Use the remaining days in November to take a few minutes to start the scholarship search, regardless of grade level

Scholarships are a fantastic way to reduce the financial burden of college, and it’s never too early to begin searching for them!

Here are a few reasons to look for scholarships every year throughout high school:

1. Opportunities for All Grade Levels: Many scholarships are available to students in every grade, not just seniors. Some are specifically designed for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.

2. Build a Strong Resume: Applying for scholarships can help your child develop valuable skills like essay writing, organizing achievements, and preparing for future college applications.

3. Less Stress Senior Year: By securing scholarships early, your family can ease the pressure of funding college when senior year rolls around.

4. Stackable Awards: Even small scholarships add up! Winning multiple awards over the years can significantly lower college expenses.

How to Get Started:

• Research Early
• Stay Organized
• Encourage Participation

Did you know that Naviance, our school’s comprehensive college and career readiness tool, can help your student find scholarships tailored to their goals and achievements? It's a fantastic resource to streamline the scholarship search process and ensure your child doesn’t miss valuable opportunities.

Here’s how your student can use Naviance to find scholarships:

1. Log in to Naviance:
   Your student can log in using Clever on their chromebook.

2. Navigate to the Scholarships Section:

   • Go to the “Colleges” tab.
   • Click on “Scholarships and Money” or a similar option based on your school’s customization.
   • Select “National Scholarship Search” or explore the “Scholarship List.”

3. Explore Opportunities:

   • Local Scholarships: Naviance often includes scholarships offered by local organizations, which can be less competitive and a great opportunity for your student.
   • National Scholarships: Access a comprehensive list of scholarships with filters for criteria such as GPA, field of interest, extracurricular activities, and more.

4. Track Applications:
   Naviance allows students to organize scholarship deadlines and manage their applications efficiently.

5. Receive Recommendations:
   Based on your student’s profile, Naviance may suggest scholarships that align with their interests, achievements, and college plans.

Tips for Success:

• Encourage your student to check Naviance regularly for new scholarships.
• Make sure their Naviance profile is up-to-date, as this helps the tool provide personalized recommendations.
• Use Naviance in conjunction with other scholarship search tools for the best results.

After receiving your PSAT/NMSQT scores, you can explore various opportunities to shape your academic and career future. From discovering potential careers and colleges to setting your SAT target score and identifying scholarship opportunities, there are many steps you can take to maximize your potential and plan for success.

View Your Scores in the BigFuture School App

If you provided your mobile number at the time of your assessment, you can access BigFuture School. You should've received a text with a link to download the app. Use the same number you provided to sign in.

Your account for the app is separate from your College Board account, so you won’t use the same login details or be able to see the same information as you do for that account, including AP® or weekend SAT information.

BigFuture School also provides you with personalized college and career planning guidance, tailored to your current grade level and the time of year.

You’ll get messages throughout the year with important information such as the key steps to take to plan for college and which resources are available to help you pay for college.

Career Exploration after PSAT

Explore careers that you're passionate about on BigFuture by taking the Career Quiz and learning how your test performance aligns to 1,000 occupations with our career readiness indicator. Search over 4,000 college profiles on BigFuture to discover which colleges and programs are right for you. Filter by location, major, and more.

Set an SAT Target Score

Setting your SAT Target Score is a great next step. You’ll be able to measure your progress and increase your chances of success. Review your score information, including the Knowledge and Skills section where you can learn about your strengths and the areas you can focus on improving. Then go to Khan Academy® for free, personalized practice in those areas.

The transition to high school is an exciting time, but as we continue into the 2nd marking period, it's important to remind our students the importance of their grades and how this year truly marks the beginning of their academic journey toward college and career readiness.

For some students, 9th grade may seem early to think about long-term goals, but being mindful of grades from the start is crucial to keeping all their options available as they progress towards graduation.

Here’s why 9th-grade grades matter:

1. Foundation for GPA:
   Freshman year grades are the building blocks of your student's cumulative GPA, which colleges review during the application process. A strong start can make a significant difference over four years.

2. Course Placement:
   Consistently good grades can lead to placement in advanced classes, honors courses, or AP programs, which not only challenge your student but also enhance their college applications.

3. Establishing Good Habits:
   Ninth grade is the perfect time to develop strong study habits, time management, and organizational skills that will support your child throughout high school.

4. Boosting Confidence:
   Success in 9th grade sets a positive tone for the rest of high school. Achieving good grades now can motivate your child to continue striving for excellence.

Tips for success:

• Encourage Time Management and Balance between home, school, work, and life
• Monitor Progress by reviewing grades periodically in Powerschool
• Foster Open Communication with your student and encourage them to work with their teachers through any difficulty.
• Celebrate Effort by recognizing hard work along with way, not just final grades.