JLV College CounselingMaking the most of the college visit
I was honored to be a guest blogger for the SavingForCollege blog. Check out the blog post that was published today.
Learn how to make the most of your #college visit! New guest blog post from @Admissions411 http://t.co/TCG89J8NLV pic.twitter.com/b7sMk069av
— saving4college (@saving4college) February 19, 2015
Scholarship Saturday – Feb. 14, 2015
Current Scholarships Available Here
There are thousands of scholarships out there. Some are large scholarships that are well publicized, while others are lesser known. My goal is to share some lesser-known scholarships with my readers every Saturday.
Don’t wait. Apply for these great scholarships today! And, if you missed the last Scholarship Saturday, check it out. There are scholarships there that are still open! Lastly, check out my lists of scholarships with February and March deadlines. Only brief information about each scholarship is listed. Therefore, you are encouraged to visit the scholarship websites to get further details about eligibility and requirements.
Here are your scholarships for Saturday, February 14, 2015.
Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Scholars Program
Sponsor: Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library
Award Amount: Up to $8,000
Deadline: Feb. 20, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students in Ventura County, California who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, character, communication skills, academic achievement, and commitment to Ventura County.
A Nurse I Am Scholarship
Sponsor: Cherokee Uniforms
Award Amount: $2,000
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited LVN/LPN, RN degree (AND or BSN), diploma, or RN-to-BSN program, and must begin/have begun class no later than Jan. 31, 2015.
A.A.C.L. Scholarship
Sponsor: Armenian-American Citizens League Educational Fund
Award Amount: Up to $2,000
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to permanent residents of the United states who have been living in California for at least two years and are of Armenian descent. Applicant must be enrolled full-time at an accredited college n the United States and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA.
ACS Scholars Program
Sponsor: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Award Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to African-American, Hispanic/Latino, or American Indian students who are graduating high school seniors or college freshmen, sophomores or juniors intending to or already majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering or a chemically-related science.
American Council of the Blind Scholarship Program
Sponsor: American Council of the Blind (ACB)
Award Amount: Up to $3,500
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Applicant must be a legally blind student who is a graduating high school senior enrolling in higher education in the fall, or a current undergraduate, graduate or vocational student.
Anchor Scholarship
Sponsor: Anchor Scholarship Foundation
Award Amount: $2,000
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to family members (children or spouses) of qualified Surface Navy sailors.
Barbara Wiedner and Dorothy Vandercook Peace Scholarship
Sponsor: Barbara Wiedner and Dorothy Vandercook Memorial Scholarship Foundation
Award Amount: Up to $500
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Applicant must be a high school senior or college freshman who can provide evidence of leadership and/or personal initiative in activities or in an organization relating to peace and social justice, nuclear disarmament, and/or conflict resolution.
Blacks at Microsoft Scholarships
Sponsor: Blacks at Microsoft (BAM)
Award Amount: $5,000
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors of African descent who plan to attend a four-year college or university in the fall. Applicant must be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, computer information systems or select business programs.
Children of Warriors National Presidents’ Scholarship
Sponsor: American Legion Auxiliary (ALA)
Award Amount: Up to $3,500
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to daughters, sons, grandsons, granddaughters, great-granddaughters, great-grandsons or veterans who served in the Armed Forces during WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Lebanon and Grenada, Panama, or Desert Shield/Storm Gulf/War on Terrorism.
EngineerGirl Essay Contest
Sponsor: National Academy of Engineering
Award Amount: Up to $500
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Essay contest is open to girls and boys in grades 3-12. Applicant must submit an essay on a topic related to technology and sports.
Eric Dostie Memorial College Scholarships
Sponsor: NuFactor Specialty Pharmacy
Award Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students with hemophilia or a related bleeding disorder, or to the family members. Applicant must be a citizen of the United States and enrolled full-time in an accredited two our four-year college program.
Greg Goff Leadership Awards
Sponsor: National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) Foundation
Award Amount: $2,000
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Applicant must be a high school senior with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and history of outstanding leadership.
Hays C. Kirby Essay Scholarship Contest
Sponsor: Joe Foss Institute
Award Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to high school students in grades 9-12 who attend a public, private, alternative, parochial school, or a home study program. Applicant must submit an essay on the topic, “I love my country because…”
HubShout Online Marketing Scholarships
Sponsor: HubShout
Award Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students who have completed at least one year of post-secondary education and have at least a 3.0 GPA. Applicant should be on the path to a business or marketing career that will involve online marketing.
James Madison Junior Fellowship Program
Sponsor: James Madison Memorial Foundation
Award Amount: $12,000
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Fellowship is open to U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals who are teachers, or plan to become a teacher, of American history, American government, or social studies at the secondary school level (grades 7-12). Applicant must possess a bachelor’s degree or plan to receive a bachelor’s degree no later than Aug. 31 of the year the student is applying.
Knights of Columbus Endowed Scholarships
Sponsor: Knights of Columbus
Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Scholarships are for students who will be entering their freshman year of an undergraduate program at a Catholic college or university in the United States. The organization has multiple scholarship programs.
Maureen L. and Howard Blitman, P.E. Scholarship
Sponsor: National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
Award Amount: $5,000
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Applicant must be a high school senior who is a member of an underrepresented ethnic minority (African-American, Hispanic, or Native American) and has been accepted into an ABET-accredited engineering program at a four-year college or university.
NANBPWC National Scholarship
Sponsor: National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs (NANBPWC)
Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Scholarships are open to female African American students. Three scholarships available for different age groups: 1. high school seniors, 2. current college students. 3. Age 35 and older.
NASA Space Settlement Contest
Sponsor: NASA Ames Research Center
Award Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Contest is open to students in grades 7-12 from anywhere in the world. Student must develop a design for an orbital space settlement. Students can apply as individuals, small teams (two to five team members) or large teams (more than six team members).
National Presbyterian College Scholarship
Sponsor: Presbyterian Mission Agency
Award Amount: $1,500
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors who are Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) members entering college in fall 2015 at a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) related college or university.
Phoebe Ann Rose Scholarship
Sponsor: Phoebe Ann Rose Scholarship Foundation
Award Amount: $500
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students with talent in music who are between the ages of 14 and 26 and plan to study music. Applicant must also have history of volunteering.
Richard G. Zimmerman Journalism Scholarship
Sponsor: National Press Club
Award Amount: $5,000
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Applicant must be a graduating high school senior who plans to pursue a career in journalism. Applicant must submit three work samples and other application materials.
SEG Foundation Scholarships
Sponsor: Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) Foundation
Award Amount: Up to $14,000
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Applicant must be either a high school senior planning to enter college next fall or an undergraduate or graduate student whose grades are above average. Applicant must be intending to pursue a college curriculum directed towards a career in applied geophysics or a closely related field.
Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults
Sponsor: Ulman Fund for Young Adults
Award Amount: $2,500
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to individuals who have been affected by cancer through their own diagnosis or the diagnosis of a loved one. Applicant must have been between the ages of 15 and 39 during their own diagnosis/treatment or during the diagnosis/treatment of their parent or sibling.
Women’s Western Golf Foundation Scholarship
Sponsor: Women’s Western Golf Foundation (WWGF)
Award Amount: $8,000 ($2,000 per year)
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Applicant must be a female high school senior who participates in golf.
Young Naturalist Awards
Sponsor: American Museum of Natural History
Award Amount: Up to $2,500
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Competition is open to students who are in seventh through twelfth grades and are enrolled in a public, private, parochial, or home school in the United States, Canada, the U.S. territories, or a U.S. sponsored school abroad. Student must plan and conduct their own scientific investigation and submit their findings.
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Scholarships for Presidents Day
Mt. Rushmore by chascar licensed under CC BY 2.0
Current Scholarships Available Here
Next week, the people of the United States will celebrate Presidents Day. The federal holiday was first created to honor George Washington. As time has passed, other presidents have also been associated with the holiday, such as Abraham Lincoln whose birthday was also in February.
Below is a list of scholarships that were named after United States Presidents, or sponsored by organizations named after Presidents. Only brief information about each scholarship is listed. Therefore, students are encouraged to visit the scholarship websites to get further details about eligibility and requirements.
Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Scholars Program
Sponsor: Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library
Award Amount: Up to $8,000
Deadline: Feb. 20, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students in Ventura County, California who have demonstrated oustanding leadership, character, communication skills, academic achievement, and commitment to Ventura County.
Children of Warriors National Presidents’ Scholarship
Sponsor: American Legion Auxiliary (ALA)
Award Amount: Up to $3,500
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to daughters, sons, grandsons, granddaughters, great-granddaughters, great-grandsons or veterans who served in the Armed Forces during WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Lebanon and Grenada, Panama, or Desert Shield/Storm Gulf/War on Terrorism.
James Madison Junior Fellowship Program
Sponsor: James Madison Memorial Foundation
Award Amount: $12,000
Deadline: Mar. 1, 2015
Description: Fellowship is open to U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals who are teachers, or plan to become a teacher, of American history, American government, or social studies at the secondary school level (grades 7-12). Applicant must possess a bachelor’s degree or plan to receive a bachelor’s degree no later than Aug. 31 of the year the student is applying.
Ronald Reagen Leadership Award
Sponsor: Tau Kappa Epsilon
Award Amount: $1,100
Deadline: Mar. 15, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to members of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. Scholarship recognizes academic achievement and outstanding leadership, as demonstrated by activities and accomplishments within the chapter, on campus, and in the community.
Platt Family Scholarship
Sponsor: The Lincoln Forum
Award Amount: Up to $1,500
Deadline: The deadline was Jul. 31 last year. Information about the 2015 deadline has not been updated at date of publication, but the scholarship has been awarded for multiple years.
Description: Scholarship is open to students who were full-time, undergraduate students in an American college or university during the Spring semester. Applicant must submit an essay on a given topic related to Abraham Lincoln.
Ideas Matter Essay Contest
Sponsor: Clinton Presidential Center
Award Amount: $2,500
Deadline: The deadline was Nov. 3 last year. Information about the 2015 deadline has not been updated at date of publication, but the scholarship has been awarded for multiple years.
Description: Contest is open to Arkansas students in eleventh and twelfth grades. Applicant must submit a 500-word essay on a a given topic.
John and Abigail Adams Scholarship
Sponsor: Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
Award Amount: Tuition waiver for up to eight semester
Description: Student must be a permanent Massachusetts resident who is planning to enroll full-time in a Massachusetts public college or university. Applicant must score in the Advanced category in either the Mathematics or the English language arts section of the grade 10 MCAS test and score in the Proficient or Advanced category on the second subject (Mathematics or English). There is no application for the scholarship. Eligible students will be notified in the Fall of their senior year of high school.
John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest
Sponsor: John F. Kennedy Library Foundation
Award Amount: Up to $10,000
Deadline: Jan. 6, 2016
Description: Applicant must be in grades 9-12 and must submit an essay on a topic related to political courage.
GE – Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program
Sponsor: Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library
Award Amount: $10,000
Deadline: The deadline was Jan. 8 of this year. Information about the 20156 deadline has not been updated at date of publication, but the scholarship has been awarded for multiple years.
Description: Applicant must be a high school senior and demonstrate leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship at school, at the workplace, and in the community
Washington Crossing Foundation Scholarship
Sponsor: Washington Crossing Foundation
Award Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: The deadline was Jan. 15 this year. Information about the 2016 deadline has not been updated at date of publication, but the scholarship has been awarded for multiple years.
Description: Applicant must be a high school senior planning to pursue a career of service to the United States in local, state, or federal government.
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Combat senioritis before it is too late
Waiting for Time to Pass by Richard Phillip Rucker licensed under CC BY 2.0
Senioritis is a real thing for many graduating high school seniors. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines senioritis as, “an ebbing of motivation and effort by school seniors as evidenced by tardiness, absences, and lower grades.” It is easy to have the high school “finish line” within reach and say, “I’m done,” and neglect or not try as hard to complete assignments or study for tests. However, students need to address senioritis before it has a negative effect on their future.
Most signs of senioritis are easy to spot. Common signs of senioritis can include lower grades, not completing assignments, and cutting classes. Other signs can be spending much more time with friends, laziness, and finding it difficult to get out of bed in the morning. If parents and students are paying attention, they should be able to spot these symptoms early enough to work towards curing the student’s senioritis.
There are many reasons students start experiencing senioritis during the second semester of their senior year. For some students, they feel burned out after pushing themselves very hard the previous few years in hopes of creating impressive applications for admissions. Once acceptance letters start coming in, the student may feel it is okay to slack off. Other students get so caught up in senior year excitement and activities, such as prom or graduation preparation, that they neglect their schoolwork. Whatever the reason, students and parents should pay attention to the signs of seniorities and address them quickly.
Senioritis can have negative effects on a student’s future. Every year colleges rescind offers of admissions, place students on academic probation, and change financial aid offers due to changes in the students’ file. Changes in a student’s file can include lower grades and disciplinary issues, which are sent to the colleges after graduation. Since colleges do not receive all information about their accepted students until the summer, they can make changes, including taking admissions offers off the table, in the summer after students have turned down offers to other colleges. Having colleges changes their decisions or financial aid offers in the summer can be very disappointing to the student, and depending on how late the change comes, can really limit their options.
If parents or students notice symptoms of senioritis, it should be addressed immediately. It is a good idea to figure out what is causing the senioritis and make changes if necessary. If senioritis has already made changes to a student’s record, it is recommended students meet with their teachers or school counselor to discuss their concerns and create a plan to address the issues. This will include determining if the change is large enough to notify the admissions committee at the college or colleges the student is considering attending.
The second semester of the senior year is still very important in college admissions. Even after admissions decisions are delivered, many colleges can change their mind, and tell students so in their acceptance letters. Therefore, students should continue taking their education seriously and work towards their goal of attending college.
Want to stay in the loop? Follow my blog to be notified when new articles are published. You can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest for information on college admissions.
UC to require all students to be vaccinated by 2017
Syringe and Vaccine by NIAID licensed by CC BY 2.0
The University of California will soon require all students to have vaccinations. According to the Friday press release from the UC, all UC campuses have experienced some sort of vaccine-preventable diseases in recent years. By requiring the vaccinations, the institution hopes to prevent breakouts like they have previously experienced.
The new vaccination requirement will take place in 2017. Students will be notified of the upcoming requirement in the fall of 2015. Students entering UC campuses in the fall of 2016 will be expected to have their vaccinations and enter the information into the university’s electronic medical record platform. By fall of 2017, all students attending UC campuses must meet vaccination requirements. If students do not meet the vaccination requirements, they will have a hold place on their registration.
The University of California previously only required hepatitis B vaccinations, with some campuses having had more requirements. However, this new announcement will require all UC students to have a list of vaccinations. The new requirement will add vaccinations for measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox), meningococcus, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough). Students will also need to be screened for tuberculosis. The Cal State system has required many of these vaccinations since 2002.
The vaccination requirement has been in the works for a year. However, the UC felt the issue was more pressing given the recent outbreak of diseases once thought to be eradicated in the United States, such as measles. “I’m really excited that there’s support and momentum for this new immunization plan,” said Dr. Gina Fleming, medical director for the UC Student Health Insurance Plan. The plan was developed based on recommendations from the California Department of Public Health.
The UC said there were two barriers to vaccinations in the past. First, the cost of vaccines made it difficult for all students to get vaccinations. However, with the Affordable Care Act, insurance will cover the cost of vaccinations. Second, student health staff had difficulty obtaining and verifying vaccination information. UC now has a new electronic medical record platform that four campuses will be piloting this fall, and the remaining campuses implementing the platform by the fall of 2016.
“The University of California is committed to protecting the health and well-being of our students,” said Mary Knudtson, executive director of the UC Santa Cruz Student Health Center and chair of the UC Immunization Policy Committee. “Therefore, all of the UC campuses are implementing procedures to ensure that students are educated about, and receive, vaccinations to prevent potentially dangerous illnesses and undergo screening to identify those who may have infectious tuberculosis.”
UC will allow for exemptions for medical and religious purposes. UC officials will be discussing how to handle and validate exemptions in the coming months. According to Fleming, “we need to be mindful of the populations we’re serving.” Fleming also shared that other vaccinations may be added later, such as meningococcus B.
The UC system is not the only one discussing vaccination requirements for students in California. State Senators Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) and Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) will be introducing legislation that is aimed at increasing the number of children who are immunized in California. The proposal would restrict parents from obtaining “personal belief” exemptions from immunizations for their school children. The legislation would still allow for medical and religious exemptions.
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