Seniors

• I want to apply to college, but don't know how: Click on Applications to the left under table of contents.
• Early Action, Early Decision and Priority Decision Deadlines are coming up quickly. Don't wait until the last minute!
• College Rep Visits next week: Drake University, University of Colorado Boulder, Chapman University, University of Calgary, California Polytechnic State University, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Register in Naviance.
• I need information on NCAA or NAIA (playing sports in college): Click on NCAA or NAIA to the left
• I need information on Testing/Test Prep: Click on Testing to the left
• Financial Aid and Scholarships may include trade schools: For more information, click on Financial Aid or Scholarships to the left
• CASFA, CSS Profile and FAFSA information is available below. Applications opened October 1st!

We just approved the final images of the Senior class pictures and they look amazing! If you placed an order it will be mailed out soon.

Remember when ordering....

> ALL laminated photos come with a 5-year replacement guarantee!

> Order the BOTH package with the formal and funny photos laminated and automatically SAVE 20%! (No Promo Code Necessary)

You can still order pictures, please use this link to order your panoramic class pictures: http://bit.ly/BestClassPicture.

The photographer has extended the deadline until FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30TH in case you didn't get a chance to order your pictures.

Please email the photographer, BestClassPicture@gmail.com, if you have any questions. Thank you for your support.

You can still vote! The leaders right now are:

• Flower: Lily
• Motto: "Don't get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life."- Dolly Parton
• Song: Heroes by David Bowie
• Quote: "You'll never do a whole lot unless you're brave enough to try."- Dolly Parton

Attention Seniors!
Want to show off your creativity? Here’s your chance to design this year’s Senior Yard Sign! Submit your design to Mrs. Litherland at llitherland@dcsdk12.org by October 30th. You can see an example sign submission to the right.

The senior class will vote on the winning design, and the winner will receive a FREE yard sign—plus the bragging rights of seeing their artwork all over town! Don’t miss out on leaving your mark!

171 seniors need to schedule their senior credit check meeting with Mrs. Pigati!

153 seniors need to schedule their senior credit check meeting with Mrs. Sawaged.

• For a November 1st deadline, you need to submit supplemental materials with Ms. Gentry by October 30th. November 1st is a SUNDAY.
• November 2nd, we are in school, but you need to make sure all materials are ready to send.
• For a November 15th deadline, you need to submit supplemental materials with Ms. Gentry by November 13th. November 15th is a SUNDAY.

• Ready to apply to college? If you need a letter of recommendation or transcripts, all steps to request are located on the Post Grad website.
• Your first step will be to visit the college website to check for application requirements and/or to apply. You may be able to apply through Common App for many colleges.
• Some colleges utilize a Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR). This means they do not require transcripts (save your $3).
• Next, you will request transcripts and letters of recommendation (if required) through Naviance. Go to colleges I'm applying to > blue + to add colleges > request transcript. If you applied through Common App, match your account.
• You will pay for transcripts through MySchoolBucks BEFORE transcripts are sent. It's $3 per official transcript sent.
• The last step will be for students to come see Ms. Gentry to send materials. You will need to know what you want sent (transcript, letters of recommendation, if you applied through common app, etc.).

• STEPS TO REQUEST LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

  • If your college requires a letter of recommendation, see your counselor and/or teacher at least two weeks in advance of the deadline. Only ask for a recommendation letter if the school requires one.
    • Give teachers a copy of your resume or the Student Profile for Letters of Recommendation found in Naviance under About Me (in the upper right), Surveys From Your School
    • Request the letter in Naviance > Colleges > Letters of Recommendation > Add Request: Find the teachers alphabetically by last name. General Requests can be sent to any college, so that's the preference. If you want a teacher to write a letter for a specific college, let them know and request only for that college.
    • Check in with teachers after a week. Requests will change to "in progress" in Naviance once teachers have uploaded the letter.

• If you have questions, ASK! Talk to your counselor or Ms. Gentry. We're here to help and we want students to understand the process.

What sets Western Colorado University apart? Our unique location in the Rocky Mountains give students access to the stunning outdoors – both for learning and adventure. Our close-knit community provides space where students can build meaningful relationships with professors and peers, receive personalized support, and find opportunities to get involved from day one.

At Western, students don’t just learn from textbooks—they put their knowledge into practice through research, field experiences, internships, and real-world opportunities that help them build the skills and confidence they’ll need beyond the classroom and after graduation.

We’re proud to be welcoming the first students to our Aerospace Engineering program, giving students the opportunity to study engineering on Western’s campus while earning a degree from CU Boulder. This builds on the existing partnership between CU Boulder & Western, seen in our Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Programs. We also have our first Nursing cohort on campus, expanding opportunities for students interested in a high-demand healthcare career. And we welcomed the first Women’s Wrestling team as our newest NCAA athletic program. Lastly, th launch of our new Industry Design major within the School of the Arts combines creativity, design, and hands-on learning to prepare students for careers in a variety of industries.

Visit Western at our upcoming Base Camp: Open House on October 2nd or April 9th. For admitted students, come to the exclusive event Ascend Western: Admitted Student Experience on February 5-6, 2027 where students can take the next step in picturing themselves with a life in Gunnison. We also offer daily campus visits throughout the year.

• College Reps visit Castle View to meet with prospective students. Reps are available to answer questions about the college, application, scholarships, and more. It's a great idea to meet with these reps as they are usually the ones who read your application. You must register for each visit in Naviance and pick up your pass the morning of the visit.
  
• University of Wyoming - Friday, October 23rd at 9:00 AM
• Drake University - Monday, October 26th at 10:30 AM
• University of Colorado Boulder - Monday, October 26th at 12:00 PM
• Chapman University - Tuesday, October 27th at 10:00 AM
• University of Calgary - Wednesday, October 28th at 9:00 AM
• California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo - Thursday, October 29th at 2:00 PM
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Friday, October 30th at 1:00 PM

• Are you planning to apply to a Colorado College/University? Mark October 20-22 on your calendar. It's Colorado FREE Application Day$!!
  

• Are you applying to a State University of New York (SUNY) campus? You can apply for FREE October 19th-November 2nd.

• Students who apply to Oklahoma State in August and pay the $50 application fee will have a chance to win an OSU wag bag and their application fee refunded through Free App Fridays.

• CASFA is for students who are not eligible for Federal Student Aid, undocumented students or students from mixed status families or other situations who prefer not to share their contributors' personal data beyond Colorado higher education institutions. Students who complete a CASFA are applying for State and institutional aid only (NOT Federal Student Aid).

• The purpose of the CASFA is to determine need for financial aid awarding purposes to students historically excluded from receiving state and federal financial aid. CASFA positively supports families and is a logical next step in efforts to erase equity gaps and put college in reach for the families who benefit most from a postsecondary education. CASFA also supports the department’s efforts to make college more affordable by reducing the cost of obtaining a credential and maximizing a student’s higher education investment.

Colleges and career schools use the FAFSA form to determine how much financial aid you're eligible to receive, which could include grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans.

You must apply for aid every year, but with the right information in hand, it's easy.

• The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has scholarship opportunities for high school students. The Cooke College Scholarship is available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need. The application deadline is November 11th through the Common App.

• Each year, Lamber Goodnow Injury Lawyers awards two scholarships to innovative and highly creative high school and college students. Deadline to apply is December 1st.

• The Lumiere Scholars Essay Award invites high school students to examine issues that matter to them, cross disciplinary lines, test assumptions, and defend their arguments with rigorous evidence. 6 winners (1 Gold, 2 Silvers, 3 Bronzes) will share more than $11,000 in cash prizes and scholarships. The top essayists will be invited to the Lumiere Research Symposium and Gala Dinner at Oxford University in July 2027. Early Bird Deadline is October 25th, Free Registration Deadline is November 30th, and the submission deadline is December 20th.

• The Dr. Juan Andrade, Jr. Scholarship for Young Hispanic Leaders seeks to recognize Hispanic students who share Dr. Andrade’s lifelong commitment to servant leadership. Recipients will receive a non-renewable scholarship ($1,000 for a 4-year institution or $500 for a 2-year institution) for undergraduate students. The application is due December 30, 2026, at 11:00 PM CT. Click here for more information.

• The Maximus Munro Foundation awards scholarships each spring to graduating seniors and recent graduates pursuing higher education, skilled trades, apprenticeships, technical certifications, and other career-focused pathways. We are not simply looking for the highest GPA or the longest list of accomplishments. We want to know who you are, how you treat people, how hard you're willing to work, and what you hope to do with this opportunity. We encourage careers in the skilled trades — we're looking for students who want to go to work.

• All students must complete an Academic Plan as a graduation requirement. Our district uses Naviance. All seniors need to complete ALL tasks assigned by May. "Students will create and complete an Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) and/or Individualized Education Program (IEP) that meets the District’s graduation requirements.

  College and career demonstrations necessary to earn a standard high school diploma may be adapted to accommodate English learners, gifted students and students with disabilities."

• Use the Naviance tool "SuperMatch college search" under the colleges tab. This tool allows students to search for specific interests and narrow down their college options. Students can then make a list of their appropriate choices.

NCAA Eligibility Center registration fees increased on September 1st.

New NCAA registration fees are:

• Domestic certification: $120

• International certification: $180

• Athletics-only: $85

  
  

But registration is only one part of an increasingly complex NCAA eligibility process.

As dual enrollment, CTE, credit recovery, virtual learning, and other flexible pathways grow, a course can often count toward graduation or college credit and still not meet NCAA initial-eligibility requirements.

As the Education Partner of the NCAA Eligibility Center, Honest Game helps schools and districts proactively monitor NCAA-approved coursework, Core GPA, and eligibility requirements - so students are on track before it’s time to register.

• The deadline to register for the November 7th SAT is October 23rd. Register here.

• There will be a 7-week, live online SAT prep course this fall for $195. Students who complete the SAT course often see score increases of 200+ points. Course Overview:

• 27-hour comprehensive live online prep course
• Includes 3 proctored practice exams
• Begins in Oct and runs for 7 weeks
• Taught live by a 99th percentile instructor, with real-time student interaction
• Cost: $195 (plus course materials)

Campus Prep has offered SAT programs at the University of Denver for the past 7 years and has served as the official SAT provider for the Boulder Valley School District.

Courses tend to fill quickly. Families can view schedules and apply here:

https://www.campusprep.org (applications take about 60 seconds)

Questions? Please email admin@campusprep.org or call (877) 805-2521.

• ACT.org is the go-to place to get FREE, personalized practice for the ACT. Go to the website for more information.

• The Princeton Review offers Free practice SAT and ACT tests, as well as strategy sessions and test prep. Find more information on the website.

• Read this before sending ACT/SAT scores to colleges: https://blog.prepscholar.com/important-read-this-before-sending-act-scores-to-colleges