CRC NEWSLETTER

Staff: Diane Ahlberg and Maggie Campbell April 15, 2010

The CRC newsletter is provided on a monthly or semi-monthly basis to provide information on activities and events that are helpful to Park Center students and their parents. This publication is also on Park Center’s website (www.district279.org/sec/pcsh (under Services).

2009-2010 ACT TEST DATES

Test Date	Registration Deadline	Late Registration Deadline (*Late Fee required)
June 12, 2010	May 7, 2010	May 8 – 21, 2010

Fee for the ACT without writing is $32.00 and for the ACT with writing is $47.00. There is an additional fee of $21.00 for registering late.

Students should check on line at www.act.org to see if your college requires the writing option.

Students are encouraged to register on-line at www.actstudent.org. The CRC has a limited number of registration packets available, but the preferred method to register is on-line.

MOST COLLEGES WILL REQUIRE THAT TEST SCORES BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THEM FROM ACT OR SAT AND WILL NO LONGER TAKE THEM FROM PARK CENTER’S TRANSCRIPT. THE COST OF THE ACT AND SAT TEST INCLUDES SENDING SCORES TO FOUR COLLEGES. STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE THE SCORES SENT TO COLLEGES THEY ARE CONSIDERING WHEN REGISTERING FOR THE ACT. SENDING SCORES LATER WILL RESULT IN PAYING $9.00 PER SCORE REPORT.

2009-2010 SAT TEST DATES
2009-10 Test Dates	Test	Regular Registration Deadline (postmark/submit by)
June 5, 2010	SAT & Subject Tests	April 29, 2010

Cost for the SAT is $45.00 plus an additional $23.00 if registering late.

Students can practice SAT/ACT/PSAT/GED/AP/CLEP tests on the following website: www.mncis.intocareers.org. Contact the CRC for the user name and password.

COLLEGE REP/MILITARY RECRUITERS VISITS TO PC

Military recruiters come to Park Center on a regularly scheduled basis (once or twice monthly) to meet with students who are interested in the military. They set up their information booths in the cafeteria. The schedule for the military recruiters is as follows:

Air Force	4th Thursday of the month.
Army/Army Reserves	1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month.
Army National Guard	2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month
Marines	2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month
Navy	1st and 3rd Thursday of the month

Are you a male age 18? The law requires that all 18-year-old men (including U.S. citizens living abroad and non-citizen immigrant males 18-25 residing in the U.S.) must register. Within 30 days of your 18^th birthday, you must complete a registration on the internet at www.sss.gov or by mail. You must register in order to qualify for Federal student grants or loans for college, job training benefits, and many state and federal jobs.

More information is available in the CRC.

COLLEGES/UNIVERSITY OPEN HOUSES AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Anoka Ramsey Community College is hosting an Open House on Tuesday, April 22^nd from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Coon Rapids campus, Legacy Room. Information on student groups and transfer options will be available. No pre-registration is required.

Empire Beauty School (formerly Scot Lewis Salons) is hosting a high school shadowing day at their Spring Lake Park campus o April 17^th 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Students can observe classes and talk with instructors and learn about the programs and course descriptions. Call 1-800-966-0316 to register.

Minneapolis Community and Technical College is having an open house on Tuesday, April 27^th at 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on campus at the T. Skyway. Information on over 80 technical and liberal arts disciplines will be explored. Register online at www.minneapolis.edu/openhouse.

The University of North Dakota’s Department of Music offers a Music Therapy Program for students who wish to earn a Bachelor’s degree as a Music Therapist. Music Therapists use music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages. Music therapists work in psychiatric facilities, general hospitals, skilled nursing and intermediate care homes, child and adolescent treatment centers, schools, day treatment centers, hospice programs and correctional centers. For further information on this program go online to www.undmusic.org

Hennepin Technical College, Brooklyn Park campus has an Interactive Design and Video Production program that prepares students for careers in the media industry. Students can earn an Associate of Applied Science degree as either a Video Production Specialist or an Interactive Designer. Past graduates work at local and regional television stations, cable companies, school, hospitals, major corporations, advertising companies, production houses and film studios. For more information go to www.htc-idvp.com.

North Hennepin Community College has partnered with four year schools to offer their students Bachelor of Science degrees in Biotechnology (with MSU-Moorhead), Business Administration (with Metropolitan State University), Construction Management (with MSU-Moorhead), Nursing (with Metropolitan State, Bethel and UW-Green Bay), Operations Management (with MSU-Moorhead) and a Master of Science degree in Regulatory Affairs (with St. Cloud State University). For more information on four-year degrees, visit www.nhcc.edu or call 763-488-0390.

Midwest Student Exchange Program is a tuition reduction program that makes attending out-of-state colleges and universities more affordable for non-resident students. Over one hundred colleges and universities in Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, and Nebraska have opened their doors to each others’ citizens by offering reduced tuition rates in selected programs. Visit http://msep.mhec.org for more details.

Morningside College (IA) is having Senior Visit Days throughout the school year. Go to the Admissions home page at www.morningside.edu and Select “Admissions Events” to register.

South Dakota State University sponsors their ‘TGIF Visit Days”. The dates are April 16th, 23^rd and 30^th. You will learn about majors, financial aid, scholarship opportunities and student life. Contact SDSU Admissions at 800-952-3541 or log on to www.sdstate.edu (keyword:TGIF)

SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES

St. Cloud State University is offering an advanced program in Technology and Science on July 18 through August 6, 2010. This residential summer program is for high ability, high potential 10^th and 11^th grade students who are seriously interested in a future in technology and science. The program will focus on scientific research and expose students to career options in the technology and science fields. Application fee is $10.00 and all fees related to tuition, books and room and board will be provided. Stop in the CRC for an application or apply online at www.stcloudstate.pipeline.

St. Cloud State University is also offering a summer residential program for high ability, high potential 9^th and 10^th grade students who demonstrate a strong interest in science and/or mathematics. This program will be held July 11^th to August 6^th, 2010. Students of color and females are particularly encouraged to apply. Participants will experience biological, chemical, computer sciences, mathematical, social and statistical sciences through labs, special demonstrations, presentations, field trips and lectures. Cost of the application is $10.00 and all costs for tuition, room and board, and books are provided. Stop in the CRC for an application or apply on line at www.stcloudstate.pipeline.

Robotics Workshop is a four day program offered at Winona State University that allows students to experiment with the RidgeSoft IntelliBrain ™Bot educational robot. Students will learn how to program the robot for motion, how to detect and follow a line, and synthesize speech and sound among other things. This program runs July 13-16, 2010. Apply online at http://cs.winona.edu/RoboticsWorkshop.

ITT Technical Institute is having free summer workshops on “3D Studios Max” and “Inventor” software. Register by calling 952-914-5317.

The University of Chicago is offering unique summer programs for high school students on the university campus. Choose from courses such as Research in the Biological Sciences, Stones and Bones, Ancient Egyptian Language, Traveling Academy, Field Studies in Urban Society, American Law and Litigation, Collegiate Writing, the Science of Sustainability, Developmental Psychology, and Creative Writing Workshop. Stop in the CRC for complete details.

AIFS University Prep is an intensive 3 week summer program focused on assisting college and university bound students with increasing their SAT scores and becoming savvy applicants as they face the ins and outs of the application and admissions process. This residential program takes place on the campus of Amherst College with weekly campus tours to nearby Ivy League colleges such as Boston University, Brown University, Harvard, University, and other New England colleges and universities. Cost of this program is $3,995 and applications are due May 1^st. Apply online at www.aifsuniversityprep.com

Hennepin Technical College is offering a Firefighters’ Challenge Career Camp on June 21-24 at their Eden Prairie campus. This camp is for students entering their junior or senior year of high school next fall. The cost is $25. While at the camp, participants will learn about a career in Fire Protection, what it takes and how to prepare. They will also experience hands-on training using real tool and equipment in areas such as: search and rescue, ventilation, forcible entry, basic survival skills and hose operations. For more information, contact Bernie Vrona at Bernie.vrona@hennepintech.edu

PROMYS is an intensive experience in creative mathematical exploration given on the Boston University campus. Students will experience a deep personal involvement with the creative elements in mathematics, foster interaction between the PROMYS community and the larger community of research mathematicians and scientists currently working in academia and industry. This is a six-week residential program with a cost per student of $2,700 (financial assistance is available). Applications are available at www.promys.org.

There are a variety of summer program opportunities being offered by Boston University for high school students. Stop in the CRC for a complete listing or go online to www.bu.edu/summer/highschool.

William Mitchell College of Law is hosting a Future In Learning Law (FILL) summer program for high school students. Although the program concentrates on the legal profession, it also encourages students to pursue college and graduate educations. The FILL program offers lectures, discussion groups, and hands-on workshops in careers such as lawyers, judges, paralegals, and law clerks. Cost to attend this program is $25 Students may apply online at www.wmitchell.edu/future.

Minnesota Business Venture is a one-week summer residential opportunity for high school students to learn about business, financial literacy, entrepreneurship and career direction The camp takes place at St. Cloud State University on July 11-16 OR St. John’s University July 25-30. Students attend sessions led by industry experts and motivational speakers, participate in hands-on activities, and experience living on a college campus. Applications for MBV are available in the CRC or online at www.bestprep.org.

Carleton Liberal Arts Experience is a summer program for the best and brightest college-bound high school sophomores. The CLAE program introduces the strengths of a liberal arts education through an array of courses in science, art, social sciences and technology. Accepted students receive free room and board, tuition and travel costs for the week long CLAE program. Students must show academic potential, rank in the top 25% of their class, be preparing to take or have taken an advanced curriculum including honors, Advanced Placement, or International Baccalaureate classes and be involved in his/her school or local community, through community services, extracurricular involvement, and/or leadership positions. Applications are available in the CRC.

University of Minnesota is offering the Elite Academy this summer for current high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors of color who are considering a career in education or teaching. This unique and exciting five day academy will allow students to experience hands-on educational opportunities and explore the field of education. Cost to attend this program is $25.00 for selected students. Apply on line at www.wmep.k12mn.us/ELITEACADEMY

University of Nebraska-Lincoln is having Big Red Summer Academic Camps during the month of June. Students can choose from various career exploration topics such as biological science, companion animals, culinary arts, fashion design, filmmaking, natural resources, and 3D animation/virtual world creation. All camps are residential and costs vary according to specific camp content. More details available at www.bigredcamps.unl.edu

Cornell University is offering one-week summer residential programs for students who excel in math and science and want to learn more about careers in engineering. CURIE is a program for sophomore and junior girls of all backgrounds and CATALYST is a program for freshmen, sophomore, and junior girls and boys from underrepresented backgrounds. Participants will be exposed to the exciting opportunities in engineering, develop an understanding that women and underrepresented minorities belong and are needed in STEM disciplines and will learn the connection between the study of engineering and solving problems affecting people and society. Go online to http://www.engineering.cornell.edu/curie OR http://www.engineering.cornell.edu/catalyst for more information.

St. Hugh’s College is offering a Summer Seminar for students for three weeks at a constituent college of the University of Oxford. The general theme of the Summer School is an exploration of the view that “Oxford is not a place---it’s an idea.” Participants live at the college and attend lectures by Fellows of St. Hugh’s College and other members of the University of Oxford. For further information, visit www.sthughs-summerschool.info

Washington University in St. Louis has a high school summer scholars program for high school sophomores and juniors. Participants must have a B+ average or better and a combined SAT score of at least 1800 or a combined PSAT score of 180 or a composite ACT or PLAN of at least 25. This five week summer program lets you choose a couple of college courses from a variety of disciplines—foreign languages, the sciences, the humanities, the arts, and the social sciences. They are also offering a Young Writers Institute which allows participants to work with working writers and receive helpful guidance on their own poetry or creative prose. Both these opportunities are residential and have specific session dates in the summer. Go online to www.summerscholars.wustl.edu or www.swi.ucollege.wustl.edu for further information.

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

ATTENTION JUNIORS!!  There is a scholarship opportunity for high school juniors offered by the Minnesota Association of Townships. Students are asked to submit an essay entitled “Grassroots means different things to each of us.  What does it mean to you and more importantly, how does it apply to township government?”  Applications are available in the CRC. Deadline is May 1^st.

Juniors College Edge Scholarship offers one scholarship of $1,000. Go online to www.cappex.com/scholarships/juniosCollegeEdgeScholarship for details.

And—Juliet Evans Nelson offers a $2,500 scholarship for female juniors who have demonstrated volunteerism experiences. Stop in the CRC for an application.

The Minnesota State Fair is accepting applications for young adults who want to volunteer their talents for a year to be part of the Fair’s 20-member Youth Advisory Team. Candidates must live in Minnesota and be 16 to 21 years of age as of September 1, 2009. Each team member serves a one-year term and may reapply for a position. Meetings will be held monthly at the fairgrounds and as needed as the fair approaches. Members provide input and are involved in the planning process to help keep the fair up-to-date on the interest of young adults. For additional information, call Theresa Weinfurter at 651-288-4418 or Michelle Butler at 651-228-4480

Students are encouraged to become a Facebook fan on the CRC FACEBOOK page! Fans will receive updated information on college reps who are visiting PC, career speakers, financial aid and scholarship information and important deadlines! To become a Facebook Fan of the PSCH CRC; visit the PCSH web page, click on Services then on Career Resource and Click on “become a PC CRC fan” (2^nd item). Remember, acceptable use guidelines for PCSH computers---no Facebook on school computers. Please access from home.

College mail overload? There’s a better way to find the perfect college. Cappex.com is a program that will allow you to get student reviews of over 3,000 colleges, discover your admission chances at any college and find $11 billion in merit scholarships. Get started at www.cappex.com!

TIDBITS FROM THE CRC STAFF

Excerpt from Cappex.com

Is the Wait List Worth the Wait?

Your students are waiting with great anticipation for word of their admissions status at their top school choices. There will be acceptance letters, which create great joy, and rejection letters, which cause much distress. And then there are letters that cause possibly the most confusion: The student is on a school’s wait list.

A survey conducted last year by the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) confirmed that students should not pin too much hope on being admitted through a wait list. About one-third of all colleges use wait lists, and even more selective schools---78%---do. The survey found that, nationwide, only about 30% of students who stay on the wait list are eventually offered enrollment. At selective schools, that percentage drops to 13%.

Many college admissions counselors urge students to go for the sure thing if offered admission at another school.

We’ve compiled some tips for students who choose to stay on the wait list:

· Inform the college that you want to remain on the wait list. (If the college provided you with a postcard for this purpose, complete and send it back.)

· Write a letter to the admissions office emphasizing your desire to attend. Keep the college updated on any recent achievements---academic milestones, awards, etc---that would enhance your application.

· Schedule a visit and request an interview. An interview will demonstrate your interest in attending and give you a personal contact in the admissions office.

· Reconsider the college where you were accepted. Accept an offer from one of them and send in the deposit. You can always notify them that you’ve changed you mind if you’re later accepted from the wait list at your top school choice.