SENIORS OF 2021 - Baton Rouge Magnet High School

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SENIORS OF 2021 - Baton Rouge Magnet High School
SENIORS OF 2021
Baton Rouge Magnet High School
August 10, 2020-May 17, 2021
WELCOME TO SENIOR YEAR AT BRMHS
Congratulations on making it to your senior year at Baton Rouge Magnet High School!
I am so proud of you and I am looking forward to seeing your progress throughout your
senior year. College is right around the corner and it is okay to be scared about the next
chapter of your lives. Many of us do not know what to expect senior year and even
more so this year. Please know that the BRMHS faculty and staff are always here for
you, so feel free to reach out to any of us if you need help. We are all in this together!

To get started, you may want to ask yourself the following questions: What remaining
graduation requirements do I need to meet this year? What college-level skills should I
work on or improve this year? How can I begin transitioning from high school to
college? Where do I see myself in 5 years?

What you need to know about this packet:
Parents and students will find this senior packet helpful as it contains information
needed through senior year and it is to be used as a reference. It is still your
responsibility to check for updates and current information. Information will
always be posted in Google Classroom, Remind, and SCOIR. When you have read the
entire packet, the form at the end of the packet must be filled out and submitted to Ms.
Levet.
SENIORS OF 2021 - Baton Rouge Magnet High School
TABLE OF CONTENTS
             Senior Counselor Information                3
                       Senior FYI                        4
                  Dates to Remember                      5
         Graduation Requirements/Audit Forms           6-8
                          SCOIR                       9-11
                   Selecting a College                  12
                  College Visits/Tours                  13
            ACT/SAT Test Dates & Deadlines              14
                Scholarship Information              15-17
    Scholarship Request Information & Request Form   18-19
            College Visits by Reps at BRMHS             20
                      CommonApp                         21
             TOPS and LOSFA Information              22-24
                          FAFSA                         25
               Teacher Recommendation                   26
                      MUST READ                         27
                 References-Quick Links                 28
           FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS                29-31

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SENIORS OF 2021 - Baton Rouge Magnet High School
SENIOR COUNSELOR

                        Ms. Levet, M.Ed, PLPC, NCC
                                elevet@ebrschools.org
                            Office Phone: (225)-344-1090

                    GOOGLE CLASSROOM CODE: bcqjrlt
    I will be posting important information throughout the school year on Google
                            Classroom. Please join ASAP.

                            Remind Codes by Last Name:
                                  A-G = @agbrmhs
                                  H-N = @hnbrmhs
                                  O-Z = @ozbrmhs
                To sign up by text message, text your code to 81010.

Confidentiality Guidelines: Schools should always be a safe environment for students.
Strict confidentiality is maintained except when there is imminent personal danger or a
threat to others.

    ***STUDENTS, please invite your parents to your SCOIR account and Google
                               Classroom account! ***

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SENIORS OF 2021 - Baton Rouge Magnet High School
SENIOR FYI
       All high school graduates must complete the FAFSA in order to graduate by February 15, 2021.
        studentaid.gov
       CSS Profile-An Institutional Aid Application where social security numbers are not required.
        Supports international and undocumented students. CSS Profile is used to provide students who
        truly need financial aid and in a fair and equitable manner. Application starts October 1 and the
        deadline. Cssprofile.org. Check to see if your college requires the CSS Profile.
       Parents are encouraged to use the Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) when filling out FAFSA, especially
        in case you are chosen for verification where you have to provide documentation to every
        school that an application was sent.
       Intent to Graduate form due August 15th.
       Seniors are encouraged to apply to their first five choices of college.
       Take the ACT on April or before to qualify for TOPS.
       Turn in any and all scholarship award letters to Ms. Levet electronically here:
        https://forms.gle/fbsav1huPebXbVAt8
       Don’t hesitate to come and ask questions. We are here to help!
       Check and recheck graduation requirements and TOPS requirements. Visit
        https://www.louisianabelieves.com/ for graduation requirements and
        https://www.osfa.state.la.us/ for TOPS information.
       Don’t wait until last minute to apply to colleges and for scholarships!
       You must give Ms. Levet a 30-day notice and teachers a 60-day notice of a letter of
        recommendation being due. If you do not give the required notice, the letter is not guaranteed.
        Students who turn theirs in with proper notice are priority.
       Counselor Letter of Recommendation Request Form:
        https://forms.gle/G7xQAqwX1XzkJAzRA
       Transcript Request Form: https://forms.gle/29ARM3cSMf2NEysa7
       Use SCOIR to request all letters of recommendation.
       You are required to utilize SCOIR so that Ms. Levet knows that you need documentation sent
        to that college or university. Common App is for your college APPLICATIONS, and SCOIR is for
        the research, letters of request, and other required documentation to be sent to the colleges.
       BRMHS Course Directory can be found here: https://brmhs.com/wp-
        content/uploads/2019/01/BRMHS-19-20-Course-Directory.pdf
       Research Scholarships based on your college major. (e.g., Google: Scholarships for freshmen
        Engineers, Scholarships for female freshmen Engineers, etc.).
       Teacher emails can be found at https://brmhs.com/
       Application fee waivers are not accepted by every college. Reach out to that college to see what
        kind of help they can provide you.

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SENIORS OF 2021 - Baton Rouge Magnet High School
DATES TO REMEMBER
AUGUST
06-First day of school
15-Intent to Graduate Form Due

SEPTEMBER
07-Labor Day

OCTOBER
01 – First day students can complete the 2021-2022 FAFSA using 2019 Tax Information & CSS Profile
12-13- Fall Break

NOVEMBER
03-Election Day
23-27-Thanksgiving Holiday

DECEMBER
12-31-Winter Break

JANUARY
01-04-Winter Break
05-Beginning of Second Semester

FEBRUARY
12-FAFSA DUE You are required to forward submission email to Ms. Levet
15-17-Mardi Gras Holiday

MARCH
09-ACT Testing Date

APRIL
02-09-Good Friday and Spring Break
04 – Last national ACT test to qualify for full TOPS

MAY
01 – All scholarship documentation is due to Ms. Levet via form. Any scholarship not turned in will not
be announced at graduation. This includes but not limited to scholarships from colleges. Contact Ms.
Levet for the form.
03-14-AP Testing
07-Last Day for Seniors
17- GRADUATION

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SENIORS OF 2021 - Baton Rouge Magnet High School
GRADUATION
     REQUIREMENTS/TRANSCRIPT AUDIT
                 FORM

     Students must have a total of 24 credits to graduate. Please see page 8 to
       determine if you have all of your classes necessary to graduate. If you do not
       have all courses to graduate and you are not currently enrolled in the
       classes, see Ms. Levet ASAP.
     Check your transcript for personal information. ALL information must be
       correct [name, social security number, address, birthday, current grade].

                        *****************************************************
       To see if a course you have taken already or are enrolled in counts as
                  a required credit towards graduation, please visit:
         https://www.louisianabelieves.com/courses/graduation-requirements
              Course codes on this site have to match the S-Code on your transcript.
                        *****************************************************

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SENIORS OF 2021 - Baton Rouge Magnet High School
TOPS UNIVERSITY GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
    SUBJECTS         # UNITS                            COURSES
                           1 English I or English I (H)

                           1 English II or English II (H)

     English               1 English III, AP English Language Arts and Composition

                           1 English IV, AP English Literature and Composition
                           1 Algebra I

                           1 Geometry
  Mathematics
                           1 Algebra II

                           1 Calculus (H), Discrete Math (H), Advanced Math, AP Calculus
                             AB, AP Calculus BC, [See course catalog for more options]
                           1 Biology I or Biology I (H)

                           1 Chemistry I or Chemistry I (H)
     Science
                           2 AP Environmental Science, Physical Science, AP Chemistry
                             II/Lab, AP Biology II/Biology II Lab [See course catalog for
                             more options]
                           1 US History or AP US History

  Social Studies           1 AP Government & Politics

                            2 AP European History, AP World History, AP Human
                              Geography, World Geography [See course catalog for more
                              options]
   Health and             0.5 Health Education
Physical Education
                          1.5 Physical Education I & II
        Art                 1 Art, Music, Theatre, Fine Arts Survey, Drafting, Media Arts,
                              [See course catalog for more options]
    Electives               3 Three electives are required. If you have taken more than
                              the required amount of any subject, the rest can be counted
                              as an elective.
   Total Units:           24

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SENIORS OF 2021 - Baton Rouge Magnet High School
Transcript Audit Form
 Course Name                                Units           (Sem.1 )    (Sem. 2)     Notes
                                               English (4 Units)
 English I                                  1
 English II                                 1
 English III (                    )         1
 English IV (                      )        1
                                           Social Studies (4 Units)
 U.S. History ( AP US HISTORY     )         1
 Civics (1 unit) ( AP GOVERNMENT )          1
 Social Studies (                 )         1
 Social Studies (                 )         1
                                                Math (4 Units)
 Algebra I                                  1
 Geometry                                   1
 Algebra II                                 1
 Math (                           )         1
                                               Science (4 Units)
 Biology                                    1
 Chemistry                                  1
 Science (                        )         1
 Science (                        )         1
                            Foreign Language (2 units in the same language) (2 Units)
 FL (                           )           1
 FL (                           )           1
                                                  Art (1 Unit)
 Art (                            )         1
  Health (½ Unit), PE I (1 Unit) and PE II (½ Unit) (2 Total) or ROTC I (1 Unit) and ROTC II (1 Unit) (2 Total)
 Health (½ Unit)                                .5
 PE I (1 Unit)                                   1
 PE II (½ Unit)                                 .5
 ROTC I (1 Unit)                                 1
 ROTC II (1 Unit)                                1
                                                  Electives (3 Units)
 Elective (                          )          1
 Elective (                          )          1
 Elective (                          )          1
                 Completion of LEAP 2025/EOC (1 English, 1 Math, 1 Science or 1 Social Studies Needed)
                              Name of Test      Score or      LEAP        EOC
                                                Exemption 2025
 English
 (                       )
 Math
 (                       )
 Science/Social Studies
 (                      )

Total Credits:      /24                                               Cumulative GPA:

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SENIORS OF 2021 - Baton Rouge Magnet High School
SCOIR

        Baton Rouge Magnet High School is pleased to announce that we have implemented a new
college guidance management system called SCOIR.
(pronounced “score”). This new, modern online system will streamline the process of requesting,
processing, sending and tracking the electronic
delivery of all application-related documents. More importantly, it’s much more helpful for students
and parents during the college search and
selection process.
        On SCOIR, colleges come to life through pictures, videos and links that highlight active student
clubs and organizations. This better enables students to identify colleges that are a good fit with their
personal and academic interests, which increases college retention. SCOIR also provides parents with
useful financial calculators so you can determine the likely cost of attendance at different colleges and
consider the affordability when deciding where to apply. These features, along with more convenient
scheduling and communication tools, will help keep everyone informed and engaged throughout the
college application process. SCOIR exists to help more students achieve more positive outcomes, and
we’re excited that our students have access to this system and the opportunities it provides.

Website: https://scoir.com
Video Instructions: https://vimeo.com/327074907
Help: https://scoir.helpdocs.io/
Parent invite? https://forms.gle/RaPEMxziTZfhUJAp6

FERPA: WAIVE YOUR RIGHTS
Please know that it is best practice to waive your rights and it is something that colleges EXPECT. They
expect teachers and counselors to be able to send unbiased information. When you don't waive your rights it
looks like you do not trust the people who you asked for recommendation from. You MUST waive/not waive
your rights on every platform (Scoir, Common App, College Portals). If you choose NOT to waive your
rights, you are required to reach out to myself and any person you ask for a letter of recommendation
from to let them know.

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THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH SCOIR:

        o Create a Profile (Personal and Academic Information found here)
        o Export Resume based on your personal profile information
        o YouScience career assessment
        o College Preferences
  View Dashboard (overview of college application process)
  View Calendar and upcoming College Visits
  College Research (Based on interest in your career profile)
        o Searches can be filtered based on must have, nice to have, and no thanks
            and changed at any time
        o Separate searches can be done through an advanced search
        o Private searches can be done but will not be saved
        o Compare up to 4 colleges at once using college compare tool
        o Follow schools, see college details (overview, wall, analysis)
        o Virtual campus tours, admission statistics, student life details by current
            students, academic information (e.g., field of study), cost, financial aid
            data, location and transportation.
        o College Wall: content curated by SCOIR of clubs, activities, athletics
        o Search #hashtags to view the same information at other schools that may
            not have been on your radar
  Messages with Parent and Counselor
  Complete Surveys assigned to you
  Manage college applications; suggested (by counselor or parent), following,
     applying, applied (YOU ARE REQUIRED TO UTILIZE THIS FOR MS. LEVET TO
     KNOW WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE NEEDED FOR YOUR APPLICATIONS no
     matter which platform you use for your application (e.g., Common App,
     Coalition.)
  Request letters of recommendation from teachers and check LOR status.
  Invite your parents to SCOIR (Parents, before filling out the request form to be
     invited, please ask your child to invite you first. You will receive an invite email
     from SCOIR to sign up once you are invited. Check spam folder of Junk Mail if you
     do not see it.)

10
YOUSCIENCE

YouScience is an online career and personal planning discovery tool that enables teens
to identify their potential aptitudes and careers. The tool engages students in a series
of online exercises to help them identify their natural abilities, refine their specific
areas of interest, and explore career opportunities that are aligned with their interests
and aptitudes.

YouScience is free on SCOIR, and will be located in their profile. It takes approximately
2 hours to complete and it does not have to be completed in one sitting. Their progress
can be saved and returned to at a later time. Not only does it do career matching, but it
provides language to help build resumes, saves careers in their profile, and plugs in
associated majors in preferences.

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SELECTING A COLLEGE
Use SCOIR to do your college research. Based on your profile must haves, nice to have,
and no thanks, you will be able to narrow down your college search. Edit your filters to
help you in your search for the colleges you wish to attend.

It is always suggested to apply to at least 4-5 colleges. Generally, we recommend
applying to target schools, safety schools, and reach schools.

    Target Schools – are school where your GPA and test scores are solidly within
     the average scores of recently admitted students.
    Safety Schools – are schools where your GPA and some or all of your test scores
     are within known acceptance scores.
    Reach Schools – are schools where your GPA and/or some of your test scores
     are below the average scores of recently admitted students. Please note that due
     to their low admissions rates, the most highly selective colleges should always be
     considered reach schools.
Most admission decisions in out of state and private schools are holistic and will
include a review of your GPA, transcript, test scores, essays, extracurricular activities,
recommendations and honors, but academic grades and test scores are often of
primary importance (some schools are test-optional, test blind, or test flexible).
Holistic views consider special talents or abilities, unique life experiences, legacy
connection, etc. Colleges do not only care about your grades, but your character and
what you can bring to their college campus. How involved are you?

OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK HANDBOOK [OOH]

To discover jobs of interests using filters for median pay, level of education, job
training, projected growth rate, etc., visit OOH.

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/

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COLLEGE VISITS

We always encourage students to visit colleges or universities when possible. Visiting
colleges can help in your application decision. A good time to tour a college or
university campus is during school holiday’s in which colleges are still open and in
session. Visiting a campus while school is not in session will give you a different feel as
compared to when it is in session. Imagine walking into BRMHS during the summer
versus while school is in session. You cannot get a true feel to what that campus life is
like when school is not in session.

We know that it is not possible to do in-person tours to every college or university you
may be interested in. SCOIR has teamed up with YouVisit and now offers more than
600 college and university immersive virtual campus tours.
https://www.youvisit.com/collegesearch/

Contact Admissions/Recruiting Officers of any college or universities to set up a tour.
Inquire about any preview days that they may have as well. You may also ask if you are
able to sit in any classes that are in session.

Most colleges that are not 100% virtual will not be returning for in person classes
after Thanksgiving.

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ACT/SAT INFORMATION
        ACT Test Date            Registration Deadline       (Late Fee Required)
       September 12, 2020
   September 13, 2020 (Sunday)
       September 19, 2020               August 14              August 15-August 28

         October 10, 2020
         October 17, 2020
         October 24, 2020           September 17, 2020          September 18-25
     October 25, 2020 (Sunday)
        December 12, 2020           November 6, 2020             November 7-20
         February 6, 2021            January 8, 2021           January 9-January 15
          April 17, 2021              March 12, 2021              March 13-26
           June 12, 2021               May 7, 2021                  May 8-21
           July 17, 2021              June 18, 2021                June 19-25

                                                            Late Registration
        SAT Test Date            Registration Deadline    Deadline (registered by
                                                          mail or phone/online)
         August 29, 2020               July 31, 2020            August 11 (mailed)
                                                             August 18 (Online/Phone)
        September 26, 2020           August 26, 2020       September 15 (online/phone)
          October 3, 2020           September 4, 2020          September 15 (mail)
                                                           September 22 (online/phone)
        November 7, 2020             October 7, 2020             October 20 (mail)
                                                            October 27 (online/phone)
         December 5, 2020           November 5, 2020           November 17 (mail)
                                                           November 24 (online/phone)
          March 13, 2021            February 12, 2021           February 23 (mail)
                                                              March 2 (online/phone)
           May 8, 2021                 April 8, 2021              April 20 (mail)
                                                              April 27 (online/phone)
           June 5, 2021                May 6, 2021                 May 18 (mail)
                                                              May 26 (online/phone)

ACT Test Dates & Deadlines: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-
services/the-act/registration.html#dates

SAT Test Dates & Deadlines:
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/dates-deadlines

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SCHOLARSHIPS
This is a GUIDE to scholarships that have been offered in years past. It is not an
extensive list and some may not be available this school year. Please see the BRMHS
website under ‘Counseling Department’ for a list of 59 free scholarship search
engines. Brmhs.com/59-scholarship-search-engines-2/

Don’t forget to search for scholarships offered by the college that you will be attending.

Search Sites:

https://www.asklela.org/

https://www.osfa.la.gov/

https://www.collegegreenlight.com/

https://www.careeronestop.org/

https://scholarships.com/

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search

https://www.uniqo.com/scholarships#/fromscholarshipexperts

https://www.salliemae.com/college-planning/college-scholarships/

https://www.cappex.com/blog/

Louisiana Scholarships:

https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarships-by-
state/louisiana-scholarships/

https://www.collegescholarships.com/local/Louisiana-scholarships?/local/Louisiana-
scholarships

https://www.careercompassla.org/scholarships/

15
NATIONAL OR STATE SCHOLARSHIPS
WHATLEY Scholarship              https://www.brafscholarships.org/whatley
(SPECIFIC TO BRMHS
STUDENTS)
ACT College Readiness                       www.act.org/readinesschampions

AES Engineering                       https://www.aesengineers.com/scholarships.php
Affordable Colleges Online –    https://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-
Prestige Scholarships for                      center/prestige-scholarships/
College
Athletics                                     http://www.bigsunathletics.com/
Aveda                                  https://avedainstitutessouth.edu/lps/catwalk/
BEST BUY                       http://www.collegescholarships.org/scholarships/companies/
                                                       best-buy.htm
Burger King                    http://www.bkmclamorefoundation.org/WhatWeDo/Scholars
                                                          Program
Burger King Scholars                    https://bkmclamorefoundation.org/who-we-
                                 are/programs/burger-king-scholars-program/application-
                                                       information/
Coca-Cola                               http://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org
Daughters of the American            https://www.dar.org/national-society/scholarships
Revolution Scholarships
Dell Scholars                             https://www.dellscholars.org/faq/
Dudley DeBosier Injury          https://www.dudleydebosier.com/ddb-does-right/college-
Lawyers                                              scholarship/
Foundation for Individual                         http://thefire.org/
Rights in Education (FIRE)
Gates Millennium Scholar                          https://gmsp.org/
GoodCall Scholarship Search          https://www.goodcall.com/scholarships/search/
(Native American, Native
Hawaiian, Alaskan Native)
Gotta Have Sole                       https://www.gottahavesole.org/scholarships
Grambling University                Send resume’ with GPA, ACT and course of study to
                                              cjprudhomme@centrutel.net
Hagan Scholarship Foundation              https://www.haganscholarships.org/

Life Happens Students of           http://www.lifehappens.org/life-lessons-scholarship-
deceased parents                                       program/

Marine Corps Scholarship
Foundation                                    https://www.mcsf.org/apply/

       16
McNeese Horatio Alger –                        https://horatioalger.mcneese.edu/
Willian Dore’
National Association for the              https://naehcy.org/naehcy-scholarship-fund/
Education of Homeless
Children and Youth
(Undocumented Students can
apply)
Neblett, Beard & Arsenault           https://www.nbalawfirm.com/2016-scholarship-essay-
                                                          contest/

OEDb.org – Scholarships for                 https://oedb.org/scholarships/women/
Women
Prudential Spirit of Community                      http://www.nassp.org
Awards
Ronald Reagan Presidential          https://www.reaganfoundation.org/education/students/
Foundation and Institute
Taco Bell                                     https://www.tacobellfoundation.org
The Online Guide to                           https://www.blackscholarships.org
Scholarships, Financial Aid and
More for African American
Students

Tuck.com – Sleep Scholarships              https://www.tuck.com/sleep-scholarships/
and College Financial Aid Help
Unlimited Cellular                https://www.unlimitedcellular.com/Scholarship_ep_64-1.html
US JCI Senate Foundation                 http://www.usjcisenate.org/scholarship-program
Scholly Back to School            https://myscholly.com/backtoschool?utm_source=drip&utm_m
Scholarship $2,000                     edium=email&utm_campaign=b2s&utm_content=b2s-
                                             scholarship&__s=yef1rwt1p9vhdbduks0g
What Do You Meme? $30,000         https://myscholly.com/whatdoyoumeme/?utm_source=drip&u
For all BIPOC Students            tm_medium=email&utm_campaign=b2s&utm_content=scholars
                                                 hips&__s=yef1rwt1p9vhdbduks0g
Bryce Thompson $100,000           https://myscholly.com/hbcu/?utm_source=drip&utm_medium
HBCU Scholarship                      =email&utm_campaign=b2s&utm_content=scholarships

       17
SCHOLARSHIP REQUEST INFORMATION &
          REQUEST FORM

  The request form below must be filled out for all scholarships. A copy goes to
     the teacher you are requesting a letter from and Ms. Levet.
  If a teacher letter of recommendation is required along with other
     documentation to be sent in by Ms. Levet, you must fill out the form for the
     teacher and Ms. Levet.
  It must be noted on Ms. Levet’s copy which teacher is writing a letter of
     recommendation for her to retrieve that letter in order to send the packet in
     together.
  Ms. Levet and teachers must have at least a 30-day notice of needing any
     documentation or letter of recommendation for this scholarship.
  If you give less than a 30-day notice, a letter is not guaranteed.
  If you are 100% virtual, it must be completed online and e-mailed with the same
     advanced notice.

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SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORTING INFORMATION REQUEST FORM
Student Name (information being requested about): _______________________________________
Faculty Name (information being requested from): _______________________________________

Scholarship Name: _____________________________________________________________________________
Scholarship Due Date: ______________________________________
List all documents necessary for this scholarship from Ms. Levet (transcript, letter
of recommendation, etc):
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Supporting information requested will be sent in via:
______ Email:
        *please provide email address here _____________________________________________
______ Fax:
       *please provide fax number here _____________________________________
______ Online Link:
       *please indicate date when link was provided to teacher/counselor
       ________________________

______ Mail * Please provide address in PRINT:
       ____________________________________________________

       ____________________________________________________

       ____________________________________________________

       **All paper transcripts cost $1.00.
       **You must provide a stamped envelope with this application form

Please indicate any other teachers/staff/counselors that are also providing information
for this scholarship application: _______________________________________________________________.
**If requesting a letter of recommendation, please provide a copy of the resume and addendum
you’ve created in English IV**

Signature: ___________________________________________ Date: ___________________________________

Completed Date: ______________________________ Completed By:          ______________________________

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COLLEGE VISITS AT BRMHS
     Due to COVID-19, the requests for colleges to visit BRMHS is still virtual:

     VIRTUAL STUDENTS:
         You will sign up to attend the college visits through SCOIR and you will see
           them on your profile in the “Upcoming Visit and Office Hours” section
           located under the “Visits and Deadlines” box. Simply click on the College
           Visit you would like to attend and it should register you.
         You do not need a permission/excuse slip if you are working virtually. It
           is your responsibility to notify your teacher if you will be in class
           during a virtual visit and ask for permission directly.

     IN-PERSON STUDENTS:
         You will sign up to attend the college visits through SCOIR and you will see
           them on your profile in the “Upcoming Visit and Office Hours” section
           located under the “Visits and Deadlines” box. Simply click on the College
           Visit you would like to attend and it should register you.
         After signing up on SCOIR to attend the college visit, you must visit the
           Counseling Department to receive your permission slip on the morning
           of the visit. You may not sign-up for the meeting the morning of. If there is
           no excuse slip printed out for you, you cannot attend.
         Permission slips MUST be signed by the teacher of the class you will be
           missing time from and given to Ms. Levet upon arrival in the career
           resource room.
         Students without signatures must return back to class.
         PLEASE bring your headphones and a CHARGED Chromebook.
         We will be meeting in the auditorium for the virtual meetings on campus.
     These rules are subject to change pending government orders due to COVID19.

20
COMMON APP

Common App will be used as the application process ONLY. You will sign up using your personal email.
As a reminder, create a personal e-mail or use the email you currently have that you will use and be
sure that it is a professional email. (e.g., katsmith@gmail.com).
Common App and SCOIR are not currently integrated. This means that you are required to utilize
SCOIR for Ms. Levet to know that you need documents sent to a college or university whether you use
common app or the universities’ website.
Once you add a college to your “My College” list through the search on Common App, it will provide you
with information as far as deadlines, application information, test policy, recommendations, writing
requirements, etc. for that college. You will need to fill out the information on all of the tabs to
complete the application.

Create an account: https://apply.commonapp.org/createaccount

Process for Applying to College:
1. Start your research on Scoir & Narrow down your list.
2. Decide on where you will apply and start your application on Common App or University Portals
3. Add the college that you are applying to under "applying" on Scoir to notify Ms. Levet that you need
documentation sent to that school.
4. Submit application and determine requirements: how many letters of recommendation do you need?
5. Request the letters of recommendation if required. (One teacher's letter goes to ALL schools and only
request if required)
6. Submit application & add that college under "applied" on Scoir.
**Remember, documentation for applications finalize your application. If you do not utilize Scoir, I will
not know to send the documentation to that school. Common App holds your application and Scoir is
what sends over your documentation.**

FERPA: WAIVE YOUR RIGHTS
Please know that it is best practice to waive your rights and it is something that colleges EXPECT. They
expect teachers and counselors to be able to send unbiased information. When you don't waive your rights it
looks like you do not trust the people who you asked for recommendation from. You MUST waive/not waive
your rights on every platform (Scoir, Common App, College Portals). If you choose NOT to waive your rights,
you are required to reach out to myself and any person you ask for a letter of recommendation from to let
them know.

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TOPS/LOSFA
LOSFA’s Student Hub you more options for tracking your award eligibility and status, and to provide you
with easier account maintenance features. However, because of these new features, your existing Award
System login is not compatible with the Student Hub. You will need to register for a Student Hub account to
take advantage of:

       login recovery options,
       "TOPS Tracker" reports to monitor your award eligibility and status,
       easier access to "Opt Out",
       and more.

Click here for the Student Hub Registration/Login screen. To register, click the "Register" link then click the
"Student" button on the next page, where you can start the registration process with either your LOSFA ID
(LOSFAID) or your Louisiana Secure ID (SASID located on your transcript).

When registering under LASECID, you will also need your first and last name, your birthdate, and the high school
you attended. If you do not know your Louisiana Secure ID, contact your school counselor.

When registering under LOSFAID, you will also need your first name, your last name, and your birthdate. Your
LOSFAID can be found on emails or letters we have previously sent you or that you may have downloaded from
the Award System or from your previous Award System login. LOSFA will also be emailing you your LOSFA ID to
the email address we have on record.

Please note that the "I FORGOT MY LOGIN NAME" and "I FORGOT MY PASSWORD" links will only work with a
Student Hub account, not with a prior Award System account. If you receive a message that an active account
cannot be found under the credentials you've entered, either you registered under different credentials or you
need to register for a Student Hub account.

TOPS Q&A: https://www.osfa.la.gov/MainSitePDFs/QualifyingforTOPS_QnA.pdf

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FINANCIAL AID [FAFSA]

You can start your application with FAFSA (https://studentaid.gov/) starting October
1, 2020. Be sure that you are on the correct website if you are using google to search
since fake websites exists. You will be filling out confidential information. When you
create your account, put your username and password in a safe place to remember. It
is recommended that the students fill out their own financial aid or college applications
with parents on standby.

You will need:
      Social Security Number
      Your own mobile phone and/or email address.

It is recommended that students fill out financial aid on their own-accompanied by a
parent.

Helpful FAFSA Information: https://www.fastweb.com/content/fafsa

CSS Profile is for nonfederal student financial aid. It is used by nearly 400 colleges,
universities, professional schools, and scholarship programs to award more than $9
billion in grants. Available October 1, 2020. Supports undocumented and international
students.

CSS Profile Overview: https://learn.collegeboard.org/css-profile-overview/

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TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS
When you are looking for a teacher recommendation, choose a teacher who has taught you
recently and with whom you have a relationship. This teacher should be able to write about
you both as a student and as a person. Not all colleges require a letter of recommendation.
Please check that information before requesting one.
**If you are 100% virtual or your senior teachers do not know you very well, you should
request letters from teachers who you have connected with in the past **

Keep in mind, that writing recommendations is time consuming for your teachers and many
have limits to how many they will write, so ask early. Make sure to request LORs from
teachers through SCOIR at least 60 days in advance or a letter will not be guaranteed.

You will be prompted to add a personal message when requesting a LOR. You must send a
personal letter politely requesting a LOR. Teachers may accept or decline requests. Those who
have turned theirs in with a 60-day notice have priority if you are late.

If a teacher accepts the letter of recommendation request, he or she will ask you to e-mail them
a current copy of your resume and addendum that you have created in English IV. The more
details in your resume and addendum, the better for your recommender.

You must also upload your CURRENT resume and addendum to the files section on
SCOIR for Ms. Levet or a letter is not guaranteed. Allow 30 days for your letter to be
written by Ms. Levet. To request from Ms. Levet:
https://forms.gle/G7xQAqwX1XzkJAzRA

If you add a scholarship letter of recommendation to this list as the year progresses, you
are required to inform your teacher and counselor and provide a scholarship request
form to both your teacher and counselor. (Form on page 19)

After the letter is completed, please write the teacher a note to say thank you, and when you
choose a university, be sure to let them know your decision. If you are rewarded a scholarship,
please let them know that you have been awarded too.

Every college will see the same letter from one teacher. For example, if you apply to 10
colleges and they all require only one letter of recommendation, you only need one
teacher to write one.

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PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM WHEN YOU HAVE
COMPLETELY READ THROUGH THE SENIOR PACKET WITH
        YOUR PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN.

                        https://forms.gle/QUVgEu6a3RZeHGN86

Always check back for additional information that will be highlighted in yellow if it is
new information.

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REFERENCES
1. ACT Information: https://leadershipblog.act.org/2020/06/act-adds-new-fall-2020-
national-test.html?fbclid=IwAR1NaRClWjmHnoXnoX-IRuo3p2EkK1pgy7puJzde1c9y2CIdL9fH-
Q3ha4g

2. BRMHS 59 Free Scholarship Search Engines: Brmhs.com/59-scholarship-search-engines-
2/

3. Coalition for College: https://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/

4. Coalition for College & SCOIR Guidance (MUST READ):
https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/2626201/Coalition%20App%20(SCOIR).pdf?t=1536402822145

5. Common App: https://apply.commonapp.org/createaccount

6. Common App & SCOIR Guidance (MUST READ):
https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/2626201/SCOIR%20Guide%20to%20Completing%20Recommend
ers%20Section%20of%20CommonApp.pdf?t=1536402822145

7. Course Directory: https://brmhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/BRMHS-19-20-
Course-Directory.pdf

8. CSS Profile Help: https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/misc/css-profile/cssprofile-
tutorial/index.html

9. Financial Aid [FAFSA]: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

10. Graduation Requirements: https://www.louisianabelieves.com/

11. Occupational Outlook Handbook: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/

12. Scholarships, Colleges, Financial Aid & More: https://www.fastweb.com/

13. SCOIR Help: https://scoir.helpdocs.io/

14. SCOIR Parent Invite: https://forms.gle/RaPEMxziTZfhUJAp6

15. TOPS Q&A: https://www.osfa.la.gov/MainSitePDFs/QualifyingforTOPS_QnA.pdf

16. Transcript Request Form: https://forms.gle/29ARM3cSMf2NEysa7

17. Virtual College Tours: https://www.youvisit.com/collegesearch/

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
What if I have a deadline for an application but my test scores aren’t in/waiting to take again/etc.?
Reach out to the college that you are applying to and ask if they are fine with late submission. Some are,
some aren’t.

I have to self-report my grades but we have two semesters and they only allow me to put one grade in
for each class. What do I do?
Reach out to admissions to see how they want you to self-report those grades.

When self-reporting my grades, do I go by A,B,C,D,F or numbers?
A,B,C,D,F

What should my application process look like?
1. Do your college research on Scoir and start following colleges you're interested in. Narrow down your
choices. 2. Create a Common App account. 3. Start your application and move it into the 'applying' column on
Scoir. 4. Submit the application and "mark as applied" on Scoir. 5. Request letters of recommendation
through Scoir ONLY if required. 6. Check back to make sure documents have been received by the colleges
you've applied to.

Should I request all of my letters before I apply to colleges?
It is best to request letters after you have started applying and you are 100% certain that you are applying to
that college. This is the only way that you know what you are required to ask for.

I want to take the ACT again so I am not sure when I should apply. When do you think I should apply?
Reach out to the college that you are applying to. Sometimes they are okay with scores coming in late. It
really depends on the college.

COMMON APP QUESTIONS:
What is my final grade when self-reporting grades on Common App?
When you are self-reporting your transcript on Common App, you will select a grading scale of A-F,
Semesters, and only fill out the column for Semester 1 and Semester 2. Final Grade and Credit columns
should not be filled out.

What is our approximate class size? 335

What is class rank reporting? We do not rank.

What is GPA Scale Reporting? You should put that we are on a 4.0 grading scale: Under the Common App
tab>Education>Grades>GPA Scale Reporting =4>Enter in your cumulative GPA> Weighted

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How do I self-report my middle school grades that count as high school credit?
https://appsupport.commonapp.org/applicantsupport/s/article/How-do-I-report-courses-taken-outside-of-my-
secondary-school-s-courses

SCOIR QUESTIONS:
OH NO! Scoir says that my documentation was delievered but my portal for my school says they
have not received it!
Please allow 14 days from the date of delivery on Scoir for the college to process documentation. Nothing is
instant. Please see my admission process PDF on google classroom for a better understanding of
documentation being received at colleges.

How do I see if my teachers have written my letter for me on Scoir?
Go to my colleges>application documents>created or requested. You will also receive an email.

Do I need to add my common app ID/Coalition App ID/College Website app ID on Scoir?
YES. Make sure as much information as possible is correct in your profile to match your documentation to
your application.

Can I request a letter from you on Scoir?
No, Counselor letters are requested via google form in senior packet.

Can I see whether or not you sent my documents to the university I'm applying to?
Yes. You will not see it on Common App, but you can see it on Scoir. Go to My Colleges>view the applying
OR applied columns (doesn't work for just "following")>click on a school of your choice>scroll down to
application document status>you can see what is required from your counselor and if/when it was sent.

How do I sign up for a college rep visit at BRMHS?
Go to Scoir>Click on profile icon at the top right of the page>click on events & deadlines>list of college visits
will show up>click "Count Me In" and you will be registered for the visit. See senior packet for attending the
visits/permission slips.

How do I download my fee waiver?
My colleges -> Application Documents -> Fee Waiver -> Download Fee Waiver

BLACK COMMON APP QUESTIONS:
Should I add all of the colleges on Black Common App on Scoir?
No, I will upload your transcript directly onto Black Common App.

SCHOOL QUESTIONS:

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When can I opt back into face to face when I am virtual? November 16, January 5, February 8, March 8,
April 12. You can always opt for virtual at any time.

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