12th Grade Counseling Newsletter

Class of 2027,

The 2027-2028 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will become available by October 1st. Students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA as early as possible after it opens to apply for federal and state financial aid. The FAFSA is an application for The HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship program and Federal Pell Grants.

Seniors- If you have submitted an application to college, you need to update your SchooLinks so your counselor can send your transcript. Remember, SchooLinks is how your counselor sends your transcript to colleges. Please see the "Sending Transcripts to College" section below for more info. You can request assistance from your counselor if you need help.

The CCSD College Fair will be held at Walton High School on Monday, September 14 from 6:00-7:30. There will be over 90 colleges represented at this college fair. This is open to all families and students in the Cobb County School District. Students and Parents must register for the event.

Breakout sessions include:

• 5:00 - 6:00: Understanding the US College Application Process
• 6:45 - 7:15: Financial Aid Overview
• 7:30 - 8:00: Crafting Strong College Essays

Register here for the CCSD College Fair: https://www.scholartrek.com/cobb

Seniors should be checking the Class of 2027 CTLS for announcements regarding senior class packages, senior yearbook ads, and more!

Osborne is now holding SAT & ACT Tutoring on select Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please see the SAT/ACT section below for more details and how to register.

Important Info:

• 2027-2028 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): The 2027-2028 FAFSA will be available by October 1st. Once this application becomes available, seniors and their parents/guardians can complete this application for federal and state financial aid. We will host a FAFSA completion event in November to support families who need assistance to complete the FAFSA. As a reminder, the FAFSA needs to be completed every year students are in college. Please see the FAFSA section below for more information.
• GSFAPP: Students can complete the GSFAPP through www.GAfutures.org to submit an application for the HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship program. The FAFSA and GSFAPP are two methods for applying to the HOPE program. The GSFAPP does not require tax information and can be completed in a matter of minutes. This application is good for 10 years.

GEORGIA MATCH is a program through GAfutures that helps Georgia high school seniors see which participating Georgia colleges they may already be academically eligible to attend.

In October, eligible seniors will receive a personalized GEORGIA MATCH list based primarily on academic information that has been reported to the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC), including the student’s HOPE GPA through 11th grade. SAT or ACT scores may also be considered for colleges that have minimum testing or Freshman Index requirements.

Please visit the GEORGIA MATCH website on for more information: https://www.gafutures.org/college-planning/georgia-match/georgia-match/

What does it mean if a college is on my GEORGIA MATCH list?

GEORGIA MATCH is a head start on the college admissions process. If a college appears on your GEORGIA MATCH list, it means your academic record indicates that you meet that college’s initial requirements for provisional admission.

It does NOT mean that you are completely finished with the admissions process. Students will still need to complete and submit an application to the college.

What does “Claim Your Spot” mean?

Students can select "Claim Your Spot" for up to three colleges on their GEORGIA MATCH list.

This lets the college know that the student is interested. The college will then contact the student with instructions for completing the remaining admission steps.

Claim Your Spot is not the same as committing to attend that college. Students can still apply to other colleges and compare admission offers, scholarships, financial aid, majors, housing, and overall costs before deciding where to attend.

Does GEORGIA MATCH mean I qualify for HOPE or Zell Miller?

No. GEORGIA MATCH and HOPE/Zell Miller are separate programs.

A college appearing on your GEORGIA MATCH list does not guarantee that you will receive the HOPE Scholarship, Zell Miller Scholarship, or other financial aid.

Students should continue checking their HOPE GPA and eligibility information in GAfutures and complete the appropriate financial aid applications (see sections below).

What should seniors do now?

Log in to your GAfutures account and make sure your information is accurate.

If you already have an SAT or ACT score, make sure GSFC has your score on file. Test scores on record with GSFC by early September may be used when determining matches for colleges with minimum testing requirements. Then watch for your personalized GEORGIA MATCH letter in October.

• SAT/ACT Registration Session (September 11): This registration session occurs during 1st and 2nd block. Students should pick-up the fee waiver form from Counseling, have a parent sign, and turn back into Counseling. Once they return the signed form, students will be added to the Registration Session list.
• CCSD College Fair: Monday, September 14th, 6:00-7:30
• Open to all CCSD Students and Families
• Walton High School, 1590 Bill Murdock Road, Marietta, 30062
• Register here: https://www.scholartrek.com/cobb
• Osborne College Fair: Thursday, September 17th during 3rd block
• Please note: The OHS college fair is intended to expose a large number of Osborne students to different post-secondary opportunities. The larger Cobb County School District College College Fair hosted on September 14th is open to families and all students
• SAT/ACT Registration Session (October 1): This registration session occurs during 1st and 2nd block. Students should pick-up the fee waiver form from Counseling, have a parent sign, and turn back into Counseling. Once they return the signed form, students will be added to the Registration Session list.
• Application Work Session (October 2): Come to the 2nd floor Charging Station during 1st or 2nd block to work on your Common App or other college/scholarship applications. Ms. Foley-Talley will be there to help answer questions or support you throughout the session.
• Application Work Session (October 9): Come to the 2nd floor Charging Station during 1st or 2nd block to work on your Common App or other college/scholarship applications. Ms. Foley-Talley will be there to help answer questions or support you throughout the session.

Please click on the packet listed above for an overview of the College Application Process. This packet will break down the process into steps that can be followed.

This also includes information on the SAT/ACT, Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and Federal/State Financial Aid opportunities.

Please note: CCSD has transitioned from using Naviance to SchooLinks this school year. SchooLinks is how transcripts are sent to colleges. Please see the "Sending Transcripts to College" section below for more information.

The Osborne High School Scholarship Newsletter is now available! Please click on the attachment above to access the highlighted scholarships.

The OHS Scholarship Newsletter highlights national scholarships during the early fall and shifts to local scholarships later in the school year. Many of these local scholarships are available exclusively to Osborne High School students or give Osborne students preference.

• Each scholarship listing includes:

  • Award amount
  • Application deadline
  • Application link
  • Eligibility requirements

How can you access the OHS Scholarship Newsletter:

• OHS Counseling Website (check under ANNOUNCEMENTS): https://osbornecounseling.wixsite.com/ohscounseling
• Class of 2027 CTLS: Posted weekly to the class board
• This Newsletter: The Scholarship Newsletter is available for download underneath the "Scholarships for Osborne Students" header

Looking for more scholarships?

There are many scholarship search engines that will help students find scholarships that fit their interests. You can also check with employers or community organizations you may be involved with for scholarship opportunities.

Please visit the following scholarship search engines to find more opportunities:

• GAfutures (Georgia Scholarships & Financial Aid): https://www.gafutures.org
• BigFuture Scholarship Search (College Board): https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search
• Fastweb: https://www.fastweb.com
• Scholarships.com: https://www.scholarships.com
• Bold.org: https://bold.org
• Scholarship America: https://scholarshipamerica.org/students/browse-scholarships/
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF): https://www.hsf.net/scholarship

We have many college representatives who visit Osborne to provide informational sessions about their admissions, programs, campus life, and more. Please see below for the colleges who are coming to Osborne soon!

Dalton State: Monday, September 14th, 10:30am, Counseling Career Center

• Students can register here: OHS Dalton State Meeting – Fill out form

Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Monday, September 28th, 9:00AM, Counseling Career Center

• How to Register:
• Go to SchooLinks through Clever
• Click on "Events" at the top
• Click on the school visit and then "register for this event"

Mercer University: Tuesday, October 13th, 10:30AM

• How to Register:
• Go to SchooLinks through Clever
• Click on "Events" at the top
• Click on the school visit and then "register for this event"

Students can find the DE Checklist on the OHS Counseling DE website: https://osbornecounseling.wixsite.com/ohscounseling/dual-enrollment

The SAT and ACT are college entrance exams that may be required for college admissions. Students applying to the following University System of Georgia colleges are now required to submit test scores with their application:

• August University
• Georgia College & State University
• Georgia State University
• Georgia Southern University
• Georgia Tech
• Kennesaw State University
• University of Georgia

Other colleges may require test scores depending on a student’s GPA. For specific testing requirements, students should review the admissions website of each college to confirm their test score policy.

The Counseling Office hosts SAT/ACT Registration Sessions every other week to assist students with the registration process. Students may also be eligible to register for the test for free. The next SAT/ACT registration session will be held Friday, September 11th.

Students who qualify for a fee waiver can pick up a form from the Counseling Office. After the form is signed by a parent or guardian and returned, the student will be invited to attend a registration session to receive a fee waiver code and complete their test registration.

Students should send their test scores to the Georgia Student Finance Commission (code 2225) to be considered for the Zell Miller Scholarship.

Osborne is hosting SAT & ACT Tutoring on select Tuesdays & Thursdays. This is free and taught by your very own Osborne teachers! Please see the flyer posted below for dates, times, and locations.

Follow these steps to send your transcript AFTER submitting your application:

1. Go to Clever and then SchooLinks
2. Click on Colleges on the left side and then select College Applications
1. If you applied through Common App-
1. On the left side taskbar, ensure it says "Connected" for Common App (Link accounts if it is not connected)
2. If you did not apply through Common App-
1. click on the "+ Add application" button in the upper right corner
2. Search and select the college name
3. Select "Completed & Pending" then Add Application
4. Select how you applied, application type, then Save Application

This process is essentials for making sure your transcript is sent to the college you applied. Please reach out to your counselor if you have any questions about the process or need assistance.

More than 1,100 colleges partner with Common App as a way to apply to their college.

Here are some tips for students to use as they are working on their Common App:

• When creating account, select First Year Student
• Under the Profile section in your Common Application tab- you can request an fee waiver in the last subsection
• Education Section:
• Class Rank: NONE (CCSD does not utilize class rank)
• Class size: 625
• GPA Scale: 5.0 weighted, 4.0 unweighted
• The Common Application tab is the general application. Students need to add colleges to the "My Colleges" tab. You will submit your application to colleges through the "My Colleges" tab.
• DO NOT invite your counselor as a "Recommender"- we are automatically listed as a Counselor through SchooLinks
• DO NOT invite teachers to complete recommendation through Common App- that is completed through SchooLinks
• Check for Direct Admissions offers- *only a fraction of colleges offer this*
• Colleges may reach out with offers if you fit the profile of a student they are looking for. You can check for offers under the "Direct Admissions" tab
• These DA offers may waive application fees, essay requirements, or more if an offer is made
• Applications must still be submitted to these colleges
• You can only apply to 20 colleges through Common App. That is the maximum number of colleges you can apply to using this platform.

The 2027-2028 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is in testing now and is expected to open for everyone by October 1st. There is no need to complete and older FAFSA (2026-2027) for Fall 2027 enrollment.

The FAFSA is the application students and families use to apply for financial aid to help pay for college, technical college, and many career training programs. Completing the FAFSA can help students qualify for grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities, and federal student loans.

Students should complete the FAFSA with a parent or guardian as soon as it becomes available. Families will use 2025 federal tax information when completing the application. Submitting the FAFSA early gives students the best opportunity to be considered for financial aid, as some aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

The FAFSA is required to be considered for many federal and state financial aid programs, including:

• Federal Pell Grants
• Federal Work-Study
• Federal Direct Student Loans
• Georgia HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships and Grants (for eligible Georgia students)
• Many institutional and private college scholarships

Important Note: The FAFSA must be completed every year a student plans to attend college or technical school to remain eligible for financial aid.

See below for quick FAFSA resources:

• 2027–2028 FAFSA Application (NOT AVAILABLE YET): studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
• Overview of the FAFSA process: studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out
• Guide for FAFSA (available in 14 languages): Guides | FAFSA: The How-To Guide for High School Students
• For step-by-step instructions: https://www.sallie.com/financial-aid/fafsa/guide?utm_source=slmcom&utm_medium=web

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Students who are attending a Georgia college or university may be eligible for either the HOPE Scholarship or the Zell Miller Scholarship. Students can apply for both by completing the 2027-2028 FAFSA or the GSFAPP through GaFutures.

For more information and eligibility requirements for the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships, please visit: https://www.gafutures.org/hope-state-aid-programs/hope-zell-miller-scholarships/hope-scholarship/

To check your HOPE GPA, students can create their account on www.gafutures.org. Osborne must have the student’s social security number on file for students to be eligible for HOPE or Zell Miller. Please remember that the HOPE GPA is different from the GPA listed on your high school Transcript.

The GSFAPP is an alternate way to apply for The HOPE Scholarship Program that only takes a couple of minutes. It does not require 2024 tax information or parent participation. The GSFAPP is an active application for 10 years (just complete it one time!). Seniors can complete their GSFAPP in www.gafutures.org under "State Aid Applications".