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:

Sept 16- CSF Applications Due (see info below)

Sept 18- Sophomore Grade Level IB/4 Year College Meeting

Oct 9 - Freshman Grade Level IB/4 Year College Meeting

Oct 23th - College Day! -More Specific Info To Come (see Announcements for 9th and 11th activities)

Junior: Wednesday, September 11th

Sophomore: Wednesday, September 18th

Freshman: Wednesday, October 9th

The annual college/IB/ICAP meetings are specifically focused on the requirements, deadlines of the IB Diploma, the IB/ICAP program, and the college application process for attending a four-year college. Ms. Nino-Sears (IB Coordinator)/Ms Galvan (Counselor) and Ms. Ignaitis/Ms Yeager (College/Career Counselors) present specific information and a different focus for each grade.

Meetings are for students and parents.

All GRADE LEVEL MEETINGS will be:

• Presented in person (English speaking in Carrington Hall)

• Presented separately for Spanish speaking parents/guardians in the MPR

• SLIDES will be Posted on the SHS College and Career website

• Links will be available in the Weekly Newsletter

DUE: Sept 16th by 3:45pm – Don’t Wait! No Late Exceptions!

The California Scholarship Federation (CSF) emphasizes high standards of scholarship and community service for California high school students. For families that do not know about CSF, it is basically a state-wide honor roll organization. The word scholarship has to do with academic performance NOT SCHOLARSHIP MONEY.

You must be a member at LEAST one semester of your senior year to be a Life Member!

For applications, class lists, help completing the form, and general information about the CSF organization please visit the College and Career Center’s CSF webpage or pick up a packet in the bin outside of the College and Career Center

Directions and deadline for submitted Spring 2024 CSF Applications - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

DIRECTIONS:

Only students can complete and submit the application to Ms. Yeager in the College and Career Center/Room 115 from August 26th-September 16th by 3:45pm

The submitted application packet must include:

1. A completed CSF application

2. $5.00 application fee in cash or a check made payable to Sequoia High School

3. A copy of the previous semester report card or transcript- A transcript can be obtained through a student’s Infinite Campus account (report tab).

Please DO NOT GO TO THE COUNSELING OFFICE FOR YOUR TRANSCRIPT!

STUDENTS - if you need help, have questions, or have an issue paying please come by the College and Career Center WE will help you!

The Teen Wellness Center is offering Flex Session to help you cope.

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!

OCTOBER 23th

Sequoia will be administering the DIGITAL PSAT to our juniors on Oct 23rd from 830-12:00

This is a new format.

Students must use their Sequoia Issued Chromebook

The Digital PSAT uses the Bluebook app and it has been installed on ALL school issued Chromebooks.

Students will register in their English class on October 4th.

If you do not have a WORKING school issued Chromebook, you will need to get one. COMPLETE THIS FORM NOW

When: Wednesday October 23, 2024

- Meet in Gym 1 by 8:15am

- Dress comfortably, bring layers and a water bottle.

Where: TBA but past schools have included UC Berkeley, San Jose State, University of San Francisco, Sonoma State, San Francisco State, University of the Pacific, or Santa Clara University

What: All Sequoia freshmen will visit a Bay Area College Campus.

Make sure your permission slips (google form) are submitted online or to Room 115 (College & Career Center) today!

English or Spanish paper permission slips

Go here to see if you have already submitted a permission slip for your student: List of Submitted Permission Slips

Students completing Edgenuity credit recovery online courses for graduation and/or UC/CSU A-G requirements are required to take unit tests and cumulative tests in the Edgenuity lab in-person. The lab is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4pm-6pm in Room B-8 with Mr. Calles. The deadline for seniors is May 30, 2025.

HOW TO SIGN UP

NEED HELP

How To Video - Sign Up for a College Visit at Sequoia

If you get the email below with the subject Visit Reminder, that is not confirmation that you are signed up for a college visit, it is an invitation to go to Naviance and sign-up.

Lafayette College

Mon Sept 9

7:45 AM

University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Tue Sept 10

9:30 AM

Santa Clara University

Tue Sept 10

10:30 AM

University of Southern California

Tue Sept 10

11:15 AM

Gettysburg College

Wed Sept 11

7:45 AM

University of Puget Sound

Wed Sept 11

8:30 AM

University of the Pacific

Wed Sept 11

11:15 AM

Macalester College

Thu Sept 12

11:15 AM

Clark University

Thu Sept 12

2:00 PM

Oberlin College

Mon Sept 16

7:45 AM

Pace University

Mon Sept 16

8:30 AM

Saint Mary's College of California

Mon Sept 16

10:30 AM

Reed College

Mon Sept 16

11:15 AM

Southern Oregon University

Tue Sept 17, 2024 10:30 AM

Seton Hall University

Tue Sept 17, 2024 12:15 PM

Binghamton University

Tue Sept 17, 2024 1:00 PM

University of Denver

Fri Sept 20, 2024 7:45 AM

College of the Holy Cross

Fri Sept 20, 2024 8:30 AM

Temple University Japan

Fri Sept 20, 2024 11:15 AM

Two In Person Presentations: Sept 11th & 12th

Learn about 8 Highly Selective Liberal Arts Colleges at one event.

Claremont McKenna, Colorado College, Connecticut, Grinnell, Haverford, Kenyon, Macalester, and Sarah Lawrence College will be hosting an informational meeting for students and parents.

For more information and a full list of presentations CLICK HERE

San Francisco Registration

San Jose Registration

A great opportunity to learn about small liberal arts colleges!

Get to know Bowdoin in a virtual information session hosted by an admissions officer. There will be time for students and parents to ask questions on everything from academic and career opportunities, to campus life, living in coastal Maine, and more.

Sept. 11; 8 p.m. EDT

Sept. 26; 8 p.m. EDT

September 11th

The University of Notre Dame's Office of Undergraduate Admissions will be hosting ND on the Road events in your area.

These events will include information on academic, community, and spiritual life at the University of Notre Dame, as well as insights into the admissions and financial aid processes.

Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at 7:00 PM

Bellarmine College Preparatory

960 W Hedding St

San Jose, CA

Registration for the ND on the Road events is available here.

Sat Sept 14th 4-6pm

San Francisco

Are you interested in learning more about Reed? We invite you to join us for a reception. Meet your regional admission counselor, learn about how to apply to Reed and meet other students in your area interested in the college. Go here to register and learn more.

Sunday, September 15

Sunday, October 6

Attending a virtual session is a great way to learn more about these schools.

Go here to sign-up for the meeting.

Sept 15th

NACAC Virtual Fairs provide students and families the opportunity to connect with college representatives, learn about the admissions process, and discover financial aid and scholarship opportunities. These sessions support all students, including seniors who may still be weighing their college options. Click on the links below to register.

For More INFORMATION and Links to Registration

(scroll down a little and click tab VIRTUAL next to In Person tab)

September 16th

Go here to see an example of admissions to West Point

Sept 18th

The Fiat Lux Scholarship creates opportunities for resilient students with unique life experiences to make a profound impact at the University of California, Berkeley.

Established for high-achieving students from partner high schools in California, the scholarship provides monetary, community, and academic support to UC Berkeley students.

WEBSITE for information session

Best of Boston: College Application Process

Thursday, September 19
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Register here.

The College Application Process event will walk you through the application process and advise you on how to showcase your accomplishments to universities, while keeping stress to a minimum.

September 21st and 22nd

Students, and their families are invited to Explore Hopkins, where you’ll learn what makes Hopkins unique, our generous financial aid program, the Blue Jay experience on campus and in Baltimore, and how we set our students up for success in the real world.

In this hour-long presentation, we will also share tips for supporting your students throughout the application process. At the end of the presentation, guests will have the chance to ask questions during the Q&A portion

Register for San Francisco - Sept 21

Register for Santa Clara - Sept 22

September 21st

The MIT admissions team will be on the road (and online) this fall to help any students who might be a good fit for MIT. Sessions will go over: Preparing for MIT, Making MIT affordable, and Applying to MIT

Register: San Jose Information Session
Saturday, September 21 at 1:00 PM
San Jose, CA

Get to know Bowdoin in a virtual information session hosted by an admissions officer. There will be time for students and parents to ask questions on everything from academic and career opportunities, to campus life, living in coastal Maine, and more.

Sept. 26; 8 p.m. EDT

From Simple Studies

The first step to getting involved

Learn about all the organizations your school has to offer! This can seem really daunting at first, but most organizations post recruitment flyers in the hallways. Use these as a chance to learn about all of the organizations available. When looking at organizations, try to pick ones that best fit your interests whether that be music, art, history, debate, competitions, etc. Sequoia’s Club Day is on Friday September 15th at lunch.

Why getting involved is important:

1. Prevent burnout - the feeling of exhaustion that comes with the same old school routine. Many students find themselves burnt out when they do not get involved because all they do is go to school, come home and do homework, and then repeat the process all over again 5 days a week for 10 months a year.

2. You can meet new people. Getting involved is an excellent way to meet new friends and gain new experiences. Most people shudder at the thought of social interaction, but I promise the second you start to feel like you belong within your organization, you’ll meet so many new people and even develop some new friendships!

3. It'll help your college and scholarship applications. Colleges search for well-rounded applicants with a diverse resume. Someone involved in volleyball, student council, and STEM club is more likely to get accepted than someone who simply just went to school everyday. The same goes for scholarships!

4. Become a leader: Lastly, organizations are a great way to develop your leadership skills! From lending a helping hand on a service project your freshman year to leading the organization in a leadership position, getting involved is an excellent tool for personal growth. Whether you’re a shy or outgoing freshman, there are opportunities for everyone to grow as a person and develop their leadership skills within their school and community.

‍Whole article available here.

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

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: September 10th

ELIGIBLE GRADES: 9-12th

Two Separate Scholarships

ESSAY Scholarship - How we can protect our democracy from becoming a theocracy and unite against religious bigotry $1000.00

VIDEO Scholarship: How can we protect our democracy from becoming a theocracy and unite against religious bigotry? $750.00

Due Sept 30th

Eligible Grades: 9-12th

This scholarship helps students understand the risks of texting while driving. 140-character statement that completes this sentence: I pledge to not text and drive because... Must be US Citizen or Legal Resident

• Sept 10, 4:45-6pm: EPA Clubhouse - Resume Bootcamps
• Sept 12, 4:45-6pm: RWC Clubhouse - Resume Bootcamps

Email Lilliana Chisler lchisler@bgcp.org to find out more

Due:9/16/2024

Grades Eligible: 9-12th

Get involved with a youth advisory group educating the impact of teen smoking. Headed by

San Mateo County Office of Education: Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE)

Two Day Camp

Due: 9/21/2024

Eligible Grades: 9-12th

Wonder what it is like to be a firefighter? ELIGIBLE AGE/GRADE: 9-12th Girls & Nonbinary Experience being a firefighter with hands-on, two-day weekend program taught by professional female firefighters. WEBSITE

Due: 9/28/2024

Grades Eligible:9-12th

9 Saturday afternoons via Zoom, high school students gain an introduction to the health sciences field. Students will hear from graduate students, research professors, and various health professionals as they learn more about the health sciences' academic, research, and professional components. They'll also have the opportunity to take workshops on various topics like college admissions and work on a group research project. WEBSITE

FIRST MEETING OCT 1st - Apply ASAP

ELIGIBLE AGE/GRADE: 15-21 Years Old

NAMI's Youth Advisory Council will be starting soon and we are looking for youths who are interested in advocating for mental health and organizing events to destigmatize mental health conversations and topics Residents and able to commit to one hour every other week for YAC meetings for one year, virtually with occasional in-person meetings.WEBSITE

DUE: ASAP

ELIGIBLE GRADES: 9-10th

Receive guidance toward achieving your goals. Personal mentor and academic support. Residents and able to commit to one hour every other week for YAC meetings for one year, virtually with occasional in-person meetings. Flier below and in College and Career Center

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

Due: 9/18/2024

Eligible Ages:15-18 years old

8-month service-learning program is for high school students aged 15-18 in the San Francisco Bay Area who are interested in working with marine mammals and educating the public about important ocean conservation topics.

Email youthcrew@tmmc.org if you have any questions. WEBSITE

Virtual Information Session (50 people max)

September 12 | 5:00pm-6:00pm | RSVP

Project Read has some upcoming training for teens who would like to volunteer on

September 10th

October 8

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)

Financial aid is money to help pay for college or career school. Grants, work-study, loans, and scholarships help make college or career school affordable.

Check out this video to learn about federal grants, loans, and work-study jobs and how they can help fund your education.

Grants

A grant is a form of financial aid that doesn’t have to be repaid (unless, for example, you withdraw from school and owe a refund, or you receive a TEACH Grant and don’t complete your service obligation). A variety of federal grants are available, including:

• Pell Grants,

• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG),

• Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants, and

• Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants.

Learn About Grants

Scholarships

Many nonprofit and private organizations offer scholarships to help students pay for college or career school. This type of free money, which is sometimes based on academic merit, talent, or a particular area of study, can make a real difference in helping you manage your education expenses.

Learn About Scholarships

Work-Study Jobs

The Federal Work-Study Program allows you to earn money to pay for school by working part-time. You’ll earn at least the current federal minimum wage. However, you may earn more depending on the type of work you do and the skills required for the position. Your total work-study award depends on

• when you apply,

• your level of financial need, and

• your school’s funding level.

Learn About Work-Study

Loans

A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest. If you apply for financial aid, you may be offered loans as part of your school’s financial aid offer. When you receive a student loan, you are borrowing money to attend a college or career school. You must repay the loan as well as interest that accrues. It is important to understand your repayment options so you can successfully repay your loan.

Learn About Loans

Website

CalKIDS was launched in 2022 to help California children save for post-secondary education including college or career training . Low-income families and disadvantaged communities are encouraged to take advantage of this program.

To check for eligibility and to learn more, please visit: www.calkids.org

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

ELIGIBLE AGE/GRADE: 15yr+

Part-time work is available teaching after-school group Piano Classes at local elementary schools, as well as private lessons (in all instruments) in-person or online. Pay is $60/hour for group classes and $45/hour for private lessons. Please apply online at http://hummingbirdmusicschool.com/about

Students: visit the website for a number of How-To videos that Sequoia Counselors made for help with common application, scholarships and much more!

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 8-14, 2024

COLLEGE TIP: The Importance of Getting Involved, STANDARDIZED TESTING: Research Potential School, FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION: Types of Financial Aid: Loans, Grants, and Work-Study Programs, CalKIDS