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NEW POSTINGS FOUND UNDER:
- Important Information
- Employment
- Internships
- Special/Enrichment
- Scholarships
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WATCH OUT FOR MISREPRESENTATION – Please check with your school if a salesperson advises you they have a relationship with the school or with Fairfax County Public Schools – even if the salesperson has your student’s name. At least one salesperson has misrepresnted themself in efforts to garner business, and there are many ways for businesses to obtain student information that have no relationship to the school. |
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SUMMER EXTENDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES - There are several new enrichment opportunities for students in the Summer School Online Program. Opportunities include Creative Writing, College Essay Writing, Rich Writing, and Algebra 2 Headstart. For course descriptions and summer school registration information, go to www.fcps.edu/is/summer/newhsonline.shtml#a2. |
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PARENT TIP SHEETS FROM FAMILY AND SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS - Family and School Partnerships, part of the Department of Communications and Community Outreach, offers a host of tip sheets that can be distributed to parents on paper or electronically. Topics include homework hints, positive discipline, preparing for SOL tests, and communicating with your teenager, among others. They are also translated into Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese for use with language minority parents. To access the tip sheets, go to www.fcps.edu/cco/fam/resources/publications/ParentHandoutsandTipCards.shtml |
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BLACKBOARD UPGRADE: PLAN AHEAD – Family Connection will be unavailable during the summer Blackboard Upgrade from 20 – 28 June. Plan ahead and get your college research in a good place before this excellent research tool is unavailable. |
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YOU CAN STILL APPLY – Every year there are colleges that have space available after the 1 May deadline for qualified students. If none of your college applications worked out, or if you have recently decided that you are ready to apply to college, speak with your counselor and check out the list provided by NACAC at www.nacacnet.org/research/research-data/SpaceSurvey/Pages/SpaceSurveyResults.aspx. This list is updated daily. As spaces do fill up, don’t wait too long to apply. |
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FINANCIAL AID AWARD LETTER - Discover what everything means!! The Credit Union Student Choice private loan program has created a video to aid in the understanding of financial aid award letters. Go to www.studentchoice.org/AwardLetters.html. |
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FEDERAL
STUDENT AID RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS –
- Student Aid on the Web: www.studentaid.ed.gov – provides in-depth information on federal
student aid programs, applying for financial
aid, and repaying student loans as well
as scholarship searches, college cost estimators,
and the ability to track and compare financial
aid award letters.
- YouTube: www.youtube.com/collegedotgov - more than 60 videos, inspirational videos
from peers, advice from current college
students, the ability to submit your own
video.
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/college.gov - get weekly tips, information, and links;
more than 20 videos, and more than 12,500
“likes.”
- FAFSA line-by-line directions are available at http://studentaid.ed.
gov/students/attachments/siteresources/2011-2012CFT.pdf. These line-by-line directions may answer all of your questions and may even answer questions you didn’t know you had.
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FINANCIAL
AID, COOL WEBSITES: www.gofaar.org – great financial aid step by step info
and www.csocollegecenter.org – college info focused on underrepresented
student needs |
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FINANCIAL AID PREPARERS - Research carefully before paying a company to find financial aid. Contact the Better Business Bureau www.bbb.org/us/article/dont-pay-for-free-advice-on-scholarships-for-college-25152. |
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FINANCIAL
AID QUESTIONS – are accurately
answered by the Department of Education online
in both English AND Spanish. Go to http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/
students/english/FSAAudioVideo.jsp#students to discover everything you may want or need
to know. |
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FREE!!
- Yes, the FAFSA, which is required
for any financial aid at college, is free. FAFSA
is the acronym for Free Application for Federal
Student Aid. Do your own FAFSA. (You can get
help at a Super Saturday if you need it.) Do
NOT pay anyone to do it for you. You have
to assemble and give them everything. Providers
may even have you complete forms with all of
the information exactly as it is found on the
FAFSA and charge you to click "send." |
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CAUTION: Families are encouraged to check out companies carefully before entering into a contract. Many WTW families have received an offer to assist families with the college application process by a company that has many complaints filed with Better Business Bureau in the state in which they operate. Be sure YOU check with a company's local Better Business Bureau. |
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COLLEGE CONSULTANT INFORMATION SITE: (1) Your school counselor and career center specialist will be happy to help you find the information you want and need in the college application process – with no extra charge to you. (2) If you feel the need to hire an independent consultant, read all about the profession at http://iecaonline.org/parents.html, the website for the Independent Educational Consultants Association. |
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COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS –The Today Show has engaged in a discussion of the college application process. The show was able to view a college admissions committee at work. To view the video of the admissions committee workings and the show discussion of the admissions process with audiences go to http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/41619750#41619750. |
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DISCOVER INTERVIEWS – Add www.jobshawdow.com to your career research toolbox. This company shares interviews with people covering an amazing variety of careers. You may discover a wonderful career you have not previously considered. |
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EVENING COMPUTER LAB AVAILABLE AT WOODSON – Any student enrolled at Woodson High School is allowed to visit the computer lab to use the internet, check blackboard, read emails and work on homework and school projects. The computer lab is located in room A136 and is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00-6:00 pm from October thru May. You do not need to sign up but you need your student ID. |
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FACEBOOK WARNING - Students that use Facebook. About one-fourth of colleges use Facebook to find out information about applicants. Admissions personnel also use Google to search for students, and 12% say online searches turned up information that could hurt an applicant’s chances of admission. Employers also check prospective employees presence online. Find links to the articles at http://blistr.edublogs.org/tag/college-admissions/. |
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FREE INTERNET MONITORING SOFTWARE - The Fairfax County Sheriff Office is offering parents internet monitoring software to help assess what children are doing online. The ComputerCOP program scans the computer for potentially objectional images and is available free of charge for Fairfax County residents at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/sheriff/news/fingerpoint.htm. |
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ACCREDITATION
– Learn
how the post-secondary schools (colleges/career
training schools) you find interesting are accredited.
The State Counsel of Higher Education of Virginia
posts information on every post-secondary school
licensed in Virginia at www.schev.edu/Students/collegelistAlpha.asp?from=k12.
The federal government offers a site with national
accreditation data at http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx.
The federal site also includes special program
accreditation which can be very important when
seeking a job. Institutions listed on the federal site are able to assist you with federal finaicial aid if you qualify. If you are seeking training in fields that require a license, go to the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA) members list to see what association is accrediting programs in your area of study:
www.aspa-usa.org/member_fields_details |
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ACCREDITATION for HEALTH CAREERS - Thinking about a career in health care? These careers require state certification, which may require education from a properly accredited school. Discover the many things you need to research at http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/issues/news/Article/257/
Accreditation_Matters_Part_I?pub=1&issue= |
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AVOID
SCAMS – Exercise caution when contracting
any service. Scam artists offering and charging
much but providing little are known to offer
college counseling services, scholarships, and
assistance with the FREE Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA.) Always research any company
with which you choose to do business carefully.
Remember: Assistance in all of these areas is
available at W.T. Woodson High School through
your counselor and career center. Regardless
of the source of assistance, the final work
and decision-making has to be done by the student
and the student’s family. Watch for clues like
"guaranteed," provide your credit
card number, "we'll do all the work",
etc. The Federal Trade Commission offers great
information and advice at www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams
and www.ftc.gov/reports/Fraud/finance.shtm.
Collegeboard has a good discussion of the issue
too at www.collegeboard.com/parents/pay/scholarships-aid/21400.html. |
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SCHOLARSHIP SCAMS – The Better Business Bureau has published 6 Signs of a Scholarship Scam in an effort to help families avoid costly pitfalls. The article can be found at http://sandiego.bbb.org/article/6-signs-of-a-scholarship-scam-26192. |
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SCAM PHONE CALLS – FCPS does not call students at home to sell financial aid or test prep services. Information on recognizing and reporting these predatory marketers is available in English and Spanish at www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/phonefraud/index.shtml. |
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TEST PREP SCAM - Unscrupulous companies are misrepresenting themselves as College Board and offering to sell their test preparation products. College board does not market products this way. Do not be tempted to purchase these products. Contact your consumer affairs office. |
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CHECK
BEFORE YOU GO – Don’t assume
a College Rep Visit is at W.T. Woodson. It is
important that students and parents who plan
to attend College Rep Visits click into the
visit to discover and verify all of the details
of the visit right before leaving for the event.
This year, several colleges have had to change
their location, date, and/or time. Know before
you go!!. NOTE: Day-time College Rep Visits
held at W.T. Woodson are for students only.
Local Information Sessions are for students
and parents. |
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COLLEGEBOARD
TOLL FREE – There
is a toll-free Customer Service number reachable
from anywhere in the United States: 866.756.7346.
From international locations, call 212.713.7789.
Remember, more information is online at www.collegeboard.com. |
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COMMON
APP & UNIVERSAL APP – Some
colleges use the Common Application or the Universal
Application. If you are using either of these
applications, check to see if your colleges
require a supplement. Your application will
not be complete until you have submitted all
required parts. |
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COMMUNICATIONS
– Exercise
care when providing your email address. Many
colleges and businesses are using email as their
primary form of communication, so be sure you
list yours accurately. Students should establish
usernames that are appropriate before they start
communicating with colleges. |
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EDUCATIONAL
CONSULTANTS – Thinking about getting
an Educational or College Consultant? Get authoritative
information about the preparation and expertise
you should consider at: www.nacacnet.org/studentinfo/
CollegePrep/ECCC/Pages/AboutEducationalConsultants.aspx |
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THE
FCPS HANDBOOK FOR PARENTS –
is now available online in Arabic, Chinese,
English, and Spanish versions. Go to www.fcps.edu/about.htm. |
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FCPS
PARENT RESOURCE CENTER TUTOR LIST 2010 - 2011
– Need a tutor? Check the extensive
list provided by the FCPS Parent Resource Center
at http://www.fcps.edu/cco/prc/documents/PRCTutorListSeptember2010-2011.pdf. |
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FEDERAL
STUDENT AID RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS –
- Student Aid on the Web: www.studentaid.ed.gov – provides in-depth information on federal
student aid programs, applying for financial
aid, and repaying student loans as well
as scholarship searches, college cost estimators,
and the ability to track and compare financial
aid award letters.
- YouTube: www.youtube.com/collegedotgov - more than 60 videos, inspirational videos
from peers, advice from current college
students, the ability to submit your own
video.
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/college.gov - get weekly tips, information, and links;
more than 20 videos, and more than 12,500
“likes.”
- FAFSA line-by-line directions are available at http://studentaid.ed.
gov/students/attachments/siteresources/2011-2012CFT.pdf.
These line-by-line directions may answer all of your questions and may even answer questions you didn’t know you had.
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FINANCIAL
AID, COOL WEBSITES: www.gofaar.org
– great financial aid step by step info
and www.csocollegecenter.org
– college info focused on underrepresented
student needs |
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FINANCIAL
AID - FAFSA4caster – comes
to you from the US Department of Education’s
Office of Federal Student Aid. It is designed
to assist high school Juniors and their families
who are planning for education beyond high school.
Students can receive an estimated Expected Family
Contribution figure, discover Pell Grant eligibility,
reduce the time needed to complete the FAFSA
when they are Seniors, plus receive guidance
on the next steps for applying for admission,
applying for federal student aid, and paying
for education beyond high school. Access FAFSA4caster
by visiting www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov
and go to the links in the lower right corner
of the home page. A Spanish version is available.
If you have any questions, contact the Federal
Student Aid Information Center at 800.433.3243. |
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FINANCIAL AID PREPARERS - Research carefully before paying a company to find financial aid. Contact the Better Business Bureau www.bbb.org/us/article/dont-pay-for-free-advice-on-scholarships-for-college-25152. |
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FINANCIAL
AID QUESTIONS – are accurately
answered by the Department of Education online
in both English AND Spanish. Go to http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/
students/english/FSAAudioVideo.jsp#students
to discover everything you may want or need
to know. |
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FREE!!
- Yes, the FAFSA, which is required
for any financial aid at college, is free. FAFSA
is the acronym for Free Application for Federal
Student Aid. Do your own FAFSA. (You can get
help at a Super Saturday if you need it.) Do
NOT pay anyone to do it for you. You have
to assemble and give them everything. Providers
may even have you complete forms with all of
the information exactly as it is found on the
FAFSA and charge you to click "send." |
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FREE
RESOURCES – Don’t
assume that all service providers are straight
forward. There are companies that will take
advantage of your desire for guidance in the
college search process. Remember: ALL services
and resources that you need are FREE
in your Career Center – AND your school
counselor will be happy to help you with your
search. |
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GREAT CURRENT DATA – Want the latest statistics and information offered by a college? Your key is the “common data set.” In Google, enter: [“the name of the college” & “common data set”.] You will be amazed at the amount of wonderfully accurate data you can discover!! |
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GREAT COLLEGE SEARCH SITES - Discover amazing details about colleges at http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator. This site is published by the Institute of Education Sciences National Center for Education Statistics. See what you can learn on this site! www.insidecollege.com/reno/home.do published by Alloy Education. Get ideas you may not have considered. |
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GREAT SUMMER PROGRAM SEARCH SITE - Add this site to your favorites to discover a variety of interesting summer options: www.summerprogramsearch.com/pss/camps/search.do. |
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GUARANTEED
ADMISSION AGREEMENTS - Are
you considering beginning your college education
at a community college and transfering to a
university in Virginia? Discover what the basic
guaranteed admission agreement (GAR) is with
each of the 21 participating Virginia universities
easily at http://myfuture.vccs.edu/transferwheel/.
Click on a school icon to see the pop
up boxes with information about each guaranteed
admission agreement. |
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INSPIRATIONS
– An innovative new resource,
www.college.gov
will provide visitors with first-person accounts
of students who overcame challenges and difficulties
in their efforts to go to college. Learn: Why
you should go to college, How to go, and How
to pay for college or other postsecondary education
programs. |
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MAKING
THE GRADE: ESTABLISHING GOOD CREDIT
–
is an excellent publication funded by a grant
from the Virginia Law Foundation. To find and
print a copy, go to http://216.230.13.18/credit.pdf.
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MATH TUTORING – Every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the math honor society offers free, peer tutoring for students. Students in any level of math are encouraged to come to room B208 between 2:15 and 3pm to receive help on any math assignment. This includes test corrections, homework, and general study assistance. |
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MEET FULL FINANCIAL NEED – Two agencies are publishing lists of colleges that indicate they will meet the full financial needs of accepted students. Generally, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is used as a guide for determining need. US News and World report publishes their list at www.usnews.com/education/articles/2010/02/18/colleges-that-claim-to-meet-the-full-financial-needs-of-students and Wintergreen Orchard House publishes theirs at www.insidecollege.com/reno/Colleges-that-Meet-the-Financial-Needs-of-Students/349/list.do. |
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SECRETS TO WINNING A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP – Get ideas for winning college scholarships in this excellent article: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/college-costs/secrets-to-winning-a-college-s.html. |
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SLOAN
CAREER CORNERSTONE CENTER - offers
a great resource center for those exploring
career paths in science, technology, engineering,
mathematics, computing, and healthcare. Visit
www.careercornerstone.org
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SPANISH
SPEAKERS - “PREPARING FOR COLLEGE”
-
SCHEV (The State Council for
Higher Education in Virginia) has created a
Spanish section on it’s website to serve
as an online resource for Spanish-speaking students,
parents, and the high school and postsecondary
personnel who work with Virginia’s growing
Hispanic population. It is available to all
interested users at www.schev.edu/students/Espanol/Espanol.asp
The site provides background information on
Virginia’s system of higher education
as well as useful tips on how to prepare and
pay for college. Myriad of topics addressed. |
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STUDENTS
WITH DISABILITIES PREPARING FOR POSTSECONDARY
EDUCATION: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
– This excellent pamphlet is
provided by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
in the U.S. Department of Education, explains
the rights and responsibilities of students
with disabilities who are preparing to attend
postsecondary schools As the responsibilities
of postsecondary schools are significantly different
from those of high school, this publication
is worth reading. Find it at www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transitionguide.html |
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TAX CREDIT FOR FOLKS WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS – My Majors.com has posted an article discussing a tax credit for students attending qualified educational institutions. If you have students in college, check it out at: http://mymajors.com/articles/How-To-Get-Money-Back-For-College.html. |
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VIRGINIA PUBLIC COLLEGE GRADUATION RATES and more – Ever wonder what percentage of our students actually graduate from college? The American Council of Trustees and Alumni has prepared a report that analyzes all 15 public and 24 private institutions in Virginia. You can also discover retention rates, trends in tuition rates, and how tuition rates compare to family incomes. Go to www.goacta.org/publications/downloads/VirginiaReportFinal.pdf. |
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VIRGINIA COLLEGE QUEST - is a guide to college success for students with disabilities. Check it out at www.vacollegequest.org/. |
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VIRTUAL
COLLEGE TOURS AT YOUniversitytv.com
- Did you know can check out a university or
college from the comfort of your home? YOUniversitytv.com
gives you the chance to watch student-led video
tours of schools all over the country. It’ll
give you lots of info including admissions requirements,
GPAs, SAT/ACT, housing options and tuition while
walking through the actual campus. Though not
a substitute for a personal visit, this is a
great first view. |
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WHAT
DOES YOUR INTERNET PROFILE SAY ABOUT YOU? U.S.
News.com reports that college admissions counselors
and employers may not only be reading your application
and interviewing you to decide on your application.
They may also be checking out your web presence,
and if you’re not careful, finding embarrassing
pictures and postings. Before sending in your
application, do some searching of your own to
see what is out there. There are also new internet
companies who will do this for a fee. For the
complete article, go to www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/student-center/advice_111706_brief.php. |
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YOU CAN GO - College Board has a new site aimed at helping you find a college. Enjoy videos from students who overcame real difficulties and went to college. Learn from students who couldn't afford college, didn't think they had the grades, have big responsibilities at home that keep them from participating in school activities, or who are simply overwhelmed. Check it out at ycg.org. |
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return to top
This
information is provided for your convenience
and perusal. Postings do not indicate sponsorship.
Parents need to check and be satisfied
with any program chosen for their children.
This web page contains links to one or more
web pages that are outside the FCPS network.
Neither W.T. Woodson High School nor FCPS
controls the content or relevancy of these
pages.
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