KHS School Counseling

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As families begin planning for life after high school, completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is one of the most important steps in accessing financial assistance for college. The FAFSA opens the door to federal grants, work-study opportunities, student loans, and many forms of state and institutional aid.

To help students and families successfully navigate the financial aid process, Killingly High School is hosting two FAFSA support events:

🎁 FAFSA ID Creation Giveaway

Date: Monday, November 2
Time: During PRIDE 1

School counselors will assist students with creating their FSA ID, which is required to complete the FAFSA. Students should bring:

• Their Social Security number

• A personal email address

Students who successfully create their FSA ID will be entered into a prize giveaway. Please refer to the FSA ID Checklist for Students attached to this communication for additional information.

💻 Financial Aid Workshop with CT State

Date: Wednesday, November 4
Time: 5:00-6:00 PM
Location: Killingly High School Library

Join us for a hands-on FAFSA completion workshop led by a CT State Financial Aid Counselor. Families are encouraged to bring a laptop and the required documents needed to complete the FAFSA. A list of required documents can be found on the FAFSA Completion Night Flyer attached to this communication.

Helpful FAFSA Resource

Please review this helpful guide, which provides step-by-step instructions for completing the FAFSA:

FAFSA Application Quick Guide: FAFSA Application Quick Guide.pdf

📅 Important Reminders

• Attend our FAFSA Workshop on November 4 for personalized assistance from a financial aid professional.

• Submit the FAFSA as early as possible, as some aid programs have limited funding and may be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Complete the FAFSA even if you believe your family may not qualify for aid. Many families are surprised by the assistance they receive. Additionally, FAFSA completion is a Connecticut graduation requirement for the Class of 2027.

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We encourage all seniors and their families to take advantage of these opportunities. We look forward to helping you make the financial aid process as smooth and successful as possible.

Sincerely,
The Killingly High School School Counseling Department

There is a printable PDF version of this checklist also attached at the bottom of this article for your convenience.

Knowing what needs to happen—and when—can turn an overwhelming process into manageable steps. This checklist helps students move forward with confidence and allows families to support them without feeling like they’re constantly nagging!

🍁 SEPTEMBER / EARLY OCTOBER

• Finalize your personal statement

• Set up your Common App account. Instructions here:2026 Common Application

• Activate your SchooLinks account:KHS SchooLinks Student College Application Guide

• Continue drafting and revising supplemental essays

• Ask core academic teachers for letters of recommendation

• Submit requests through SchooLinks (see instructions in KHS SchooLinks Student College Application Guide)

• Provide teachers with a completed recommendation form (hard copies available in School Counseling)

• Review college‑specific requirements

• Set personal deadlines for fall applications; finalize EA/ED decisions

• Organize financial documents for FAFSA and other aid applications

• Next week’s post will outline what you need 🙂

• FSA ID Creation Event (with giveaways): September 30th during PRIDE (students need their SSN); details will be shared with seniors next week!

• Finalize your college list in Common App (it will automatically populate in SchooLinks)

• Add any non‑Common App schools manually to Schoolinks

• Check which colleges require SAT/ACT

• Begin preparing EA/ED applications

🎤 MID TO LATE OCTOBER

• Encourage parents/guardians to attend the“Planning for After High School” Presentation, led by KHS School Counselors: KHS Senior Post-Secondary Planning Presentation

• Wednesday, October 14 • 5–6 PM • Auditorium

• Attend one of the workshops on October 21st (at KHS when all other grade levels are taking the PSAT):

• Common Application Workshop

• CT State - Quinebaug Valley Application Workshop & Info Session

• Career Center Employment & Military Opportunities Fair

• Schedule your senior meeting with your counselor using the following options:

• E-mail your school counselor & they will schedule you during a PRIDE or Senior Study

• Schedule a meeting using the link at the bottom of the signature page in the e-mail

• Use the links posted in the Senior Google Classroom

• Utilize the QR codes posted in School Counseling to access your counselors booking page

• Confirm teacher recommendations and provide any required materials

• Have a counselor or trusted adult review your applications

• Make a list of colleges requiring FAFSA and/or CSS Profile

• FAFSA opens October 1

• Complete the CSS Profile (if required—typically private schools)

• Check whether your colleges require STARS/SSAR/Self‑Reported Grades

• Submit EA/ED applications before Halloween

🍂 NOVEMBER

• Watch deadlines closely—do not wait until the last minute

• Keep grades strong after submitting applications

🎄 DECEMBER

• Submit remaining Regular Decision applications

• (Many due Jan 1–15, 2027)

• Finalize FAFSA and CSS Profile submissions

• If admitted ED, withdraw all other applications and submit your deposit

• Write thank‑you notes to teachers who wrote recommendations

• Update your college list based on early outcomes

💛 A Final Note

College admissions is a process. Students do not need every detail figured out this fall, and families do not need every answer.

The goal is simply to keep moving forward—one step at a time—while leaving space for students to be students. With planning and perspective, fall can feel less like pressure and more like ownership of an exciting next chapter.

Dear Parents and Guardians of KHS Seniors,

I hope this message finds you well. Senior year is a thrilling milestone—filled with celebration, reflection, and, understandably, a fair amount of uncertainty. At KHS, our school counseling department is committed to supporting every student as they navigate their post‑secondary journey, whatever path they choose.

This newsletter will be updated weekly to keep you informed and involved, sharing important updates, upcoming events, deadlines, and resources tailored specifically for seniors. As your student begins making decisions about life after high school, it’s natural for them to feel pressure—spoken or unspoken—to “get it right.” But sometimes the most reassuring guidance comes from those who have watched thousands of students succeed in all kinds of places.

The article linked below offers a refreshing perspective: choosing a college or post‑secondary path doesn’t matter nearly as much as we often think. What matters most is that your child finds a place where they feel comfortable, works hard, builds friendships, and enjoys the experience. For many seniors—and their families—this truth can be a breath of fresh air during an otherwise stressful season. Article: College Decision Does Not Matter

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or your student’s counselor with any questions, concerns, or if you simply need a little guidance during this exciting, sometimes overwhelming, year.

Warm regards,

The KHS School Counselors

Counselors will begin their individual meetings with seniors in the next few weeks. Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to attend! Ask your student to schedule their meeting at a time when you can join.

The Career Center at Killingly High School helps students explore their interests, discover career pathways, and prepare for life after graduation. Through a variety of on-site and off-site job-shadowing opportunities, students gain firsthand knowledge of different careers from professionals working in those fields.

Students can also receive support with career planning, résumé writing, mock interviews, job and internship opportunities, and exploring college, military, and career-training programs. The Career Center also connects students with local employers and community partners. Last year, multiple students interviewed and were hired at Electric Boat through opportunities created by the career center.

Whether students are just beginning to consider their future or are ready to take the next step, the Career Center provides the resources and guidance needed to turn their goals into a plan. Stop by and see Mr. Neal or Ms. Hebert anytime!

We are pleased to announce that we have transitioned from Naviance to SchooLinks, an online college and career readiness platform that helps students explore postsecondary options, plan high school courses, and develop career pathways through engaging, student-friendly tools and personalized career exploration. All student PGR data was transferred to SchooLinks this summer.

Students will complete onboarding during the first few weeks of school to ensure a seamless transition. Seniors will also use SchooLinks rather than Naviance to manage the college application process.