Current Students
Welcome Cougars!
Announcements
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March 8th
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Records Day
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Item description
College Prep Resources
We hope you find the resources here helpful towards fulfilling your collegiate goals.
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Create a four-year plan that includes all required courses.
Research potential career paths.
Make a list of potential areas of study in college.
Set collegiate goals and identify interests
Begin a personalized college list based on determined factors
Behavioral analysis to move you forward in selecting a major
Set GPA goals and improve upon study skills.
Determine ACT/SAT baseline score and determine trends.
Begin test prep basics for the ACT/SAT/PSAT.
Introduce test prep resources: ACE Reader, worksheets, and prep rallies.
Create a resume
Begin involvement in high school clubs, extracurricular activities, or summer/career camps.
Explore volunteering and community service opportunities
Explore internships and employment opportunities.
College visits
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Create a personalized college list based on determined factors.
Behavioral analysis to move you forward in selecting a major.
Create academic and GPA goals with course counseling & support.
Determine ACT/SAT baseline score and determine trends.
Begin test prep basics for the ACT/SAT/PSAT.
Build a resume and create a resume separator.
Begin involvement in high school clubs, extracurricular activities, or summer/career camps
Begin involvement in volunteering or community service opportunities
Begin internships and employment opportunities.
College visits
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College visits
Obtain PSAT registration. deadline
Obtain PSAT Test Date.
Take the PSAT.
Enroll in AP and/or IB classes.
Study for the SAT/ACT
Obtain SAT/ACT registration deadline.
Obtain SAT/ACT Test date.
Take SAT or ACT
Study for AP/IB exams.
Obtain AP/IB registration deadline.
Obtain AP/IB exam date.
Take AP/IB exams.
Explore scholarship applications and deadlines.
Junior/Parent Meeting to discuss test scores, college list/visits and resume.
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Finalize "Top 10" personalized college list.
Potential colleges left to visit.
Essay development and workshops.
Finalize essay submissions.
Finalize resume
Continue to enroll in AP/IB classes
Study for and retake the SAT or ACT.
Apply for scholarships and other financial aid awards throughout the year.
Letters of recommendations
College applications and deadline management.
Accept/reject college admission offers by May 1.
Take AP/IB exams.
Senior/Parent Budget Meeting to discuss financial aid.
FAFSA/financial aid forms
Admission interview coaching.
College transition readiness.
Financial Aid Resources
Financial Aid FAQs
What is FAFSA?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a free online application you fill out to qualify for federal financial aid. Many states and colleges also use the FAFSA to grant state and institutional financial aid.
You submit the FAFSA online on the Federal Student Aid website or mobile app. You’ll need to create an FSA ID to access and sign the FAFSA. If you’re a dependent student, your parents will need their own FSA IDs, too.
What does the FAFSA have to do with financial aid?
After you submit the FAFSA, the government will look at your information and use it to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Your EFC, soon to be renamed Student Aid Index (SAI), is how much you and your family are expected to pay for your education.
Once your EFC is determined, it’s up to your college to put together your financial aid package. Your college’s financial aid office determines need-based aid by subtracting your EFC from its total cost of attendance.
Need-based aid could be in the form of federal grants, Direct subsidized loans or work-study opportunities. Note that colleges don’t necessarily meet your full financial need.
You can also get non-need based aid, depending on how much other aid you’ve already received based on the FAFSA. Loans that are non-need based aid include Direct Unsubsidized Loans and federal PLUS loans.This is a frequently asked question?
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Am I eligible for federal financial aid?
To be eligible for federal financial aid, you must meet the following requirements:
Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or eligible noncitizen
Have or be on track for your high school diploma
Be accepted or enrolled at a Title IV school
Be registered with Selective Service, if you’re a male student
Maintain satisfactory academic progress in college or grad school. If your GPA falls too low, you’ll lose eligibility for FAFSA loans and financial aid
When do I apply for the FAFSA?
The FAFSA application typically opens on Oct. 1 and closes more than a year and a half later on June 30.
Some colleges and states, however, set earlier deadlines for financial aid. Check with your college to see if it sets its own FAFSA deadline. Since some financial aid is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, it’s a good idea to submit the FAFSA as close to Oct. 1 as possible.
Plus, many regular decision colleges want to hear your attendance decision by May 1. By filling out the FAFSA early, you’ll be able to compare financial aid packages from multiple colleges. Then, you’ll be able to better decide on a school.
What should I do if I miss the FAFSA deadline?
If you miss your college’s FAFSA deadline, contact the financial aid office. Some states and colleges award aid to latecomers.
As for the federal FAFSA, you’ll have access to it until the end of the school year. If you don’t apply for that school year, fill out the FAFSA for the following year instead.
What is the Student Aid Report (SAR)?
The Student Aid Report (SAR) is a document you’ll receive after filling out the FAFSA. It sums up all your answers on the FAFSA application. Look over the SAR to confirm all your information is correct, and notify the FSA if there are any errors. If everything looks good, simply keep the SAR for your personal records.
What information do I need to apply for the FAFSA?
The FAFSA asks for personal and financial information. You’ll fill out your contact details, as well as your Social Security number or resident ID. You’ll also indicate up to 10 colleges to receive your FAFSA information.
You or your parents will also provide information from the prior year’s tax return. Beyond gross income, the form asks for your bank account balance, investments and recurring expenses.
Do I need to submit the FAFSA every year?
Yes, you will need to submit the FAFSA every year to remain eligible for federal student aid. After filling it out the first time, you can submit a renewal FAFSA in subsequent years. The website will automatically fill in most of your information from the previous year.
You just need to double-check that everything is still correct. You can also start from the beginning if you need to make significant changes.
Should I file for the FAFSA even if I don’t think I’ll qualify for financial aid?
Yes. Don’t neglect to fill out the FAFSA because you think you won’t qualify. There’s no income cutoff for financial aid. Plus, some schools rely on the FAFSA to award scholarships.
Filling it out will also protect you in the event your financial circumstances change. If a parent loses their income, for example, you can speak with your college’s financial aid office about readjusting your financial aid package. But you won’t qualify for federal aid if you never filled out the FAFSA in the first place.