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 16th - SAVE THE DATE - Junior Meeting for Students Applying to Schools that Need Letters of Recommendations and/or a School Report ZOOM

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

Different branches of the military would love to provide a presentation on Career Opportunities, Travel and Education exploration for both part time and full time. Those interested in participating are encouraged to sign up at the College and Career classroom.

Review the details for your one-to-one appointment and please communicate with your teacher about your appointment details. It is your responsibility to show up on time for your appointment and to communicate with the counseling office if you need to reschedule. A reminder that not all 9th & 10th graders were required to meet with their counselor as we completed course selection for next year in your English classes.

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.

March 18th

Are you just starting your research into Pomona? Join us as one of our admissions officers leads you through a presentation about our admissions process and need-based financial aid policies. We'll also discuss our academic programs, community, resources and opportunities for research and internships.

REGISTER HERE

What's a National College Fair?

• Free and open to the public, National College Fairs are the perfect place to kick off your college search.
• Admission representatives from schools across the country are all gathered in one place. Their goal: To encourage you to learn more about their institutions, and help you sort through the qualities you’re looking for in a college.
• Explore your options. Each fair draws representatives from 175 to 400 colleges. The schools are located throughout the US, and from around the globe.
• Ask questions. What’s college life like? What majors are popular on campus? Chatting with representatives from a variety of colleges can help you cement your own preferences.

Register for March 23 HERE

Register for April 27 HERE

Sunday, March 30, 2025 | 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Hiller Aviation Museum | San Carlos, CA

AEDs will feature over 20 Organizations highlighting careers such as Pilots, Flight Attendants, Airport Operations, Aircraft Mechanics, Drone Technology, U.S. Air Force, and more!

Here are a few important details:

• This is a free event open to the public, with an emphasis on engaging High School and College students.

• No advance registration is required.

• Refreshments will be available for purchase.

Learn more about the colleges in the Northwest 5 Consortium: Lewis & Clark, Puget Sound, Reed, Whitman, and Willamette.

Families can hear a short presentation about the liberal arts in the Pacific Northwest, and then meet with admission counselors from each institution in a more casual, college-fair-style setting.

Palo Alto/San Jose - Eastside Preparatory: March 23 9-11 am 1041 Myrtle St, East Palo Alto, CA 94303

This class fulfills VPA requirements and gets UC/CSU credits for high school students. It's free, it's online asynchronous (no Zoom meetings) Perfect for busy high school students who need to get there VPA units.

Class - GID 1, History of Graphic Design CRN40384

Class is April 7 - June 27

Sign up starts Mar 3

UC for Everyone, a free virtual event for California students and families who are interested in applying to UC for fall 2026 or beyond, was hosted on February 25. Staff representatives from all nine undergraduate campuses were available to answer questions from more than 2,600 attendees. Thank you to those who joined and helped to spread the word about this event!

The event recording, along with a PDF of the presentation and helpful UC and campus resources, is now available online.

Lead America, Who’s Who, National Youth Leadership, Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Washington DC, National Academy of Future Physicians – Are these legitimate?

Over the years, I have had many students and parents ask us about letters they receive in the mail where it seems someone has nominated them for a program. The programs are usually legitimate but they also cost a lot of money and are not competitive to get into (as they might make you believe). I usually tell families to throw them away. The nominations might come from teachers who were asked to give names of students interested in a subject area or told that if they give ten names they will get a five dollar Starbucks card without understanding that they are suggesting these students attend these programs.

This article was written awhile back about these letters in the NY Times if you would like to learn more. Congratulations! You Are Nominated. It’s an Honor. (It’s a Sales Pitch)” (There are similar current conversations you can search on the web).

If you need a transcript sent to a summer program, request in Naviance.

DIRECTIONS:

“Colleges” tab on the top of the homepage

Scroll down to “manage transcripts” (Under Applying to College)

Click the red button “Plus”

And then click “Other transcripts”

Finally, complete the information needed for the transcript request.

THERE is a 5 School Day turn around to send the transcripts, so plan accordingly!

April 16th

ZOOM 7-830PM

There will be a STRONGLY RECOMMENDED meeting for Juniors planning on applying to a Private, Common App, and/or Coalition App College on Wednesday, April 16th from 7:00-8:30 pm on Zoom. The meeting will review the specific process and due dates to complete required school documents on Naviance and the Common Application. This meeting is very important for both parents and students!

The meeting will be posted on the website and RECORDED

Links are available on Sequoia calendar too!

English Meeting ID: 933 3097 6617 Pass Code: 242415

Spanish Meeting ID: 929 7370 4386

Or

English Link

Spanish Zoom Link

If you are the official registered list for the SAT School Day on April 23rd at Sequoia, you received an email on February 12th with your next steps.

No other students can be added at this time but you can email tyeager@seq.org if you'd like to be on the waitlist.

If you took the PSAT in the Fall, you may have created a Big Future app account to see your PSAT Scores. This is the not the same as a College Board Account. If you will be taking the SAT, make sure to create a College Board Account.

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

Updated APRIL list is NOW AVAILABLE. The March list is a work in progress so check back for updates.

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: March 21st

ELIGIBLE GRADES: 9-12th

Purpose: To increase personal knowledge and awareness of the importance of being able to speak effectively before a group. Winners move to the next level of competition. 2025 Theme: Service Above Self. If interested, come to College and Career Center for more information. WEBSITE

DUE: March 28th

ELIGIBLE GRADES/AGES: 16-18 Years Old

Offers the chance for highly motivated individuals between the ages of 16-18 to obtain a $15,000 scholarship to apply toward flight training costs culminating in obtaining the FAA Private Pilot

DUE: April 1st

ELIGIBLE GRADES/AGES: 11th

Juniors: submit one play, maximum 10 pages (10 minutes). Each year a guest playwright serves as contest judge. Contest will close once 250 entries have been received. WEBSITE

DUE: March 17th

ELIGIBLE GRADE: 11th

5 week science and medicine based enrichment program for low income, first-generation juniors interested in science, medicine, and healthy living. WEBSITE

Due: March 20th

Grade 11

The College Prep Scholars Program equips high-achieving high school juniors from low-income backgrounds with the knowledge, confidence, and resources to apply to top colleges.

We are looking for high school juniors who have shown outstanding academic ability despite financial challenges. We take a holistic approach to reviewing applications, and we do not have absolute criteria or cut-offs for GPA, standardized test scores, income, or other factors. WEBSITE

WOW! That’s Engineering is an award-winning conference for high school girls/non-binary students. At the event, attendees will get to learn about different engineering fields through a series of workshops and design activities hosted by industry professionals. Our participating organizations this year are Altera, Lucid, Lockheed Martin, Capella Space, Nokia and more! Our keynote speaker and college panelists are excited to share their experience and give valuable advice. We also have an engineering design challenge where participants can tackle real-world problems, present their solutions to a panel of judges from various companies, and win prizes! This is a great opportunity for attendees to make new friends, understand what it takes to be an engineer, and consider their academic options in higher education.

Date: Sunday, March 23, 2025
Where: One Washington St, San Jose, CA 95192 (Diaz Compean Student Union @ San Jose State University)
Price: $10 (Please email swesjsu.wow@gmail.com for a code if you have any difficulties with this amount, no proof required!)

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/SWEWOW25

*We only have 100 spots total so please register before the spots fill up.

DUE: March 25

ELIGIBLE GRADES/AGES: 11th

YLS is a free, five-day, college empowerment conference for a diverse cohort of 200 low-income high school juniors, selected through a competitive application process. It is designed to give these young leaders the practical tools they need to successfully apply to top universities. Must be low income as defined by Pell Eligible and have an unweighted cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. WEBSITE

DUE: March 31st

ELIGIBLE GRADES/AGES: 10-11th

SES program is a 5-day program offering introductory workshops in July by SC Engineering Faculty. Underrepresented groups in the field of engineering are encouraged to apply. No cost WEBSITE

DUE: March 31st

ELIGIBLE GRADES/AGES: 9-12th

CRC, a Bay Area nonprofit organization runs a summer program from June to August. Stipend for attending workshops for motivated students who care about the environment and climate change's impacts on their communities. WEBSITE

DUE: March 31st

ELIGIBLE GRADES/AGES: 10-11th

The Child Mind Institute’s Youth Mental Health Academy is a community-based, career development program including paid internships, mentorship, project-based learning, and student support.

Students will gain valuable knowledge and experience in mental health science, practice, or communications by working with professionals from organizations doing work in those areas. WEBSITE

Volunteer

all year

Grades Eligible: 9-12th

To sign up to volunteer, visit our website by selecting one of the following options: Sort food at our warehouses, Distribute food to community members - Distribution sites are located in nearly every neighborhood in Silicon Valley,

Deliver food to homes – Load your vehicle and deliver healthy groceries to homes of seniors and other homebound clients in Santa Clara or San Mateo County. You must be 18 years old to volunteer for this activity. 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)

Students and parents should consider these ideas for making college cheaper.

Paying for college is no small feat: Annual tuition and fees at ranked four-year colleges for 2021-2022 ranged from about $10,300 for in-state public schools to about $38,200 for private institutions, according to U.S. News data.

Here are some other options you may not yet have considered for easing the financial burden of attending college:

529 college savings plan

College 529 savings plans, which offer an opportunity for families to grow their savings tax-free as long as the money is spent on qualified educational expenses, were used to pay a greater percentage of college costs than other savings options like non college savings accounts and retirement accounts.

Local Scholarships

Colleges and universities may offer institutional scholarships, but students can also chip away at the cost of college further by taking advantage of local scholarships, which are typically offered by local organizations, nonprofits or places of worship.

These may not equate to large award amounts like some national scholarships do, but local scholarships are often much less competitive.

Some companies also give out scholarships to dependents of their employees.

Financial Aid Appeals

The FAFSA uses "prior prior year" information to determine a family's financial need. For example, the 2025-2026 FAFSA uses 2023 federal tax returns. However, families who have had a recent change in their financial situation – like job loss, salary reduction or high dependent-care costs – can request a financial aid appeal, sometimes called a professional judgment, from a college.

No-Loan Schools

There are some schools, like Amherst College in Massachusetts or Stanford University in California, that aim to meet each student's full demonstrated need without loans. That means financial aid comes in the form of scholarships, grants and work-study. These financial aid packages are sometimes limited to students from lower- or moderate-income households.

Employer Tuition Assistance

Many students juggle additional responsibilities outside of earning a degree, including being a parent or working. But some companies, including a number of fast-food chains, offer tuition assistance to help employees afford a college degree.

Note that depending on the employer, the funding may be capped at a certain amount.

Regional Tuition Exchange Programs

Public schools tend to be less expensive than private colleges before financial aid is applied, but there can be a significant difference between attending a public institution as an in-state and out-of-state student. Tuition and fees at ranked public colleges for in-state students averaged $10,338 in 2021-2022, according to U.S. News data. The cost for out-of-state students was more than double, averaging $22,698.

Under the Western Undergraduate Exchange, for instance, students who apply to certain programs pay no more than 150% of the in-state tuition rate at participating institutions.

Full article available here.

8 Reasons To Become a Marine Biologist

1. Contribute to valuable scientific research

2. Incredible travel and outdoor opportunities

3. Help develop new, revolutionary technologies, drugs, and more

4. Tons of specialization options

5. Learn cool skills like scuba diving and sailing

6. Flex those math and science skills

7. Well-rounded foundation in both hard and soft skills

8. It’s your passion

Courses Recommended to Take in High School for a Marine Biology

Biology, Physics, Precalculus, Stats, Computer Science, Chemistry, IB courses

Concurrent Enrollment Courses

Oceanography, Nautical Sciences

US Marine Biology Degree Programs (Listed by State)

Fun Facts

UC San Diego - Science at Sea

Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UCSD operates one of the world’s largest academic research fleets

Jobs You Can Get With a Marine Biology Degree (click link for full list and explanations)

Marine Biologist Research Assistant (solid starting job)

Fisheries Scientist

Pharmacologist

Mapping and GIS Officer

Horticulturist

Marine Veterinarian

Consultant

Field Guide

Educator

Must be 16 or older to apply

San Carlos Parks and Recreation is looking for individuals who are passionate about giving back to the community, motivated, enthusiastic, and responsible. Engage a fun and positive leadership experience while also having the opportunity to make an impact on kid’s lives. Come join our Parks and Recreation staff as a Recreation Leaders I/II or Program Coordinator in our Summer Camp Programs! Learn more and apply today at https://www.calopps.org/city-of-san-carlos

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!

SECOND SEMESTER

Jan 12-18, 2025 COLLEGE TIP: Reflect on Who You Are as an Applicant While Updating Your Naviance Resume CAREER: Career in Radiology

Jan 19-25, 2025 COLLEGE TIP- Consider Out of State Colleges, Deadline for Juniors to sign up for Sequoia's School Day SAT

Jan 26-Feb 1, 2025 COLLEGE TIP: Top Priorities in Choosing a College - From College Vine CAREER: Careers in Gaming

Feb 2-8, 2025 Click Here COLLEGE TIP: Location, Location, FINANCIAL AID How to Talk with Your Parents about Paying for College from CollegeData.com

Feb 9-15, 2025 COLLEGE TIP: Summer Opportunities- NOW IS THE TIME TO RESEARCH AND APPLY CAREER: Think About Getting a Summer Job You Can Do While You Are Going to School/College - Get Certified As a Lifeguard

Feb 16-March 1, 2025 COLLEGE TIP: Entering contests FINANCIAL AID Nine surprising facts about the cost of attending the University of California from UC Newsroom JUNIORS: SAT School Day Testing Confirmation

March 2-8, 2025 COLLEGE TIP:What is The Common App? From The Common App CAREER:Should You Pursue an Associate or a Baccalaureate Nursing Degree? From NurseJournal

March 9-15, 2025 COLLEGE TIP: Holistic Review According to Stanford FA: Overlooked Strategies on How to Pay for College