What Are My Chances?

I want to share a couple of resources for students that may help them gauge how likely they are to be admitted to a particular school, based on the courses they've taken in high school, their standardized test scores and their GPA.

On College Board's web site, you can search for colleges of interest and then click on the "How Do I Stack Up?" link.  From there the student enters his/her high school classes (number of years of English, math, etc.), SAT scores and GPA and then receives a report showing how they "stack up to students who got in and enrolled".

Another resource is a free web site called Cappex.  Students need to create an account first, and then they can get similar feedback as what the College Board tool provides.  (I wrote about Cappex here in an earlier post.)  Cappex also allows schools to contact students via the Cappex web site when there might be a good fit.

Summer and Gap Year Opportunities: Rustic Pathways

An organization called Rustic Pathways made a presentation to the high school students today during advisory.  You can visit their web site at www.rusticpathways.com.  They offer both summer programs for high school students as well as a gap year program for high school graduates.  Programs include community service as well as adventure and travel experiences.

About Rustic Pathways:

Rustic Pathways offers travel programs for high school students, families, groups and college students. Summer programs are available for students from 12 years of age. Rustic Pathways also offers scheduled family adventures and customized family trips, as well as organized overseas programs for school, universities, groups, and clubs of all kinds. The company runs programs year round to Australia, New Zealand, The Fiji Islands, Tanzania, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Vietnam, China, India, Peru, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Mongolia, Transylvania Mongolia and the United States. Rustic Pathways summer programs are suitable for most students.

Gap Year Option - Thinking Beyond Borders

This program offers a gap semester in Ecuador as well as a gap year (8 month program that includes extended living, service learning, and academic study in Ecuador, China, India, and South Africa).

About Thinking Beyond Borders:
Thinking Beyond Borders is a growing community committed to changing the world by translating learning into action. Our Gap Year programs are designed for students to explore international development through global service learning and academic study.

For more information visit http://thinkingbeyondborders.org/program/index.html.

Rotary Club of Ojai Scholarships

I have the paperwork for the Rotary Club of Ojai's scholarships.  The deadline for this scholarship is March 25th.  There are 8 college scholarship grants, 3 career and technical education grants (and 1 grant specifically for a Nordhoff cross country runner).

If you are interested please have your student get a copy of the application from me; time is of the essence!

This link has plenty of information and links for downloading forms:
http://www.clubrunner.ca/Portal/SitePages/SitePage.aspx?accountid=2843&pid=56291

Sierra Club Summer Internship

A summer opportunity -

Working with Sierra Club's Inner City Outings, Building Bridges to the Outdoors, and Volunteer Vacations Programs, our lucky intern will make a video blog of their experiences and help raise awareness across the country of the critical work the Sierra Club does introducing youth to the outdoors.

The intern will get a $2,000 gift certificate from The North Face to outfit them with all the gear they need for their summer of adventure. We'll also cover all travel expenses and pay a stipend.

Applications are due by March 16th.

Cal Grant

Information about the Cal Grants program can be found here: http://www.calgrants.org/index.cfm?navId=10

Note that the deadline is March 2nd, and applying for a Cal Grant requires the FAFSA as well as a GPA verification from Oak Grove.

Cal Grants are one of the smartest ways to get cash for college. For starters, it's money you don't have to pay back. If you're a graduating high school senior or recent graduate, meet academic, financial and eligibility requirements and submit two forms by the Cal Grant deadline, you may receive a Cal Grant!

What is the Cal Grant deadline?
You must apply by March 2 to maximize your opportunity to receive an award.
If you miss the March 2 Cal Grant deadline AND you plan to attend a community college in the fall, you have until September 2 to apply. However, the number of Cal Grant awards is limited.

How Much Money Are We Talking About?
With a Cal Grant you can get up to $11,124 a year to pay for college expenses at any qualifying California college, university or career or technical school in California. Depending on which Cal Grant you get, the money can be used for tuition, room and board, even books and pencils. The best part is, it's yours to keep and you don't have to pay it back.

Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program

Here is another scholarship opportunity - http://www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?id=125

The Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program (Scholarship) is a federally funded competitive program designed to promote student excellence and achievement. Scholarships are awarded solely on the basis of academic merit to recognize students who show promise of continued academic excellence.

This is for California residents only.