BIRDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL



BIRDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

Senior Information 20/21

School number: (817) 547-8000

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Counselors are assigned by the first letter of the student’s last name:

Counselors are by the first letter of the student’s last name:

Jacqueline Travis A—D ext. 8278

Terri Ramsey E - He (& special ed.) ext. 8023

Debbie Conaway Hi—M ext. 8314

Stephanie Stevenson N – Sh ext. 8044

Cindy Larson Si—Z ext. 8316

Student Assistance Counselors & Crisis Intervention Specialists

Richard Griffin (Last name alpha A – J) ext. 8390

Sara Mellado (Last name alpha K – Z) ext. 8024

Student Support Specialist, Shelby Griffith ext. 8029

Counselor’s Secretary, Danette Johnston ext. 8252

Registrar, Janet Adams (transcripts & records) ext. 8313

Counseling Office Hours: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM

The Birdville High School Code is 445137

Virtual College and Career Night:

College night is NOT just for college bound students anymore. Many organizations with post-high school programs attend including military recruiters, technical schools, two and four-year colleges and universities will be represented.

▪ What: 2020 annual College Night - a chance for students and parents to virtually meet with representatives of higher education institutions

▪ When: October 19th -23rd

▪ Where: ANYWHERE with a device equipped with internet access

▪ 250 colleges and universities around the state and nation!

▪ This year, College Night will be held virtually from the comfort of your home using your favorite internet enabled electronic device.

▪ With hundreds of universities and institutions from around Texas and across the nation constructing “virtual booths” to house YouTube videos, presentations, and opportunities for live chats, College Night will provide a wealth of educational opportunities at the click of a button.

▪ This event promises to offer “one-stop shopping” for all things higher education. Students will learn how to navigate college options during COVID-19 and beyond.

▪ Student registration is open now! Below are the steps to begin the process:

▪ Go to

▪ Select the green Register Here For College Fair button

▪ Select Student/Family Member as Registrant Type

▪ Fill out all the required general information

▪ Accept terms and conditions

TSI TEST

All public two and four-year colleges in Texas require the TSI (Texas Success Initiative) test. Some students are exempt from TSI based on scores obtained on the PSAT, SAT, or ACT. Your counselor will be able to assist you with information on exemptions. The testing organizer at your college will need documentation of your exemptions. Typically, students without exemptions will be required to test during college orientation. Arrangements for testing are set up directly with the college.

COLLEGE ENTRANCE TESTS

Both the SAT and ACT are acceptable to most colleges. You are asked to register online. (There are fee exemptions for SAT and ACT tests for students receiving free or reduced lunches. See your counselor.)

Which test ACT? SAT? ACT is 25% math with reading, writing, and science. SAT is 50% math with critical reading and a writing component. The math level is Algebra 2. Students educated in BISD generally perform higher on ACT. When taking the test there is no disadvantage to guessing on the ACT, BUT do NOT guess on SAT.

PSAT/SAT/ACT Prep Courses are highly encouraged.

Check out: test-prep/sat.

SAT II

Some colleges require students to take the SAT II Tests (i.e. UT, Austin, Rice). These are subject tests given on specific SAT test dates. Check with the college and your intended major to verify whether this is required.

TEXAS COMMON APPLICATION (Public Universities and Colleges)

The common application is used to apply to any four-year public university in Texas and some two-year colleges in Texas. You are encouraged to apply on line at . Keep a paper copy of your submitted application. This website is also helpful for links to all the four-year public universities in Texas. Remember all parts of the application, along with money, must be received at the college or university before your application is processed.

COMMON APPLICATION FOR TEXAS PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES

Many private universities in Texas offer this on-line application for admissions. Keep a paper copy of your application. The website is .

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS QUICK GUIDE

Basic requirements for admission:

➢ Complete the application and email to your college or university and keep a copy for your records

➢ Application fee paid

➢ Official transcript sent to university

➢ Required test scores sent to university directly from testing company

➢ All deadlines met appropriately (admissions application/financial aid application/housing)

There are two ways to be admitted to most four-year universities. One is automatic admission to any Texas university because of ranking in the top 10% or higher of your graduating class (Exception: The University of Texas requirement is Top 6%). The above information must be turned in within the university-specified deadline.

The second way to be admitted is through admissions review. This is how the majority of students are admitted. Students not ranked in the top 10% must complete all the above items as well as submit to the admissions office letters of recommendation from adults (not 18 year old friends and not family members) who know you well, a resume that includes activities, honors, jobs, etc., and an essay. Include in this essay any extenuating circumstances that have caused your grades to be low. Don’t be humble. This is an opportunity to brag on yourself.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Some colleges and scholarships will require teacher and counselor recommendations. Please give teachers and counselors at least two weeks to write letters of recommendation. Attached is a form helpful in writing the most favorable recommendation possible. Please complete this as a request for a recommendation letter. REMEMBER – bad planning on your part does not constitute an emergency for counselors. Counselor’s recommend providing this information to each person writing a recommendation. Fill it out once and make copies.

TRANSCRIPTS will be required for universities and scholarships. An official high school transcript is submitted directly from BHS to your college/university. To have your transcript sent to a college you must go to , set up an account and request your transcript. In addition to needing transcripts for admission, you will also need to send a final transcript at the end of the year to the college you will be attending in the fall (through Parchment). You can view your transcript on your Skyward account under the Student Performance tab, If you require a sealed transcript for a scholarship, contact Janet Adams, Registrar. Do not use your school email account when creating your Parchment account. You will not have access to Parchment with a BHS email after you graduate.

*Please be aware that universities now require test scores for SAT/ACT to come directly through or .

PREVIEW DAYS/COLLEGE VISITS/LUNCH VISITS

Due to COVID, BHS will not be hosting lunch visits. Take the opportunity to preview the many virtual events colleges are holding during this semester!

Check the college’s website for preview days or contact the admissions office to obtain information about a campus visit

NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER

Student athletes wishing to play Division 1, 2, & 3 sports must register for the NCAA clearinghouse on-line. The website is . The cost is $90.00. (There are fee exemptions for students receiving free or reduced lunches. See your counselor.) When you want your transcript sent to NCAA, request through . NCAA now requires test scores to come directly to them from SAT/ACT. Recruiters for Division I and II cannot visit with students without complete clearinghouse information. If you are a senior and just now doing this application, you are behind, do it quickly.

FINANCIAL AID QUICK GUIDE

Types of financial aid available

➢ Grants – Money you do not have to pay back (awarded through college Financial Aid office)

➢ Loans – Money borrowed that must be repaid (with interest)

➢ Work-study – Money earned from work used to help pay for school (also awarded through college Financial Aid office)

➢ Scholarships – Available from many sources – check the senior newsletter, the internet, the local library and the college you plan to attend

➢ BISD/TCC Foundation Scholarship for students attending a BISD school all of your Junior and Senior years of high school

Financial aid eligibility

To be eligible you must

➢ Have financial need

➢ Have a high school diploma or GED

➢ Be enrolled in an eligible program

➢ Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. Students who do not fit these categories should contact the college Financial Aid office for directions and paperwork to apply for aid

➢ Register with Selective Service, if required

➢ Complete forms as required

➢ Make satisfactory academic progress

Financial aid eligibility is the difference between the cost of education and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). A federal formula performs a need analysis to determine the EFC. The cost of education includes tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation and miscellaneous expenses.

Financial Aid:

Opens October 1st! Due to COVID-19, Tarrant County College Financial Aid office will not be holding a FAFSA help evening at BHS. Instead, they are putting together Zoom one-on-one sessions and they will be made available when it is finalized. Here are other options for Financial Aid help:

✓ Attend the Virtual College and Career Night between October 19th-23rd and they will have sessions on financial aid and scholarships

✓ Review FAFSA at

✓ Call 1-800-433-3243, which is the Federal Student Aid Information Center

✓ College Board Financial Aid 101

Financial Aid Tips:

▪ Social Security Number (or Alien Registration Number if you are not a US citizen)

▪ Student’s driver’s license (if applicable)

▪ Tax return for you (and your parents, if applicable) from the prior-prior year. For the 2021-2022 FAFSA, this is your 2019 tax return.

▪ Bank statements, records of investments, and records of untaxed income (such as veteran’s non education benefits and child support)

▪ An FSA ID to electronically sign the form (students and parents will each need their own FSA ID)

▪ You can obtain your FSA ID here.

How to apply for financial aid

1. Parent must complete a (FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The form should be completed on-line at fafsa. beginning Oct 1, 2020. (2019 income tax information should be used.) It is highly recommended the application be completed on-line. FAFSA is needed every year the student attends university.

2. Students will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) after the FAFSA is processed. Information is also sent to the college(s) named on the FAFSA.

3. The student’s selected College Financial Aid Office(s) will send an award letter to the student indicating the types of aid the student is eligible to receive. Compare and contrast Financial Aid awards using amount of loans as a determination.

4. Students should check with the college(s) they expect to attend – additional applications/forms may be required.

SCHOLARSHIPS

The most comprehensive scholarship search website is . Another user-friendly website available to Birdville students is E-Scholarships at . The user ID is birdville and the password is birdville (use all lower case letters). Additional sources of scholarship information are the colleges and the Birdville High School website. Read carefully the eligibility requirements and whether the application must be sent for or the application must be obtained in the counseling office. Contact your college concerning financial aid information, applications, and deadlines. Scholarships for each grade level are updated monthly and placed on Facebook, the BHS Counseling page and BHS Counseling Connection canvas page.

Other sources of information for private scholarships:

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TCC Scholarship Information:

Birdville ISD in partnership with the Tarrant County College Foundation (TCCF) Tarrant County College District (TCCD) have established an endowment scholarship program. Seniors must have attended Birdville ISD schools for both junior and senior years. This partnership will ensure tuition costs up to 15 hours for the first semester of college (excludes summer sessions). Then, students meeting GPA requirements will be eligible for a second and final semester of tuition free attendance, up to 15 hours. You must complete the FAFSA in order to be eligible for the scholarship. Visit the BHS counseling website for more information, criteria, steps to follow and due dates.

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Don’t get scammed. There are organizations collecting money for helping you do scholarship searches. Many even guarantee you money. YOU still have to complete the forms and qualify for the scholarship. Our belief as a counseling department is that you do not need to pay for this service.

Scholarship Awards & Offers. Have you been offered a scholarship? The Counseling Office wants to know and you will be honored in the graduation program for all scholarships. Turn in a copy of any and all scholarship offers to Jacqueline Travis, whether you are accepting the offer or not by completing the Google document:

STAAR/EOC:

There are 5 tests required for graduation. English 1 & 2, Biology, Algebra 1 and US History. Make-up tests begin December 8-11; and April 6-9 tests English 1 & 2, with Biology, Algebra 1 and US History testing May 4-7. Please make note of these dates; more specifics will be available later.

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

Membership in National Honor Society (NHS) is an honor bestowed upon students by the faculty council on behalf of the faculty and administration. Selection is based on scholarship, leadership, character and service. Qualified students in residence all of the semester preceding the selection process shall be considered for membership. For more detailed information please see nhs.us. Student academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility. A list of eligible students shall be posted for one designated week. Students (both juniors and seniors) will be invited to become members of the NHS during the fall. A student must have an accumulative weighted numerical grade average of 92 beginning with the 9th grade to be eligible scholastically. Scholastically eligible students may obtain and complete a Student Activity Information Form as the next step in the selection process. All students desiring consideration for membership shall return the information by the designated deadline. The deadline date can be obtained from Mrs. Douglas in room D106.

STAY CONNECTED:

BHS Counselors will keep you up-to-date on current information. Check out BHS Counselor Connection Canvas Page, Facebook, and Twitter accounts, as well as the Counseling page on the BHS website.

• [pic]Facebook: Look for updates on our Facebook page: Birdville High School

• [pic]Twitter: Follow us on Twitter @Birdville_High

• BHS Counselor Connection Canvas Page

In this day of computer connections, students should carefully guard their computer interactions keeping their pictures, comments, etc. G-rated. Colleges, employers, scholarship committees, etc. now check these sites for student’s appropriate communication. Don’t say or show anything you don’t want EVERYONE to see!

SELECTIVE SERVICE

Men ages 18 through 25 and living in the U.S., regardless of citizenship, must register with Selective Service. It’s the law! You can register on-line at

Important Dates for Seniors:

October 1st: FAFSA opens

Early decision is October 15th

Watch your deadlines for college applications- November 1st and 15th

Complete the 20-21 College application and scholarship form at:

UTA GO Center information:

▪ How to make a meeting with Ms. Biswas

▪ Go to this link:

▪ You will see many times available, pick the time that works best for you

▪ Next it will ask you for your name and email

▪ If all you your information is right, then confirm the meeting

▪ You will then receive a confirmation email, if you need to cancel or schedule the option to do so will be found in this email. At the time of the meeting there is a join option button. Click on this at the time of the meeting.

TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE ACCESS

College Access Overview:

o TCC 101 – Brief overview about TCC; Interested students must complete the online interest card

o Application - Students will receive assistance with completing the admissions application

o Pre-Assessment Activity – Required prior to testing, 18 minute video found on Web advisor

o Web advisor Setup – assist students with setting up Webadvisor and TCC email

o TSI Testing - Students will be able to take the TSI free of charge

o Financial Aid 101/FAFSA Night – A financial aid rep can be available during your planned evening FAFSA night

o Next Steps – follow-up with students to review what they may still need to do in order to enroll for classes

| |Date(s) |Location |Notes |

|TCC 101/ Interest Cards |DURING SENIOR MEETING WITH COUNSELOR |Will show TCC 101/College Access video (4 min) |

| | |after counselor’s PowerPoint with your English |

| | |teacher |

|Application |Fall: October 19 & 22nd |Zoom Live Session |3-5pm |

| |Spring: Mar 9-10th | |Google Doc for registration |

|Web advisor Setup |April 1st |TBD |TBD |

|Pre-Assessment Activity |April 1st | |Students responsible for watching PAA on their |

| | | |own through Web advisor |

|TSI Testing & Score |Spring |On campus at BHS- TBD | |

|Review | | | |

|Financial Aid Session |Oct 1st |Possible individual Zoom sessions | |

| | |with TCC | |

|Parent Night |TBD |Virtual? |BISD scholarship |

LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION REQUEST FORM

Name: ________________________________________________________________

Grade: _______ Date this must be completed by: ___________________

Name I want on the application:

___________________________________________________

Class Rank: _________ Total Students in Class ______

Cumulative GPA (9-12): __________

ACT Score:

Composite: _____ English: ______ Reading: ______ Science _____ Math: ______

SAT Score:

Verbal: _______ Math: ______ Writing: ______

College to which I am applying:

___________________________________________________

Award, scholarship, or college for which I am applying: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address of college, organization, or person for which I am having this letter of recommendation written. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

( Mail directly to college or organization (this is the recommended method)

( Student to pick up (will be in a sealed envelope)

What, specifically, does this school or organization want to know about me (example: general character, academic ability)? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Academic and nonacademic organizations I belong to (grades 9-12). Example: National Honor Society-10, 11, 12. Chorale-11, 12.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Community and volunteer activities I have participated in (grades 9-12). Example: Church Youth Group-9, 10, 11, 12. Red Cross Volunteer 10, 11, 12.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Awards or honors received, leadership positions I have served in (grades 9-12). Example: Student Body president-10, 11. National Honor Society 11, 12.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Work experience, travel experience, unique educational experiences I have had grades 9-12. Example: The Buckle – 10, 11, 12. Traveled to Paris France with Clovis High School French Club summer of 2001. Participated in the National Youth leadership Forum on medicine summer of 2000.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I consider some of my strengths to be:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Other information that might be helpful in writing a letter of recommendation-obstacles I have overcome, aspect of my personality that I would most like this college or organization to know about me, or what makes me unique.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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