November Senior Newsletter

Seniors, November is all about taking the next step toward your future!

November is Georgia Apply to College Month, and this is your opportunity to turn your postsecondary goals into action! Many Georgia colleges and universities are waiving application fees, making this a great time to explore your options and submit college applications at no cost.

This month, take advantage of opportunities to connect with college representatives, explore the different branches of the military, register for ASVAB testing, and discover your college admission opportunities through GA Match.

Whether your plans include college, technical school, the military, or entering the workforce, your future deserves a plan, and now is the time to take action! Don't wait until graduation approaches to start preparing for what's next. Make this month count!

Seniors, your college match could be waiting for YOU!

Join us on Tuesday, November 10th, in the College & Career Center to explore your GA Match opportunities and discover which Georgia colleges have a spot waiting for you!

Before you attend, make sure you:

• Have created your GAfutures account.

• Can view your HOPE GPA in GAfutures.

• Have your Social Security number on file with the school.

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Your next chapter starts with a MATCH! Don't miss out!

Register for the ACT & SAT — Create your ACT and SAT accounts, review upcoming test dates, register early to secure your preferred testing location, and send official test scores to the colleges or universities you plan to apply to. Dedicate some time each week to review materials and practice tests.

ACT Preparation

1. Create an account on www.act.org.
2. Click "Test Prep".

SAT Preparation:

1. Create an account on www.collegeboard.org.
2. Click on the following link for instructions on how to connect your Khan Academy and College Board accounts to begin taking personalized practice SAT tests based on your previous PSAT or SAT scores.

Linking Khan Academy and College Board Student Accounts

3. Click on the following link for SAT practice test:

https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/practice-preparation

Attention Seniors!

Don't wait to order your cap and gown! Cap and gown orders have been open since August, and the price will increase on January 1, 2027. Order now to secure the current pricing and avoid paying more later.

Place your order online at: https://www.scholasticimages.com

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact:

Scholastic Images: (770) 614-9353 or via email at office@scholasticimages.com

Congratulations on your senior year! Graduation will be here before you know it, so take care of this important step today.

Please click on the buttons below to access information about these scholarships. These are just a few of many scholarships you will be able to apply for this school year!

Scholarships are added throughout the school year! Click the buttons below to explore current opportunities and begin applying. New local, state, institutional, and national scholarships will be posted regularly, so check this page often to stay informed and maximize your chances of earning scholarship funding for college, technical school, or career training.

Seniors — don’t leave scholarship money on the table!

SchooLinks can help you find scholarships that match your eligibility, interests, and college plans. The more information you add to your Scholarship Match Profile, the more personalized your results can be. Students can also sort opportunities, save favorites, review deadlines and award amounts, and mark scholarships as applied.

Get started:

1. Log in to SchooLinks on LaunchPad.
2. Go to Scholarship Matching
3. Complete your Eligibility, Interests, and Colleges information
4. Select View Matches
5. Check District-Posted scholarships for additional opportunities
6. Favorite scholarships you want to revisit and keep track of the ones you apply for.

Make it a habit: Check SchooLinks every week for newly added scholarships and upcoming deadlines.

TheDream.US scholarships are for highly motivated DREAMers who want nothing more than to get a college education but are unable to afford the cost.

The application opens November 1, 2026.

For students with a minimum 3.0 GPA, financial need, leadership experience, and community service. You do not have to work at Chick-fil-A to apply.

Award: $25,000

The application deadline is November 3, 2026.

The Cooke College Scholarship Program is an undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend and graduate from the nation's best four-year colleges and universities.

Award: Up to $55,000 per year

The deadline to apply is November 11, 2026.

For U.S. citizen seniors planning to attend a four-year college. Selection considers academics, leadership, and financial need. No Elks membership required.

Award: $4,000–$30,000 total

The deadline to apply is November 12, 2026.

For seniors with at least a 3.5 GPA, financial need, and a plan to attend an eligible four-year college. Additional income and work requirements apply. Citizenship is not required.

Award: Up to $7,500 per semester

The deadline to apply is December 1, 2026.

For high school seniors and undergraduate students demonstrating financial need and leadership. Non-U.S. citizens may apply. Essays and recommendations are required.

Award: $1,000

The deadline to apply is December 30, 2026.

HOPE and Zell Miller are merit based scholarship programs available to students who have met the University System of Georgia and the GSFC residency requirements and are enrolled in an undergraduate degree seeking program.

Seniors, need help staying on track with your college and career plans? Stop by Senior Lab for hands-on support with college and scholarship applications, interview preparation, financial aid questions, SchooLinks, and more.

When: Every 1st & 3rd Wednesday

Where: College & Career Center

Bring your questions, applications, and materials you are working on, and use this time to get individualized support as you prepare for life after graduation.

Need help strengthening a college or scholarship essay? Seniors may schedule an individual essay support session with Mr. Coe in Room C112.

Appointment only. To schedule a session, email martin.coe@gcpsk12.org or ask Mr. Coe in person.

Please remember: All essays must be printed and given to Mr. Coe before your scheduled session.

Before requesting a teacher recommendation in SchooLinks seniors must:

• Ask your teacher at least 30 days (one month) BEFORE your college application deadline
• Ask in person first, then follow up with a polite email
• Do not add a teacher in SchooLinks without their permission
• Last-minute requests may be declined

Once your teacher agrees:

• Submit the Teacher Evaluation request in SchooLinks
• Track your request under College Applications → My Applications
• Send a polite follow-up if needed and always say thank you

Reminder: Teachers are not required to write recommendation letters, so please be respectful of their time and provide a minimum of 30 days’ notice.

Step-by-step instructions for requesting a Teacher Evaluation in SchooLinks is below.

If you’re a high school student who’s undocumented — that is, you were born outside the United States and you’re not a U.S. citizen or legal resident — you probably have a lot of questions about going to college. Here are some important facts.

1. You Can Go to College

You should know that no federal law prevents U.S. colleges from admitting undocumented students. And only a few states — including Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama — have placed any kind of restrictions on undocumented students attending public colleges and universities.* In most cases, colleges set their own rules on admitting undocumented students, so you should research the policies of colleges you are interested in attending.

You should also know that undocumented students cannot receive federal financial aid for college — the type of aid that many college students rely on. However, undocumented students can get financial aid or scholarships for college in other ways. Your undocumented status might limit your choices — but college is still an option if you have a plan. Your best strategy is to start planning early, do a lot of research and ask a lot of questions.

2. You Are Not Alone

You’re the one who will have to put in the work it takes to get to college — but building a support network is key.

Start with your family. Make sure they know you want to go to college. Talk with them about your options for choosing a college and paying for your education.

You can also seek advice from trusted teachers and counselors at your high school. Along with giving you guidance, they might be able to put you in touch with other undocumented students who have successfully enrolled in college or with college admission counselors who can help you.

If you’re worried about telling teachers and counselors that you’re undocumented, be aware that, by law, school officials cannot disclose personal information about students — including their immigration status.

3. You Can Find a College That Fits You

As you look for colleges that match your wants and needs, you might want to find out if the colleges you’re interested in have programs, student organizations or centers that support first-generation immigrant students. Checking out college websites and publications is a good place to start.

Here are some things to remember when looking at colleges:

• Different colleges have different policies on admitting undocumented students.
• Different colleges have different policies on awarding nonfederal financial aid to undocumented students.
• Public colleges must follow their state’s laws on issues such as whether undocumented students who live in the state can pay in-state tuition or must pay out-of-state tuition.and resources for several states.

4. You’ll Apply Like Any Other Student

The college application process is usually the same for all students. You’ll need to find out colleges’ admission requirements regarding testing, grades and the high school classes you need to take. Most likely, you’ll be asked to write a personal essay and get letters of recommendation, among other application requirements.

The best way for any student to prepare for college is to work hard in high school. Colleges look at your grades and the kinds of classes you take, so it's a great idea to take college-level courses such as Advanced Placement® classes. Many colleges award credit based on scores on AP Exams, which can save students money on tuition.

5. Your Options May Change

Laws and regulations regarding undocumented students change. It’s important to keep up with the news about how these changes may affect your college plans.

For more information on changes to policies affecting undocumented students visit the US Department of Homeland Security or the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.

6. You Can Find Resources to Help You

Here are some additional websites with helpful information:

• The Dream. US
• Immigrant Legal Resource Center
• National Immigration Law Center
• Immigration Equality
• Scholarship Resources on the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund website