OCTOBER PERSPECTIVE 

The first quarter of a new school year is always filled to the brim with new learning, new experiences, and new information.  This year is certainly no different.  Colleges, in particular, have made their websites and virtual offerings wonderful references for students and families to navigate as they research post secondary options.  The most up-to-date information is available on college websites as well as ways to contact admissions staff, current students, and opportunities to participate in webinars, workshops, and virtual tours.  

The amount of information can, at times, feel overwhelming.  Below are some resources that we find useful in offering perspective and solid explanations of the overall process of college admissions. They are certainly not the only resources out there, but they can be a good starting point.  

Books:

  The Truth About College Admission A Family Guide | Brennan Barnard and Rick Clark

  The Self-Driven Child | William Stixrud, PhD and Ned Johnson

Blogs:

The Georgia Tech Admission Blog offers great insight for students and families.  This recently published post Beyond the Numbers: Digging Deeper in Your College Search  covers some of the cost aspects that are important for students and families to discuss. 

The UVA Admission Blog offers helpful tips about the admissions process at the University of Virginia.

Forbes' timely articles on an intentional approach to college admissions.  The latest, The Pumpkin Spice Of College Admission, offers perspective on the Early Decision application decision.

Johns Hopkins University's Essays That Worked are updated every year with recent student essays and explanations about why they resonated with the admissions committee.  

Challenge Success College Resource page and their Ten Tips for Surviving the College Application Process.  Learn more about Challenge Success at TJHSST here.

Please also follow The Suite Life newsletter to keep up with our entire Student Services team.

COLLEGE VISITS TO THE CCC

Our College Representative visits continue and students are finding these informational sessions helpful and asking many great questions.  One common theme from these visits is admissions committees are looking to understand what interests the students have outside of academics and how they spend their free time; what brings balance to their life and gives them joy.  Most often these questions are asked in the college specific supplemental essays and the admissions representatives have told our students to concentrate our letting their voices really come through.  These essays allow the student to describe why they see themselves fitting into a particular college's campus culture.    

Junior and Senior students must sign up to attend these visits in Naviance Student where the full list of visits is updated daily.  If the visits occur during 8th period students must also register in Ion-Student Intranet. These visits are for students only.  Our upcoming roster of visits include:

EXTERNAL COLLEGE PRESENTATIONS

Virginia College Sampler | Sunday, October 25, 2020 at 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM

Join public colleges from across the Commonwealth of Virginia to learn more about the academic programs, student life, and application processes on each of our campuses. 

This program will feature representatives from Christopher Newport University, George Mason University, James Madison University, Longwood University, Old Dominion University, Radford University, University of Mary Washington, University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Tech and William & Mary. Student registration information will be shared with each of the participating colleges. 

Register here.  

ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The FCPS updated list can be found in Naviance Student.  Below are some recent updates:

Mr. Fred Lampazzi, TJHSST Mentorship Director will be giving a presentation to students interested in learning about summer program opportunities in research available outside TJHSST.  The presentations will take place October 28 and November 4 during 8th period. Students will have to register for the 8th period presentation through Ion-School Intranet.

National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) | November 5, 2020

VA-10 Student STEM Workshop on Saturday, November 7, 2020 | Online registration form

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga free online R coding bootcamp | December 19-20, 2020

Recently posted in Google Classrooms and in Naviance Student:

• iDISPLA Cybersecurity Challenge  
• Lockhead Martin Tech Interactive  
• SEAP-Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program
• Iacocca Global Entrepreneurship Intensive
• The Health Career Scholars Academy
• Summer Residential Governor's School *Class of 2022 and 2023 please see your Google Classroom instructions for the TJHSST process.  Interest form due to FCPS by November 9, 2020 and no late forms will be accepted.  See information here. TJHSST information sessions with Ms. Wolf on Friday, October 30 at lunch and during 8A.  

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

The updated list can be found in Naviance Student.  Below are some recent updates:

College Access Fairfax Scholarships

Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarship  | Deadline November 15, 2020

Burger King Scholars Program | Deadline December 15, 2020

Virginia State Scholarship Fund | Deadline February 15, 2021

Harry S. Byrd, Leadership Award* | TJHSST Self-Nomination due by 5pm October 27, 2020

*Student information available in TJHSST 2021 Google Classroom

FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form completion is your first step to apply for financial aid for college.  The form opened on October 1, 2020. For many colleges to which TJHSST students apply,  the CSS Profile from the College Board will also be required to determine eligibility for institutional financial aid. 

College Access Fairfax holds to guide you through both these forms and processes.  Registration is recommended so they have enough staff at the workshop particularly if you are attending a FAFSA completion event where you can get individual help in completing the form.  Spanish and Korean translation is offered at some workshops.  

FCPS PARENT/GUARDIAN WORKSHOPS

College Boot Camp 2020: A Webinar for Students with an IEP

Join Career and Transition Services online for a virtual College Bootcamp!  This virtual College Boot Camp is for students with an IEP that are graduating in 2021 and plan to attend college. Career and Transition Services staff will work with students on starting the application process.

Register for College Boot Camp 2020: A Webinar for Students 

Questions?  Reach out to Student Services.

The information provided is for your information and review. Scholarships and enrichment programs offered by organizations other than FCPS are neither sponsored nor endorsed by FCPS, the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent or TJHSST. Students and parents should carefully review all application requirements. Parents/Guardians need to confirm the details, accuracy and relevance of any program chosen for their student.  This document contains links to one or more web pages that are outside the FCPS network.  Neither FCPS nor TJHSST controls the content or relevancy of these outside pages.

External opportunities may utilize an online technology, or video and web conferencing tool that has not been assessed or approved for use in FCPS by the FCPS Department of Information Technology.  Students should gain permission from their parent/guardian before engaging in any non-FCPS enrichment opportunity.  Families should review and agree to the Terms of Service and User Agreements for any technology platform used to facilitate these opportunities.