October 21, 2017

 

Thanks to all who have come out for Parents' Weekend. If you can't make it to the college counseling office to speak with us in person, please don't hesitate to reach out so we can address any concerns you may have about the college application process. We're here to help!

 

Reminders for Seniors

1. Students should have told Mr. White or Ms. Van Wagenen by October 1st if they are applying EA/ED. If they have changed their minds, and no longer want to apply EA/ED, they should let us know immediately. They should be sure to remind their recommendation writers of these early dates as well. We ask that all students with EA/ED deadlines check in with their college counselors before submitting those applications.

 

2. Students should not submit applications too far in advance; there may be changes they want to make. Submitting within three days of the due date offers ample time to deal with any unforeseen obstacles that may arise. The same goes for teacher and counselor documents: they do not need to be sent in more than three days before the deadline.

Coalition App for UW

Students who are applying to the University of Washington need to set up an account with the Coalition Application. The place to begin is here. 


Financial Aid 101

Remember Financial Aid 101! Junior and senior parents are invited to a special presentation this coming Friday, October 27th, by Thalassa Naylor from Sallie Mae, who will explain the essentials of applying for financial aid and evaluating financial aid packages. A question-and-answer session will follow. Students and families from York and Stevenson are invited to join us. The presentation will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Mary Johnson Recital Hall.


ACT Prep Course 

An ACT prep course will be held on campus beginning in January on Saturdays in anticipation of the April 14th ACT. See here for details. 


Elks National Foundation Scholarship

The Elks National Foundation will award 500 four-year scholarships to the highest-rated applicants in the 2018 competition.

 

  • Current high school seniors, or the equivalent, who are citizens of the United States are eligible to apply.
  • Applicants need not be related to a member of the Elks.
  • High school graduates are not eligible to apply.
  • Applicants must be citizens of the United States on the date their applications are signed; permanent legal resident status does not qualify.
  • Male and female students compete separately.

 

For more information, see here.

GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program

Honoring the legacy and character of our nation's 40th President, the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program rewards college-bound students who demonstrate exemplary leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship with financial assistance to pursue higher education.

 

Each year, the Program selects numerous recipients to receive a $10,000 scholarship renewable for up to an additional three years – up to $40,000 total per recipient. Awards are for undergraduate study and may be used for education-related expenses, including tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, and board. In addition, Scholars are invited to participate in a special awards program and receive ongoing leadership-development support.

The Elizabeth Kiss Trailblazer Scholarship at Agnes Scott

With Agnes Scott College's Elizabeth Kiss Trailblazer Scholarship, admitted students to the college who meet certain qualifications are eligible for a $25,000 merit-based scholarship, renewable for up to four years of their undergraduate education.

 

To qualify, applicants need only apply to Agnes Scott College. Applicants who have a 3.75 GPA (as reported by their high school) or a 1250 SAT score or 26 ACT score at the time of applying will receive the Elizabeth Kiss Trailblazer Scholarship. All application materials should be submitted before Jan. 15th, the Early Action II deadline. Applicants who qualify for the Trailblazer Scholarship will be notified at the time of admission.

 

Skills To Develop Before College

From UNIGO, a great website for scholarships and college information:

 

1. Self-discipline

This is one of THE most important qualities to develop before you get to college. To be successful in college — and life — you have to decide what you want and take action. Learn to do things on your own, because in college your parents won't be there to "motivate" you ("Get in your room and do your homework RIGHT NOW!") and your teachers won't tell you if you're failing class. It's all up to YOU!

 

2. Time management
Managing your time wisely makes all the difference. When you have a crazy schedule, reserving specific times for studying — and playing — will keep you on track and reduce stress. Too much of one or the other is bad for you. In school (and life), balance is important.

 

3. Prioritization
Nothing is harder than staying home to study for a final while your friends are out partying. But, sometimes that's what it comes down to. Prioritizing means taking a step back and deciding what is most important, which sometimes means sacrificing your immediate desires for future success.

 

4. Note-taking
If you plan to maintain a good GPA, you must know how to study for tests and quizzes — and that all boils down to the notes you take in class. Unlike high school, where most of the material comes from your books, in college most of the material will come from your professor's lectures. So, to do well, you have to pay attention and take great notes. If your professor is hard to understand or talks really fast, recording the lectures can help. And if there's anything you don't understand, raise your hand and ask!

 

5. Engagement
Developing positive relationships with your peers and professors can make a huge difference in your academic and social life. I can tell you from personal experience that engaging with your peers and professors will help you get better grades and create a more positive learning environment. Participate in class discussions and take advantage of your professors' office hours. Professors are impressed with students who take the initiative to discuss their questions and concerns.

 

6. Getting along with others
Being able to work well with others — especially those with whom you have a difference of opinion — is one of the greatest keys to success. If you can learn to set aside differences and cooperate to accomplish your goals, not only will you get what you want, you'll gain the respect of your peers.

 

7. Learning styles
Everyone learns differently. Experts say there are as many as seven different learning styles, such as visual learning, verbal learning, and hands-on learning. Maybe you learn better by engaging in class discussions, or watching videos, or reading independently. Experiment with different learning styles to find which are most effective for you.

 

8. Independence
Living on your own may seem like a piece of cake, but there are a lot of things to consider, like working, paying bills, budgeting your money, shopping, cooking, doing chores (which is part of being a responsible and considerate roommate) — and that's all besides school!

 

Developing these skills will take time and effort, but the sooner you start, the more success you'll have in your academic, professional, and personal life.

 

NYTimes: "College Advice I Wish I'd Taken"

We're grateful to Mr. Aime for forwarding us this article from the New York Times. It's a handy guide to priority-setting for our college-students-to-be.


College Visits

Monday - October 23, 2017
10:05 AM - 10:35 AM
College Counseling Office
 
Wednesday - October 25, 2017
8:55 AM - 9:25 AM
College Counseling Office
 
11:35 AM - 12:05 PM
College Counseling Office
 
Thursday - October 26, 2017
1:10 PM - 1:40 PM
College Counseling Office
 
Friday - October 27, 2017
8:05 AM - 8:35 AM
College Counseling Office
 
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Mary Johnson Recital Hall
 
Saturday - October 28, 2017
ACT
8:00 AM
 
 
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Santa Catalina School

1500 Mark Thomas Drive, Monterey, CA 93940

831.655.9300

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