminated for months, failed to come true.
And so, when I look back at my last year of high school, I wish I had known how okay I would be-not after a year or only a semester into college, but within the first month. As humans are a species that by nature adapts to its changing surroundings, it makes sense that the transition to college would be easily surmountable-and I suppose for most, it is. But, as someone who had resigned myself to a miserable first semester, the relative ease of the change (despite the mishaps), certainly took me by surprise. In retrospect, I wish I had trusted myself enough to know that my hard work and research to choose the right school would pay off, and I wish I had not let my looming fears of leaving taint my enjoyment of my last few months at home. I will use this newfound knowledge of my own resilience to approach future big changes in my life with grace.
Looking back at the college application process in particular, I can now appreciate the experience as a self-reflective endeavor in which I learned about myself, rather than merely a stress-producing litany of tasks to complete. The process gave me the opportunity to synthesize my life for the last four years-my activities and accomplishments, realizations and discoveries-and to complete personal and reflective pieces of writing. I think my inability to appreciate the process as I was going through it lies largely in the number of schools to which I applied: five UCs and nine private colleges-all of which required their own essay and supplemental application and many of which I could have eliminated had I visited before applying, rather than after. I put myself under an extraordinary and unnecessary amount of stress to apply to 14 schools, and ended up choosing the one on which I had had my heart set since sophomore year, and to which my gut had been leaning all along.
The whole process is over now. I am happier than I ever imagined, and though I am only one semester in, high school already seems like a thing of the past. As I reap the benefits of the immense time and energy I put into my high school work and activities, and college applications, I can appreciate high school in a way that I could not have as I was in its midst. I learned about myself and about people, and developed qualities that will benefit me for the rest of my life. I have seen something that I stressed about so much, turn out to be more than a success, and have seen first hand the benefits of hard work.
Counselors Corner
Thinking about college? Remember to consider all of your options. Some people really aren't ready to attend college just after high school. There are plenty of options available to you. These options include working, traveling, military service, community service, internships. Commonly referred to as the "Gap Year", some high school graduates find themselves trying to discover new interests and opportunities.
As your counselor, we are here to help you achieve your goals. First, however, you must know what they are! If you plan on attending college, what kind of college do you want to prepare for? What requirements does the college have for acceptance? We can help you set your academic goals, if you meet with us to discuss your options.
Here are some of our suggestions to help you navigate through the college preparation portion of your high school years:
Typically, the freshman year is a time to acquaint yourself with SRVHS and do your best academically. You meet with your counselor in the spring to help determine your course requests for the sophomore year.
As a sophomore, your grades continue to be a number one priority towards gaining admission to a four year college. You may also be participating in sports, or other activities that prove you to be a motivated and interesting person. You will meet with your counselor in the spring to discuss your junior year courses.
Many people think the junior year "is the hardest year". I think a lot of seniors would challenge that notion! However, if you are a junior, your grades are a constant reminder of how important achievement is for gaining admission to a four year college. But, the other parts of your life also deserve some attention. Perhaps you play a sport, or music, or participate in theatre. Or perhaps you volunteer or work part time. Whatever you do, do it because it truly interests you and makes you a better person. That will help you achieve your goals. You also need to take the PSAT in the fall of your junior year, and the SAT and/or the ACT for college acceptance. Just like the past two years, you will meet with your counselor regarding course selection for your senior year.
Seniors have almost finished their college applications. Some of you have decided to attend community college, or do something different. If you have applied to a four year college, please remember that your grades continue to be an important part of admissions. Colleges frown on poor senior grades, and "yes", they do take back their admission offer sometimes!
All of you are invited to come speak with your counselor regarding your future plans, even if you aren't sure what those plans are! Make an appointment through one of our counseling office secretaries. A well thought out plan is the easiest one to follow. Waiting until the last minute can severely limit your options. There is no magic formula, nor is there a perfect way to approach the future. Hopefully, you can make the process one of self discovery and achievement. Above all, have fun on the journey!
Two-Year Degrees Bring Home the Bacon!!
Not all students are intent on earning a 4-year degree. Following is a list of 10 two-year degrees that will see significant growth in job opportunities over the next decade:
- Physical therapist assistant
- Web designer
- Electrical/electronic engineering tech
- Registered nurse
- Computer support specialist
- Executive or administrative assistant
- Dental hygienist
- Surveying or mapping technician
- Veterinary technician
- TV/film camera operators
Source: payscale.com
Career Training Programs
Designed for high school juniors and seniors, SRVHS ROP classes help students gain knowledge and skills for their future careers. These classes offer great opportunities for students to explore a career field of interest to them, and also assist them to develop expertise that will gain them higher paying jobs after high school graduation. Skills like resume building, interviewing techniques, and identifying sources of employment are developed through the classroom modules. Internships providing hands-on experience allow students the chance to "try-out" career choices before investing time and money in college or post secondary training.
The Contra Costa County Office of Education facilitates the ROP program, providing 170 state-of-the-art career development classes annually to over 13,000 students and adults throughout our county. Their high school program includes a broad range of academically focused career courses such as Animation, Biotechnology, Careers in Education, Computer Programming, Emergency Medical Services, Environmental Science, Fire Science, Forensics, Sports Medicine, and Video Production. Among the 74 ROPs in California, Contra Costa County ROP is the leader in the number of courses which have earned UC's "a-g" approval with 34 approved course offerings. Visit the ROP web site at www.cocoschools.org/rop for additional information.
Financial Aid 101
2 year and 4 year colleges, trade, and vocational schools basically have two types of financial aid available to their students - these are federal and institutional funds. Over $80 million is available in federal and state funding to disperse via grants, loans and work study programs to students able to prove financial need. Some private schools accumulate large institutional funds, from which they offer substantial scholarships and grants. Information is collected using the government's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, or a form used by some private colleges called the PROFILE, to determine what financial aide they can offer. Each family is assigned an Expected Family Contribution (EFC), computed from the data on these forms. Each of these forms requires different financial information, so the EFC derived from each methodology will be different. In disbursing institutional funds, whether they use the FAFSA or Profile to analyze family financial data, each school has a unique but uniform philosophy and applies a consistent approach to each circumstance.
Online financial aid calculators are available to give you an idea of your Expected Family Contributions using both methodologies.
www.finaid.org/calculators/
REMEMBER: Non-need based institutional funds are available but campuses need to have the appropriate forms completed to put your name in the running for the money!
FAFSA & Profile Sites
www.FAFSA.ed.gov: Begin by requesting a pin number (electronic signature) for both parent and student prior to completing the FAFSA. No fee is associated with this system. A worksheet form and instructions may be downloaded.
www.collegeboard.com: Submit PROFILE forms by the earliest filing dates specified by the colleges using these forms. Read (& print!) their acknowledgment - the next required steps will be explained. This is a "smart" form and will catch errors. There is a fee associated with the Profile but you may qualify for a fee waiver. Applicants receive qualification while completing the form.
FAFSA & Profile
What Are the Differences?
These two philosophies used for determining financial aid have totally different approaches regarding the information they gather. Each methodology treats home and farm equity, educational costs regarding siblings, family medical expenses, the financial responsibility of estranged or divorced parents, student educational contributions, and unusual circumstance very differently. It's best to check the school's financial aid website to determine which form they use to calculate their financial aid allotments. The following sites have financial calculators specific to each form:
CSS Profile: http://apps.collegeboard.com/fincalc/efc_welcome.jsp
FAFSA : www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/
The ABC's of GPA's
In addition to reporting grades, by semester, all student transcripts include a GPA Summary section. But what do those four different GPA's mean?
(Please keep in mind that GPA's on our transcripts reflect our policies. Colleges will usually re-calculate a student's GPA to reflect their own guidelines thus; our GPA's are only estimates of what a college might calculate.)
Total Weighted*: Includes grades received for ALL courses reported on the transcript with honors and AP course grades receiving an extra grade point. For example: A's in weighted classes receive 5 grade points (4 points for the 'A' and 1 weighted point), B's receive 4 grade points (3 points for the 'B' and 1 weighted point).
Total Unweighted: Includes grades received for ALL courses reported on the transcript with no extra grade points given for honors or AP courses.
CP Weighted*: Standing for 'College Prep Weighted' this includes grades received for college prep courses taken in grades 10 through 12 with honors and AP course grades receiving an extra grade point. College prep courses are noted on the transcript with a 'P' in front of the course title.
Cal Grant Unweighted: This GPA is used by the state of California to determine eligibility for certain loan and grant programs. The GPA is calculated on a 4.0 scale so no extra weight is given for honors or AP courses. Only grades received from the sophomore through junior year are used and P.E. courses are not included in the calculation.
* D's and F's in AP or Honors classes do not receive weighted grades.
Additional Notes:
When students receive a D or F in a course and repeat the exact same course, both grades are reported on the transcript and are calculated in the GPA.
Non-district courses (including DVC courses offered on the SRVHS campus) are not placed on the comprehensive high school transcript unless they are used to remediate a failed course or as part of the student's mandatory six-class/graduation requirements program.
Test Prep Options
While doing well on the SAT or ACT is important for most college admissions, spending $1,000's of dollars to prepare is not! Consider one of the following alternatives to expensive test prep:
On-line courses:
College Board offers a 4-month subscription to its on-line test prep for $69.95. Eighteen self-paced interactive lessons. Review key concepts, learn approaches and practice with lesson quizzes. Take official full-length tests. See www.collegeboard.com.
ACT offers a year-long subscription to its on-line prep for $19.95. Students take a diagnostic test which is followed up with a personalized study path with direction to areas of the program that will help students improve their scores. See www.act.org.
Number2.com offers free online test preparation courses for the SAT, ACT and GRE. The company mission is "to make higher education more accessible to students of all backgrounds". Aside from test prep, they also feature an ability differentiated vocabulary builder. See Number2.com.
City of San Ramon:
As part of their Enrichment Course offerings, the city of San Ramon offers Cambridge SAT Test Prep throughout the year. Nine 2-1/2 hour sessions for $244 (non-San Ramon residents). See www.ci.san-ramon.ca.us/srteen.
One-on-One Tutoring:
Many of the companies that offer full-length test prep courses also offer one-on-one tutoring. If students have specific areas of weakness a few one-on-one sessions may be a better investment of time and money!
Practice, practice, practice:
It's often said that if you want to be good at something....practice, practice, practice. Peterson's offers full-length ACT and SAT on-line tests formatted just like the real thing. There are detailed explanations for every question. See www.petersons.com/gaj/testprep.
When deciding if test prep is necessary and which option to use, remember the old adage, "you only get out of it what you put into it".
What Will You Do This Summer?
Summer opportunities can present a lot of options for students looking to learn something new, see a new place, gain a new skill, explore a career or experience a college campus! Stay local, travel to another US city or go abroad! Learn more about yourself, challenge your mind, and/or experience a different culture or way of life outside of your normal high school environment.
The SRVHS College and Career Center continuously receives program flyers and information for all kinds of opportunities for high school students. Stop by to check out some summer options for study programs, internships, or volunteering in the US and overseas. Prices, requirements and length of programs vary....come in and see what appeals to you! We receive new information each day...so stop by often and check out our Summer Programs binders!
Some examples include:
UC Berkeley - Academic Talent Development Program is a 6-week session of challenging and stimulating classes, designed for both acceleration and enrichment. For more information visit: http://atdp.berkeley.edu
Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, Oregon - Enhance your creativity with an intensive studio arts program that offers a unique introduction to art and design school. Pre-College summer studios, July 13-August 7, 2009. For more information: www.pnca.edu/programs/ce/precollege
National Geographic Student Expeditions - Visit Peru, China, India (and many other global locations) or attend campus programs at Monterey Bay, CA or Bar Harbor Maine. Experience new cultures and environments firsthand and perhaps gain a new appreciation for the world we live in. For more information: www.ngstudentexpeditions.com
Carnegie Melon in Pittsburgh, PA - Juniors and Seniors - discover Carnegie Melon this summer! Spend 6 weeks in one of 7 distinct pre-college programs. Take college courses, meet people from all over the country and have the time of your life. For more information: www.cmu.edu/enrollment/pre-college
Career Explorations for High School Students - Live and work in Boston and New York for the summer. Explore a career in Architecture, Veterinary Medicine, Fashion Merchandising, Journalism and much, much more. Meet high school students from all over the U.S. For more information: www.ceinternships.com
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising - "3 Days of Fashion" Instructor-led workshops give students the opportunity to put their creative talents to work with hands-on experience in all the workshops. Program available at all four FIDM campuses (SF, LA, OC and SD.) For more information:
http://fidm.edu/admissions/days-of-fashion/index.html
Academy of Art University in S.F. offers 6 week summer programs (up to 4 classes) on site and on line. For more information: http://www.academyart.edu/degrees/summer_artexperience.html
Diablo Valley College Summer Semester - DVC classes are open to any 11th or 12th grade student who can benefit from college level instruction. Summer is a great time to explore those options. For more information: http://www.dvc.edu/http://www.dvc.edu/highschool/starting/
Summer Discovery/Discovery Works/College Discovery - Educational summer programs at universities, language and cultural immersion opportunities worldwide, internships and community service. For more information: http://summerdiscovery.com/
InnerSpark - California State Summer School for the Arts High school students may apply to be selected for participation as a "California Arts Scholar" at the CA Institute of Arts in Valencia. Fields of study include: Film/Video, Creative Writing, Dance, Music, Animation, Theater and Visual arts. Scholarships are available. For more information: www.innerspark.us
Frequently Asked Questions
Some of the questions we are asked most frequently are:
"How many times should I take the SAT?" This varies by student and you should consult with your counselor after your first SAT scores are returned. We can help you interpret your scores and advise you on the need to repeat the test. Some colleges will mix and match your scores from different test dates and others will take the scores from only one test date (your highest composite score). The same is true for the ACT.
"How should I prepare for the SAT?" College Board suggests reading for pleasure and staying current in your math class. Some people feel better prepared after taking a prep course, or studying with a prep book, or online prep. It depends on your learning style and college goals. We recommend you take the SAT or ACT once and then decide your best course of action.
"How do I know if I'm taking the right courses to prepare for college?" The best way to find this out is to go to the college website and look for high school preparation or requirements for admissions. This is usually easy to find. Look for a link on the front page "Prospective Students". If you have trouble finding the information, or interpreting the information, you can ask your counselor or one of the career technicians.
"What about co-curricular activities?" Your co-curricular activities should match your interests or passion. It's great to be involved in something outside of class, but only if you are truly interested. You might want to try something new, or you might be passionate about one thing, and want to pursue that. The colleges that look at co-curricular activities (not all of them do) are looking for something that enriches your life experience and that you are able to articulate its importance in your life. They are not looking for a long list of small pursuits or memberships!
"Do I have to pick a major when applying to college?" Sometimes, but not often. Most colleges allow you to apply "undeclared". This means you can take general courses your first year and decide upon a major before your third year of college. If you declare a major, you can often change it. Be careful not to choose a major just to gain admission to the college. College admission officers are looking for students who don't appear sincere about their choice of major. There is no guarantee that you will be able to switch your major once you have been admitted to the college.
"What is General Education?" We've run out of room, but check the upcoming Next Steps for the answer!
On The Calendar
January 1
Online FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) submission begins! (Seniors)
January 26
FAFSA on the Web Workshop - SRVHS Library. Get expert help with the completion on your FAFSA form. Sign ups will take place the week of January 19th - space is limited. RSVP to 552-3007. (Seniors + one parent)
January 31
Cash for College Workshop - Diablo Valley College Library, Pleasant Hill. 10:00 - 2:00 p.m. Help completing FAFSA form and Cal Grant form. Additional information and what to bring: www.calgrants.org. (Seniors + one parent)
March 9
DVC Rep Visit - Career Center. Rep will discuss how to apply, assessment testing, course registration, etc. (Seniors)
March 23
DVC Assessment Test - SRVHS Library - 3:15 - 6:15 p.m. Sign ups will take place beginning March 9th. (Seniors)
