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BTSJC College Program February Updates

Hi BT College Kids!  Happy mid-February and happy belated Valentines Day :)  BT loves you!  As we move through the semester/quarter, I wanted to pass along some updates to you all!  Please read the entire email below, and know that there are opportunities to win Amazon gift cards included!
 

Reminder: Winter-Spring 2021 Expectations

Thank you to everyone who scheduled your check-ins with me and submitted your grades!  If you still have not done this, please do so ASAP.  Failure to meet these expectations may result in ineligibility for the BT College Program during the Fall 2021 semester.  As a reminder, the required tasks are listed below:
 

 
  • Schedule your 3 check-ins with Sam between January and May 2021.  If you need to reschedule at any point, that is completely fine, just please be sure to do so before your meeting time!  This way time slots that are no longer in use can remain available to other students.


And that's it!  By meeting these expectations, you will remain eligible for the following:

  • Access to BT's College Support Fund.  This fund is intended to fill gaps in financial aid, by providing funding for everything from transportation to books to grad school application fees!  To request funding, either contact Sam directly or fill out this form:
 
  • Care packages each semester :)
 
  • Individualized advising
 
  • Access to BT's Internship Program.  Alex is currently working on internship matches for summer 2021. 
Summer Internships and Opportunities

Students interested in participating in an internship through BT this year were required to:

  • email Alex (alex.serna@smes.org) an updated resume and their career field of interest 
  • register for a mock interview during the week of 2/22-2/26. 



Other Internship Opportunities:

Become a Breakthrough Teaching Fellow!

UCLA Dream Summer Fellowship

CHOC Medical Intelligence and Innovation Institute (MI3) Summer Internship Program

Immigrants Rising List of Undergraduate Fellowships that are Undocu/DACA Friendly

 

Summer Classes at Saddleback:

Considering Summer Classes?

  • We suggest that you consider taking summer courses at Saddleback if you are planning to take summer classes.  Here are some steps to get started:
    • Meet with an academic advisor at your college (if you are a SB student then you should meet with an academic/transfer counselor there) to ensure that the classes you are interested in taking will transfer as credits toward your general education requirements or major.
    • Saddleback's application for summer courses opened on February 1st
    • If you have questions, you can call, email or join Zoom office hours with Saddleback's admissions office:
School Year Involvement and Internship Opportunities

Tutor with Breakthrough!

  • We are in serious need of tutors for middle and high school students.  If you can spare at least 1 hour/week, we would love to have you.  Text (336-972-7654) or email Sam if interested.
Become a 9th and 10th Grade Support Intern with BT!
  • We are seeking two college students to serve as 9th and 10th grade support interns with BT.  Interns would be responsible for providing monthly programming for 9th and 10th grade students, and for providing individualized support for students as needed.  The internships are virtual and compensated.  If you are interested in participating, contact Sam at samantha.geary@smes.org.  We are looking to hire ASAP!
Financial Aid Application Deadline Reminders!

Just a reminder that the FAFSA and CADA applications are due by March 2nd, 2021!!  


If you have any questions about your application, feel free to stop by office hours, or schedule a meeting with me.  

I also encourage students who submit FAFSA using the signature page to:
  • Send the signature page to FAFSA using certified mail
  • Request your mailed tax transcript from the IRS ASAP.  That way you will have it if you need it for verification.
Spring 2021 Office Hours Challenge!

Are you ready?!?!  Participants can win between $25-$100 in Amazon gift cards!

 

Attending office hours with your professors is one of the best ways to find mentors, build your network, and gain expert insight into specific fields and career paths.  Not only will this help you while you are in school, but after you graduate your professors can continue to serve as resources for you.  Think letters of recommendation, references, grad school application mentorship, etc.  

But..... let's be real.  Professors can be intimidating!  If you've ever felt nervous about attending office hours, or wondered "What if I run out of questions to ask?" or "What if I say something wrong," you are not alone (myself included!!!).  I recently met with a former professor from my college days, and I felt those same nerves that I used to feel as a college student.

So, in order to make this a little less intimidating and a lot more fun, BTSJC is hosting our first ever office hour challenge!  Participants will win prizes for completing the challenge.  Here are the rules:

1) Between now (2/20/2021) and 5/5/2021 (that's a little less than 3 months), and office hours meetings with professors will earn you "points."  Each time you attend office hours, you need to fill out this quick form within 7 days to earn points from it. 
2) Different types of office hours will earn you different points.  For your first reported meeting with any professor, the point breakdown is as follows:
  • Meeting with a professor you have class with currently is worth 1 point.
  • Meeting with a professor from a past semester/quarter is worth 1 point.
  • Meeting with a professor you have never had class with is worth 2 points.
  • Meeting with a campus resource staff person (like first-gen office, scholars office, etc.) is worth 1 point.
3) For the subsequent 3 meetings with professors (so meetings 2-4) your points now double!  
  • Meeting with a professor you have class with currently is now worth 2 points.
  • Meeting with a professor from a past semester/quarter is now worth 2 points.
  • Meeting with a professor you have never had class with is now worth 4 points.
  • Meeting with a campus resource staff person (like first-gen office, scholars office, etc.) is now worth 2 points.
4) Any meetings beyond 4 with a professor or campus resource staff will earn you triple points!  
  • Meeting with a professor you have class with currently is now worth 3 points.
  • Meeting with a professor from a past semester/quarter is now worth 3 points.
  • Meeting with a professor you have never had class with is now worth 6 points.
  • Meeting with a campus resource staff person (like first-gen office, scholars office, etc.) is now worth 3 points.
Note: I'm not going to make you selfie with professors or get their signatures or anything- we are operating on an honors system here!  This challenge is really intended to help you grow, so I trust that all reported office hours attended will be truthful :).

Students who participate in this challenge will be eligible for the following prizes!
  • Students with 7 or more points will win a $25 Amazon gift card.
  • Students with 15 or more points will win a $50 Amazon gift card.
  • Students with 25 or more points will win a $100 Amazon gift card.

 

Get well soon messages for Qunsia
Hi BT College Kids!  As you know, Qunsia is sick and out on medical leave and we want to send her some well wishes from the BTSJC community.  Please record a short video using this flipgrid to send her love, prayers, thoughts, positive vibes- whatever you prefer.  Let's show her how loved and missed she is! I will be sending the videos to her on Monday, 22, so you still have time to record a video over the weekend :)

https://flipgrid.com/b5da5a15

 


If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to: Take care all!

Best,

Sam
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Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano · 31641 La Novia Ave · San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-2752 · USA