CCR Update

Juniors will receive PSAT/NMSQT scores starting on November 5th. Students access their scores using their College Board account. Use your PSAT score report to receive tailored resources from Khan Academy and develop a study plan. Khan Academy's digital SAT course content includes videos, articles, and worked examples designed to help you understand and experience the digital SAT Suite of Assessments.

Important Tip: If you are creating an account or updating an existing account, be sure to use a personal email address instead of your school email address to prevent issues with future access to your account.

Students who were absent for the PSAT received an email from Mr. Gill (standard time) or Ms. Kereluik (accommodated) regarding their intention to take the makeup exam on 10/27/26 (standard time) or 10/28/26 (accommodated). Please make sure to fill out the Google Form so we can add you to the makeup exam roster. See your email for the details.

P. A. 101-180 requires all Illinois public high school students to complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma. Additionally, high schools are expected to provide students and their families with any support or guidance necessary to comply with the requirement. For students who choose not to file an application, a waiver may be completed by their parent. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) makes available through their website a FAFSA Nonparticipation Form (English and Spanish) for this purpose. Check out our FAFSA Update for more information.

We are planning a FAFSA Completion Workshop with ISAC that will be scheduled for Thursday, October 29th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Please complete this form if you are interested in attending.

Compass Academy is District 303's innovative high school of choice, where students learn through interdisciplinary, project-based experiences in a competency-based model that emphasizes mastery, personalized learning, and real-world application. Designed for students seeking a more personalized, relationship-centered approach to high school, Compass provides flexibility, meaningful connections, and opportunities to learn beyond the traditional classroom while preparing students for success after graduation. Are you "Compass Curious"? Click the link to learn more.

The Counselors will be offering workshops in the LRC-East Lab to assist our seniors with their post-secondary planning for college, military, trades, etc. These workshops will run periods 1-12 every Wednesday from September 2nd until October 28th. Seniors are reminded to attend during a free period in their schedule.

SIgn up in SchooLinks:

1. Log in to your SchooLinks account (https://app.schoolinks.com/).
   

2. On the Student Dashboard, click on the Events section to see all upcoming college application workshops.
   

3. Click on the date and period of the workshop you want to attend, and then click on the Register for this Event button.

Important information for students who are interested in taking an AP exam but are not enrolled in the corresponding AP course:

Students wishing to take any AP exams for classes in which they are not enrolled must register and pay for the exam no later than Friday, November 6. The fee is $100 per exam and is non-refundable. Registration forms are available here or in the College & Career Office. Once payment is received, you will receive a join code from Mr. Gill to complete your order.

Elgin Community College is offering a series of College & Career events for the fall and spring semesters. Session topics include The Start of College Decisions, Financial Aid 101, Early College Credit options, Professional Etiquette, Discovering Careers, Career Clusters & Opportunities, Successful Interviewing and more. All events are free and open to the public. Events will be held virtually over Zoom on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7 P.M. unless otherwise noted. For more information and meeting links, please visit https://elgin.edu/community/college-transitions/ccr/upcoming-events/

Upcoming Events:

Money Matters: Financial Confidence for College Students

Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2026 Time: 6:00 pm to 7:15 pm Location: Virtual

Financial confidence begins with understanding how to manage your money wisely. Join us for an informative session designed to help students develop practical financial skills that support success in college and beyond. Participants will learn the fundamentals of budgeting, banking, credit, saving, and managing everyday expenses. The webinar will also explore strategies for making informed financial decisions, avoiding common financial pitfalls, and building healthy money habits that can last a lifetime. Whether you are preparing for college, are currently enrolled, or are planning your next educational step, this session will provide valuable tools and resources to help you take control of your financial future. Guest Speaker: TBD Join us for this installment of the College & Career Success Series, a year-long webinar series designed to help students plan, prepare, and succeed in college, career, and beyond.

The City of St. Charles is offering a career pathway job shadow program to St. Charles high school students interested in exploring a career in municipal government. You may schedule up to three different job shadow experiences per school year, during which you can explore work sites, ask questions, see demonstrations, and learn about education and certifications. Students will be responsible for transportation to and from the City. The date, time, and length of the job shadow will be scheduled outside of school hours directly with the City’s job shadow program coordinator. Please return your completed registration form to Mr. Matt Gill in the College & Career Office.

1. Log in to your SchooLinks account (https://app.schoolinks.com/).
   

2. On the Student Dashboard, click on the School Events section to see all upcoming college visits.
   

3. Click on the name of the visit you want to attend, and then click on the Register for this Event button.
   

Before attending the visit, make sure you pick up a College Visit Pass from the College & Career Readiness Office or Student Services. You will need to fill out the form and have your teacher sign it before attending the visit. You will also be responsible for making up any missed work when attending a college visit.

If you have a conflict with a college visit, please email Diana.Ams@d303.org for the college rep's contact information.

For Scheduled Virtual Visits: Click the link to enter the live virtual conference with a college rep. For the full listing go to the College Visit page on the CCR Website.

10/26/26 University of Chicago 1

10/26/26 Millikin University 3

10/26/26 Elgin Community College 6/7

10/27/26 Chapman University 2

10/28/26 Arizona State University-Tempe 2

10/28/26 Northern Michigan University 12

11/4/26 Carthage College 2

11/5/26 Elgin Community College 3

11/10/26 Northern Illinois University 8/9

12/2/26 Grand Canyon University 12

Information for local scholarships and select national scholarships is available in the College and Career Office and through the scholarship listing on the CCR website. This list will continue to be updated throughout the school year.

Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Foundation

The Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program is the largest undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend the nation’s best four-year colleges and universities. In addition to the monetary award, Cooke Scholars receive comprehensive educational advising, significant cohort-based programming, and graduate school funding, as well as a thriving network of nearly 2,500 fellow Cooke Scholars and alumni.

Each award is intended to cover a significant share of the student’s educational expenses – including tuition, living expenses, books and required fees. Awards (up to $40,000) vary by individual, based on the cost of tuition as well as other grants or scholarships he or she may receive. Key requirements include: Unweighted GPA of 3.5 or above. Demonstrated financial need and family income up to $95,000. Application deadline is November 11, 2026.

Elks National Foundation Scholarship Program

The Elks National Foundation will award 500 four-year scholarships to the highest-rated applicants in the 2027 competition. Most Valuable Student scholarships are for students pursuing a four-year degree, on a full-time basis (minimum of 12 semester hours), in a U.S. college or university. All scholarships are in the form of certificates of award conditional upon the full-time enrollment of the winner in an accredited U.S. college or university. Male and female students compete separately. Awards range from $1,000 per year to $7,500 per year. The Chicago office of the Elks National Foundation will announce the 500 national winners in late April 2027. (Many local Lodges, districts and state Elks associations award their own scholarships through this program. These scholarships are not to be confused with the 500 Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarships.) The application deadline is November 12, 2026.

ECC-Seigle Scholars Program

The Seigle Scholar Program at Elgin Community College (ECC) is an incredible opportunity open to high school seniors planning to transfer to a four-year university. It offers a full-ride scholarship to ECC covering tuition, books, fees and more—so you can focus on your studies. For scholarship details, eligibility, and an easy online application, visit the Seigle Scholars web page. The application deadline is January 18, 2027.

• D303 Financial Aid Night-St. Charles North Auditorium-September 16, 2026-6:30-8:00 p.m.
• 2027-2028 FAFSA Application-Scheduled to open October 1, 2026
• Pathways Night (2 Year, Tech, Trades & Military Post-Secondary Options)-Compass Academy-October 28, 2026-6-8 p.m.
• FAFSA Completion Workshop-B200C/LRC-October 29, 2026-6-8pm.
• Early College Credit Information Night-St. Charles East Little Theatre-November 17, 2026 -6:30-8:30.p.m.
• Spring Into College-Little Theatre-March 9, 2027-6-8 p.m.
• Fox Valley College Fair@ St. Charles East Main Gym-March 24, 2027-6-8 p.m.

More details will be shared as we get closer to each event date.

Website: https://sites.google.com/d303.org/stcharleseast--collegecareer/home
Location: 1020 Dunham Road, St. Charles, IL, USA
Phone: 331-228-5770
Twitter: @STCECCR