College & Career Newsletter

Scroll through for important information regarding College/Career

How to reach us?

For general questions and inquiries please email (Please do not use the link at the bottom of this Newsletter to contact us)

Ms Ignaitis: tignaitis@seq.org

All HCA, Study Skills Students and Last names A-L

and/or

Ms Yeager: tyeager@seq.org

All DAA, ELD Students and Last names M-Z

UPCOMING EVENTS/DUE DATES:

April 23, 2025 School Day SAT - SEE JUNIOR SECTION for Sign-up Information

• Finals Week 12/16-12/19: Monday-Wednesday, 2pm-4pm, and Thursday, 11am-1pm (closed on Friday).
• With Mr. Calles in Room B-8.
• The deadline for seniors to complete Edgenuity (credit recovery) is May 30th, 2025. Please contact your assigned counselor if you have any questions.

If you have not participated in any volunteer activities, maybe it is now the time to start?

Below are some resources to help you find a place to volunteer

Volunteer Websites

From: Your College Admissions Game Plan

“If you already know a particular organization for which you would like to volunteer, find their website and take a look. Most will have a page that provides contact and other general information, and will be glad to hear from you. If you are not quite that focused yet, here is a list of websites that can help steer you in the right direction.”

Two site you can search for opportunities near where you live;

Volunteer Match (www.volunteermatch.com)

Site helps clubs with fundraising tips and sample letters;

Network for Good (www.networkforgood.org)

Volunteer opportunities with an international bent;

Idealist (www.idealist.org)

Volunteer opportunities at national parks, historical sites and other public agencies;

Volunteer gov

Volunteer in your city;

City of Redwood City (most cities have listings)

City of San Carlos

Could not find one for East Palo Alto

Sequoia is offering the School Day SAT on April 23rd

REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL DAY SAT on APRIL 23rd::

Only current SHS 11th-graders are eligible.

Only students can complete this form and MUST use their Sequoia email.

By completing the form above, students understand the following:

• All students will pay $25 by cash or check with Ms. Gordon in the Treasurer's Office or by credit card through My School Bucks by February 5, 2025 to hold their spot. The money is non-refundable. If paying for the test is an issue, please email Ms. Yeager.

• All students will attend a FLEX or Lunch Time meeting to complete the pre-administration session.

• All students will report to Gym 1 on Wednesday April 23rd at 7:30am to begin testing at 8:00am.

Please note, all accommodations are processed by the College Board and directions for receiving accommodations are available here.

DEADLINE to complete form: Wed Jan 22, 2025

REMINDER: UC/CSU do not require SAT/ACT

How to Access Your Scores

View your score on BigFuture School. If you provided your mobile number on test day, you'll receive a text message with access to the BigFuture School mobile app.

As always, you may view your scores online by creating a College Board Account.

If you have trouble accessing your account, call Customer Service at 866-630-9305.

Once you've received your scores, learn how you can use your scores for practice, scholarship opportunities, and more in the Resources section of the BigFuture app.

SEQUOIA DOES NOT PROVIDE A SCHOOL REPORT FOR COLLEGE BOARD TESTING.

As you are considering different schools to apply to, make sure to check out their testing policies. If you need or want to take a test, it is your responsibility to sign-up and register for the tests.

Use these links below to sign-up for the SAT or ACT:

College Board

ACT

• Your 504 or IEP accommodations are not covered for outside testing.
• If you want accommodations for the SAT or ACT, you need to request them separately through the College Board or ACT.
• It is the responsibility of the families to research and provide all necessary documentation since these tests are not associated with Sequoia.
• While families can submit their documentation on their own, Sequoia can also complete the final submission step. For more information about this process, go to our website: The College Board Process for SAT/PSAT and The Process for ACT

December and January lists are now NOW AVAILABLE.

Click HERE to go directly to the Sequoia High School website for the most updated scholarship and student opportunities lists. How to Access Scholarships on Naviance (9-12th Grades)

If you find a scholarship you are interested in and want the link to the website or more information be sure to log in to your Naviance account, under the College tab, click on Scholarships and Money, then Scholarship list, and put the name of the scholarship in the search box, then click on the name of the scholarship.

DUE: December 31st

ELIGIBLE GRADES: 9-12th

Submit an essay of 250 words or less. Winners are chosen based on the submitted personal statement. Legal resident of the U.S. Not based on past academic performance or need based aid.

They want to help pay for your college! "

DUE: December 31st

ELIGIBLE GRADES: 9-12th

No income or gpa requirements. Point based scholarship - create a profile of your academic classes, extracurricular activities, volunteering, goals, etc.

DUE: December 31st

ELIGIBLE GRADES: 10-12th

Earn entries in monthly drawings for $500 and $40,000 scholarships by completing steps to plan for college. The sooner you start and the more steps you complete, the more chances you’ll have to win

DUE: January 10th

ElIGIBLE GRADES: 9th-12th Grades

Create a 500-1000 word essay. 2025 Prompt: How have your mental health experiences helped you to create a supportive and open mental health environment with your peers, within and outside of your high school? WEBSITE

DUE: January 12th

ELIGIBLE GRADES: 9th-12th

The San Mateo County Chapter of OCA is now accepting applications for its premier Speak and Lead with Pride program for the 2024 year! This is a hands-on course designed to teach the art of public speaking and leadership skills to high school students. Over the course of 6 weeks, participants will gain remarkable confidence in their public speaking and leadership abilities. The course concludes with a recognition ceremony and speech contest for a $500 cash prize.

WEBSITE

DUE: Jan 12th

ELIGIBLE GRADES: 9-12th

1000-word essay contest invites high school students to consider the concept of political courage. To learn more about political courage, visit Contest Information and FAQs. All submissions must adhere to contest requirements.

DUE: January 27th

ELIGIBLE AGES: 14-18

Design a poster highlighting job safety and health for teens. See website for details.

DUE: January 6th

ELIGIBLE AGES: Must be at least 16 yrs old before June 1st

KP LAUNCH is a paid summer internship program introducing high school and undergraduate students to careers in the healthcare industry. We are seeking applicants from under-resourced communities and diverse backgrounds.

Interns receive:

• Full-time paid internships
• Hands-on assignments and professional development
• Exposure to careers in healthcare, an industry that never stops growing
• Networking and mentoring from leading health care professionals
• Opportunities to develop professional and personal leadership skills

Apply by visiting their application WEBSITE

While working, interns gain exposure to various health careers that they may choose to pursue. Application link below;

DUE: January 15th

ELIGIBLE GRADES: 11th and 12th

As a Student Leader, you will participate in an eight-week paid internship at a local nonprofit organization where you will learn first-hand about the needs of your community and the critical role nonprofits play. In addition, you will learn valuable civic, social and business leadership skills. Each Student Leader will attend the Student Leaders Summit held in Washington, D.C. where you will learn how government, business and the nonprofit sector work together to address critical community needs. WEBSITE

Due: 12/22/2024

Grades Eligible: 9-12th

IN THIS ONLINE PROGRAM YOUTH WILL...Unpack topics in intersectional environmentalism, Craft compelling social media content that inspires action, Express their creativity and find their design identity, Strengthen their media toolkit and digital literacy, Build a portfolio of design work., Earn volunteer hours and Meet mentors who want to see them thrive! WEBSITE

ELIGIBLE AGES: 14+

DPS Rescue is searching for new volunteers for our biweekly events in Palo Alto! We welcome volunteers of all experience levels and backgrounds, ages 14+, and offer community service credits/sign-offs if needed. Complete form on their WEBSITE.

Available All Year

Eligible Grades:9-12th

The San Mateo County Historical Association offers a number of free public programs throughout the year for Lunar New Year, Happy San Mateo County Day, Fourth of July (half-price admission), Victorian Days, Día de los Muertos, and Hometown Holidays. We are always looking for volunteers to assist with craft activities and gallery monitoring for these events. Interested students can email carmen@historysmc.org for upcoming volunteer opportunities. WEBSITE

This is a great opportunity for SHS students to be matched with a younger student to tutor once or twice a week.

If interested contact:

Email - rclread@redwoodcity.org

Phone- 650 780-7077

For more information go to their website and scroll down to the Teen Volunteer Section.

(Flier in College and Career Center)

What is sticker price?

So you’ve looked at a few types of schools and have seen their sticker prices (listed costs). For most students, there is still a BIG DIFFERENCE between the “sticker price” of a college and the actual amount they will end up paying.

• The difference between sticker price and what you pay is the financial aid you receive. Financial aid—in short—is money that helps you pay for college.

• Financial aid awarded to you is affected by two main factors:

• Need: you and your family’s financial need

• Merit: your academic performance and extracurricular activities

STICKER PRICE (LISTED COST) = Tuition & Fees + Food & Housing + Books + Miscellaneous Personal Expenses + Transportation

FINANCIAL AID = Grants + Scholarships + Loans + Work-Study

The difference between sticker price and what a student may pay can be big or small. For example, the listed

“sticker price” for the University of Notre Dame is $82,925

But look at what the average family cost is on the chart below

More than 80,000 women and men working in one of more than 800 occupations in California construction trades began as apprentices. To enter the building trades, you must start as an apprentice.

An apprenticeship is an excellent career choice if you

• like to work with your hands

• are willing to serve an apprenticeship for up to five years, depending on the trade

• have dexterity, mechanical ability, problem-solving skills and the ability to work collaboratively with a team

• want to earn a living wage and good benefits

• want the opportunity to advance in your career

If you are interested in pursuing a trade apprenticeship, the following are great resources to begin your search and/or learn more about opportunities within California:

California Apprenticeship Coordinators Association website

Division of Apprenticeship Standards

If you are interested in learning more about The Trades, please email tignaitis@seq.org (Ms Ignaitis)

Goetz Bros. Sporting Goods is looking to hire part-time sales associates. Students usually work 6-10 hours a week, after school and on Saturdays. Sports experience is nice but not a must and no work experience is required. Tasks will include customer service, inventory management and assistance with custom decoration. For more information or to apply contact Brent Goetz, brent@goetzsports.com or 650-366-4082

ELIGIBLE GRADES/AGE: Juniors and Seniors

$17.00 hour Looking for students with good math and reading skills who are available to work approximately 6 - 8 hours per week on Monday and Thursday afternoons. Ideal part time job for high school or college students. Pick up a flier in the College and Career Center

If interested email qualifications and resume to kumonsancarlos@gmail.com

ELIGIBLE AGE/GRADE: 16yr+ (Must have own transportation)

Looking for high school students with exceptional math skills through Algebra I and Geometry to join our team! We offer competitively paid part-time jobs at Sequoia Station with flexible scheduling and ongoing training opportunities. Join us for the opportunity to make a REAL difference in a child’s life by passing on a love for math!

Our starting salaries are $17.00-$19.00 depending on what level of math the instructors can teach.

If interested, please apply online

Pick up a flier in the College and Career Center

CaliforniaColleges.edu provides free college and career planning tools for California public school students and educators, including an academic planner where students can track their A-G completion status and admission eligibility for UC and CSU. CaliforniaColleges.edu also allows students to easily launch and track their applications to UC campuses and for financial aid. Keeping all this information in one place makes the college application process easier and smoother, not only for students, but for their school districts and the campuses to which they are applying.

If you didn’t register for an account last year- see the slide below to register

We want all families to complete this confidential meal application so that qualifying students can receive reduced cost bus passes, internet, prom tickets, grad night tickets, college application fees and IB testing registration. To complete the meal application, click here.

Needs to be completed every year!

August 18-24, 2024

August 25-31, 2024 ANNOUNCEMENTS/UPCOMING: Grade Level 4YR College/IB Meeting, CSF Applications Open, College Day for Freshmen, COLLEGE TIP: Visiting Colleges is a Great Way to Figure Out What Type of College Is Best for You!

September 1-7, 2024

ANNOUNCEMENTS/UPCOMING: Grade Level 4YR College/IB Meeting, PSAT for Juniors

COLLEGE TIP: What Did You Do Over the Summer? Did You Receive Any Awards Last Spring? Reflect on Who You Are as an Applicant While Updating Your Naviance Resume

September 15-21, 2024 COLLEGE TIP: Best Practices to Help Students Build A Balanced College List

September 22-28, 2024 COLLEGE TIP:What is a Research University and what are the benefits of attending a research university?JUNIOR: PSAT and Spring SAT Info

Sept 29- Oct 4, 2024 COLLEGE TIP: Demonstrated Interest: What and Why Important, Good and Bad Ways to Show Articles

Oct 6-12th COLLEGE TIP: CaliforniaColleges.edu, UC Admit Data For California Residents for Fall 2024 JUNIORS: Sequoia Junior Standardized Testing Timeline, PSAT Info, PSAT Information - Students Must Use a SHS Issued Chromebook to Take the Exam on Oct 23rd, Test Prep FA : : It pays to be involved and get good grades- Check out RaiseMe

Oct 13-19, 2024 COLLEGE TIP: 90% Admit Rate to Medical School or 94% Sound Good? An Important Advantage of a Small Liberal Arts College CAREER: Exploring Medicine: High School Students Resources

Oct 20-26: COLLEGE TIP: Want to go to college in another country but with an American-style education? Financial Aid: Best Value Colleges Ranked by Return on Investment, CalKids

Oct 27-Nov 2, 2024 COLLEGE TIP: More UC Data - Plan Ahead to Be a Competitive Applicant and Comprehensive Review Explained, CAREER: How to Become an Architect, STANDARDIZED TESTING: How to Get Accommodations, COUNSELOR INFO: Drop Deadlines

Nov 3-9 Click Here COLLEGE TIP: Why take a Concurrent Enrollment Class? FA: 10 FAFSA® Facts

Every College-Bound Student Should Know

Nov 10-16, 2024 COLLEGE TIP: Want to Play a Varsity Sport in College - Learn What it Takes By Creating a NCAA Account There are Two Types for Domestic Students

FINANCIAL AID: California Kids Investment & Development Savings Program "CalKIDS" CAREER: Jobs for Youth(JFY) - Local Resource for Jobs/Internships/Career Information PLUS Information About Upcoming Workshop at Sequoia!

Nov 17-23, 2024 COLLEGE TIP- Should I Take the SAT/ACT? - If you are thinking about applying to the college, look and start planning FINANCIAL AID - How Do People Pay for College? JUNIORS- Sequoia School Day SAT Info, PSAT Scores Info

Nov 24th-30th COLLEGE TIP: New UC Data Dashboard on Admissions for Each Academic Discipline - From UC Bulletin CAREER: Thrive Health Careers

Dec 1-8, 2024 COLLEGE TIP:Your Transcript is Central to Your Application - Get Organized for the End of the Semester CAREER:My Next Move - Career Exploration Resource

9th-11th Dec 8-14, 2024 COLLEGE TIP: What are the Best Techniques to Help Students Manage Stress? JUNIORS: SAT School Day Sign-up, FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION: Sticker Price vs. What You'll Actually Pay