LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS will be available to qualifying seniors (2.5 cumulative grade point average or better) on Wednesday, March 4, 2009.  Interested students should pick up a scholarship package in the school counseling office on March 4.  Through the generous support of the many community groups, up to $60,000 is distributed to seniors through this program.  The general application has a few pages, and may take up to two hours to complete.  Individual scholarship applications may require additional essays, letters of recommendations and/or interviews.  Awards will be made public at the senior awards ceremony in May.  The due date is Friday, April 3, 2009.  Late applications are not accepted.

MONTHLY SCHOLARSHIP BULLETIN  Ms. Langis publishes a monthly newsletter listing all of the private scholarships that we receive in the mail.  The February newsletter is now available for pickup in the school counseling office, listing over 30 opportunities and additional resource sites for students.  Many have late March deadlines.  See Ms. Langis for details.

STUDENT ATHLETE RECRUITING RESOURCE  The athletic department at Sparrows Point High has subscribed to a student athlete recruiting resource for students, coaches, counselors and families at dynamitesports.com.  The programs on the site aim to equip coaches, counselors, parents, and student-athletes for college athletics and the recruiting process. The program also consists of a hard copy version that includes a 390-page reference manual, and an interactive companion CD that allows you to use the program without being online. Both are available in the school counseling office. The two parent and student sites are http://www.counselorscurriculum.com/ and http://www.dynamitesports.com/.  The username is pointathletics and the password is pointpride.  Please use these to access the sites.  You can also find a link through the SPHS website at http://sparrowspoinths.bcps.org/Activities/index.htm#SPORTS.

BE WARY OF FINANCIAL AID AND SAT PREP SCAMS  Many companies will mail you information and call you with offers guaranteed to get you financial aid or provide you with practice materials for the SAT.  Be very careful and do your research before giving anyone money or credit card information.  Free scholarship search information is available at cashe.com and Fastweb.com.  Free SAT preparation activities are also online at collegeboard.com.

SAT PREP BEFORE SCHOOL FOR JUNIORS AND SENIORS  Ms. Ng, a math teacher at SPHS,  offers SAT preparation classes before school throughout the year.  She will guide the students through the Official SAT Online Course produced by the test publisher, The College Board.  For more information, please contact her at cng@bcps.org.

FEE WAIVERS AVAILABLE FOR SAT, ACT AND COLLEGE APPLICATIONS  Students who qualify for the free lunch are entitled to fee waivers for the college admissions tests and many college application fees.  We receive a limited amount every year and they are distributed on a first-come basis.  Stop by and see a counselor for more details.

ACT, SAT OR PLACEMENT TEST?  If a junior has successfully completed Algebra II and is currently enrolled in Geometry, the SAT is recommended.  Otherwise, we recommend the ACT.  Students who take the SAT should do so in May or June of junior year and October or November of senior year.  If a higher score is desired, it can also be taken in December and January of senior year. The January date in the senior year is the last one that is considered by most colleges for fall admissions.  And please note that only students applying to four-year colleges and universities will need the SAT or ACT.  Students planning to attend two-year schools can opt to take a placement test at the school.  The ACT costs around $30 and SAT costs around $42 while the placement tests are much less, if not free.

GUARANTEED ACCESS GRANT applications are available at www.mhec.state.md.us.  If you qualify for a free lunch and have a 2.5 GPA in the college prep curriculum or a career/tech prep program, the state of MD may give you $14,000 per year to go to school in the state of MD through the Guaranteed Access Grant.  You must submit the application and the FAFSA by March 1, 2009 to be guaranteed money; applications received after March 1 are funded if money is still available.