JUNIORS: Scholarship & Testing Info
September 21, 2026
My name is Heidi Clairmont and I'm the GRHS Scholarship Coordinator.
My job is to notify you of scholarship opportunities and deadlines, announce when military and college reps will be visiting the high school and I help with testing and communications from the counseling department.
My office is in the counseling office or you can contact me by email: hclairmont@isd318.org or phone 218-327-5760 x41544
Cash/check can be brought into the counseling office.
The PSAT is a two-hour test given once a year. Many students take the PSAT to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Competition. The students who should be encouraged to take this test are those that are planning to go to a four year college.
The most common reasons for taking the PSAT/NMSQT are:
*To receive feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary for college study. You can then focus your preparation on those areas that could most benefit from additional study or practice.
*To see how your performance on an admissions test might compare with that of others applying to a four year college.
*To enter the competition for scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (grade 11).
*To help prepare for the SAT. You can become familiar with the kinds of questions and the exact directions you will see on the SAT.
*To receive information from colleges when you check "yes" to Student Search Service.
The PSAT Student Guide can be found at this link: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/psat-nmsqt-student-guide.pdf
Make sure you get signed up as soon as possible. Sign up is not complete until your payment has been received.
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) will be administered at Grand Rapids High School on Thursday, October 29th. The deadline to sign up is Monday, October 26th. There is no cost to take the ASVAB. You will take the test then after the break will complete the interpretation on the same day. Plan on being out of class most of the day.
- Click this link for info: ASVAB QUESTIONS
- Click here: FOR MORE INFORMATION & TO SIGN UP, CLICK HERE
- The ACT will be offered at GRHS on Thursday March 11, 2027. Cost is $58 and will include the Science section. Payment should be made by cash or check to ISD 318 or online prior to taking the test. If this is a hardship or if you qualify for Free/reduced lunch, contact your counselor for a waiver.
- The district ACT offering on March 11 does NOT give your answers back. You MUST test on the national test day for the TIR service (more info below)
- English, Math, Reading & Science sections will be given. Writing is not offered.
- Do I need to take the Writing portion?
Registration and additional information will be available in January.
OTHER TESTING OPTIONS:
- ACT National Test Dates are available at act.org. The 25/26 test dates are on Saturdays: Oct 17, Dec 12, Feb 27, April 10, June 12, July 10. You will need GRHS ACT code: 240990 to sign up. Fee Waivers will be available in counseling in October for free/reduced lunch students.
- Test Information Release (TIR) Oct, April or June is that you can purchase Test Information Release (TIR) which allows you to receive a digital copy of the multiple-choice test questions, your answers, a copy of your answer document, the answer key, and the conversion table used in determining your ACT scores. If you took the optional writing test, you will receive a copy of the writing prompt, the writing test scoring rubric, and your essay scores. However, the cost to take the test on national test day is more, and the TIR service costs $32 if you sign up before you test.
Heidi Clairmont
Counseling Office at GRHS
Email: hclairmont@isd318.org
Website: https://grhs.isd318.org/counseling/scholarships
Location: 800 NW Conifer Dr, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Phone: 218-327-5760 .41544