Counselor's Corner

___ Create a FSA ID at studentaid.gov for you and one for a parent. This task will need to be completed before you can complete a FAFSA application to apply for financial aid for college. The FAFSA application will open in December.

___ Complete college applications. Participate in the Apply2College Event on Thursday, October 24th!

___ Continue exploring and applying for scholarships!

___ If you plan on re-taking the ACT, register by November 8th for the December 14th test.

___ Set up a college visit or job shadow for College Visit/Job Shadow Day on Wednesday, November 13th.

• You can learn more about the FAFSA and financial aid by signing up for an EducationQuest Financial Aid Program webinar. The information presented will be very similar to what was presented during the Senior College Planning meeting. There are many new changes coming to FAFSA this year, so if you need a refresher or are applying for the first time, I would highly recommend signing up for the webinar. Click the button below to register.
• Mrs. Reese also briefly presented information about fall planning, scholarships, and upcoming events. Slides from this presentation are linked below.

On Wednesday, October 9th, sophomores who signed up will be attending a campus visit to Southeast Community College. This gives students an opportunity to explore a 2 year college campus, see the facilities, and learn more about the programs they offer.

On Tuesday, October 15th, the sophomore class will be attending the Northeast Nebraska Sophomore Career Day at Wayne State College. In the morning, students will participate in several sessions tailored to their career interests. In the afternoon, students will be attending breakout sessions on topics designed to help them prepare for life after high school. This is a great opportunity for sophomores to explore careers and start thinking about their next steps after high school.

The week of October 21st is College Week! Students will be participating in college related activities throughout the week. Apply2College Day will be held on Thursday, October 24th. Apply2College is part of a national campaign to encourage students to consider college. Seniors will have time during the morning to complete college and scholarship applications. Admissions representatives from Wayne State College, Northeast Community College, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will be available to help students with admission and scholarship applications.

All juniors will participate in the ASVAB Career Exploration Program on Wednesday, October 30th. The ASVAB Career Exploration Program is a great opportunity for students to learn about their strengths and interests. It assesses academic ability and predicts success in a variety of career fields, offering a unique opportunity for all students to learn about themselves, whether they’re interested in pursuing post-secondary education, work-based learning, or the military. Results will not be released or shared with recruiters.

The Hagan Scholarship is a nationwide need-based merit scholarship, providing recipients “regardless of nationality” with the opportunity to achieve their goals and graduate college debt-free. The scholarship provides up to $7,500 each semester for up to 8 consecutive semesters. Applicants must graduate from a high school located in the United States. The Applicant’s Adjusted Gross Household Income reported for 2023 Federal Income Tax Purposes must not have exceeded $100,000. Free workshops, Free Schwab Brokerage Accounts, and Free Study Abroad provide recipients with a practical understanding of important life skills not typically covered in the school curriculum. Hagan Scholars have attended 637 colleges and universities located in 49 states and the District of Columbia.

Hagan Scholars who graduate college while in the Hagan Scholarship Program can apply for a Hagan Graduate Scholarship good for up to four additional semesters in college receiving up to $7,500 each semester.

**Our students have been awarded this scholarship in the past. If you qualify, I would highly suggest you apply.

The application deadline is December 1st, 2024.

Applicants will be judged on scholarship, leadership, and financial need. Ranging from $1,000 per year to $12,500 per year, Most Valuable Student scholarships are for students pursuing a four-year degree, on a full-time basis. Apply here.

The application closes November 12th.

There are several places that students can check for scholarships.

1. Check the website of the schools you are applying to. All colleges have a scholarship application that can be filled out after applying. Be on the look out for some scholarships that may require a separate application or essay.

2. Check the Scholarship List. Mrs. Reese updates the scholarship list as new scholarships are announced.

3. Use online sources. There are many free scholarship search websites. The following websites are useful when searching for scholarships. Never pay for scholarship search services.

• Scholarship Quest
• Scholarships.com
• Unigo
• Appily