Monthly Career & College Timeline for High School Juniors

JANUARY:

• IF YOU PLAN ON APPLYING TO A 4-YEAR COLLEGE DURING YOUR SENIOR YEAR, register for the spring dates for the SAT and/or ACT College Entrance Exams. If you plan on attending a community college first, you do not need to take these tests. Brookville is a testing center for the SAT on the March 1, 2008 test date but you can test on any scheduled test date that works best for you. Jefferson Forest, Liberty High and Virginia Episcopal School (VES) are test centers for the SAT on the May 3, 2008 test date and E.C. Glass is a test center for the SAT on the June 7, 2008 test date. Amherst High, Liberty High, Liberty Christian Academy (LCA) and VES are test centers for the April 12, 2008 ACT testing date and Rustburg and LCA are testing centers for the June 14, 2008 ACT testing date. REGISTRATION MATERIALS ARE LOCATED IN THE GUIDANCE OFFICE. Register NOW for the test date that works best for you to make sure you get your first choice testing center.
   
• Review your PSAT scores & work on areas of improvement before you take the SAT or ACT this spring. You received your PSAT score reports in December.
   
• Take the SAT Prep Course at CVCC to prepare for the SAT. Call CVCC at 434-832-7607 to register for this weekend course and to find out course dates that coincide with the SAT test date you registered to take.
   
• Continue to explore colleges & careers of interest, branches of the military, & employment opportunities. GET ON THE BHS WEBSITE, www.bhsbees.com, FOR DIRECT LINKS TO COLLEGE, CAREER, & MILITARY EXPLORATION WEBSITES!!!
   
• If you plan on full-time employment after graduation, try to find a part-time job to acquire work skills and valuable references. You should also consider taking a course at the Campbell County Technical Center during your senior year to acquire job skills that will springboard you into a particular career field or job.
   
• If you plan on joining the military after graduation, talk to the recruiters that visit BHS each month during lunch. The Navy recruiters visit the 1st Thursday of every month, the Air Force visits the 4th Wednesday of every month, the Marines visit the 3rd Wednesday of every month, the Army visits the 2nd Tuesday of every month and the National Guard visits the 3rd Thursday of every month.

Scholarships & Awards

Discover Card Tribute Award Scholarship Program
Deadline: Completed applications must be postmarked by January 31, 2008.
Eligibility: Must be a high school junior with a GPA of 2.75 or higher who plans to continue their education after high school at a 4-year, 2-year or technical/trade college.
Prizes: There are state & national scholarships available. Up to 300 State awards of $2500 each are available in each state and up to 10 National awards of $25,000 will be available.

The Ayn Rand Essay Contests
Deadline: Completed applications must be postmarked by April 25, 2008.
Eligibility: Must be a junior or senior in high school who submits an essay of 800 to 1600 words from a list of selected topics on Ayn Rand’s Novel “The Fountainhead”.
Prizes: 1st Prize - $10,000 cash award, five 2nd place cash awards of $2,000 each, ten 3rd place cash awards of $1,000 each, 45 Finalist prizes of $100 cash awards, and 175 semi-finalists prizes of $50 cash awards.

Summer Programs

• Virginia Tech’s 10th Annual Engineering Perspectives Conference for Students Interested in Engineering
  Application Deadline – Completed applications must be postmarked by January 20, 2008.
  Eligibility – Must be a high school student interested in pursuing a career in engineering.
  Date of Program – Saturday, February 23, 2008 at Virginia Tech from 8:30 am until 5:00 pm
  Program Goals – Students will have the opportunity to interact with engineering students, faculty, and practicing engineers. This conference includes guest speakers and a series of interactive workshops hosted by Virginia Tech faculty and local industry leaders. The speakers will discuss issues facing young engineers in today’s workplace, and the interactive workshops will focus on teamwork, leadership, diversity, and communication.
  Cost – $10 per family with breakfast, lunch, and refreshments provided.
  How to Apply – Pick up an application from the Guidance Office.
   
• Society of Women Engineers Annual High School Visitation Weekend at the Univ. of Virginia
  Application Deadline – The completed application is due to UVA by January 31, 2008 & requires a brief statement outlining the interests and the expectations of the participant for the weekend.
  Program Goals – This is a program for high school females interested in engineering. You will spend the weekend exploring majors & careers in the field of engineering. Participants will be housed in UVA dorms so that they can experience university life inside & outside the School of Engineering. Throughout the weekend students will be involved in activities with focus on the nine different engineering disciplines offered at UVA. Participant will have a chance to interact with current engineering students & faculty as well as other high school girls from around the state. This is a great learning experience for young women who would like to explore various aspects of engineering.
  Date of Program – Feb. 23-24, 2008.
  Cost – The cost for the weekend is $45, which covers all activity fees, meals & accommodations.
  How to Apply – Pick up an application from the Guidance Office. The application is also available online at http://scs.student.virginia.edu/~uvaswe/ 
  Questions – If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact Katherine Odegaard at swehsv2008@gmail.com
   
• The University of Virginia's Summer Enrichment Program
  Application Deadline – Completed applications must be postmarked by February 15, 2008.
  Program Goals – This is a summer residential program for gifted and talented students in grades 9 – 11. It is a 12-day academic and residential experience where teachers, residential counselors, and administrative staff work as a community to create an exciting, enriching, and intellectually safe environment for all participants. Through a comprehensive program of courses, seminars, and camp activities, SEP engages participants in active and authentic learning and connects them with other learners who have similar interests. SEP provides a setting for participants to explore topics not generally available during the regular school year, develop an understanding of how professionals in the field might think and work, cultivate creative thinking, problem solving and critical thinking, develop research skills to investigate individual areas of interest in the student’s field of study, work consistently at challenging levels of thought and transfer learning to varying disciplines and contexts, and take intellectual risks, collaborate, and lead in an atmosphere of respect and shared purpose. Students spend the morning in academic courses in an area of interest. In the afternoon, students participate in selected seminars designed to connect students to new interest areas and participants.
  Date of Program – Three different sessions to choose from, Session 1: June 22 – July 3, 2008
  Session 2: July 6 – July 17, 2008
  Session 3 July 20 – July 31, 2008
  Cost – $1000 and includes room, board, materials, recreation activities, and secondary accident insurance. Financial Aid is available for those in need of assistance.
  How to Apply – Pick up an application from the Guidance Office. The application is also available online at http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/sep
   
• West Point Military Academy Summer Leaders Seminar
  Application Deadline - Students are offered admission to the Summer Leaders Seminar on a rolling basis so complete the application as soon as possible. The final deadline to complete an application to attend is March 31, 2008.
  Program Goals – The Summer Leaders Seminar offers a concentrated week of academics, athletics, & social experiences. It focuses not only on the academic elements of West Point, but the leadership as well. You will arrive on Saturday & begin a week of military training, classes, sports, tours and a boat ride on the Hudson River. You will also take the Candidate Fitness Assessment test, a requirement for admission to West Point. The seminar offers a variety of courses from which to choose depending on your interests. Classes are small & instructors are helpful. Current West Point Cadets beginning their final years at West Point will lead you during all aspects of the seminar so you will have a complete understanding of the West Point experience. They will answer any questions you have about West Point or the Army. You will be surprised what you learn.
  Requirements – You must be a high school junior, rank the top fifth of your high school class, are pursuing a college prep curriculum, have strong PSAT scores, and have demonstrated leadership potential by participation, election or selection to offices and /or honors in extracurricular & organized athletic activities.
  Date of Program – West Point will offer two different sessions to choose from. Session I will be June 7-13, 2008 and the second session will be June 14 – 20, 2008.
  How to Apply – Interested students must apply online at http://admissions.usma.edu/  
  Cost – The cost to attend is $325, excluding transportation costs to and from West Point.
   
• Carnegie Mellon Univ. Pre-College Fine Arts Summer Program
  Application Deadline – Completed applications must be postmarked by May 1, 2008.
  Program Goals – This is a six-week summer program in your choice within the College of Fine Arts: Architecture, Art, Design, Drama, or Music. This program mirrors Carnegie Mellon’s undergraduate curriculum, which consists of demanding studio or conservatory-based courses. It allows you to experience college life & see first hand what Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg, PA is all about.
  Cost – Costs are approx. $6000
  Dates – June 28 – August 8, 2008.
  Stop by the Guidance Office to request a copy of the program descriptions & application.
   
• Carnegie Mellon Univ. National High School Game Academy
  Application Deadline - Completed applications must be postmarked by May 1, 2008.
  Program Goals – This is a six-week intensive study of video game design & development where students learn through hands-on experience and exposure to the breadth of knowledge and disciplines needed to be part of this new & exciting field. Students will be encouraged to pursue undergraduate studies in software engineering, design, creative writing or dramatic arts while having a clear understanding of how their education can lead to a career in the interactive digital media field.
  Cost – Costs are approx. $6000
  Dates – June 28 – August 8, 2008.
  Stop by the Guidance Office to request a copy of the program descriptions & application.