Eastview Counselor Connection

• December 20: EVCF Scholarship Application Opens (check Schoology)
  

January 5: ACT Registration Deadline for February 10 National Test

There will be an Eastview Community Foundation Scholarship Virtual Information Session for parents/guardians of seniors on Tuesday, December 19th at 7PM. The meeting will cover information on the EVCF Scholarship Program, scholarship opportunities, deadlines, and how to apply. No RSVP is required. Click HERE to access the Zoom link.

EVCF will be awarding 65+ scholarships equaling over $65,000 to seniors who live in the Eastview attendance area and will be graduating high school in the Spring of 2024.

You will find all the opportunities in the EVCF Scholarship Descriptions (click HERE). While you wait, take a moment to explore the scholarships you qualify for so you are prepared to apply when the application window opens on 12/20!

Deadline: January 21, 2024 (8pm CT)

The deadline for submitting requests for letters of recommendations or school reports to teachers and counselors so they can be completed before our Winter Break is Friday, December 15th. Students should plan accordingly as transcript requests are not processed over winter break.

Award Amount: More than 600 scholarships valued at up to $25,000 each for high school juniors.

The Horatio Alger Scholarship Program specifically assists high school students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their young lives. The Horatio Alger Association seeks students who have exhibited determination, integrity, and perseverance in overcoming adversity, as well as have critical financial need.

Eligibility Requirements

• Be enrolled full time as a high school junior in the United States

• Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited non-profit public or private institution in the United States immediately after high school graduation (students may start their studies at a two-year institution and then transfer to a four-year institution)

• Demonstrate critical financial need ($65,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required)

• Be involved in co-curricular and community service activities

• Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity

• Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0

• Be a United States citizen

Apply Now: https://bit.ly/3NruMR3 (or scan the QR Code below)

What is the FAFSA?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form you fill out to apply for financial aid for college. It's used by the U.S. Department of Education to determine your eligibility for grants, loans, and work-study programs. Essentially, it helps the government and colleges understand your financial situation so they can offer you assistance to pay for your education.

Why is completing the FAFSA is important?

Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an important step to take for anyone pursuing higher education. Here are the reasons why:

Access to Financial Aid

• The FAFSA is the primary tool used to determine your eligibility for different types of financial aid such as work-study programs, federal grants, and loans. By completing the FAFSA, you are opening up possibilities for potential financial assistance that can help you pay for your education.

College Affordability

• The cost of college can be overwhelming, but the FAFSA helps to assess your financial need. Colleges and universities use the information provided in the FAFSA to determine how much financial aid they can offer you. This aid can make attending college more affordable and accessible.

State and Institutional Aid

• Many states and colleges use the FAFSA to determine eligibility for their financial aid programs. Some states and institutions have specific grants or scholarships that are awarded based on FAFSA information. Completing the FAFSA ensures that you are considered for all possible sources of financial aid.

Interest-Free Subsidized Loans

• The FAFSA is also used to determine eligibility for subsidized federal loans. Subsidized loans don't accrue interest while you're in school, making them a more cost-effective borrowing option compared to unsubsidized loans.

Work-Study Opportunities

• The FAFSA helps determine whether you qualify for the Federal Work-Study Program, which provides part-time employment opportunities for students with financial need. This allows you to earn money to help cover your educational expenses while gaining work experience.

Demonstrating Need for Institutional Aid

• Some colleges use the FAFSA to assess a student's financial need for their own institutional aid programs. This information can be crucial in determining the overall financial aid package a college may offer you.

Flexibility in Case of Unforeseen Circumstances

• Life is unpredictable, and financial situations can change. Completing the FAFSA provides a baseline for your financial need, and if circumstances change (such as a loss of income), you may be able to appeal for additional aid.

In summary, completing the FAFSA is a crucial step in the financial aid process, allowing you to access various forms of assistance that can make higher education more affordable and attainable.

For more information: https://bit.ly/47S68RJ.

The North Star Promise Program is a new, ongoing state-funded scholarship that will cover the full cost of tuition and fees for eligible Minnesota residents who attend a public undergraduate college or university in the state. The scholarship will be available to those with an annual family income of less than $80,000. The program will benefit new, current and returning students who are working toward a degree, diploma or certificate.

For more information on the North Star Scholarship Program and eligibility, click HERE.

Registration is open for Ready, Set, FAFSA! January 2024 series to assist students and families with financial aid. The series, running on Tuesday evenings in January, is intended for current high school students and will cover general information about the financial aid process, details on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the Minnesota Dream Act for undocumented students, and other ways to pay for college.

All sessions will have interpretation in Spanish, Somali, and Hmong. Attendees can ask questions in the chat and have them answered during the event by financial aid experts. Students who attend any of the sessions will be entered into a drawing to win a $1,000 scholarship (one entry per session attended).

Sessions include:

• Session #1: Create Your FSA ID, Jan. 9, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
• Session #2: Apply for Financial Aid: FAFSA, Jan. 16 at 7:00 p.m.
  OR
  Session #2: Apply for Financial Aid: MN Dream Act, Jan. 23 at 7:00 p.m.
• Session #3: Understand Your Offer Letter, Jan. 30 at 7:00 p.m.

Ready, Set, FAFSA! sessions are offered as a collaboration by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, Minnesota Department of Education, ECMC - The College Place, and Minnesota Goes to College.

Register Now

Warrior 196 Leadership Foundation is proud to award $2000 scholarships to two graduating seniors ​from each high school in ​School District 196 in honor of former students killed while in active military duty:

Apply for Scholarship

Apply for the AVID Scholarship

For more information, click HERE.

Deadline: March 22, 2024

Tuesday, December 19th

11:15am: U.S. Navy

Thursday, December 21st

11:15am: U.S. Marines

Steps to Sign Up for College Rep Visits (Does not apply to military visits):

1. Log into Naviance (Single Sign-On): On the Naviance main page, scroll down to see "What's New". This will have a list of upcoming visits. Click on "More Info" next to the college's name. Then click on "Register".

2. Pick up a pass in the Counseling Office before the visit.

With Raise.me, students can guarantee scholarships from 200+ colleges as early as 9th grade, making it easier to plan financially for school. Raise.me has proven to be a great tool to motivate students in high schools throughout the U.S., as the site immediately rewards

students with scholarships for their hard work in and outside of high school.

As an example: ● Get an A in a course ($100 - $1,000) ● Get a B in a course ($50 - $600) ● Participate in a school club or sport ($25 - $250) ● And much more! These bite-sized scholarships are called “Micro-Scholarships”. When students add achievements to their Portfolio on Raise.me, they could be eligible to earn Micro-Scholarships towards our partner colleges.

Steps to get started:

1. Ensure that your student creates an account at www.raise.me.

2) Encourage your student to regularly add good grades, community service, extracurricular activities, and other achievements to his or her raise.me “Portfolio” to earn “Micro-Scholarships” from colleges.

3) Visit: https://www.raise.me for more information. Local schools include: University of St. Thomas, Gustavus, UMD, Luther, University of Northern Iowa, University of Iowa, University of Wisconsin- Stout, and more!

Option 1: MyinTuition
MyinTuition is most appropriate for prospective students and families looking for a quick ballpark estimate. It gives a range of expected costs for 90% of families in a similar situation.
Calculate your need

Option 2: Net Price Calculator
The Net Price Calculator is most appropriate for prospective students and families needing a close estimate of what their aid package will look like if attending a certain college/university.

Calculate your need

In case you missed it! View the presentation from the College Planning Night for Senior Parents here (many resources linked).

- View the Transcript Release Process for Eastview Students & Parents here.

- View the Eastview High School Steps to Submit the Common App here.

- View the Eastview High School steps to submit Institutional College Applications here.

(NOTE: NOT for use with The COMMON APPLICATION. See Common App guidelines sheet instead.)

- View the steps to request recommendations from EVHS Staff Members here.

These resources and more can be found in the Class of 2024 Schoology Group:

• Schoology Class of 2024 → Resources Folder

If your student needs supplies, please send them to the Counseling Office. We have supplies including notebooks, pens, pencils, padlocks for gym lockers, pocket folders, graphing paper, index notecards and more. We also have new backpacks!

Life can feel overwhelming at times. Sometimes it can be hard to figure out how to work through challenging times. At the Eastview High School, we have a Virtual Calming Room to help students explore strategies to help deal with those challenges. We hope these tools will provide helpful outlets and practice for when life gets tough.

Desktop Virtual Calm Room

Mobile-Friendly Virtual Calm Room

Park Nicollet’s Growing Through Grief counselor, Jenny Simmonds, will be offering a weekly grief group for Eastview students who have experienced the death of a significant family member (parent, sibling, caregiver, etc.). If your teen is living with loss and you think they could benefit from participating in a grief group, please contact Molly Wellik at molly.wellik@district196.org and we will connect with your student regarding their interest.

For more details about our program and resources visit the Eastview Counseling website.

Email: Eastview@district196.org
Website: https://evhs.district196.org/families/counseling
Location: 6200 140th Street West, Apple Valley, MN, USA
Phone: 952-431-8900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evhs.college.career
Twitter: @evhscollege