New Miami High School Senior Guidance Newsletter #2 October 2014 Dear Parents and Seniors, Welcome to Issue #2 of the Senior Newsletter! This newsletter contains a lot of important information so please read it carefully. Some of the highlights include how to make the most of meeting with a college rep, campus visit procedures, scholarship information, tips for admissions, and much more. College Representative Visits College representatives have been visiting New Miami High School. Students should sign up in the Guidance Office or in English class in advance to attend a session of their choice. What should I say to college reps? If you wish to speak with a college rep, begin by saying something like: "Hello, my name is. I am thinking about attending your school. If you know your major be sure to mention it. Here are several questions you could ask: Is my intended major available? When must I choose a major at your college? How large are class sizes? Are classes taught by teaching assistants or professors? Is your school public, private, or affiliated with any religious institution? What types of internships/co op experience are available? What type of high school background are you looking for in a student? What types of extracurricular activities are offered? Are there any special visitation days for your campus? Are there programs for study abroad? Are there computer labs available to students? What percentage of students return for their sophomore year? What percentage of your freshman will graduate from your college? How large is the current student body? Is the college located in a rural, suburban, or urban setting? Do most of the students remain on campus during the weekends?
What are some popular weekend activities? Are students guaranteed dorm space? What are the deadlines for applications for admission/financial aid? Do you accept Advanced Placement credit? What is the cost of tuition, room and board? What scholarships might be available to me? What should I do at the end of a session? You can send a follow up note or email the college rep telling him/here you enjoyed their visit. Present yourself professionally by writing a grammatically correct, typed or neatly handwritten note. Remember, the more you communicate with the schools you want to attend, the better they get to know you! Campus Visitation Procedure Campus visits are the best way to learn about the unique qualities of the college and to get a feel for what it would be like to live and study there. The procedure for campus visits is as follows: 3 college visit days are permitted all year; absences are excused with proper documentation ask for a College Visit form from Mrs. Elam in the Guidance Office. notify your teachers in advance so they know why you will be absent and to get assignments to complete in advance. avoid being absent when you are having a major review or test. a college admission officer must sign the letter to verify your visit. the form must be returned to Mrs. Stoler in the Office the next day in order to obtain an excused absence. FYI Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Program This program allows students to take college classes while they are in high school. The courses count for credit in both places. New Miami students usually participate at Miami University Hamilton campus. The Miami regional campuses requirement a 3.25 GPA or higher and place college ready on the Compass Placement Test. November 1, 2013 is the deadline date for students who plan to register for classes during the spring term at either campus. PSEO applications and course selections are available in the Guidance Office. It is very important that parents and students understand that students must provide their own transportation to the Hamilton campus. Common Application
The Common Application is now available online at www.commonapp.org. It can be used to apply to almost 500 colleges/universities to their undergraduate programs. The application can be downloaded, completed online and submitted electronically. Many schools use this process exclusively and give equal consideration to the Common Application and their own form. Go online to see what colleges and universities use the Common Application for admission. Ohio Graduation Test The Fall OGT will take place the week of October 27 th 31 st. All 11 th and 12 th graders who have not passed one or more sections of the OGT must retake the tests that they need to pass. The Ohio Department of Education requires that students graduating in the class of 2015 pass all 5 subject area tests in order to receive their diploma unless otherwise exempted. If you have questions regarding the upcoming OGT test please see your counselor. Scholarship Corner College/University Scholarships Almost every college/university sponsors scholarship programs for those students who apply to that specific higher education institution. Colleges and universities are continually sending information to the New Miami Guidance Office. Extensive files have been organized in our office and are available for students to select scholarships the wish to apply for based upon their school of choice. Come in and browse through the files we have available for your use. General Scholarships As scholarship information becomes available it will appear in each newsletter. Read the scholarship descriptions carefully to see if your needs fit the criteria. Horatio Alger Association Scholarship scholarship provides financial assistance to seniors who have a financial need and have exhibited integrity and perseverance in overcoming personal adversity. The scholarships each year range from $7,000 $22,000. Apply from August 1 st October 25 th, 2014 at www.horatioalger.org/scholarships MENSA Education & Research Foundation Scholarship winners will receive up to $3,000 at the local level based on an online essay 550 words or less describing their academic or career goals. Applications must be submitted no later than January 15, 2015. Students can apply at www.mensafoundation.org/scholarships
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards unique opportunity to win $1000.00 and a trip to Washington D.C. for students who make a difference through volunteering. Go to spirit.prudential.com or nassp.org/spirit to access the online application. Complete the application and the student/parent agreement. Deadline: November 4, 2014. General Electric Credit Union 17th Annual Robert A. Cunningham Memorial Scholarship To be considered for the scholarship, each applicant must meet the following criteria: 1. Be a college bound high school senior 2. Be a Primary member of the GECU 3. Have activities that demonstrate a steadfast and long serving spirit of volunteerism 4. Have a strong academic record with at least a B average Applications must include 1) An essay (described on the scholarship application form 2) Two letters of recommendation (one from an organization where you have volunteered) 3) An official copy of your transcript You can pick up an application from Mrs. Elam. The deadline is 5:00pm on Monday, January 5, 2014. For more information visit: www.gecreditunion.org Current Promotions found under Quick Links on our homepage. 2014 Take Action Video Contest submit a 60 second video on consumer scams, cyber security, or identity theft. The top three winners will receive $2,500, $1,500, and $1,000 college scholarships. The video submission deadline is December 12, 2014. For more information, to view last year s winners, or to submit a video, visit www.ohioattorneygeneral.org/takeactioncontest University of Saint Francis School of the Creative Arts Talent Scholarship Day Saturday, October 18 th from 1 5 pm and Friday, December 5 th from 9am 4pm. To reserve a time, call 260 399 7700 ext. 8001
College Rep Visit to New Miami Thursday, October 23 The University of Mount St. Joseph Other Upcoming College and Career Events Muskingham University Fall Visit Days Saturday, October 11th Friday, October 24th Saturday, November 1st Tuesday, November 11th Friday, November 14th Sign up at http://www.muskingham.edu/admissions/programs.html Discover Duke University Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter 10 West RiverCenter Boulevard Covington, KY 41011 Saturday October 18 th, 2014 at 11:00am Women and Minorities in Engineering and Technology Day University of Cincinnati Wednesday, October 29 th from 9:00am 3:00pm FREE for all interested junior and senior level female or ethnic minority students Register at http://tinyurl.com/wmietday2014 The University of Akron Fall Visit Days Saturday, October 11 th Saturday, November 1 st