Governor's School for the Sciences at Carnegie Mellon

The Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Sciences (PGSS) at Carnegie Mellon University is currently accepting applications for their summer 2014 program.  All of the PA Governor's Schools are excellent opportunities for students to receive hands on learning in a particular field.  The PGSS focuses on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).  The goal of this program is to encourage the youth of Pennsylvania to pursue careers in STEM fields.  

PGSS is an five week summer residential program.  Students are required to live on the Carnegie Mellon campus during the five week program.  This highly competitive program accepts 56 juniors. All accepted students receive a full scholarship which covers the cost of housing, meals, and instructional materials.  

Details of the Program

When:  June 29th-August 2nd, 2014

Where:  Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh PA

Who May Apply: This program is open to all high school juniors at time of application.

Deadline to Apply:  Completed applications must be sent to Carnegie Mellon University and postmarked no later than January 31, 2014.  

Additional Information and an Application:

www.pgss.mcs.cmu.edu

Virtual College Fair

Our high school students are using the online world for almost everything they do.  Our kids are very tech savvy and this is impacting the college admissions process.  In my opinion, there is nothing better than seeing a college campus and walking around to get a “feel” for the place.  But, some students aren't ready for the college visit.  They haven’t narrowed down their search to the handful of schools they want to visit.  If this is the case, a college fair is a great way to gather information before the college visit.  A company called College Fairs Online is providing a virtual college fair to any student or parent residing in Pennsylvania on November 11-16, 2013. 

I have never attended a virtual college fair.  After some research, I discovered that colleges create a virtual booth showcasing their institution.  A live chat feature is also available to speak with the schools of interest. Students and parents can log on to the fair and view information on multiple schools in one concise place. 

Students that are interested should visit www.collegefairsonline.com.  Students should click on the students tab to register before the fair.  Students who register ahead of time will receive a reminder email before the fair starts.  This fair is free of charge.  

Penn State Update

I attended a counselor’s workshop at Penn State Behrend and received some really nice updates and announcements from both University Park and Behrend.  I wanted to take some time to share these with you.

Important Dates

The Penn State admissions process does not use early decision or early action admissions deadlines.  They do encourage all applicants to apply and complete their file by November 30^th.  The file must be complete with a submitted application, high school transcript, and official test scores sent directly from College Board or ACT.  If a student has their materials in by November 30^th, they will receive an admissions decision before the end of January.  A student is able to apply after November 30^th, but it may become more difficult to get accepted.  A student has the best chance of getting accepted if they apply and complete their application before the end of November. 

March 1^st is the deadline for students to submit their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).  All students need to submit this financial aid paperwork in a timely manner in order to receive the financial aid award letter before the May 1^st admissions decision date. 

All students should confirm their enrollment with Penn State by May 1^st.

Admissions Standards

Students always ask me, “Will I be admitted to Penn State?  Are my scores or GPA high enough?”  Penn State discloses what they call the middle 50%.  The chart represents the middle 50% of students offered admission from the previous admissions year.  There are no cutoffs or averages.  To view this chart, visit:  http://admissions.psu.edu/apply/statistics/

Additional Information

• Penn State requires two years of the same foreign language in high school.  If an applicant does not have two years on their transcript, they will have to take at least a semester of a language while attending Penn State.
• Penn State does not super score multiple SAT or ACT exams.  They take the highest combination of scores from any single test date.
• If a student attends an open house or campus visit at the Behrend campus, the admissions staff will waive the admissions application fee.  Going for a college visit can save you $50.
• Many questions come up about the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State.  Students admitted to the Honors College must display:  academic excellence, strong leadership skills, motivation and self-discipline, and a commitment to citizenship and civic responsibility. Students submit essay questions and letters of recommendation.  Two reviewers read a “blind” application copy of these essays and letters of recommendation.  The reviewers do not see ACT or SAT test scores when reviewing the application.  Students need to set themselves apart in their essays by demonstrating their commitment to the characteristics I mentioned above.  Top academics will not automatically get you into this prestigious group. More information on the Schreyer Honors College can be found at: http://www.shc.psu.edu/future/  

Special Invitation for Students Interested in Health Careers

If you are at least 15 years of age and interested in learning about health careers, the Saint Vincent Learning for Life Explorer Program is for you.  Saint Vincent is offering six sessions throughout the school year related to different medical professions.  An introductory meeting is being held on: Wednesday, November 6^th from 6:00pm-7:30pm.  This introductory meeting will provide you with an orientation to the Explorer Program.  The students who choose to participate will be required to pay a $24 fee. 

If you have questions or wish to make reservations for the introductory session, please see Mrs. Crawford in guidance.  Specific questions about the program can be directed to program coordinator Judy Stear at jstear@svhs.org