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Volume 13 | October 2020
A Note from Stephanie
In this Newsletter
A Note From Stephanie

Featured Article

Upcoming Events and Deadlines

Class Specific Monthly Focus

College Spotlight

Test Prep Opportunities

Internship, Job and Volunteer Opportunities

Scholarships

In Other News

Helpful Resources
Happy Fall!

It is hard to believe the end of the first quarter is approaching. September was a busy month with the college application process kicking into high gear. Over the month I met with many students to brainstorm essays, put the final touches on colleges lists, and complete the Common App. I continue to assure them that no matter where they are in the process we will get through it together. Academy sessions are increasingly popular and students are doing a great job being proactive and setting up individual meetings with me to tackle specific questions around their post-secondary plans.

In addition to working with the students, I had the opportunity to attend the UC and CSU counselor conferences. The information was extremely valuable, especially when it comes to changes this application cycle. Be sure to check out this month's Featured Article for details around what has changed and what remains the same.

Looking to October, the CCC will continue to see many of our seniors. As deadlines approach stress can increase. With Early Decision and Early Action deadlines only a month away, it is easy to feel the pressure. Take a deep breath, know you will get there and you are not alone in the process. Remember to find balance in your life and create moments for yourself to step away and reset.

As a final note this month, I would like to take the opportunity to welcome our newest member, Shannon Freeborn, to the College and Career Center. Shannon comes to us with a Masters in Education and a Certificate in College and Career Planning. We are lucky to have her on a part-time basis and know she will bring her warmth and support to our students and families.

Warmly,



Stephanie Brady
College and Career Center Director
sbrady@auhsdschools.org
925-280-3935

Keep in touch & stay up to date:
Featured Article
UCs and CSUs
What for Fall 2021 and What Remains the Same
There is no question much has changed and continues to change in the world of college admissions for Fall 2021. My advice...control what you can and trust that admissions representatives understand there has been a great deal of community disruption, and will not hold what you can not control against you. One aspect you can control is staying informed and checking school websites regularly for updates.

UCs

What Stayed the Same
Comprehensive Review (Holistic)
  • As always, UC campuses look for strong grades, course preparation, and a comprehensive educational experience. The UCs have and will continue to assess students through a system of comprehensive review. See link
  • Students are evaluated holistically within the context of their environment. For Fall 2021, the comprehensive review process includes academic accomplishments, personal achievements, and personal insight questions (PIQ’s). 
  • The importance placed on each category can vary by the UC campus. See link. 

You control what information you provide. There are no letters of recommendation or counselor reports for the UCs. Think of your application as your resume and your PIQs as your interview on paper. Provide detail, insight, and depth, so admissions representatives get a 360-degree view of who you are and how you meet their comprehensive review factors.

What is Different
Grades for Winter, Spring, and Summer 2020
*Although a student will not receive an extra point in the GPA calculation, the UC-approved honors courses (including AP) are still considered in the comprehensive review as taking a challenging curriculum. 

SAT and ACT Test Scores
  • Test scores are NOT required for Fall 2021 admission
  • If you choose to send scores, they may be considered “value-added,” but UCs will not penalize students for not sending scores. 
  • Currently, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, UC Santa Cruz, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Davis will NOT look at standardized testing in their admissions process. For other campuses, it is important to monitor their websites closely as the situation evolves.
  • Test scores may be used for post-enrollment course placement.

*On September 1, 2020, a California State Court judge issued a preliminary injunction stating that the UC system may not use standardized scores in admissions. The legal case is still pending, but at a minimum, UCs are test-optional (scores are not required, but strong scores can help) and may become test-blind.

CSUs

What Stayed the Same
Index Review
  • Acceptance to CSU campuses is based on GPA and “A-G” coursework (students self-report grades).
  • No essays or activities lists are required (some campuses ask students to report the number of hours spent on extracurricular activities and/or work experience).

What is Different
New Deadline
  • The priority application period for the Fall 2021 semester opens on Thursday, October 1, 2020, and closes on Friday, December 4, 2020.

NO SAT and ACT Test Scores
  • The CSUs have temporarily suspended the use of SAT and ACT test scores for admission purposes. 
  • If SAT and ACT test scores are submitted, the CSU will use scores for placement in English and mathematics courses. Please visit the CSU Student Success site for additional information on placement. 
  • If you have not taken a test, you can opt-out of the Standardized Tests section of Cal State Apply.

New Admissions policy
  • The CSU will consider course grades of “credit" or “pass" as fulfilling “a-g" requirements for those courses completed during winter, spring, or summer 2020 terms.
  • Grades of credit/pass or no credit/no pass will not be included in the calculation of high school GPA.
  • First-time freshmen for the term of fall 2021 must earn a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
  • Students earning a GPA between 2.00 and 2.49 may be evaluated for admission based upon supplemental factors. Check individual campuses.
  • To find more information on the admission requirements for Fall 2021, please visit the First-time Freshman Guidance

Impaction
  • Impaction means that there are more qualified applicants for a program or campus than can be accommodated. For the most current information, visit the CSU Impaction center.
  • Campuses and programs designated as impacted may utilize higher “a-g” GPA thresholds for applicants, as well as identify supplemental criteria and their relative weights in making admission decisions (students will be prompted to answer supplemental questions on the application, but will not have to submit any additional materials).
Upcoming Events and Deadlines
October 14: SAT - Miramonte High School
October 15: Junior Parent Night - 6:30 p.m. - Zoom Link
October 17: Saturday 1:1 Essay Workshops - 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Sign Up
October 21: Think Big College Night - 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.- Register
October 28: CSU Application Workshop for Students - 6:30 p.m. - Zoom Link
Class Specific Monthly Focus
Seniors
"Think Big" College Night
Join California based admissions counselors from many of the Big 10 colleges for a panel discussion on what it is like to be a student on their campuses. The evening will include presentations from each of the colleges and a Q & A session. It will take place on October 21 at 6:00 p.m. Registration is required

Saturday 1:1 Essay Workshops
Saturday, October 17, will be the second offering of our Saturday essay workshops this fall. It is an opportunity for seniors to receive individual support as they focus on how to best present themselves in a college essay. There are still some spaces available so click here to sign up.

CSU Application NOW Open
The California State University Application is now open. If you are interested in applying to one of the 23 CSUs be sure to complete the application by December 4. There are no essays, transcripts or letters of recommendation required when applying. Click here for the application. We will also be offering an evening workshop for students who would like help completing the CSU application (see Upcoming Events)

Academy Sessions - October
16 - Essay workshop
21 - Essay workshop
23 - UC Application
28 - Essay workshop
30 - PIQ workshop
Students must be signed up to attend. Sign ups are done via Teachmore.
Zoom Link for all Academy Sessions
Juniors
Junior Parent Presentation
On Thursday, October 15, we will be hosting a presentation for the Class of 2022 families. The evening will be geared toward parents but students are welcome to join. We will cover timelines, student roles, parent roles, standardized testing and more. The presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by a Q&A session. Please join us.

Get to Know Your Teachers
The student-teacher relationship is important to success in high school. It allows students to access another level of learning. Building those relationships is especially important during distance learning. Stop by an academy or pop into office hours. We all need the support and remember, junior year teachers are the ones writing letters of recommendation.

Rep Visits
We have already hosted close to 100 colleges during our College Rep Mondays. Many of you have take advantage of the opportunity and are getting a great first introduction to the uniqueness of each institution. If you would like to participate please find a complete list and registration information on Naviance. To register in Naviance:
  • ‘Colleges'
  • ‘Research Colleges’
  • ‘College Visits’
  • ‘Register Now’
Sophomores
Consider beginning community service work, if you haven't already found a program or opportunity you enjoy. Giving back to the community is a great way to feel connected. Any volunteer hours you complete can also be submitted to earn the Miramonte Community Service or Presidents Volunteer Service Awards. Please visit our website and Helper Helper for a complete list of opportunities
First Years
Hopefully you had a great introduction to the many clubs at Miramonte duirng the Club Day kick off on Monday. Getting involved in a Miramonte club is a great way to meet new people and form new friendships. It's not too late to join! A complete list of Miramonte clubs and contact information can be found here.
College Spotlight
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
The University of Utah is a highly rated public university located on 1,535 acres at the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains in Salt Lake City, Utah. A large institution with an undergraduate enrollment of 24,743 students, the university is known for academics, research and powerhouse Pac-12 sports. Popular majors include Communications, Psychology, Biological Sciences, Engineering and Business. 

The University of Utah is a Tier 1 research institute and is categorized as a Research Institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Culturally, it is the opposite of its neighbor to the south, Brigham Young University, and this intense rivalry often shows in athletic competitions between the two.

Students cite the University’s sense of community, caring professors, small class sizes and a wide range of classes as highlights. The state of the art engineering facilities receive top marks as well as Lassonde Studios, which is home to the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, a top entrepreneurial program open to all students.  

Reasonable tuition costs place this school in the “Best Buy” category, and the lowest tuition among Pac-12 and Big 10 schools.

Utah students enjoy 222 days of sunshine, robust school spirit, and 600+ student groups on campus. Nearby, students can find cultural activities in Salt Lake City, and a plethora of outdoor activities, including world-class hiking and skiing, national parks and monuments.

Fun fact: Many of the schools residential facilities were built to accommodate visitors to the 2002 Olympics.
Internship, Job and Volunteer Opportunities
Internships
Internship Opportunity at Axelrode Orthodontics - Moraga
Axelrode Orthodontics is a long-established orthodontic practice in Moraga. They are looking to hire an intern to help out in our, high quality, fast-paced office. The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic Junior or Senior student who is happy, friendly, hard, working, and interested in learning. This is a wonderful opportunity for a student who may be exploring a career in the health field. Ideally the student would be available up to 4 days a week, but days and hours are flexible.This is a paid position, available immediately. Please contact Donna at the office, Monday thru Thursday, 8am to 5pm at 925-376-2800 or at axelrodeorthodonticsmoraga@gmail.com.
Volunteering
Community Reading Buddies
CRB is currently recruiting volunteers in 7th-12th grade who are interested in and able to volunteer for 1.5 hours twice a week on either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday from 3:45pm-5:15pm. The program runs for eight weeks from October 19th through December 17th, and we ask for a commitment of at least four weeks, with a strong preference for those who can commit to the entire eight weeks.More information and our online sign up form can be found here.
Scholarships
AAUW (American Association of University Women) Scholarship
The AAUW is a national organization that advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research.  The scholarship application can be found at omi-ca.aauw.net.  The deadline for applying is February 18 The AAUW is  searching for well-rounded girls who:
  • Are committed to community service
  • Enrich their school communities through extracurricular activities
  • Have a vision or plan for how their future will include their passion for community service
Please see Naviance for more information and how to apply.
In Other News
Beyond 'test-optional: Some 'test-free' colleges drop SAT and ACT entirely

Caltech is among the latest colleges who won't even consider using the ACT or SAT in the selection of its
next two entering classes.

What's Next: It'll take more than a pandemic to end the U.S. News rankings
This article looks ahead to how the coronavirus pandemic could affect higher ed in the long term. With regards to the rankings, little is expected to change with U.S. News.

Pandemic increases the importance of filing early for financial aid
It is especially important to apply early for financial aid this year because many families have suffered economically during the pandemic.

Helpful Resources
Miramonte College and Career Center