*Colleges, please use Hobsons, www.repvisits.com if possible to book your college visit for fall 2022.

**Students, in the fall, please accept the Canvas Invitation from the College & Career Center to receive information and opportunities all year long!

Juniors and Seniors: Check Out This Guidebook to Prepare For Your Year!

12th Year Campaign Junior/Senior Student Workbook
Click here to download A Guide for Navigating College Admissions & Financial Aid  . This workbook is full of valuable information to guide you through both your junior and senior year... also a great resource to learn more about financial aid.

How to Apply to College Guide
This  How to Apply to College Guide is from Study.com and is full of information on everything that you need to know during this college application time!

This guide includes:

• An outline of the full college application process
• Tips for completing the Common App and Common App essay
• Interview tips and sample questions
• College research and touring advice 

Current Scholarship Opportunities
"Scholarship Season" runs from November and continues through April/May. This is the time of year when an abundant number of scholarships become available. That being said, there are always scholarships out there to be applied for. A few resources are listed below! Check out GearUp Washington....a Washington scholarship resource! This site is updated monthly with a wide variety of scholarships. Continue to check back monthly for their updates! Next, make sure you fill out a profile on the Washboard.org....this is a scholarship search engine that matches students to scholarships. Your profile can be updated whenever necessary. This is also the website SHS/GP/AIM use for the Local Scholarship Program that runs from February 1 to March 4.  For more scholarship opportunities, visit the SHS Scholarship page.

FAFSA or WASFA 
Seniors, if you are applying to colleges/universities and tech/trade schools you should be applying for Financial aid. Financial aid is money that is available to students to help cover the cost of attending a college/tech or trade school (tuition, fees, books, room/meals, supplies). Filling out the 2022-23 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the best way to apply for financial aid. The FAFSA opens on October 1 each year. For most financial aid, a student does not need to know where they are going to school. The earlier you apply ... the BEST shot you will have at receiving the most financial aid.

The FAFSA is the method the federal government uses to determine how much you and your family can afford to contribute to your education, and then how much in grants, scholarships, loans and work study the federal government will offer you the student. It is also how the college you will be attending, determines what need-based scholarships and grants, as well as loans and work study they can offer you.

If you’re not eligible to submit the FAFSA and you’re a Washington resident (i.e. if an undocumented student), you can fill out the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA), which will be used instead to determine state and university need-based financial aid options.

Biggest misconception is that students are not going to fill out the FAFSA, because they won’t be eligible for financial aid... this may be true regarding receiving aid from the Federal Government, but the FAFSA is used by colleges to determine Merit /Need-based/other scholarships. It's time to fill out your FAFSA/WASFA!

Need help filing? Check out the Financial Aid page for more FAFSA & WASFA information!|
Additional resource is Filling out the FAFSA information Direction Page

Complete Financial Aid Guide from Study.com

Guide to FAFSA and Financial Aid

The new COVID-19 stimulus bill included several notable changes to the FAFSA process, and we've included those changes in our in-depth, expert-verified guide which also offers information about:

• The different types of financial aid available, including grants, loans, and scholarships
• Steps for how to gather documents and fill out the FASFA
• Expert financial aid advice for getting the most aid
• Tips for how to successfully pay back student loans
• An infographic breaking down the rising costs of college

Financial Aid PowerPoint
Another resource full of information about financial aid is our Financial Aid PowerPoint. Please contact the Counseling Department or the College & Career Center if you have questions!

SAT/ACT Testing

Some colleges have decided to drop the SAT/ACT requirement going forward. This website includes a sortable list of all the test optional colleges in the U.S. This list is updated frequently.

Please check the college's website that you are planning on applying to, to see if they are requiring one of these test for admission or for any of their scholarships. Deciding to take one of these tests is now truly the student's decision!

If you decide to test, here are some test prep websites

Free SAT Prep: https://www.testgeek.com/free-sat-prep.html

Free ACT Prep: https://www.testgeek.com/free-act-prep.html

Terms to know:

Test Optional: Students may choose to submit test scores to strengthen an application. Submission of a test score does not disadvantage or advantage students in the admission review process if a student chooses not to submit. In place of a test score, students who choose to apply as test optional will be required to submit additional and alternative measures of college readiness.

Test Blind: Test scores are not looked at or considered at any point in the admissions review process, even if a student chooses to submit a test score. No additional, alternative measure of college readiness is required in place of a test score.

Test Not Required: Test scores are not considered in the admissions review process, even if a student chooses to submit a test score. However, test scores are considered for placement, entry into an Honors program, and/or scholarship awards.

Info on Cyber Security, Computer Science Degrees and Artificial Intelligence
Are you interested in a career path in cyber security? This website will provide information on the types of careers in cybersecurity available, potential salaries, job duties, top cities and industries to pursue! It will also explain how to prepare for a career in this field.

• Guide on how to prepare for a career in cybersecurity

Are you interested in a career in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation? The website below defines artificial intelligence, lists various types of automation and discusses how to land a job within the field.

• Understanding artificial intelligence

Math Degree Careers Guide
This guide covers information on job outlook, courses typical of the major, and scholarships.

Free test preparation tools

• CollegeBoard - ACCUPLACER practice
• ACT Academy
• Preparing for the ACT Test
• ASVAB - Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
• Khan Academy - Offcial SAT Practice
• Khan Academy - Making High School Count

• Free SAT Prep: https://www.testgeek.com/free-sat-prep.html

• Free ACT Prep: https://www.testgeek.com/free-act-prep.html