Connections Newsletter
October 4, 2024
CLASS 2025 - Joanna Peters
Last month a new Common App program launched called Direct Admissions; this is a proactive admissions process that offers college admission to qualified students before they apply. Offers are based on data – like GPA – that students have entered in their Common App. This is one of their efforts to simplify and streamline the admissions process. Students who receive direct admissions offers feel relieved and more confident because a college extended an offer based on their Common App responses. This offer lets students learn more about the college, decide if it’s a good fit, and then submit their Common App. During the 2024–2025 admissions cycle, there will be two direct admissions opportunities: Common App Direct Admissions and a partnership with the Connecticut Automatic Admissions Program. Here are the member schools. Learn how it works here.
Letter of Recommendations
If you have a November 15th deadline for a college or scholarship application, you will need to complete these four steps by November 1 for teachers and October 25 for Connections.
- Ask the letter writer in person
- Update your resume in Naviance
- Complete the Letter of Rec/Form Profile in Naviance
- Add the request into Naviance (this permits us to release information and you the opportunity to clarify what you need in the letter
We work while you work so your application does not need to be completed by these dates, only by the app deadline. Stop by Connections if you need any help with these steps.
Save the Date
TCA
Upcoming Events in Connections
Tuesday, October 8, 8:40: Xavier University
Tuesday, October 8, 9:35: Denison University
Tuesday, October 8, 1:15: University of Dallas
Thursday, October 10, 1:00-3:00: Connections Parent Open House
Tuesday, Oct 15 to Thursday, Oct 17: Colorado Free Application Days
In the Community
October 5 – Explore Johns Hopkins: Denver
College Application Fee Waivers
The Colleges below are either offering fee waivers or are always free to apply:
South Dakota Mines - free from October 1 – November 30Colorado Christian University - GOCCU
Baylor University – free
Rensselaer – free until November 1
Berry College – free
Oberlin College – free
Western Colorado University – free
Western Michigan University – free until October 31
University of Alabama – free October 7-11
Scholarships, Financial Aid and Other Awards
The Boettcher Foundation is hosting the webinar titled “Everything You Need to Know About Scholarships,” on Thursday October 9 at 5 pm. The webinar goes over how students can “ACE” their college and scholarship applications, including tips on how to make their applications stand out. An abbreviated version of the presentation is also available here. To view the video with subtitles, click here. Ver el vídeo: todo lo que debes saber de las becas. They have compiled a printable guide that offers tips on how to be competitive for the Boettcher Scholarship and many other scholarships. You can download our scholarship resource packet here.
The Proactive Senior Scholarship by Going Merry is a $1,000, no-essay scholarship for one senior applying for financial aid this fall. The deadline to apply is October 31.
The University of Arizona offers merit tuition awards for first-year non-Arizona resident students. The admission application is also the student's opportunity to be automatically reviewed for merit scholarships. The deadline to apply is December 2
The Department of Defense funds the Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service Program, a combined educational and workforce development opportunity for STEM students. The deadline to apply is December 6.
As part of the University of Notre Dame's Pathways to Notre Dame initiative, they will no longer include loans in financial aid offers and have a universal need-blind admissions policy for all undergraduate applicants, meaning they will not consider the economic situation of students or their families.
EmpowerEd provides higher education funding and support to individuals who experienced homelessness and were identified as McKinney-Vento eligible. These students may have the cost of attendance (after scholarships, grants, and other financial aid awards have been applied) covered through this program for up to 132 semester credit hours or 198 quarter credit hours.
The Proactive Senior Scholarship by Going Merry is a $1,000, no-essay scholarship for one senior applying for financial aid this fall. The deadline to apply is October 31.
McDaniels College offers several scholarship opportunities including the Presidential Scholarship, Honors Program and Dorsey Scholars Program.
College Planning and Highlights
Clark University is hosting jointly their Becker School of Design & Technology Preview Days with their Clark School of Business Preview Days on October 11th and November 1st.
At Utah State University, students and their parents can visit the campus and attend a free football or basketball game.
The University of Arizona is hosting the Arizona Experience on October 12 for prospective students and their families to tour the campus and learn about academics, financial aid, and housing.
Check out this great webpage about preparing for college and the application process from the University of Delaware.
Programs that require an audition often happen by early action, but not always. At the University of Delaware, the deadline to apply to the UD’s School of Music is January 15.
If you want to compete in NCAA sports, register with the Eligibility Center at eligibilitycenter.org before the ninth grade. Use this Registration Checklist to help.
McDaniel College has added women wrestling to their list of Division III collegiate sports.
Enrichment
Career Focus - Entry Level Tech Jobs
Upcoming SAT and ACT Test Dates
The next SAT testing date is November 2, 2024. Register by October 18, 2024.
Additional test dates: November 2 and December 7, 2024; March 8, 2025
Schoolhouse offers free SAT Turing Bootcamp.
The next ACT testing date is December 14, 2024. Register by November 8, 2024.
Additional test dates: December 14, 2024 and February 8, 2025
Connections Center (Career & College)
Katina Dahl, Advisor - Freshmen, Sophomore, AP, PSAT/NMSQT
Jodi Hoffman, Office Manager - College & Career Visits, Community Service
Email: tcavisits@asd20.org
Website: tcatitans.org
Location: 975 Stout Road, Colorado Springs, CO
Phone: 719-484-0091 1104