Published by the BHS PTSA

January 2006

FROM THE COLLEGE ADVISOR FOR SENIORS:

This is a difficult time for many seniors. They have turned in their applications, but only a few have received their acceptance letters. They will hear from most of their colleges in March and the beginning of April. Many students come to my office seeking reassurance that they will be accepted to a college. They feel that decisions about their future are in other people's hands. It is very anxiety producing to feel so out of control of one's own destiny. Please support and encourage your children. The bottom line is that they will have options. In the end, the decision of one college will not make or break their futures. Let them know that you have confidence in them.

The most important way for them to protect the admissions they do get is to keep up their grades. Senior grades do matter and colleges will have a final look at them in June.

If your student is having difficulty deciding which admission offer to accept, would like assistance understanding their financial aid packages, has not been admitted to any college or would like to look for additional colleges, I am happy to meet with her or him. Some Cal State Universities and other excellent colleges are still accepting applications. After May 1, I will have a complete list of such schools nationwide.

Whether your students choose to go to college directly after high school or not, there are many wonderful options for them. This is a very exciting -- and for some, scary -- time of their lives as they become more independent. Please support them as they take bigger and bigger steps toward becoming more self-sufficient.

There are still many scholarship applications available in D221. A complete list is also available at

www.bhs.berkeley.k12.ca.us/services/collegecenter.html.

Important dates:

May 1 – Universal Candidate Reply Date – this is the date by which most colleges and universities require students to place a deposit indicating that they plan to attend in the fall. For most (but not all) colleges, this is a postmark deadline. A few colleges have a different deadline, so please check your student's admission notice carefully. If sending the acceptance by mail, please make sure to keep a copy of all documents sent to the college and get a Certificate of Mailing at the post office. Remember: it is not ethical to deposit at more than one school.

May 25 – Deadline to turn in the Senior Exit Report so that students can receive their graduation tickets.

FOR JUNIORS
We will be posting additional sign-up sheets on March 21. If your student has not signed up for an individual meeting with me or Mr. Stringfellow, please encourage him or her to do so. You are welcome to come to the meeting, as long as your student feels comfortable with your attending. I am hoping that all students will meet with one of us, whether or not they are planning to go to college. We also have many resources on career choices available. Juniors can drop by without an appointment any day at lunch or after school to get short questions answered or can send questions via e-mail.

Please encourage students to use all of the resources of the College/Career Center. We have books to help prepare for the SAT and ACT, numerous college catalogues and many guidebooks to help them locate colleges that meet their educational and social needs. In addition, our library of career related books is growing. Please encourage them to make use of our many resources now while they have more time for research and investigation.

FOR ALL STUDENTS:

March 9 – Career Fair at Berkeley High School: The fair will be open at lunchtime and after school. In addition, some teachers will bring their classes to the fair in the afternoon.

April 29 –College Fair at St. Mary's College in Orinda, 1:00 to 4:30: This is the biggest college fair of the year. Over 150 colleges and universities from California and throughout the country will be available to talk with students and share information about their school. There will also be workshops on financial aid and admissions in English and Spanish, Historically Black Colleges, the athletic recruiting process, assisting students with learning disabilities and more. Parking will be difficult, so if possible take BART to Orinda. There will be free shuttles from the BART station to the fair all afternoon. We are also planning to get a bus for BHS students to get to the fair. Watch for sign-up information in the bulletin.

Testing – Upcoming SAT/ACT dates:

SAT (register at www.collegeboard.com)
Test date Regular registration deadline

May 6 April 3
June 3 April 28

ACT (register at www.act.org)
Test date Regular registration deadline
April 8 March 3 (late deadline is March 17)
June 10 May 5

Summer plans: This is a great time to begin making plans for the summer. Students can earn money for college or pursue an interest. There are numerous internships available and college campuses around the country host high school students in research and mentorship opportunities. There are often scholarships available. I list some of these opportunities in the bulletin as they come in, but they are too numerous to mention all of them. Please encourage your student to look through the many applications and brochures available in D-221. A list of some available summer programs is on my web site at www.bhs.berkeley.k12.ca.us/services/collegecenter.html.

Two Year College Degrees Can Lead to Interesting Careers: While we spend a lot of time discussing four year colleges, there are numerous careers that require only a two year, or Associate Degree, option. Many people are surprised by the wide variety of jobs that are available with an AA degree. Some students may find their most-rewarding career in one of these occupations.

For example, students who like to work with machines or engines might be interested in a career as an aircraft mechanic. Find an FAA approved trade school and you can be on your way to a job earning over $50,000 a year in just a few years time. This is a high growth job since there is increasing demand for air travel and a growing population.

On the other hand, students who are interested in the law but don't want to be a lawyer might like to check out a job as a court reporter. These professionals record every word at hearings, trials, depositions and other legal proceedings. Students who work well under pressure, meet deadlines with accuracy and pay close attention to detail might find this job interesting. Court reporters can make over $60,000 per year, with some experience. This too is a growing field.

Hundreds of careers like these are available, including automobile service technicians, broadcast engineers, carpenters, computer and office machine service technicians, cooks and chefs, dental assistants and hygienists, firefighters, graphic designers, legal secretaries, massage therapists, medical assistants, paralegals, preschool teachers, photographers, plumbers, registered nurses, security guards, veterinary assistants, webmasters and many more.

Some important reminders:

There are many career schools available. However, some cost thousands of dollars while the same courses are available at the California community colleges at a much lower cost. Check out all of the educational options for the career your student is considering.

Check to confirm that the school that your student chooses is accredited. An unaccredited school cannot provide federal student aid and some employers may not recognize the degree awarded from an unaccredited school. In addition, the credits earned at an unaccredited school may not transfer for a four year college or university. All California community colleges are accredited.

Before starting school, have your student talk with someone in the field he or she is interested in. Many professionals are happy to take a few minutes to talk with a young person.

A very helpful book on this subject is Great Careers in 2 Years: The Associate Degree Option – High-Skill and High-Wage Jobs Available Through Two Year Programs, by Paul Phifer. For each career listed, the book gives a job description, professional and personal requirements, information on how to get started in the profession, earnings, the outlook for job growth in the field, and contacts for professional organizations in the field.

Ilene Abrams
iabrams@berkeley.k12.ca.us4