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:

Dec 3 - Jobs For Youth Workshop - SEE Announcements

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

DECEMBER 3RD

JFY is a County of San Mateo program that serves youth ages 14-21 achieving their career and higher education goals via our three pillars of success/services

Learn: They offer a variety of job training workshops

Work: They offer a job board page on their website (in the spring, they also have an internship list)

Scholarships: Each year they offer twenty $2000.00 scholarships to 11/12th grade students

In order to access their services, you must attend one of their workshops.

We will be offering a JFY workshop on our campus December 3rd from 11-11:45

- English Meeting Click Here For Recording Passcode: 4@A+k4BG

Slides Slides PDF

- Spanish Meeting Recording Passcode: $Ih*1p8k

Slides Slides PDF

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.

ELIGIBLE GRADE: 11th

DATE: December 4th

Bovard Scholars are high-achieving, resilient and place a high value on education. They show leadership and are ready to take ownership of their academic path to success.

Admission Criteria

Bovard Scholars are high-achieving, resilient and place a high value on education. They show leadership and are ready to take ownership of their academic path to success.

Eligibility:

• Junior in high school (11th grader) at time of application

• Currently hold a 4.0 weighted GPA or above

• Enrolled in Algebra II, Trigonometry or above

• Demonstrate financial need

• Have taken Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate courses, if offered

• Actively enrolled in a high school curriculum within the U.S. or U.S. territories

We offer the program at no cost to students or families. USC will pay for transportation to and from campus for students coming from outside of Southern California.

Register Here for Information Session

The University of California loves data. Our researchers collect and analyze all kinds of information about the world. We also track all kinds of UC stats, many of them available on detailed public dashboards in the online UC Information Center.

The new dashboard expands that by providing additional detail on admissions by academic discipline. For each broad area of study, you can see the admit rate, along with how many students applied, were admitted and ended up enrolling. The dashboard lets you see the admission rate for a discipline versus the overall campus admission rate. You can look at just one campus, or you can compare disciplines across UC’s nine undergraduate campuses.

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 3rd 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.

No commitment at this point.

Complete the form below using QR code or http://bit.ly/3XknZN5

Only students can complete this form by December 1st

We will reach out to interested students at the beginning of December with additional details.

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 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.

Interested in a presentation on the Naval Reserves Officers Training Corps NROTC, it is a 4 year scholarship that provides full tuition and will educate and train highly qualified young men and women for careers as commissioned officers in the United States Marine Corps or Navy that want to have a traditional college experience. Please see Ms Ignaitis/Ms Yeager if interested.

DUE: November 30th

ELIGIBLE GRADES: 10-11th Graders

Then here's a great opportunity for you! Submit to the Annual Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers, presented by the Kenyon Review, one of the country’s most respected literary magazines, and judged by acclaimed poet Ruth Awad. If you are the winner or one of the two runners-up, your poem will be published in our print magazine and on our website. Must be in 10th or 11th grade. One submission per student. WEBSITE

Due: 11/30/2024

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

MERIT BASED FULL RIDE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY -

DUE: December 11, 2024

ELIGIBLE GRADES: 11th only

The Coolidge Scholarship is an annually awarded, full-ride, presidential scholarship that covers a student’s tuition, room, board, and expenses for four years of undergraduate study. The Coolidge may be used by recipients at any accredited American college or university. Anyone of any background, pursuing any academic discipline of study, may apply to this non-partisan, need-blind, program.

Primary Criterion: Academic Excellence

Secondary Criterion: Interest in Public Policy and Appreciation for Coolidge Values

Candidates also should demonstrate an awareness of and appreciation for the values President Coolidge championed throughout his life. Some such values include: civility, respect for enterprise, government thrift, federalism, and respect for constitutional government. The award is not restricted to candidates planning to pursue degrees in fields such as public policy or government. To the contrary, all academic disciplines are valued by this award.

Secondary Criterion: Humility and Service

Humility is a hallmark quality of leaders in the Coolidge tradition. In his autobiography, Coolidge wrote: “It is a great advantage to a President, and a major source of safety to the country, for him to know that he is not a great man.” The Coolidge Scholarship seeks young people who display a sense of service and care for the well-being of others.

For complete details go to their website

DUE DATE: December 11th

ELIGIBLE GRADES: 9-12th

Students have the opportunity to submit original artworks and performances across a range of creative disciplines, including art, film, music, performance, photography, and writing. Individuals can only submit once. Group work is also allowed. Multiple awards are given to Bay Area students! WEBSITE

ELIGIBLE GRADES: 9-12th

DUE: November 30th

The Technology and Entrepreneurship Center at Harvard (TECH) is offering The Harvard Ventures-TECH Winter Fellowship (HVTWF)

It is a free, highly selective winter program designed specifically for high school students passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation.

HVTWF provides aspiring young leaders with an unparalleled opportunity to dive deep into a transformative experience at the cutting edge of technology and business, spanning 5 days during winter break.

More information and an application for our program can be found here: https://tech.seas.harvard.edu/fellowship

Program Logistics

Tuition: Free

Dates: 5 days during winter break. Selected based on fellow availability.

Format: Virtual/Remote

Eligibility: High-school students from any country

Admissions

At HVTWF, we are not seeking any specific background or set of experiences. Instead, we are looking for students who demonstrate a strong interest and desire to innovate, regardless of the medium they choose—whether through technology and coding, law, the arts, humanities, business, or any other field. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.

All applicants, whether selected for the fellowship or not, will gain access to our exclusive newsletter, providing valuable insights, resources, and opportunities to stay connected to the innovation community.

Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis, with the final due date being November 30th, 2024. All notifications of acceptance will be sent out on December 10th, 2024.

Due Nov 30th

16yrs+ by June 2025

7 week summer internship program (must be able to commit for the whole time period). Each year, Science, Technology and Reconstructive Surgery (STARS) host a group of talented young individuals who are interested in the fields of healthcare and research. In our laboratory, these interns work side-by-side with experienced clinician/scientist mentors and peers who will challenge, inspire, and guide them on their first steps toward a career in healthcare.

WEBSITE

Due: Dec 1st

Grades Eligible: 9-12th

Grassroots Ecology invites local high school students to apply to our Youth Stewards volunteer cohort. Youth Stewards will have the opportunity to meet new friends, learn about nature from expert staff, enhance their observation skills, and help restore local California woodland, creekside and grassland ecosystems through planting, weeding, mulching, and more. This is a volunteer and educational experience for local high school students, with no mandatory number of sessions required for participation. Multiple locations available. WEBSITE

Due: Dec 2nd

Grades Eligible: 11th

The Bronfman Fellowship is a transformative, year-long experience for a cohort of 26 intellectually adventurous young people who want to see the world through a lens broader than their own. An immersive summer in Israel and the U.S. WEBSITE

DUE: December 6th

See Flyer Below

Grades Eligible: 9-12th

South County Teen Leadership Council run through the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Activities League offers high school students a free program that provides mentoring, travel conferences, field trips, leadership and organizes community service projects. Weekly meetings are on Wednesdays from 4-6pm in Redwood City If you are interested, email, call or text Mason Lok 650 474-1394 mlok@smcgov.org 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)

In 2023, Sallie Mae and Ipsos surveyed roughly 1,200 undergraduate college students and their parents about how they paid for college. Students used a variety of means — splitting the bill among loans, scholarships, parents’ money, gifts from relatives and friends, and their own earnings.

At an average of $11,150, parental contributions covered the lion’s share of a year of college expenses. Scholarships and grants took up the next largest share at $8,150, followed by loans ($5,510), student income and savings ($2,760), and gifts from relatives and friends ($450).

Full article

Medical Explorers

A group for high school students interested in medicine. Supervised by Dr. Enoch Choi, this Medical Post exposes students to numerous areas in the field of medicine such as pediatrics, psychology, and genetics. Operates as a Facebook Group For general inquiries please email VMCmedicalexplorer@gmail.com

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