Click Here for This Year’s Scholarship Opportunties
Best Advice:
- Enroll in a solid academic course load and check your credits for graduation.
- Implement the 2-rule: Set aside 2 hours every week to work on your after high school plans. Use this time for applications, exploration, scholarships, resume building, and updating your calendar with important dates. Meet with your parents.
- Create a calendar of important dates: tests you’ll take, registration deadlines, college application due dates, FAFSA. Check your email daily.
- Narrow your long list of options for life after high school to a short list. If college is on the list then download applications and financial aid forms and note any important dates. Visit the campuses of your top choices.
- Research scholarship opportunities, for both college and trade school, and fill out the FAFSA in October.
- Keep copies of what you fill out and mail or email.
- If you haven’t completely settled on your next step, go to the local (NCMC and PHS) college and career nights.
- Take the SAT one more time if you need to raise your score. Be sure to have your scores sent to colleges to which you’re applying.
- Visit with college reps who come to school. Visit colleges and job sites/job shadow.
- Contact teachers in person to request letters of recommendation. Give a minimum of 2 weeks for them to complete their letter.
- Essays: if college apps require an essay, write rough draft.
- Meet with your counselor and update on your progress.
- Early spring: If your next step involves paying for education then look over your financial aid awards with your parents.
- Inform every college of your acceptance or rejection by May 1st. Colleges cannot require a deposit before May 1st.
- Finish your senior year with the same commitment you have shown in previous years.
