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Two New Scholarships Available for Your Students

A couple new scholarship opportunities are available to your students:

  1. Wade Kricken Scholarship for Future Attorneys: Have any students that are considering a career in Law?

This scholarship is available for students in the United States who are currently enrolled in a university, and high school students who have plans to attend a university.  The scholarship is meant to help a deserving student with scholarship funding who wishes to become an attorney.

 Here is some brief information about the scholarship: 

  • Award of $1,000 to a Single Student
  • Deadline for this scholarship is July 15, 2023
  • A winner will be announced by August 15, 2023 

All of the details and criteria can be found on our page: https://wadekrickenscholarship.com/wade-kricken-scholarship/

2. Cameron Impact Scholarship:

The Cameron Impact Scholarship is impact-driven and open to all applicants who meet the GPA and citizenship requirements, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, religion, sexual orientation or any other background factors.  Integrity, intelligence, motivation, work ethic, and willingness to serve others are the strongest indicators of a worthy educational investment.

  • 10-15 scholarships awarded per year
  • Four-year, full tuition scholarship (actual dollar amount varies based upon school selection
  • Freedom in choice of school and area of study


ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT
S

  • Accepting applications for the Class of 2024
  • Have a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.7
  • Must excel in extracurricular activities
  • exhibit strong leadership qualities
  • demonstrate active participation in community service
  • be a citizen of the United States.

DEADLINES (Max of 3,000 eligible applications will be reviewed)

Early Applicant Deadline – May 19, 2023

–       Finalist decisions by end of June 2023

Regular Applicant Deadline – September 8, 2023* 

–       Finalists decisions by end of October 2023

*If maximum number of applications has not yet been exceeded

All Finalist Interviews conducted in October and November 2023

Scholarships are awarded in December 2023

Link to scholarship: http://www.bryancameroneducationfoundation.org/

Careers to Consider: Nursing

Nursing is a broad field with many specialties and opportunities. Unfortunately, many high school students may have inaccurate preconceived notions about the field, such as the idea that men in nursing are rare.

Thankfully, there are ways to help educate students about the field and get them excited about a career as a nurse. It can be helpful to utilize some key resources to help expose students to the nursing field and imagine themselves stepping into the role.

Here are some resources to help curious students learn more about the nursing field.

An Overview of the Field and Its Specialties

Before tapping some more in-depth resources, a great place to start getting high school students excited about nursing is by providing them with an overview of the field. This can dispel their preconceived notions while also showing them the variety of opportunities and paths in the field.

To start, it can help to explain the different types of nurses and specialties that students can pursue. If a particular student has an interest in travel, you can spend more time explaining the role of travel nurses and the lucrative salaries they can earn. Conversely, if someone has an interest in emerging technology, you can point them in the direction of nursing specialties that have an emphasis on technology such as nursing informatics.

By giving students a broad overview of the nursing industry and the many avenues they can pursue in the field, you can change their attitude toward nursing and pursuing a career in the field.

Ways Highschool Students Can Explore Nursing Themselves

While talking about nursing may be a way to spark interest, many students may need a more potent catalyst to actually pursue a role in the field. Having a list of all of the resources in your areas that allow students to explore the field can be a great way to let students experience what the job is like and imagine what it would feel like to step into the role.

These resources could include things like healthcare internships and nurse shadowing opportunities in medical institutions. If some students have a keen interest in volunteer work, connecting them with healthcare or nursing-related volunteer opportunities is also a great way to get them involved. Hopefully, engaging in these experiences will get students excited about pursuing a career in nursing and spark their curiosity to do more research on their own.

Online Nursing Resources

Today’s high school students are no strangers to online activities, and providing online nursing resources may be a great way to get them engaged in their own research. Some resources could include articles and videos that highlight what it’s like to be a nurse and the benefits that come with pursuing it as a career. Podcasts can be another ripe resource to provide to students as they can listen to them during their commute to and from school.

By providing a list of various online nursing resources to students, you encourage them to continue researching the field outside of school. Resources created by actual nurses can be especially valuable, as these professionals are more knowledgeable about their field and can paint a vivid picture of what their professional life is like.

College Nursing Programs

Once you’ve exposed students to various nursing resources, it’s important to follow up with those who show keen interest. In these follow-up sessions, it can be effective to have a number of resources connected to college nursing programs. Be sure to thoroughly explain the difference between various programs, the amount of time they’ll take, and the importance of determining one’s career goals before committing to a specific program.

In addition to various programs, it can be helpful to provide scholarship resources that students can take advantage of. Feeling aware of their options will make these students more likely to seriously contemplate a career in nursing.

Explain Ways to Find Jobs in Nursing

No one wants to pursue a degree or education in a field that might leave them without a job. To dispel these fears in your students, it can help to provide them with resources that explain how nurses can find jobs and the steps that they can take to get there. The more prepared your students feel, the more likely they’ll be to pursue a career in the field.

One significant tip you might provide students with is the importance of networking to expose one to new employment opportunities. In addition to this, you may provide them with nursing events and opportunities in your local area that will give them the power to both improve their networking skills and make connections that can help them land a job once they’re qualified as nurses.

Help Students Connect with Real Nurses

While you can do your best to espouse the wonders of nursing to your students, it won’t be the same as having an actual nurse connect with them. This being the case, it can be incredibly useful for you to find nurses who are willing to connect with students — whether that’s over zoom, email, or social media — and describe their experiences and answer students’ questions.

The more students you’re able to connect with real nurses, the greater chances you’ll have of sparking a substantial interest in your students. This being the case, though it may involve a little more work on your part, finding nurses willing to communicate with students can be an amazing resource to educate students about the nursing field.

Nursing Can Be a Ripe Future for Students

Though it may not be the profession they always dreamed of stepping into, many students may become excited by the nursing field by being exposed to some key resources. By being mindful of student interests and educating them about nursing specialties that align with their interests, you should have no problem instilling students with a curiosity to learn more about the process of becoming a nurse.

Providing Educational Opportunities for All Students

Preparing high school students for college readiness can be a challenge. A student might meet high school graduation requirements, but might be missing coursework for college admission eligibility. And what if a student needs additional resources to remediate coursework? Or get access to Advanced Placement courses? 

As a counselor, being aware of key resources for students is critical to ensure they are prepared for college admission, and know they meet the requirements to attend their college of choice.

A well-known challenge

California’s universities are widely-recognized leaders in higher education, but the disparities in California’s K-12 education system tell a different story. According to US News & World Report, California currently ranks 3rd in the nation for higher education… and 40th for pre-K-12 education.

In the 2020-21 academic year, only 52% of students in California met UC and CSU admission requirements, better known as A-G requirements. When broken down by race and ethnicity, the numbers for historically underserved students are even more stark. The need for creative, out-of-the-box thinking is clearer than ever.

How to fill the gap

UC Scout develops and delivers  A-G approved online courses and curricula to students and teachers. Funding from the state, an expanded course catalog, and a general increase in the acceptance of online education are just some of the reasons UC Scout has grown from fewer than 5,000 enrollments in 2017 to over 30,000 enrollments in the 2021-2022 academic year. UC Scout currently offers a catalog of 65 courses in all A-G subject areas, including 26 AP courses, which are WASC accredited and have NCAA and College Board approval (where applicable). 

Embrace online and hybrid education

Remote and hybrid course offerings are here to stay, for both students and teachers. All of UC Scout’s courses are offered via three plan types to allow for flexible learning and teaching options. 

  • The Basic plan provides high-quality, pre-recorded video lectures for supplemental instruction (not for credit) and is offered free of charge to California public school students and teachers. 
  • The Plus plan provides video lectures as well as full curriculum and access to an online learning management system (Canvas) for teachers and is also free of charge for credentialed public school teachers in California.
  • The On Demand plan provides fully asynchronous online courses for credit. While this plan type is not free, UC Scout is pleased to offer scholarships for qualifying students.

UC Scout’s unique plan type system allows students, teachers, and school administrators the flexibility to choose the courses and plans that will best suit their needs. Education is not one-size-fits-all, and all students deserve the opportunity to access high quality courses that will prepare them for life after high school. UC Scout is on a mission to make that happen.

Have questions about UC Scout? Make sure to check out ucscout.org, follow @ucscout on social media, or email ucscoutoutreach@ucsc.edu for more information or to set up a virtual consultation. 

Guide to the College Admissions Process

A free guide is available for download from NACAC, Guide to the College Admissions Process. The guide reflects current trends, tasks, and additions to the college search and application experience. The guide offers sound advice on every step of the process, from getting in the right mindset, to researching universities, to completing application materials. This is a fantastic go-to source for students, families, and counselors!

Download a PDF of the guide free here: https://www.nacacnet.org/nacacs-guide-to-the-college-admission-process/

Financial Aid Primer

Many students and their parents have no clue about how financial aid works and how they are going to finance their child’s education. Do you get many questions about the types of financial aid available to them? The overwhelming majority of college students will utilize some type of federal and non-federal financial aid to help pay for their education.

BestColleges.com put out a nice guide that summarizes the types of financial aid, a summary of demographic information about who has received financial aid in years past and FAQ about financial aid. It is a nice primer you can point students and their parents to that has a good overview. Here is a link: https://www.bestcolleges.com/research/facts-financial-aid/

Student Loan Borrowers: Loan Forgiveness Workshop – Free webinar

Join this webinar to find out how your students can check eligibility for student loan forgiveness. Be sure to bring your questions for our student loan experts! No borrower should struggle alone, which is why we’ve created this space for our community of borrowers, friends and family members to access trusted support and guidance around their student loan debt.

This LIVE and interactive virtual webinar and Q&A session with student loan experts will help you:

  • Understand your best repayment options before payments resume
  • Determine if/how your eligibility has changed under the new PSLF rules
  • Administer all repayment & forgiveness paperwork on your behalf

What you need to know about this event:

  • Who: You, your friends and your family
  • What: Learn more about lowering your monthly payment, your eligibility for PSLF, status of servicing transfers, latest policy updates, and how Savi’s tool can help you get started

Date and time

Thu, January 26, 2023, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST

Register here for free: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/student-loan-borrowers-loan-forgiveness-workshop-powered-by-nacac-savi-tickets-481934889227

Men’s Scholarship Program – $50,000 to be Awarded.

About the Program

The scholarship is designed to identify and reward outstanding high school seniors who have demonstrated an ability to excel in the fields of academics, extra-curricular school activities, and community involvement. The scholarship is available to any male, graduating senior from an accredited high school who is enrolling in a four-year undergraduate college program that commences in the fall. The scholarship is awarded through the Foundation for Fraternal Excellence, a registered 501(c)3 organization. Current or future membership in a fraternity is not required.

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Must be a graduating high school senior in the United States
  • Must identify as male

Scholarship Timeline

  • January 17, 2023: Scholarship application live, click here to apply
  • April 3, 2023: Scholarship application closes
  • June 2023: Scholarship recipients notified
  • June-August 2023: Scholarship funds distributed

Apply here: https://app.smarterselect.com/programs/79371-Foundation-For-Fraternal-Excellence-

The College Planning Calendar – for high school freshmen and sophomores

Most of the fall and through the end of the year I focus my column on seniors since they’re in the middle of the application process; writing essays, getting letters of recommendation, applying for scholarships and financial aid and so much more.

But now, it’s January, and counselors like me get to change their focus to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.  Here’s what freshmen and sophomores should be doing and thinking about over the next several months. Next week I’ll go deep into what’s important for juniors.

FRESHMAN YEAR

It’s never too early to plan for the future!

  • Build strong academic, language, mathematics, and critical thinking skills by taking challenging courses.
  • Study hard and get excellent grades.
  • Strengthen your vocabulary by increasing your reading.
  • Become involved in extra-curricular activities.
  • Meet your high school guidance counselor and discuss your plans for the next four years.
  • Browse through college literature or research colleges online to get an idea of what kinds of schools may be of interest to you.
  • Take career assessments, and college major assessments to determine if you should apply to specific kinds of colleges.
  • Check out what high school courses colleges require.
  • Know NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) requirements if you want to play sports in college.
  • Keep an academic portfolio and co-curricular record.
  • Research career possibilities.
  • Start saving money for college now if you haven’t already done so – consider 529 plans and consult with a financial advisor to understand how, how much you save and where you put it has impacts down the road.

SOPHOMORE YEAR:

Concentrate on academic preparation and continue to develop basic skills and co-curricular interests.

January

  • Keep studying!
  • Volunteer—a great way to identify your interests and to develop skills.
  • Start thinking about your summer (academic programs, community service, job-shadowing/internships, etc.)

February

  • It is never too early to start researching colleges and universities. Visit your guidance office to browse through literature and guidebooks or surf the Web and check out college and university home pages.

March

  • Apply for summer programs.
  • Create your initial college list.

April & May

  • Continue to research career options and consider possible college majors that will help you achieve your career goals.
  • Make arrangements to visit a few college campuses over the summer.

June – July – August

  • If you work, save some of your earnings for college.
  • During the summer, you may want to sign up for a PSAT/SAT prep course, use computer software, or do the practice tests in books designed to familiarize you with standardized tests.
  • Make your summer productive. Continue reading to increase your vocabulary.

September – October

  • Take the PSAT (pre-SAT) and the PLAN (pre-ACT) if they are offered at your school. The results will not be used for college admission, but provide a great opportunity for students to “test-drive” each of the tests and hopefully determine that one suits them better.
  • Sign up, if you have not done so already, for extra-curricular activities that interest you. Colleges are most concerned with a student’s level of involvement and accomplishment, not the number of activities. One of the biggest changes in the college admissions process is that colleges would rather see depth than breadth and are more impressed with a student’s commitment to one or two activities than a laundry list of clubs that haven’t had much impact on their lives.
  • Think about how you want to get involved in extracurricular activities at your school. Admissions officers prefer to see students commit to one or two activities where they can have an impact, rather than jumping around and dabbling in a dozen activities that aren’t as meaningful.
  • Keep a record of your extra-curricular involvement, volunteer work, and employment (all year).

November

  • Make sure you are “on top” of your academic work. If necessary, meet with your teacher for additional help.
  • Save your best work in academic courses and the arts for your academic portfolio (all year).

December

  • Receive results of PLAN and/or PSAT. Read materials sent with your score report. Consult your guidance counselor to improve on future standardized tests and courses to discuss which may be required or beneficial for your post-high school plans.

Lee Bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte. Send questions to: lee@bierercollegeconsulting.comwww.bierercollegeconsulting.com

Remote Learning Tips for Students of All Ages

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, students of all ages have had to dive into remote learning at some point in their educational careers. Whether their first experience with distance learning is in kindergarten or college, it can be a tough transition.

Remote learning has many benefits, especially when it’s unsafe to attend in-person classes. Some students thrive on distance learning and choose to continue with an online college program after high school. With that said, it also comes with many challenges, which vary from student to student.

Distractions at home, a lack of resources, and difficulty engaging with the material and the class are all obstacles students have to overcome when attending classes remotely. However, it’s sometimes necessary for students of all ages to use distance learning tools to ensure that they don’t fall behind. Here are some tips to help them succeed.

Set Goals

Teachers will have their own goals for online learning. However, it’s important for students to set their own goals and have some ownership over the learning process. Taking the larger goal of a class and breaking it down into more manageable steps will help students feel less overwhelmed by the assignments and learning objectives.

Create Routines

Whether students have to attend class at a specific time every day or the lessons are pre-recorded, routines are important for distance learning. Getting up, brushing teeth, getting dressed and having breakfast before class are routines students perform before attending classes in person — why shouldn’t they stick to them when attending school remotely? Having routines will help students focus and maintain the attitude they need for optimal learning.

Routines are helpful for carving out study time too. If a student always studies for an hour after dinner, they will be less likely to skip it and will be more likely to succeed in their distance learning classes. 

Eliminate Distractions

At home, there are distractions everywhere. Students of all ages can easily get sidetracked by everything from a younger sibling to the television in the background. Digital distractions are especially powerful and can keep students from paying attention in class or getting their homework done.

Students can eliminate distractions in several ways. Setting up a dedicated and quiet area for virtual classes and homework is the first step. Putting phones in silent mode (or keeping them out of the room altogether!) and turning off other devices can help students stay focused. Some students can also benefit from website blockers, which temporarily prevent them from visiting distracting websites. Keeping tech on lockdown during school hours can really help students achieve their academic goals when learning remotely.

Don’t Let Breaks Get Out of Control

Breaks are very important for students — they need time to rest and recharge in between classes and tasks. However, short breaks can easily stretch out into huge blocks of time that take away from learning.

Again, taking technology out of the equation can help. Students might want to consider taking a walk, having a healthy snack, or reading a chapter of a good book during their breaks, instead of reaching for their phone and scrolling for a while!

Maintain Privacy Online

When learning online, it’s important for students to understand the real issue of cybercrime and how it can affect their safety. For younger students, maintaining privacy online is primarily the job of parents and school officials. For older students, who have more freedom and knowledge of these types of issues, precautions are important.

Many students don’t realize just how dangerous cyberattacks can be. While stealing student information isn’t as serious as cyberterrorism, for instance, it can still cause a lot of problems for individual students. Students need to be educated on why cybersecurity is so critical and how they can protect their information while engaging in remote learning.

Emphasize Participation

Remote learning can make students feel isolated. They might be afraid to speak up on camera, ask questions, or reach out when they need help. Many students have trouble staying focused during class, even if they are taught live.

The good news is that participation can help with this. Students should try to get involved in class discussions, whether over video or in written form. This kind of participation helps boost engagement and focus and reduces any feelings of isolation coming from remote learning. It also helps students learn so they can boost their grade.

Remote Learning Benefits and Struggles.

Some students have very little trouble in the remote classroom. Others will struggle significantly. As a counselor, you can help set students up for success by giving them remote learning tips that will allow them to stay more focused and engaged with the material and class.

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