BMCHS Counseling and College News: October 17, 2019

October 17, 2019

From Your Counselors:

Attention Seniors! Need help with The Common Application? Some schools utilize The Common Application. The Common Application can be accessed HERE. There is a student guide with video instructions you can find HERE to get you started and to help walk you through the process of filling out your application. You can also access an application requirement grid from all of The Common Application schools to help you stay organized. For Common Application schools, the counselor recommender to invite is Cathy McClintock.

Any student who needs to stay organized, check out this fillable application organizer.

NEXT WEEK!

Counseling Information

Letters of Recommendation

Please make sure to fill out and return your Brag Sheet, accessible here, to Lauren.McBride@bishopmanogue.org.

Attention Seniors ! Please be aware of your college application deadlines. Any letters of recommendation that you need from your counselor with November 1st deadlines, must be requested no later than October 18th -- No Exceptions. Your request is not complete until you submit your brag sheet and a detailed resume to Ms. McClintock or Dr. McBride by the 18th . Please stop by one of their offices to pick up your brag sheet. Recommendation requests for November 15th deadlines are due by November 1st-no exceptions . Out of respect for your counselors, please provide them proper lead time to write your child a thoughtful letter of recommendation and also only request letters if the college/university requires one.

Study Skills Counseling

Attention 9th and 10th graders: If you are interested in participating in a time management and study skills group program this semester during your miner block period on Thursdays, Ms. Koltz (one of your school counselors) will be upholding a group counseling session 2-3 times per month during Miner Block for 30 minutes (2:30-3pm).

If you are interested in being a part of the group, please contact Jessica Koltz ASAP to get the consent paperwork filled out. We will be meeting on the following dates, ALL Thursdays from 2:30-3pm in the Knowledge Center: 10/17, 10/31, 11/7, 11/14, 11/21, 12/5, & 12/12

Thank you, please feel free to email jessica.koltz@bishopmanogue.org or call 336-6097 if you would like more information.

Stress Management Counseling

Attention 10th graders: If you are interested in participating in an anxiety/stress management counseling group program this semester during your miner block period on Thursdays, Ms. Koltz (one of your school counselors) will be upholding a group counseling session 2-3 times per month during Miner Block for 45 minutes to 1 hour (1:30-2:15/2:30).

If you are interested in being a part of the group, please contact Jessica Koltz ASAP to get the consent paperwork filled out. If you are unable to attend more than one session, I will ask that you allow the space for another student who will be consistently available to meet with us. We will be meeting on the following dates, ALL Thursdays from 1:30-2:15/2:30 in the counseling offices: 10/17, 10/31, 11/7, 11/14, 11/21, 12/5, & 12/12.

Thank you, please feel free to email jessica.koltz@bishopmanogue.org or call 336-6097 if you would like more information.

Scheduled College Visits

10/14/19: University of Puget Sound-11:15am

10/17/19: Colgate University - 10:05am

10/18/19: Colorado Christian University - 9:30am

10/18/19: Holy Names University-9:30am

10/18/19: Portland State University - 10:30am

10/21/19: Carroll College - 9:30am

10/21/19: Hillsdale College - 8:30am

10/21/19: Lewis and Clark College - 11:30am

10/21/19: Linfield College -1pm

10/21/19: Montana State University, Bozeman - 8:30am

10/21/19: Northern Arizona University-9:30am

10/21/19: Willamette University - 9:30am

10/21/19: University of Idaho- 10am

10/21/19: Gonzaga University - 1:30pm

10/22/19: The University of Arizona - 9:15am

10/22/19: University of the Pacific - 11:19am

10/22/19: University of Portland- 11:19 am and 12:53pm

10/22/19: Soka University of America (CA) - 12:53pm

10/23/19: University of Nevada, Las Vegas - 10:00am

Location TBD, most college visits will take place in the Knowledge Center or Student Community Center.

Scholarships

Nevada Promise Scholarship

Truckee Meadows Community College is excited to share with you the newest and latest

updates for the Nevada Promise Scholarship! Please see the updates below:

October 1

Complete a Nevada Promise Scholarship Application no later than 11:59pm.

March 1

File 2020-2021 FAFSA (you can begin filing October 1st - file early!)
Complete the Nevada Promise Scholarship training

June 1

Mentor Meeting
Submission of eight community service hours
Confirm Financial Aid eligibility

July 1

To view a full list of requirements, please visit their website.

Boston University Scholarships

Trustee Scholarship – Boston University's most prestigious full-tuition scholarship

recognizes extraordinary academic performance and leadership ability. Students must

submit one additional essay with their application for admission.

Presidential Scholarship – This four-year, $25,000 scholarship is awarded to students with

exceptional academic achievements. No additional application materials are required—all

students need to do to be considered is apply for admission by the scholarship deadline.

The application deadline for these scholarships is December 1, 2019.

To learn more about the requirements of these scholarships and other merit awards offered by BU,

please visit their website .

Elks Scholarship

Check out some of the scholarship opportunities through Reno Elks. See flyer here.

Distinguished Young Women of Nevada

This scholarship is available for young women in the class of 2020. Read more here.

Upcoming programs, college fairs, and events

Juniors and Seniors Seeking a Major in Visual Arts

Art Institute of Chicago's Sioban Lombardi, will be here Wednesday, November 6th during 2nd period to look through students' art portfolios and will be providing feedback. This is a great opportunity for students to receive feedback at the collegiate level. We would love for any student interested in having their portfolio looked at join Mrs. Bavaro's AP/Honors class at 10:00am. Please see Mrs. Bavaro for more details.

UNR Summer Session

Attention Seniors Attending UNR in Fall 2020! The University of Nevada, Reno’s 365 Learning is offering a Summer Session said to be an exciting opportunity for your graduating seniors who plan to attend UNR in the fall of 2020. Through the Summer Freshman Start program, incoming UNR freshmen can get ahead in their college careers by coming to campus early and taking summer session classes. Click HERE for more information.

University of Portland School of Nursing Information Night

Interested in Nursing? The University of Portland School of Nursing and Renown Health are hosting

an information night for parents and students. In partnership with Renown Health, University of

Portland offers a unique opportunity for students to complete clinical hours at a Renown location in

Reno! Join them to get an insider’s view of what it is like to live and learn on the Bluff. Register here

to attend: https://admissions.up.edu/register/upinfonight

Tuesday October 22, 2019

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Mack Auditorium at Renown Regional

Reno, Nevada

(parking is free!)

Duke University Summer Session's 2020 Programs NOW LIVE!

Heads up, students! The 2020 Duke University Summer Session info is ready for you! Check it out here . Ask yourself: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Are you conducting ground-breaking research? Maybe you’re already a leader crafting policies that have a global impact. Or, are you tackling the world’s most complex challenges? At Duke University Summer Session you will take a thrilling first step toward your future success!

University of Denver is Test-Optional

As you may have heard this past spring, DU is a test-optional institution, starting with

undergraduate applicants for Fall 2020! They hope a test-optional admission process will remove

barriers for those who may lack standardized test-prep resources, but who are exceptional

students. The process still recognizes the potential value of standardized tests as a part of the

holistic review, so if students believe their SAT and/or ACT score results are an accurate

representation of their academic ability, they should send them to the school. If, however, they

ultimately decide their test scores do not represent their abilities and potential, they are free to

apply test-optional and omit their test scores. With or without test scores, DU will continue using

their holistic review process for admission and scholarship purposes for all applicants. Students

are encouraged to contact their admission counselor or visit their test-optional webpage if they

have questions.

PSAT Q&A

When will my child’s PSAT results be available?

PSAT Exam results will be posted to the College Board website on Wednesday, December 11.

How can I access my child’s results?

Students can access their results through the Student Score Reports section of the College Board website.

Grade 9: Students will meet with the counselors in early December (before results are available) to set-up a College Board account and review a sample score report. If your student is not in class on those days, set-up instructions will be sent home. Students will need this account information throughout high school to access future PSAT scores, register/send scores for SAT exams, and register/view scores for AP tests. The College Board also provides a wealth of resources that students can access through their account.

Grades 10-11: To access your child’s results, please have them sign in to their existing College Board account (http://studentscores.collegeboard.org). This is the same account where they have accessed their PSAT scores from previous years and registered for their AP exams this fall (if applicable). If your child has previously taken a PSAT exam, he or she most likely already has a College Board account. If you are unsure if your child has a College Board account or s/he cannot remember their username or password, DO NOT SET UP A NEW ACCOUNT. First, please call College Board to verify that your student does not have an account (1-866-315-6068) or obtain their log-in information. If your child does not have a College Board account, click here to set one up (http://studentscores.collegeboard.org).

Why are the counselors meeting with the freshman class before the scores are available to students?

Student confidentiality is a priority at Bishop Manogue. We are providing instructions regarding when and how to access scores in advance of the score release date so that student may choose whether to share their scores with others or keep them private, when to access their scores, and where to access their scores.

When are the counselors providing information to sophomores and juniors?

Counselors will go into classes in January to distribute copies of the paper score reports to students. Families will be able to access their child’s scores on December 11 through the student’s College Board account. If the 2019 PSAT results do not automatically appear in the account on that date, you may need an access code. Please contact your counselor via email to obtain the access code.

I’m looking at the results. What are College Readiness Benchmarks?

You’ll see a benchmark for each section of the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10. Benchmarks are the scores that represent college readiness. In other words, if you score at or above the benchmark, you’re on track to be ready for college when you graduate high school. If you score below the benchmark, you still have time to work on your skills. Use the detailed feedback in your online score report to see which skills need the most improvement.

I see that the score report is color-coded. What do the colors mean?

Green: A student who meets or exceeds the benchmark score for their grade level will be in the green range and would be considered on track for college and career readiness for their grade. For example, an 11th-grader who meets the 11th-grade benchmark for the section will be in this range.

Red: A student who does not meet the benchmark section scores for the prior grade level will be in the red range, meaning they are more than one year behind in college and career readiness for their grade. For example, an 11th-grader who does not meet the 10th-grade benchmark for the section score will be in this range.

Yellow: A student whose section score falls between these two values will be in the yellow range and could be considered approaching college and career readiness for their grade.

How can my child and I get more detailed information about their scores?

Grade 9: Counselors will provide detailed information to students when they set-up College Board accounts in early December. Click here for more information to better understand your child’s score report (https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-8-9/scores). A sample PSAT 8/9 score report can be found here (https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/sample-psat-8-9-score-report.pdf).

Grades 10-11: Counselors will be going into classrooms in January to provide students with their access codes for the 2019 PSAT. They will also review the benchmark system used on the score reports. Click here to better understand your child’s score report (https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/psat-nmsqt-understanding-scores.pdf). You can also watch this brief video while will walk you through how to interpret the results (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i-bOhSzyig).

Will you be providing any more opportunities to help me interpret my child’s results and how they can improve?

Yes! If, after exploring these resources, you have specific questions about your child’s results, please contact your child’s counselor.

I have heard that Bishop Manogue has a College Entrance Exam graduation requirement. What’s next?

Grade 11: Juniors will be taking the SAT on Wednesday, March 4. More information on this exam will be distributed with PSAT results and will be discussed at Junior Night. Students are required to take the ACT or SAT to fulfill the College Entrance Exam graduation requirement. If a student does not wish to take the SAT, he or she must provide proof of SAT/ACT registration or scores to Dr. McBride by December 19th to waive the SAT exam. No minimum SAT score is required for graduation.

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