Hello Twin Peaks High School families,
Can you believe it’s already November? If you’re a senior, Thanksgiving Break should be the time to complete any last-minute college applications. Here are some more tips!
All Community
Are you an adult community member who would be interested in sharing your career experience with high school students? Sign up here! Career Presentations begin in December and continue throughout the winter.
Career days begin in December. Parents, asking your student what he thought of the presentation can be a great way to start a conversation about planning for the future. Students, take some time to brainstorm questions for our guests.
Are you a first generation student? (That means neither of your parents received a bachelor’s degree in the United States.) You could be a great candidate for CU Boulder's Precollegiate Development Program. Twin Peaks has partnered with CU Boulder to support first-generation students prepare for college. Students and their families attend presentations two Saturdays a year about preparing for college. Then, in the summer between your junior and senior years, you will spend three weeks on the CU Boulder campus taking a college class and completing your college application. Students who complete the program receive a scholarship of at least $4000. And the whole program is free!
Here is the High School application in English
Here is the High School application in Spanish.
The application is due November 10th. I think this could be very helpful as you prepare for college. If you think you might qualify or you have questions about the program, please email me at cook_rachel@svvsd.org or set up a meeting.
This program is open to Twin Peaks students in 7th-11th grade.
We had a great time at our college visits in October. This month, we will be using Scoir to discover different career options. What types of careers interest you? What are some ways to get there?
100 Brave/Interesting Questions + NYT Writing Prompts for Students: It can be great to start keeping a journal as a high school student. It can give you a clearer idea of what you care about and what careers interest you—here are some questions for inspiration.
Feeling like you’re falling behind in a class? Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and the sooner, the better. Check in with your teacher. Contact a peer tutor from the Logos Club. Mr. Bernard can help connect you with a tutor (and I can, too!)
Are you interested in jobs in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology? The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) at Colorado School of Mines invites students at Twin Peaks Charter Academy: High School to attend our annual Girls Lead the Way Conference — a full-day event designed to introduce high school students (grades 9–12) to STEM, engineering and applied science at Mines. Cost: $35. Date: Saturday, February 7th. Use the link to register!
9th Grade
Could your high school grades be worth $100k? If you’re wondering whether your freshman year grades matter (yes, they do), then read this article to learn more about merit-based financial aid.
10th Grade
10th and 11th grade students are receiving their PSAT scores this week. We are spending some time in seminar to discuss what the numbers mean and how the SAT can help students make college plans. Here’s my slideshow about the PSAT.
Predicting your SAT score based on your PSAT/NMSQT score.
Big Future College search use your predicted SAT score to find colleges that might be a good fit for you
Values Exercise (video): Use your priority values to guide your extracurricular choices. This is a great time to deepen your involvement in the clubs/teams/jobs that excite you— maybe take on a leadership role. Or sign up for a new club? Or start your own?
Tips for Planning a College Visit: Make a commitment to visit one local college between now and the end of the school year. (CU Boulder could be a great choice!) That experience can be a great reference point as you begin to figure out what you’re looking for in a school. And some schools offer incentive grants if you visit campus, either in person or virtually.
Start thinking about financial fit: As you begin your college search, it’s important to think about cost. Experiment with the Net Price Calculator to get a rough estimate of what you might pay for college, and start the conversation with your parents or guardians.
11th Grade
10th and 11th grade students are receiving their PSAT/NMSQT scores in November. We are spending some time in seminar to discuss what the numbers mean and how the SAT can help students make college plans. Here’s my slideshow about the PSAT.
Predicting your SAT score based on your PSAT/NMSQT score.
Big Future College search use your predicted SAT score to find colleges that might be a good fit for you
Here are some tips for creating your college list
Resources for specific student populations:
ScholarMatcher: Awesome search tool for low-income/first gen students
I’m First: Guide for first-generation college students and their families
Women’s colleges: Seven reasons you should consider a single-sex school
American Indian College Fund: List and descriptions of tribal colleges and universities
AICAD: List of 42 colleges of art and design that allows you to search by major and by region
Books I have in my office that you can check out:
Are you a student with learning differences? I have a wonderful book called the K & W Guide to Colleges
Looking for a college that will push you to grow? Colleges That Change Lives by Loren Pope
The Truth about College Admissions by Brennan Barnard
Lay the groundwork for fee waivers: Have you filled out the free/reduced lunch form? While all students receive a free lunch in Colorado, eligible families can fill out this form to receive free retakes of the SAT, lower AP test costs, and free college applications. This simple step can save you hundreds of dollars.
12th Grade
Interested in scholarships? We will be using seminar time to apply for local and national scholarships.
Our school goal is to have all of your applications submitted by the end of Thanksgiving Break. This gives you the best shot at financial aid, scholarships, and rolling admissions. Keep going, and feel free to reach out to your seminar teachers or Ms. Cook for help!
FAFSA is still scheduled to become available in December, so keep an eye out to start filling out the form.
Supplemental essay responses: This is your go-to guide when applying to colleges that require more than a personal statement.
Check your applicant portals and emails: Portals are the place where colleges keep applicant information and where you can update contact information, monitor application status, upload and track documents, and view the final admission decision. If you miss a request for more information or a document, it could jeopardize your admission chances, so make it a habit to check regularly.
The Great College Essay Test: Assess how ready your essays are to submit.
Keep going with your studies!
Cheers,
Ms. Cook