SOUTH MECKLENBURG HIGH SCHOOL SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPARTMENT COLLEGE PLANNING NEWSLETTER. Counselors

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1 SOUTH MECKLENBURG HIGH SCHOOL SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPARTMENT COLLEGE PLANNING NEWSLETTER FRIDAY, September 27, 2013 Counselors Ms. Walder Counselor A- Ce Ms. Naples Counselor Ch Gi Ms. Faccone Counselor Gl K claudia.faccone@cms.k12.nc.us Mrs. Strickland Counselor L - O jd.strickland@cms.k12.nc.us Ms. Preacher Counselor P Sm kim.preacher@cms.k12.nc.us Mrs. Jurusik Counselor Sn - Z amy.jurusik@cms.k12.nc.us Congratulations to the following: **Jack Holmes, Phillip Jester, Jack McKenzie, Tatianaide Medina Nieto and Kevin Wang will represent South Mecklenburg in the UNC-Chapel Hill Morehead-Cain Scholarship competition!!! New This Week!! South Meck High School Financial Aid Workshop - Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at 6pm in the auditorium. We will have a speaker from the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) on campus to discuss the financial aid process. Common Application Update!! If you are applying to colleges/universities through the Common Application Process, please be aware that the Counselors are not able to submit their portion electronically (ie. Transcripts, School Report Forms, Letters of Recommendation, etc.). All transcript requests must be made through the main office. Applicants will need to print the School Report from Common App and bring one hard copy to their assigned counselor. Applicants will also need to provide the counselor with the number of schools to which they are submitting the Common Application so that copies can be provided. Once completed, they will be available for pick up. If you have any questions, please see your counselor. Old News A College Planning Meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 8 th at 6:30 PM in the auditorium. Dave Kraus, Director of Admissions at Davidson College, will share information regarding how colleges make admissions decisions. Parents of all grade level students are invited to attend. College Access Para Todos (CAPT) provides information about access to higher education for everyone. All documented and undocumented youth in our community who are driven to go to college can take advantage of free workshops on SAT Prep, College Preparation, Community Training and Leadership Development. For more information, please contact Megan Walsh at or mwalsh@latinamericancoalition.org. GOVERNOR S SCHOOL A SUMMER PROGRAM FOR GIFTED AND TALENTED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS The Governor s School of NC is the oldest statewide summer residential program for gifted and talented high school students in the nation. The program, which is open to rising seniors, with exceptions made for rising juniors in selected performing/visual arts areas, is located on two campuses: Governor s School West at Salem College in Winston-Salem and Governor s School East at Meredith College in Raleigh. Please go to to review the nomination packet if you are interested in this program. There was an informational meeting for interested students this week, however if you missed it, please direct all questions to Ms. Naples, room A117, toni.naples@cms.k12.nc.us or Ms. Strickland, room A115, jd.strickland@cms.k12.nc.us.

2 Transcript Information Due to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's (NCDPI) conversion to PowerSchool, all North Carolina public schools are unable to provide complete and up-to-date academic information on student transcripts at this time. This may influence both class rank and/or GPA. Students should request hard copies of their transcripts from the front office until we are notified otherwise. CFNC is now sending electronic transcripts to North Carolina colleges! If you are applying to any North Carolina college or university, you can now send your transcripts electronically through CFNC, even if you have applied through the colleges individual websites. This saves both you and South Meck time and money! Talk to your counselor for more information. IMPORTANT - The transcript that CFNC is providing at this time is from June, It will not have the student s current senior schedule and correct class rank. The student services department will inform you when these are updated in PowerSchool and available on CFNC. Students can send transcripts electronically via CFNC.org through an exclusive agreement with the NC Department of Public Instruction. Students can securely send official high school transcripts (current and final) from all schools that have converted to NCWISE. Official electronic high school transcripts can be requested by the student in two ways: 1. After submitting an online application to any of the 110 colleges or universities in North Carolina. 2. Directly from CFNC.org s Transcript Manager. All 110 institutions in NC accept the electronic high school transcript in addition to the application for admission from CFNC.org. In order to send electronic transcripts via CFNC.org, the student must meet the following criteria: Be currently enrolled or have graduated from a participating public high school in NC Have correctly entered the following information in the Profile and/or online admissions application: 1. First and Name 2. CMS Student ID 3. Date of Birth 4. Gender 5. Current High School 6. address Please note the following: A successfully requested transcript should be received by the college within 1-3 business days Colleges/Universities may take up to 3 weeks to process before they are officially recorded as received. Students can track all online applications and electronic high school transcript activity at CFNC.org through the Transcript Manager at College Information Charlotte Christian School is the host site for the National Christian College Fair which will be Monday, September 30 from 6:30 8:30 pm. The address is 7301 Sardis Road, Charlotte, NC For more information and to register for this event, please visit CFNC has provided a listing of all NC Colleges/Universities Admissions Deadlines and Open House Dates and To view the list, click here: College Day Request Form Info Students wishing to take a college day need to pick up the College Day Request Form in the Main Office. Juniors and seniors are allowed two of these visits per semester. The student will fill out the top three lines, get a parent signature and return the form to the office for Dr. Furr s signature. This form must be picked up prior to the college day visit. A portion of the form must be filled out during your college visit and the form must be returned to the office upon your return to school.

3 $$$$ Scholarships $$$$ Unless otherwise indicated, the scholarship applications are available in the main office. Please see Ms. Preacher or Mrs. Jurusik for information and applications. Please Note: Seniors must be a member of the PTSA or Athletic Booster club in order to be eligible for any scholarships offered by the PTSA or Athletic Booster Club. Seniors (and Parents of Seniors) -- several valuable and prestigious scholarships have early deadlines. Please don t miss out on these opportunities. September The UNC Chapel Hill Morehead-Cain Scholarship information has been received in our Guidance Office. If you are interested in being a nominee from South Mecklenburg, you must complete a preliminary application and participate in an interview process. South Meck will have 5 nominees. See Ms. Preacher in Guidance if you are interested in this opportunity. Please note that this scholarship application is an on-line process and can be accessed at The award includes 4 years of tuition and expenses, as well as a fully funded summer enrichment program, a laptop computer, and leadership experiences. (Note you may also self nominate for the Morehead-Cain Scholarship.) The NC State University Park Scholarship Program is also available for students. Scholars are selected on the basis of scholarship, leadership, service and character. South Mecklenburg will endorse 2 candidates for this prestigious scholarship. If you are interested in being considered for endorsement by South Meck, you must complete a preliminary application and participate in an interview process. See Ms. Preacher in Guidance if you are interested in this opportunity. This is also an on-line application process. The award includes 4 years of tuition and other expenses as well as a computer stipend and personal enrichment experiences. Visit for more information. (Note - you may also self-nominate for the Park Scholarship.) The UNC Charlotte Levine Scholarship offers a $90,000 scholarship that includes 4 years of full tuition, room and board, a new laptop computer and 4 summers of experiences to high achieving senior students. Successful candidates will likely have a minimum GPA (unweighted) and a score of on the three combined sections of the SAT or an ACT composite of In order to be nominated for this scholarship, students must be nominated by a School Counselor. See Ms. Preacher in Guidance if interested in being nominated. Information can be found at Davidson College offers the Belk Scholarship for students who possess outstanding intellectual ability and success, leadership experience, commitment to service and overall personal vigor. This highly competitive scholarship covers the comprehensive cost of attending Davidson. Each school has the ability to nominate one candidate for the Belk Scholarship. See Ms. Preacher in Guidance by October 15 th if interested. The University of Virginia offers the Jefferson Scholarship to high school students who possess exceptional ability in scholarship and leadership. This Scholarship is awarded solely based on academic merit. Each high school is allowed one nominee for the Jefferson Scholarship. Please see Ms. Preacher in Guidance by October 15 th if interested. October Seniors interested in being nominated for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Meyerhoff Scholarship should see Mrs. Jurusik in Guidance by October 1, 2013 for more information. This program is open to all high-achieving seniors who plan to pursue undergraduate studies in Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Math (STEM). For more information, please visit Applications are now being accepted for the 2014 Wendy s High School Heisman Award. The award honors outstanding high school scholar-athletes for their commitment to academic achievement, athletics and leadership. The first 25,000 completed applications will receive a $10 Wendy s gift card. Winners receive $10,000 for their high school and a $500 Wendy s gift card. National finalists receive an all-expense paid trip to New York City to attend the Wendy s High School Heisman Awards Ceremony and college Heisman Memorial Trophy Award weekend festivities in December. Please visit: Deadline to enter is October 2, AES Engineers Scholarship This scholarship will award $500 to the winner(s) each year. Application process: Students will submit an essay

4 on on the topic that appear on the scholarship page of the AES website: Please note that they emphasize that this scholarship in not just for Engineering students. Deadline to enter is October 4, NC State University College of Textiles Centennial Scholarship. This scholarship is for students who are interested in the following fields: engineering, business management, chemistry, polymer chemistry, forensics, medical fields, international studies, design, apparel, sourcing, fashion, merchandising or retail management. Approximately 10 scholarships will be awarded to the top applicants. Selection will be based on demonstrated high academic achievement throughout high school with proven and potential leadership qualities, extracurricular activities and unique life experiences. Interested students should see Mrs. Jurusik in Guidance by October 11. South Meck can only nominate 2 students for this scholarship. If you are not chosen by the school as a nominee, you can self-nominate. For more information, visit: Pride Teen Entrepreneur of Distinction Award will be presented to an outstanding African-American or African high school senior in the Charlotte region who has started a business or who has been involved in a formidable business related venture. He or she is entrepreneurial minded and demonstrates a proclivity for leadership and being socially responsible. This student has a satisfactory academic record and will attend college with plans to put entrepreneurial skills into practice. You can download a nomination form at Send Pride Awards 2013 nomination forms and all supporting material to: Pride Magazine, P.O. Box 30113, Charlotte, NC 28230, before the Monday, October 21, 2013 deadline. The Citadel is accepting nominations for one of their 30 full academic scholarships that they give out each year. They offer 30 full academic scholarships each year. If you are interested, please complete the application at The Horatio Alger Scholarship rewards students who possess the character to succeed in life. To qualify, you must be a high school senior planning to graduate in the upcoming Spring or Summer. You must plan to attend a US college no later than the Fall following graduation and be committed to pursuing and completing a bachelor s degree. You must demonstrate critical financial need, involvement in co-curricular and community activities, integrity, and perseverance in overcoming adversity. You also must have a minimum 2.0 GPA and be a US citizen. Applications are due October 25, Please visit and apply yourself. SunTrust Off to College Scholarship Sweepstakes High school seniors and current undergraduate college students can enter for a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship for their education expenses at a college or university. One winner will be chosen every two weeks from October 25, 2013 through May 9, Free to enter and eligibility is not based on GPA or financial need. Enter online at November The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has announced a new college scholarship program. The program is available to high-performing seniors with financial need who seek to attend a 4 year college or university. Interested students, please visit for more information. Applications period is August 29, 2013 to November 5, Prudential Spirit of Community Awards - Deadline to enter is November 5, 2013 These awards recognize students who have demonstrated exemplary community service. To apply, visit or click on the Apply Now link and follow the onscreen instructions. You can also apply by calling Once the application is completed, it must be presented to Ms. Preacher in A-111 by November 1 for review and possible certification. We are pleased to announce that the online application is now available for The Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars Program, a merit-based scholarship and leadership development program at the University of Notre Dame. The leadership development program will provide: A four-year merit scholarship award of $25,000 per year toward the cost of attendance at Notre Dame; Four fully-funded Summer Enrichment experiences: Wilderness Leadership, Social Justice, Global Inquiry, and Professional Venture; A community of scholars, with special events and activities throughout the academic year; and Guidance and support from dedicated Program staff and faculty mentors. The application deadline for our Program is November 15, Please visit to begin the application process.

5 The Emory University Scholars Program continues to be a highly selective program that not only recognizes and provides financial assistance to exceptional students with a history of academic excellence and outstanding extracurricular engagement, but also challenges those students to utilize their talents to impact Emory University, Atlanta, and the world. Interested students can self-nominate by visiting Deadline to enter is November 15, Later or Unspecified Deadlines Make the U (Haz la U) Scholarship Program - Colgate-Palmolive s commitment to US Hispanic youth brings this scholarship opportunity. To apply, log on to and follow the application process. Applications are accepted from September 1 - January 20, You can also call with questions. The 7 th Annual Create-A-Greeting-Card $10,000 Scholarship Contest. To enter, students must submit a unique photo, piece of artwork, or computer graphic for the front of a greeting card. The student with the best design will win a $10,000 scholarship. To enter, go to Questions about this scholarship can be directed to scholarshipadmin@gallerycollection.com. The Forgivable Education Loans for Service (FELS) program provides funding for North Carolina students pursuing programs leading to careers in areas with critical need, such as nursing, teaching, allied health fields and medicine. The FELS application and program information for the academic year will be available in November, 2013 at Deadline for submitting the application is April 1, The student services website has been updated with new scholarship information. For more information, visit Helpful web sites for scholarship or financial aid information: For a list of scholarship programs administered by the Foundation for the Carolinas, please visit their website at There you will find information regarding their scholarships, eligibility requirements, application procedures and application deadlines. You may also contact this organization at scholars@fftc.org. Visit StudentScholoarships.org to see new scholarship listings that have recently been added and those that have an upcoming deadline! School News/Dates October 16 th PSAT for juniors and seniors During school SAT and ACT Information CEEB Code or High School code is SAT Dates - Oct 5 Nov 2 Dec 7 Jan 25 May 3 Jun 7 Register at ACT Dates Sept 21 Oct 26 Dec 14 Feb 8 Apr 12 June 14 Register at

6 TESTING INFORMATION PSAT The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program co-sponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT. It also gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools. The PSAT/NMSQT measures: Critical reading skills Math problem-solving skills Writing skills All 10th and 11th graders in CMS will take the PSAT on Wednesday, October 16th. Seniors and Freshmen will report to homeroom for academic activities. For additional information regarding the PSAT program or testing students with disabilities, please refer to the PSAT Homepage. Students with an IEP or 504/LEP plan will not automatically receive their accommodations. Since this is a national test, College Board must grant approval for any test accommodations. Pease note that the review process takes approximately seven weeks from the date of receipt of the complete documentation. PLAN (State Administration) All public school students in grade 10 will participate in PLAN. This is considered a state test. There is no test fee or need to register online. South Meck has ordered test materials for the 10th graders. The 10th graders at South Meck will be taking the PLAN on October 23rd with their homeroom teachers. Students need to bring several #2 sharpened pencils. Students also have the option to bring a 4-function, graphing, or scientific calculator. But, all the math problems on the PLAN can be solved without a calculator. Prohibited calculators include the TI-89 and TI-92. The school will not providing calculators. Students are not allowed to have their cell phones or any other form of electronic communication on their person. The PLAN program has been designed to be administered within a half day during school supervised sessions. It takes about 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete the entire program: approximately minutes for the non test sections and 2 hours and 10 minutes for the four tests of educational development. Tenth graders will take the PLAN with their homeroom teacher. Because this is considered a State Administration, students with IEP's or 504 plans will follow their state allowed accommodations. If you have any questions regarding testing accommodations, please contact Elaine Miller at Calculators** - Students are allowed to use calculators on the test. However, calculators are not required - all problems can be solved without a calculator. South Meck will not be providing students with calculators. Students who are not taking the plan (9th, 11th, and 12th grade) will report to their homeroom upon arrival at school. If you have questions or concerns, please contact our Testing Coordinator, Elaine Miller College Visit Schedule College Date Time Location Georgia Tech Sept. 27 9:30 Media Center Case Western University Sept :30 Media Center University of South Carolina Sept. 30 9:30 Media Center Champlain College Oct. 1 9:30 Media Center University of Michigan Oct. 2 8:00 Media Center Fordham University Oct. 4 9:30 Media Center UNC Pembroke Oct. 8 Media Center

7 Davidson College Oct. 9 1:00 Media Center Queens University Oct. 9 1:30 Media Center UNC Chapel Hill Oct. 11 8:30 Media Center Guilford University Oct. 11 2:15 Media Center Wofford University Oct :30 Media Center Regency Beauty School Oct :31-12:41 Mall University of Tennessee Oct. 24 9:30 Media Center University of Alabama Oct. 18 9:30 Media Center Brown University Oct. 18 8:00 Media Center Belmont Abbey University Oct. 18 1:30 Media Center Hollins University Oct. 28 1:00 Media Center Ohio University Oct. 29 1:00 Media Center Campbell University Nov. 5 8:00 Media Center ASVAB Nov. 6 2:30-5:30 Small Cafeteria Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandsing Nov :31-12:41 Mall ** To attend a College Information Session each student must see Mr. McIntyre in the media center (herman.mcintyre@cms.k12.nc.us) for an appointment time. Now is the time to start preparing for your future** Open House/Information Sessions Presbyterian College - Open Houses - Saturday, September 28 th, October 19 th, November 2 nd, November 11th Visit: Wake Forest University - Near and Far Near and Far Open House Program for North Carolina Students Friday, November 1 - Wake Forest University. Register Online. Western Carolina University Fall Open House - November 9 th. Visit: for more information. University of Virginia Informational Session Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at 6:30 at Myers Park High School Auditorium. RSVP at: Brown University Informational Session Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 7:00 at Charlotte Country Day School, Cramer Lecture Hall. Register at: University of NC Charlotte Fall Open Houses - October 19 th and November 16 th. Register at: Duke University - Pratt School of Engineering - Saturday, October 19, 2013 at 8:00 AM until 3:45 PM. Visit: for more information. Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) Fall Open House - Thursday, October 24, 2013, Drop in from 4-6:30 p.m., Worrell building, Taylor Gym (Central Campus) Randolph College: First Look - Saturday, October 26, Program begins at 10:00 am. To register visit:

8 In compliance with federal law, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools administers all education programs, employment activities and admissions without discrimination against any person on the basis of sex, race, religion, national origin, age or disability.