SMHS Counseling News. College Workshops. Work Permits. Ace tutoring

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1 SMHS Counseling News SAN MARCOS HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELING COLLEGE & CAREER CENTER OCTOBER 2014 Important Dates CSU & UC APP Workshops Wednesday, October 1st and Thursday October 2nd (CSU during periods 1,3,5 and UC during periods 2,4,6) *Sign up in Career Center College Expo Tuesday, October 7th San Marcos High School Knights Center 6:00pm 8:00pm Common Application Workshop Thursday, October 16th Periods 2, 4 & 6 *Sign up in Career Center Knight Zone SAT Prep Class Monday, September 29th through Monday, October 13th *Monday s & Wednesday s at 3:00pm in the Library s Media Center College Workshops College season is upon us and our seniors are hard at work completing and submitting their college applications. We have record numbers signed up for our upcoming College Application Workshops on October 1st, 2nd and 16th. Parents please remind your seniors CSU/UC applications are due on November 30 th. Work Permits +Work Permits obtained for last school year or in the summer will expire on September 5 th. Students who are currently employed will need to renew their Work Permit in the College & Career Center with Mrs. Gagnon as soon as possible. Ace tutoring PSAT Saturday, October 18th From 8:00am - 12:00 pm End of the Grading Period Friday, November 7th

2 Check out how awesome our college expo is going to be!

3 InternatIonal women s hackathon

4 Are you on pace? The beginning of the year is a great time to make sure you are on PACE! The PACE Promise, a joint program of San Marcos Unified School District (SMUSD) and California State University San Marcos (CSUSM), guarantees CSUSM admission to all district students continuously enrolled in the district from 9th through 12th grade who meet entrance requirements.* The PACE Promise plan is designed to help students prepare for college entrance. Please note that San Marcos High School Counselors recommend taking Three years of Science and Foreign Language Courses as opposed to the required two years for each. See your counselor if you have any questions. For more information on the PACE Promise, please visit the PACE Promise website at *As determined by CSUSM. Useful Websites SMHS CSU UC california.edu Common App Palomar College Mira Costa College College Board & SAT ACT NCAA Eligibility Center FINANCIAL AID As we approach the college application season, questions about financial aid also come up. In December, counselors will host Financial Aid workshops to help answer questions and assist students with the FAFSA process. If you and your family would like to get a head start, you can apply for your FAFSA pin now (the FAFSA can be submitted online starting January 1 st, 2015). The pin is your electronic signature for the FAFSA (both parent/student will need one); you can obtain yours at **If you do not have a Social Security number you will complete the Dream Application, not the FAFSA. For more information on the Dream Application please visit: The Dream Application can be submitted online starting January 1 st, SMHS Counselors will host a Financial Aid Night for parents in January. More info to follow.

5 Uc application data

6 ncaa It is time for college-bound student-athletes to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Who Should Register? Any current high school sophomore, junior or senior who wishes to participate in collegiate athletics at an NCAA Division I or II college or university should register. How Does Registration Work? Registrants may access the site atwww.eligibilitycenter.org. From the home page, click on Enter Here for NCAA college-bound student-athletes, then on the New Account link in the upper right corner. From there, they simply follow the prompts. In order for college-bound student-athletes academic certification to be processed, they must have test scores submitted to the NCAA Eligibility Center directly from the testing agency. TEST SCORE SUBMISSION Students may take the ACT or the SAT an unlimited number of times prior to full-time collegiate enrollment. All ACT and SAT scores must be reported to the NCAA Eligibility Center. It is best for students to list the NCAA Eligibility Center as a score recipient at the time of exam registration to avoid additional fees. Please note only official test scores sent from the testing agency (ACT/SAT) are acceptable. Test scores on your high school transcript will not be used. Here is the step-by-step process to have your test scores sent. SAT Score: 1. Log on to the testing agency website at: d-sat-scores 2. The code is 9999 to select the NCAA Eligibility Center as a score recipient (either during exam registration or after exam registration) 3. After submitting the request, your official test scores will be sent to the NCAA Eligibility Center and the test score section of your account and your status report will be updated; and 4. If you need additional assistance, you can contact College Board's customer service at 866/ ACT SCORE: 1. Log on to the testing agency website at 2. The code is 9999 to select the NCAA Eligibility Center as a score recipient (either during exam registration or after exam registration) 3. After submitting the request, your official test scores will be sent to the NCAA Eligibility Center and the test score section of your account and your status report will be updated; and 4. If you need additional assistance, you can contact College Board's customer service at 319/

7 Need help with math? 5 things you should know about the new SAT: Spending countless hours memorizing obscure vocabulary words is a fate suffered by many high school students preparing for the SAT college-entrance exam. But with the new test coming in spring 2016, this rite of passage may become obsolete. In March 2014, the College Board, which administers the SAT, announced significant changes to the exam to better assess students readiness for the academic challenges of college. This means that if you re currently a freshman or sophomore high school student, you ll face an entirely different exam than your junior and senior peers one that will be more closely tied to the skills that you ll need in college and your career, according to the College Board. But before you start burning your flash cards, here are five things you should know about the new test: 1. UC applicants must still write an essay. Although the essay section will be optional for most test takers, UC will require it for admission. The new essay will be 50 minutes (versus 25 minutes) and will require students to use evidence in order to make an argument about a written passage. 2. A perfect score will be Scores will return to the well-known 400 to 1600 scale. 3. Goodbye, SAT words"; hello, real-world language. Obscure vocabulary popularly known as SAT words will no longer be a focus of the exam. Instead, students will be expected to demonstrate that they understand the kinds of words that they might encounter in college courses (e.g., synthesis, empirical). 4. The verbal and math sections now will be based on material students may encounter in a college classroom. Students will analyze passages and solve equations pulled from a broad range of disciplines, including science, social studies and history. There no longer will be a penalty for incorrect answers. No more worrying about those educated guesses! You will earn points only for questions answered correctly.

8 Seniors & Parents: DOWNLOAD THE APP ASAP! If you are a senior or a parent and would like to receive text message updates throughout the year, please follow the steps to join Remind 101. The counseling office will send out important information and reminders throughout the school year. ***Please make sure you sign up for the correct account (either senior or parent). ***

9 SAVING FOR COLLEGE Overall, college tuition has risen an astonishing 79.5% in the last decade nearly double the rate of growth for medical care during the same period; the cost of academic textbooks increased by a similar margin between and According to CollegeBoard, the average undergraduate in the United States paid the following charges (tuition combined with room/board) during the year: Public two-year (in-state): $10,730 Public four-year (in-state): $18,391 Public four-year (out-of-state): $31,701 Private nonprofit four-year: $40,917 For-profit (tuition only): $15,130 In order to afford such high costs, prospective students and their parents need to start with a manageable college savings plan. Families can choose from several different savings plan options for their student, some of which carry benefits like tax deductibility and/or the opportunity to purchase college credits at a discounted price. This article will discuss the most widely available options for individuals who would like to start accruing funds that will be be used to finance their post secondary education. 529 COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN Also known as a qualified tuition plan, the 529 rewards plan-holders who save for college by providing them with tax advantages. The Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) notes that two 529 account types are available: a prepaid tuition plan and a college savings plan. According to FinAid.org, all 50 states (as well as the District of Columbia) make college savings plans available to legal residents. Prepaid plans are available in 16 states. The Prepaid Tuition Plan Enables the account-holder to buy credit units at higher-learning institutions that will be used in the future to pay tuition and administrative fees (as well as room/board, in some cases) Essentially locks in tuition costs; enrolled students pay tuition at a fixed rate determined at the time of the initial investment, meaning rates won t be adjusted at a later rate, protecting against future inflation Plans often guaranteed by the state, which somewhat mitigates market risk Most plans impose an age or grade limit on beneficiaries (such as 18 years) Individuals may only set up a prepaid tuition plan during a standard enrollment period The College Savings Plan Allows the account-holder to set aside a portion of money for the plan beneficiary Money saved will eventually be used to finance tuition, room and board, and other college expenses Plans do not impose an age or grade limit, nor do they require state residency, which allows students and parents to consider a greater number of plans Generally no enrollment period Slightly riskier than a prepaid plan, since tuition prices aren t locked in, and the state assumes no responsibility for account funds if the market underperforms...

10 SAVING FOR COLLEGE (continued) In terms of contribution, most prepaid tuition plans are based on a lump sum and installation pay schedule determined before the money is used to pay for college expenses. This schedule is usually based on two factors: the age of the beneficiary and the number of years they expect to attend college. On the other hand, college savings plans will impose a limit on the amount of money allowed to accrue in the account, but most of these limits exceed $200,000. Both prepaid tuition and college savings 529 plans are tax-sheltered, meaning the account-holder will not be required to pay federal (and, in most cases, state) taxes on earnings if that money is used to finance tuition, administrative fees, books, and other academic expenses. Additionally, several states provide income tax benefits, matching grants, or other incentives for individuals who open a prepaid tuition plan. However, account holders who withdraw 529 funds, and do not use these monies for educational purposes, may receive a tax penalty on their annual earnings that can be as high as 10%. Access to a 529 savings plan may affect the beneficiary s eligibility for need-based financial aid. On the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), both 529 options are treated as parental assets and included in the household s expected family contribution for college expenses. Where and how you enroll in a prepaid tuition or college savings plan will depend on your state of residence. Please visit FinAid.org or Morningstar to view state-specific lists of all available 529 plans. Read more at: PSAT The PSAT will be held on campus on Saturday, October 18 th at 8:00 am until around 12:00 pm. This is a practice exam for the SAT, which is taken in spring of junior year. 11 th graders who plan to attend a four-year university directly from high school should take this exam. 11 th graders who score well can qualify for National Merit and other scholarships. Counselors also encourage 10 th graders to take the exam for the extra practice. The payment window is Monday, September 15 Friday, September 26 at the finance window. 11 th graders- the cost is $22. Please make checks payable to San Marcos Unified, pay cash or pay online at the web store. If you qualify for free and reduced lunch, then you can pick up a fee waiver from the counseling office. Questions: Please contact the Career Center at th and 10 th graders GEAR UP is sponsoring the exam for you. Please see GEAR UP in room 301 to get a waiver. Then you will take the waiver to the finance window. Questions: Please go to GEAR UP in room 301 or call

11 KNIGHT ZONE ACTIVITIES SMUSD parenting classes for families with SPED students September 25 th CHIP- Challenges in parenting 6:00-8:00 PM CHIP a once monthly workshop for parents of special education students who are seeking additional supports to improve their student s school performance. Licensed therapists from North County Family Counseling Specialists will conduct these classes. There is no cost to the families, and they will be offered once a month on Thursday evenings at the district office at 255 Pico Ave. Suite 250, San Marcos. This workshop will offer not only an opportunity to learn new coping skills and interventions, but provide a venue to discuss concerns with peers. Another additional benefit is the potential for parent/s to widen their own support network with other caring and committed parents. Classes start at 6 p.m. at the District Office 255 Pico Ave. Suite 250. Sept. 25th Dec. 18th March 19th Oct. 16th Jan. 15th April 16th Nov. 20th Feb. 19th May 21st Contact Esther Flores at: esther.flores@smusd.org or at to reserve your spot for these workshops. *Interpretation services provided for monolingual Spanish speaking parents.

12 SMHS PARENT KNIGHT

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14 SAN MARCOS HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELING COLLEGE & CAREER CENTER SEPTEMBER 2014 Attention students with an IEP or 504 plan! If you are planning on applying to a four year university directly from high school (not attending a community college first), you will be taking the PSAT, SAT and/or ACT during your junior year. Some students may qualify for similar accommodations to those listed in the IEP or 504. College Board and ACT are not required to grant these accommodations, however if you think they would be beneficial, you might want to try to request them. In order to request accommodations, you must apply directly to the test-taking companies. You will need to submit a copy of the IEP or 504. The websites are: (SAT) (ACT) Please contact your student s counselor and/or monitoring teacher if you have questions about the process. MEET OUR NEW INTERN! Brie Scalise - CSUSM-MSW Intern Hi! My name is Brie Scalise and I am a Counseling/Social Work Intern here at San Marcos High School. I am in my first year of the MSW Program at Cal State University San Marcos. I am beyond excited to be here because I grew up in San Marcos and I am a SMHS Alumni. So much has changed since I graduated back in 2003! I look forward to getting to know everyone and eager to help the students in any way that I can! Your counselors A-C Lori Nguyen (760) lori.nguyen@smusd.org D-H Kelly Lanzarone (760) kelly.lanzarone@smusd.org I-Mo Janet Paul (760) janet.paul@smusd.org Mu-R Lisa Stout (760) lisa.stout@smusd.org S-Z Lisa Berry (760) lisa.berry@smusd.org