The College Advisory Committee (CAC) understands and is working hard with B-CC to ensure our Seniors will be supported through this process and our Juniors will be in a good position to evaluate and apply to colleges when their turn comes. To that end, below is a summary of what is being planned/offered to support the college consideration and application process at B-CC. Currently, all evening events are being planned to be held VIRTUALLY. Specifics for each event (dates, times, zoom invites), if not listed below, will be forthcoming. PLEASE keep an eye out on the B-CC listserv for further announcements, and invite others who are not yet on the listserv to join. (See the tab "Join the B-CC ListServ" at https://www.bccptsa.net/)

• 12th Grade College Application Information Session. B-CC's Counseling Department WILL be "meeting" with 12th graders in the beginning of the school year (early September hopefully) to discuss the technicalities of applying to college at B-CC (using Naviance, requesting transcripts, managing teacher recommendations, submitting applications to colleges, etc.) It has not yet been decided if these meetings/zooms will take place during English classes, as they have historically, or during non-class hours. CAC has requested they be held during non-instructional time. MCPS may also roll out a video with instructions for all MCPS high school Seniors regarding how to apply to colleges.

• Naviance. Students have received instruction on Naviance each year at B-CC (and probably during middle school as well), but if they need a quick refresher or parents want to check out this useful and critical tool, watch Introduction to Naviance Student click here

• Additional supplemental in-depth Naviance tutorials can be found at https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/bcc-ccc-website/resources/naviancefamily-connection?authuser=0. Students, especially Seniors, should be receiving emails through Naviance from the College and Career Career Information Coordinator, Sonia Matus. As a parent, if you have linked your Naviance account to your student's, you should also be receiving these emails. If you are not but wish to, reach out to your student's counselor or Bret DeMunter (brett_c_demunter@mcpsmd.org). Please note, CAC re-posts emails going to Seniors through Naviance on the listserv, so you do not have to link your account to stay informed.

• College Representative Virtual Visits B-CC WILL have College Representatives visit this year. The visits are scheduled through Naviance. (See instructions on how this will work https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/bcc-ccc-website/resources/college-representative-visits?authuser=0) Understandably, this does not replace an in-person meeting with a college representative or a visit to campus, but CAC urges you not to dismiss this opportunity to "visit" with representatives. Also, while we wait for campuses to reopen to visitors, many colleges have stood up virtual tours, virtual open houses, and virtual information sessions. Again, check out the CCC web page, including https://www.youvisit.com/collegesearch/ and https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/bcc-ccc-website/events?authuser=0.

• SATs/ACTs. For more detailed information, the best places to look are the College Board and ACT webpages (https://www.collegeboard.org/ and https://www.act.org/) Their information seems to change often, so keep checking in and get on their email list. We truly wish we had better suggestions for you. BUT, there is good news on the SAT/ACT front - more schools are going test optional because of this testing chaos. As of last week, three-fifths of four-year colleges/universities in the US, including UMD, are now test optional for the 2021 admissions class. You can find the full list at https://www.fairtest.org/university/optional. To be 100% sure, check the web site of each of the schools your student is planning to apply. Because we are unsure of what the future for SATs/ACTs will look like for Juniors, CAC is moving ahead hosting its annual College Entrance Testing evening (virtually) Mock SAT on December 12, 2020. The mock exams will be virtual this year and FREE (with a suggested donation of $20 to PTSA.) We extend our appreciation to Capital Educators and PrepMatters for donating their time and efforts to run, score, and review these examinations with the B-CC community.

• JUNIORS PLANNING FOR COLLEGE. In addition to the Mock ACT and SAT exams, CAC will host additional virtual events this year to assist Juniors planning for college, including a College Representative Panel on January 8, Colleges That Change Lives presentation (date TBD; sometime in February or March), presentation on preparing for your senior year (late May), and a webinar about college essays (June). Dates and additional information on these events will be forthcoming on the listserv AND via the yearly postcard CAC sends out listing planned events.

Alternate Entry to the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program Read More

We understand there is no way this email answers all your questions. Quite honestly, we do not have all the answers; no one does, including colleges/universities which are also struggling to figure out admissions in this environment, as aptly described in Friday's NPR article, How The Coronavirus Has Upended College Admissions. CAC, however, will work B-CC Counseling Office and Sonia Matus, the B-CC College and Career Coordinator, to help B-CC students navigate this process as much as possible.

Kindly,

Molly Chehak, Tina Cusack, Nancy Edwards

co-chairs of the B-CC PTSA College Advisory Committee (CAC)

MCPS Summer Enrichment Programs Click here: Bored? There's something here for all ages and all interests. Most free.

College Admission & Testing During COVID-19 Webinars. Click here

• Well respected Compass Education has gathered a panel of HS and college professionals to address current concerns and impacts. Sounds most relevant to Grade 11.

New & Improved Naviance Click here

• Check out new features! Includes virtual tours and compilation of virtual college events

Who gets federal student aid?

Every student, who meets certain eligibility requirements, can get some type of financial aid regardless of age or family income.

What is federal student aid?

It’s financial aid from the federal government to help you pay for eligible expenses at an eligible college, technical school, vocational school, or graduate school. There are three categories of federal student aid: grants, work-study, and loans

What is the FAFSA?

It's The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which you need to complete to receive federal student aid.

How do I apply for aid?

Complete the FAFSA, online or in print. The simplified online application is available at: studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa.

When do I complete the FAFSA?

Between October 1st - March 1st. March 1st is the deadline to be considered for Maryland state student aid.

How much aid is available?

More than $150 billion of aid is available every year to students to help cover tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, and other education-related expenses.

I've been considered for Maryland State Aid, now what?

Students will need to create an MDCAPS account in order to submit all necessary paperwork to the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). You can access the login page here to create a username and password. For more information on all types of state aid offered, you can visit the MHEC website at https://mhec.state.md.us/Pages/default.aspx.