College & Career Center Newsletter
November 2025
FAFSA/ORSAA and Oregon Promise-Apply Now!
Did you know that FAFSA/ORSAA and Oregon Promise are all open now? If you are planning on applying to colleges, trade programs or for scholarships, you will need to complete these applications.
- FAFSA is an application for federal financial aid for students with a social security number that plan on attending a college/university or trade program.
- ORSAA is an application for state financial aid for students without a social security number that plan on attending a college/university or trade program.
- The Oregon Promise Grant is state funding for students that plan to attend an Oregon community college.
FAFSA and Oregon Promise Help Night - November 6th 5-7pm
The College and Career Center will be hosting a night to help students and parents with FAFSA and Oregon Promise. Please register in advance if you plan to attend and check out this webpage to see what you might need to bring to make this a successful event. We will have English and Spanish language support available.
Date/Time: Thursday, November 6th from 5 to 7pm
Register here: https://forms.gle/2aB69Xf4iYryR3cW7 (please have students complete this)
What do students need for the FAFSA?
College Application Week or "Bruins Go To College" - Oct 27-Nov 7
Seniors are invited to get extra help during SBHS's "Bruins Go To College" week(s) and all students may attend the college visits. Students, please check with your teacher before missing class. Visits are held in the library unless stated otherwise.
10/27: Portland State University Application Workshop (Seniors) - 4th period
10/28: Reed College College Visit (all grades) - 12:30pm
10/29: Lewis & Clark College Visit (all grades) - 1:30pm
10/31: Arizona State University Visit (all grades) - 7:35am
11/3: MHCC101 AVID Seniors - 4th period Room 500
11/3: FAFSA/ORSAA/Oregon Promise application help - both lunches
11/3: MHCC one-on-one appts with MHCC Admissions (seniors) 11:30am-2pm (by appt only)
11/4: CommonApp/College Application Help with Mrs. Molony (seniors) 12:30-2:30pm
11/5: All school Career Day - AM
11/6: FAFSA/ORSAA/Oregon Promise Help Night (seniors): 5-7pm
11/7: Warner Pacific College Visit (all grades) - 10:30am
11/14: Central Washington University Application Workshop/Seniors - 4th period
Need helping starting your college list? Check out this great resource from Oregon Goes To College called "How to make your college list".
OSAC Scholarships Open Nov 1!
The OSAC Scholarship Application provides current and future Oregon students one easy application to apply for multiple scholarships at one time. OSAC awards more than $10 million in scholarships annually through more than 600 scholarships.
The 2026-27 OSAC Scholarship Application will open November 1, 2025. Early-Bird deadline is February 17, 2026. Final deadline is March 2, 2026. Both deadlines are 11:59 PM (PT).
Click on the photo for a link to the OSAC Scholarships!
Oregon College Preview Days
Attending a college preview day is beneficial because it allows you to experience the campus firsthand to determine if it's a good "fit" for you, providing a clearer sense of the environment, culture, and community than can be obtained online. It's also an opportunity to ask questions directly to faculty, current students, and staff, get specific details about academic programs, and potentially show demonstrated interest to the admissions office.
Check out this list of upcoming Oregon college preview days!
Ford Family Scholarship Live Virtual Info Session, Nov 20th: 6-7pm
For high school seniors ready to enter college in the fall. Learn about how to apply for the Ford Scholars scholarship. Get application and interview tips from our scholar panelists.
The Ford Scholars Program is an undergraduate scholarship available to promising high school seniors who work hard, have significant financial need and face barriers to higher education.
Scholarships include a renewable financial award of up to $40,000 per year. It is possible to get this scholarship...we had 2 winners at Barlow last year! Congrats Carter and Catalina!
Scholarships To Consider
Elks Lodge Most Valuable Student Scholarship. due Nov. 12 (seniors)
Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship due TBD
Jiffy Lube What Drives You Scholarship due March 09 (all grades)
The OSAC Scholarship (seniors) opens Nov. 1, Early Deadline: Feb 17, Regular Deadline: March 2
Jack Cooke Kent Scholarship (seniors) due Nov. 12
NHS Scholarship Due Nov 24 (pay attention to time deadline!)
Hagan Scholarship (seniors) due Dec 1
Ron Brown Scholar Program (senior-African-American) Due Dec 1
Rose Festival Court (juniors or seniors) opens Nov 5, Due Jan 20
Dell Scholars (seniors, AVID) Due Feb 15
Equitable Excellence Scholarship (seniors) TBD
John F. Kennedy Essay Contest (grades 9-12)-Due Jan 12
Oregon Goes to College Scholarship List-various due dates
Looking for a convenient scholarship search engine? Try goingmerry.com and
https://bold.org/ (open to all ages)
Scholarship Reporting
Seniors, please don't forget to report ANY scholarships offered to you to the College & Career Center. You can forward an email, tell me in person, make a copy of an award letter...whichever method you prefer. Please tell us about all scholarships offered to you, not just the ones you accept. Names of accepted scholarships will be posted in your commencement program.
Tia Molony
Volunteer
People volunteer to make a difference, improve their mental and physical health, learn new skills, gain work experience, expand their social networks, and develop a stronger sense of community connection and purpose. It offers a fulfilling way to contribute to society, address needs, explore interests, and advance careers while receiving personal benefits like increased confidence and well-being.
Don't have time to get out and volunteer? Get Schooled has a list of 5 virtual volunteer opportunities. Check them out here.
Online Volunteer Opportunities
The College and Career Center has also put together a list of local volunteer opportunities to help.
Portland State University College of Education Fall Open House
College of Education Fall Open House
Vanport Building
Monday, November 10th, 4:30pm-7:30pm.
If you may be interested in exploring careers in teaching, counseling, special education, or early childhood education...
This is a wonderful opportunity for future educators and human service professionals to connect with our faculty, learn about our programs, and get personalized guidance on admissions and career pathways.
Register here: https://apply.pdx.edu/register/OpenHouse_2025
Schoolinks for Seniors
If seniors are applying to colleges using a "school specific" application found on a college's website, please refer to the school specific instructions to assist in the process.
If seniors are applying to colleges using the Common Application, please refer to the common app linked instructions to assist in the process.
These helpful tip sheets are housed on the SBHS Counseling website.
Do you need an official or unofficial transcript? In Schoolinks, go to student, records requests, and transcripts.
This is your official resource for transcripts, as well as counselor recommendations.