News from the Counseling Department

Week of November 17, 2014

Topic of the Week: University and Community College Honors Programs/Colleges

Many colleges and universities offer honors programs or honors colleges within their greater educational institution. This can be a wonderful opportunity for students to advance their education, engage in research opportunities, and take advantage of many additional benefits that these programs offer (honors advising, early registration, smaller classes, special dorms, etc.). Here we offer you admission information for the programs at our Arizona universities and our local community college, along with links for additional information.

• Pima Community College Honors program
  • To join the Honors Program, you must successfully complete HON 101: Honors Colloquium with a grade of B or better. To enroll in the Honors Colloquium or any honors (HC) course, you must:
    • Score 90 or higher on both the reading and writing portions of the assessment placement test
    • In addition, as a graduating senior, you must have maintained at least a 3.5 GPA at an accredited high school
  • Contact: Ken Vorndran, 206-2162, kvorndran@pima.edu 
  • Website: https://www.pima.edu/programs-courses/honors/ 
• The Honors College at the University of Arizona
  • The University of Arizona has a three-in-one application-a single application is all it takes to be considered for 1) admission to the University of Arizona, 2) consideration for merit-based scholarships offered by UA, and 3) admission to the Honors College. In other words, there is no separate application for initial consideration for the Honors College; it is included with the regular UA application. You will be considered for Honors admission as long as you have submitted a completed UA application, official high school transcripts, an official SAT and/or ACT score, have paid the application fee or submitted a waiver, and have checked a box indicating Honors interest and submitted an Honors essay as part of the UA application. They consider students holistically for admission to Honors and that decision is based on several criteria. The primary factors are your unweighted high school GPA, the strength of your high school schedule (i.e., how many Honors/AP/IB classes were taken in high school), and your SAT or ACT score.  To give you an idea of the typical admission profile for an incoming Honors freshman, below are the averages for Fall 2013:
    • 3.86 unweighted high school GPA
    • 1349 SAT score (math and critical reading), 30 ACT score
    • 9-12 Honors/AP/IB classes taken in high school
  • Contact: JenniKeatseangsilp, 626-8261,jmkeat2@email.arizona.edu 
  • Website: http://www.honors.arizona.edu/ 
• Barrett, the Honors College, at Arizona State University
  • Students interested in Barrett must first apply to Arizona State University and then may begin the separate Barrett application. There is no minimum GPA or test score requirement for admission to Barrett. For high school seniors, the average unweighted high school GPA for the fall 2013 incoming class was 3.8, the average SAT score (critical reading and mathematics sections only) was 1300, and the average composite ACT was 29. Please note that the admissions committee always considers GPAs in the context of the program of study in which they were earned. Applicants should take great care to articulate their educational background on the application. In addition to GPA and test scores, the admissions committee looks for students who exhibit exceptional leadership qualities, have special talents (e.g. musical, athletic, scientific, artistic), pursue interesting hobbies or avocations, enjoy unique personal achievements, have unusual life experiences, and/or display significant community involvement.
  • Contact: Michelle Hollin, 480-965-1520, michelle.hollin@asu.edu 
  • Website: http://barretthonors.asu.edu/ 
• The University Honors Program at Northern Arizona University
  • All student applicants to the Honors Program must submit an on-line Honors application, a resume or list of activities and accomplishments, and an Honors Essay of Admission. In order to complete the on-line Honors application, you must first have 1) been admitted to NAU and 2) have your NAU user ID and password. Admission to Honors is based on an evaluation of the student from a multitude of perspectives. They do take test scores and high school GPA into consideration, but that criterion is not exclusively used to admit to Honors. Honors applicants for Fall 2014 averaged 27 on the ACT and 1210 on the Math and Reading portions of the SAT, and a 3.7 high school core GPA.
  • Contact: 928-523-3334, honors@nau.edu 
  • Website: http://nau.edu/honors/

IB applications are now available!

IB applications are now available for those sophomores who would like to join the IB program next year. Please pick up an application in the counseling office or outside Mrs. Cisco's office. Applications must be submitted no later than Friday, December 5 at 3:30 pm to either Mrs. Cisco or Mrs. Barcanic. Please see Mrs. Cisco or Mrs. Barcanic if you have any questions!!

Scholarship Spotlight:

The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program, funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, selects 1,000 talented students each year to receive a good-through-graduation scholarship to use at any college or university of their choice. Students are eligible to be considered for a GMS scholarship if they meet all of the following criteria:

• Are African American, American Indian/Alaska Native*, Asian & Pacific Islander American** or Hispanic American
• Are a citizen, national or legal permanent resident of the United States
• Have attained a cumulative high school GPA of 3.3 on an unweighted 4.0 scale or have earned a GED
• Will enroll for the first time at a U.S. located, accredited*** college or university (with the exception of students concurrently pursuing a high school diploma) in the fall of 2015 as a full-time, degree-seeking, first-year student. First-time college enrollees can also be GED recipients.
• Have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular or other activities
• Meet the Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria
• Have completed and submitted all three required forms: the student's application (Nominee Personal Information Form), an evaluation of the student's academic record (Nominator Form) and an evaluation of the student's community service and leadership activities (Recommender Form) by the deadline

For more information, and to apply: https://www.gmsp.org/ 

Deadline = Wednesday, January 14, 2015 11:59 pm EST

Upcoming College Visits:

• Yale University (New Haven, CT) - Wednesday, November 26, 10:30 am
• Grand Canyon University - Tuesday, December 2, 9:00 am
• Arizona State University - Tuesday, December 9, 9:00 am
• University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL) - Wednesday, December 10, 9:30 am

Parents, Teachers, and Community Members:

Please join the Canyon Del Oro Choir in celebrating the season!  

We will perform the Hallelujah Chorus with the CDO Orchestra on  Dec. 11, 2014 at the Choir Concert, 7:00 pm.

The following dates will be rehearsals for all to attend...

• Thursday Nov. 20
• Tuesday, Dec. 2
• Monday, Dec. 8

 All rehearsals will be held in the Canyon Del Oro Choir Room from 6:00 - 7:00 pm.

If you have any questions, please email Laonna Davis at ldavis@amphi.com or call (520)696-5615.

CDO ANNOUNCEMENTS

DRESS CODE

• HEY DORADOS!  This is a reminder that the dress code is still in effect.  Ladies, your tops must have straps on the shoulders, no showing or exposed undergarments and your midriff, front and back, must be covered.  Open or exposed backs on shirts are not allowed, either. Gentlemen, same for you: no exposed undergarments, no tank tops where the armpit hole extends to the waist, no exposed midriff and no images or language on shirts that violate the dress code.  Dress code violators will be directed to Mrs. Henkel in Counseling where they will exchange their top for a CDO t-shirt.  Keep it classy CDO.

STUDENT IDs

• A GENTLE REMINDER ABOUT IDs:  IDs must be worn and displayed while on campus by all students. Around the neck or on the bag facing front is perfectly acceptable.  In the pocket or out of site is unacceptable - students must have it on and showing. If you don't have it on or showing in front you will most likely receive a lunch detention.  Thanks for your thoughtful cooperation.

Give our Dorados the credit they deserve by making an

Arizona Tax Credit Donation!

If you pay Arizona state taxes, you are eligible to make a tax credit donation to Canyon del Oro High School to support extracurricular activities such as clubs, athletics and fine arts programs. This is a dollar for dollar credit that will redirect your taxes directly to CDO. When you make a donation, you get to decide exactly which after school program you want to support.

To be eligible to receive the credit for 2014, CDO must receive your donation by December 31st. Contributions can be made in increments throughout the year, or as a lump sum up to $200 or $400 for married couples filing a joint return. Make a donation online today at www.amphi.com or download an easy to use form and send your donation directly to CDO.

Anyone who pays Arizona state taxes is eligible to participate. You do not need to have a student at CDO to make a donation and receive the credit. Don't miss out on your chance to give our Dorados the credit they deserve!

Parents of seniors

Would you like to design a special page in the 50th anniversary yearbook for your graduate? Would you like to leave them an enduring memory of their years at CDO or a special note to be remembered?  The following link will take you to the Herff Jones site where you may design that note or purchase a yearbook.  

Place your order now as this link will only be active until December 19, 2014.

Yearbook Order Link

Webpages

Amphi Homepage

CDO Homepage

CDO Film

EZ pay for Cafeteria

Counseling 

Palantir Print Edition

Parent Portal

Project Grad

Tax Credit Info

CDO Silent Witness Hot Line

696-5564

Website 

Officer Beauchamp:

Officer Brown

Information

Regular Bell Schedule 

MaxPreps 

Parent Organization 

Amphi Project Grad 

Athletics 

Pom  

Project Grad  

Spirit Line 

Theatre 

 SAT Test Dates @ CDO