November 18, 2017
As we all look forward to a break from our busy routines, let's remember to be grateful for our wonderful Santa Catalina community and congratulate each other on all the hard work we have accomplished so far this year. Happy Thanksgiving!
News and Views will resume publication on December 2.
The Importance of Context in College Rankings
From this week's Huffington Post comes an excellent article on the importance of reading college rankings skeptically when insufficient context is provided. Focusing on the Department of Education's "College Scorecard" released in September, author Jonathan M. Brand reminds us that the scorecard "has made it easier to produce rankings, but those rankings are not necessarily better information than previously available. Media organizations often apply lenses to the data specific to their audience, but fail to explain why the data they are using are important."
ACT Test Prep Course
In case you haven't heard, we will be offering an ACT prep course on campus next semester. Anyone interested is invited to an information session that will be held here on Thursday, November 30, at 6:30 pm. In the meantime, see here for details about the program.
UC and CSU Applications
Remember that UC and Cal State applications are due November 30. If you still would like help with either, please let Mr. White or Ms. Van Wagenen know at your earliest convenience. We will only have three school days left after Thanksgiving to assist you before you submit those applications.
Sending Test Scores for CSU Applications
When sending SAT or ACT scores for CSU applications, use the CSU Long Beach school code, 4389, even if you are not applying to Long Beach specifically. It is not a problem if you have used another Cal State code, because sending to any one campus is supposed to result in all of them having access to your scores. However, the latest information we have received is that using the Long Beach code is the best guarantee of this. Just remember to check your Cal States around January 1 to make sure they have received your test scores.
Additional Reminders for Seniors
Check your Naviance accounts for the type of application that you have indicated: EA, ED, EDII, or RD (regular decision). This is what Ms. Van Wagenen and Mr. White refer to when timing the submission of your documents to colleges. Unless you have listed a school as EA or ED, we won't know to send documents early. If RD is shown, we send them in accordance with regular decision deadlines. When you submit an application, please notify Ms. Van Wagenen or Mr. White. This, too, will help ensure timely submission of our documents.
If you receive emails from schools saying that documents are missing, please contact Ms. Van Wagenen or Mr. White immediately. Often, these messages are triggered before all documents are downloaded by the schools, so please do not panic. Schools want as many completed applications as they can get, and we can usually take care of the "missing" documents with a phone call to the admissions office of your prospective school.
Finally, if you used the Coalition Application for the University of Washington, which was due November 15, note that there is nothing else that needs to be done to complete your application.
SMU Hunt Leadership Scholars Program
Breaking news from SMU: "The Nancy Ann and Ray L. Hunt Leadership Scholars Program enables outstanding student leaders from all walks of life to come to SMU. Students selected as Hunt Leadership Scholars for the Class of 2022 will receive an annual Hunt Scholarship of $42,000, or a total of $168,000 over four years. Hunt Scholars may also be eligible for additional departmental scholarships or need-based aid for a total scholarship package valued up to the cost of tuition and fees. In addition, because leaders of the 21st century will need to have a global vision in any area of leadership, the scholarship also covers the airfare and tuition costs for any courses during an international, leadership-based experience immediately following each scholar's sophomore year."
For more information, see the program website.
College Board Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Founded in 1975, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) aims to empower Latino families with the knowledge and resources to successfully complete higher education, while providing scholarships and support services to as many exceptional Hispanic American students as possible. HSF has awarded more than $550 million in scholarships and provides a range of impactful programs for students, HSF scholars, alumni, and parents. The application opens January 1, 2018, and closes March 31, 2018. Scholarship recipients will be selected in June 2018. For more information, see here.
Santa Clara Theatre and Dance Scholarship Auditions
Santa Clara University has announced that the Department of Theatre and Dance annual merit scholarship auditions will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2018. This is a great opportunity for prospective students to not only audition for departmental scholarship funds but also see the school's excellent facilities and meet their professional faculty. The scholarship application and instruction forms are available online.
 |
 |
 |
 |