Staff: Diane Ahlberg and Jody Hansen January 3rd, 2017
(763) 569-7665 or (763) 569-7627
The CCRC 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 Academics or under Quick Links at right of home page).
IMPORTANT!!! Attention seniors: When you are asked to indicate your school counselor on college applications note Diane Ahlberg, , as your counselor. She is the counselor for senior students who need a recommendation letter, Secondary School Report or any other college reference.
Test Date / Registration Deadline / (Late Fee Required) /February 11, 2017
April 8, 2017
June 10, 2017 / January 13, 2017
March 3, 2017
May 5, 2017 / January 14-20, 2017
March 4-17, 2017
May 6-19, 2017
TEST FEE PER TEST OPTION:
· ACT (No Writing) $42.50
· Includes reports for you, your high school, and up to four college choices (if valid codes are provided when you register).
· ACT Plus Writing $58.50
· Includes reports for you, your high school, and up to four college choices (if valid codes are provided when you register). The Writing Test fee is refundable, on written request.
· 5th & 6th college choice fee is $12 for each school.
· Late registration fee is $27.50.
· Standby testing is $51 in addition to the basic fee, if you missed registration.
· Test date change fee is $25 in addition to the basic fee.
· Test center change fee is $25 in addition to the basic fee.
· Test information release service is $20.
· International testing is $33.
Students need to register on-line at www.actstudent.org
Students receiving free/reduced lunch can have their test fees waived TWICE by bringing a copy of the letter they received from Food Service to the CCRC to receive a waiver. Fee waivers do not include late fees.
Students can register for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests at www.collegeboard.org
Preparing for the ACT Test booklets that include a full length practice test, including the writing test, strategies to prepare for the test and what to expect on test day are available in the CCRC.
You can take free ACT or SAT practice tests online at: www.princetonreview.com/practicetest and at www.mncis.intocareers.org.
Chegg offers ACT lessons, quizzes and practice tests. https://test-prep.chegg.com/#/dashboard.
Union Test Prep Free Practice Tests for the ACT: If passing the ACT is standing in the way of getting into the college of your dreams, there is help! Afree ACT practice testto help you identify in which areas you are strong and which areas could use a little more work is available at https://uniontestprep.com/act/practice-test. Study only the subjects you are weak in, or dive in and test your skills in all four subject areas - it’s up to you!
· The "Build Your Future" initiative is all about connecting people with a career in the construction industry. On Tuesday, January 10th, at 1:00PM a representative from Associated Builders and Contractors of Minnesota will be here to talk about the vast opportunities in the construction industry. Paid apprenticeships, internships, and career and technical education may be in your future. Sign up in the CCRC to attend.
· Are you interested in a medical career but aren't sure which one? The Mayo Clinic in Rochester offers a free week long summer Career Immersion Program. Participants meet and work with a variety of health care professionals and learn about the vast career opportunities in health care. Learn more about the Career Immersion Program in the CCRC on Wednesday, January 18th at 9:30AM. Sign up for a pass to attend.
· Honors Mentor Connection, offered by Intermediate District 287’s Gifted Education Services, is an advanced learning experience for students who seek academic challenge and who are ready to explore their goals for the future. Students design their own curriculum under the guidance of a mentor, develop an early professional reputation, network with talented peers, and enhance their academic credentials. Are you an Honors Mentor Connection student? Come and find out on Thursday, January 19th at 1:00PM.
· Dunwoody College of Technology offers two great scholarship programs for new students. The Women In Technical Careers Program is designed to help female students succeed in a technical degree program. Scholarships are awarded up to $10,000 per year for women enrolled in automotive, construction, computer technology, or robotics and manufacturing, and who demonstrate financial need. Advising, mentoring and a cohort experience are included. They also offer the Youth Career Awareness Program - a six week paid summer camp filled with career exploration, field trips, and college-readiness courses. A $20,000 scholarship plus additional financial support are offered to students who complete the camp and attend Dunwoody in the fall. Come to the CCRC on Thursday, January 26th at 10:00AM to hear more.
· Program directors from the Mayo Clinic Phlebotomy and Histology Programs will be here on Friday, January 27th at 10:00AM. These 10 week certificate programs offer high post program placement in clinics and hospitals working with patients and health care professionals. Come and see how you can get your foot into the Mayo Clinic. Sign up in the CCRC for a pass.
Yale University Friday, January 6th 11:30AM
Have you heard of Genesys Works? This is a program for juniors to gain real world experience and get paid!
Through Genesys Works you get professional training, strengthen your communication skills, and learn responsibility and accountability. From there you get to work at a major corporation, gain real world experience and earn a real wage. You will get ahead because you are building a strong resume, pursuing a professional career along with applying to college.
Theywill begin accepting applications forthe next class of Genesys Works young professionals from the current high school juniors (Class of 2018) starting Wednesday, January 4th, 2017. Go to http://www.genesysworks.org/for-students/student-application/ to apply.
Application Process:
- Verify you meet eligibility requirements.
- Complete online application.
- Interview in our office in March or April.
If you are accepted, training generally begins mid-June and runs through early August. Once you’ve completed training, internships begin late August or early September, and typically run for one year.
Eligibility Requirements - To be eligible for the Genesys Works program, you must be:
· A high school junior who is on track to graduate.
· Legally able to work in the U.S. and have valid documentation allowing you to do so.
· At least 16 years of age by August 1 of your training year.
· Able to work in the afternoons during your senior year in high school. Since this can conflict with other activities, you will have to make the choice before signing up with Genesys Works.
· Recommended by your school counselor, principal or specialty teacher.
· Willing to invest your entire summer, completing their intensive training program.
· Willing to commit to regular attendance. Your participation in Genesys Works has to be top priority.
· Able to provide your own transportation to and from Genesys Works and your worksite. Many students use public transportation.
· Able to meet the Genesys Works dress code and the dress requirements for corporate clients.
· Aware that Genesys Works is something you do in addition to your schoolwork. You must maintain good standing in school and at Genesys Works.
You will gain real world experience at major corporations like:
3M Bremer Financial Medtronic
Travelers Insurance Best Buy Ecolab
Thrivent Financial Xcel Energy Target
Optum
The Mayo Clinic offers a Phlebotomy Technician Program that is an excellent fit for high school seniors who are interested in a healthcare related career, are undecided about college and have a desire to live in the Rochester/SE MN region. The Phlebotomy Technician Program is a 10 week program where students learn how to collect blood for clinical testing and become eligible for employment as a phlebotomist immediately after graduation. The national average phlebotomist salary is approximately $31,000 per year and their program has a greater than 90% hire rate after program completion. Some phlebotomists spend their entire career within the phlebotomy field, advancing in position by additional training and taking on management responsibilities, while others may use their phlebotomy experience as a stepping stone to advance their careers beyond phlebotomy within the healthcare field. Visit www.mayo.edu/mshs/careers/phlebotomy-technician for more information on this program.
Let your passion become your career. Apply for a UMD undergraduate music audition today! The UMD Department of Music offers a wide variety of music scholarships to current music majors, as well as those applying to become music majors. Awards are offered to students who demonstrate outstanding talent in voice, strings, winds, percussion, piano and composition. Several four-year awards are offered to incoming freshman Music Majors. Once accepted to UMD you may apply to the Department of Music. Why not get started today?
In addition to academic merit-based scholarships awarded through the admissions process, the St. Cloud State University Foundationoffers scholarships gifted by friends and alumni of the University toincoming, current, andgraduatestudents. The General Scholarship Application process opens on January 9th. If you submit a General Scholarship Application before then, return to Huskies Scholarships after that date to apply for the many individual scholarships that will begin accepting applications. After submitting your General Scholarship Application, view your recommended opportunities and also search the list using keywords to find specific scholarships for which you may qualify. You must meet minimum enrollment requirements during the upcoming academic year to receive scholarships. Submit a new General Scholarship Application annually.
Minneapolis Public Schools are proud to provide the 2016-17 Common Black College Application to all Minnesota high school seniors for free. Note: The promo code can ONLY be utilized by Class of 2017 high school seniors from Minnesota. www.commonblackcollegeapp.com The promotion code is cbca2017.
PITCH TO PROTOTYPE IN 3 DAYS: Attention students who want to pitch a great start up idea! Twin Cities Startup Weekend Youth Event is on January 13th – 15th, 2017, and is powered by Google for Entrepreneurs, Carlson School of Management, Target and Best Buy. Startup Weekend is a 54 hour event that brings together the Twin Cities’ designers, developers, entrepreneurs, and experts from all domains to do amazing things. Budding entrepreneurs in their sophomore,junior and senior year in high school, as well asfreshmen, sophomores and juniors in college are invited to participate. Startup Weekend will propel students to launch creative business ideas by implementing the “Lean Startup”process. Students will pitch ideas, form teams around the top ideas, research their customers, and work intensely asteams to build a prototype that demonstrates the potential of their business.The event culminates in a “SHARK TANK” style pitch competitionwhere teams present their business and demonstratetheir prototype to a panel of local entrepreneurs. In just 54 hours, you will experience the highs, lows, fun, and pressure that make up life at a startup. As you learn how to create a real company, you'll meet the very best mentors, investors, co-founders, and sponsors who are ready to help you get started. To register go to http://www.up.co/communities/usa/twincities/startup-weekend/10325.
Are you interested in a health care career? Check out the Health Career Explorer: Everything you want to know about a wide variety of health careers. https://explorehealthcareers.org/
· Allied Health Professions Arts and Humanities in Health
· Chiropractic Medicine Complementary and Integrative Medicine
· Dentistry Environmental Health
· Forensic Science Geriatrics
· Health Administration/Management Informatics
· Medicine Mental Health
· Nursing Nutrition/Dietetics
· Occupational Therapy Optometry
· Pharmacy Physical Therapy
· Podiatric Medicine Public Health
· Speech-Language-Hearing Sports Medicine
· Veterinary Medicine
The University of St. Thomas is Opening a New Two-Year College in 2017! According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only one-third of adults attain a four-year degree, despite the benefits of increased employment and income. To help change this, particularly for those from diverse and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, the University of St. Thomas Board of Trustees voted today to establish a first-of-its-kind two-year college in Minnesota on its Minneapolis campus.
The Dougherty Family College, named after lead benefactors Mike and Kathy Dougherty, is intended to be a first step toward a four-year degree and will provide intensive, wrap-around education services designed to accommodate promising students who may not succeed at existing higher education offerings in the community.
Starting in the fall of 2017, the college will offer students an Associate of Arts degree in liberal arts, with courses that meet Minnesota Transfer Curriculum guidelines, which will allow graduates to have a seamless transition to public as well as private four-year institutions in Minnesota. The college plans to admit about 150 students to its inaugural college class, and St. Thomas is now applying for approval from the Higher Learning Commission to offer the Associate of Arts degree. Upon receiving this approval, the college will begin accepting applications.
The University of North Dakota Scholarship application deadline is February 1st! As the February 1st scholarship deadline is approaching, you are reminded that paper scholarship applications will no longer be accepted. All students should complete a Scholarship Central application to be considered for 2017-18 scholarships. Scholarship Central is home to more than 800 scholarships, and these scholarships are in addition to any automatic academic scholarships students may receive. Students must be admitted to UND and have claimed their accounts before they're able to complete their Scholarship Central applications. If you have any questions about 2017-18 scholarships, contact the UND Student Financial Aid office at 701.777.3121 or .
Through a program called Raise.me, students can guarantee micro scholarships from 200+ colleges as early as 9th grade, making it easier to plan financially for school. As an example:
- Get an A in a course ($100 - $1,000)
- Get a B in a course ($50 - $600) - Participate in a school club or sport ($25 - $250) - And much more!