Your eligibility for financial aid will be based on the calendar year starting in January of your junior year.  Now is the time to learn what information you and your parents will need in order to file a FAFSA.  

What is the FAFSA? 

The Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form students and parents must complete and submit to the federal government to determine their eligibility for financial aid and scholarship opportunities. 

Who files the FAFSA? 

Since this is a federal application, it is for US citizens or students with a legal status in the United States.  International students are not eligible for federal student aid. 

What kind of aid does the federal government offer? 

There are three types of aid offered by the US government: 1) Grants, 2) Student Loans, 3) Work-study.  Colleges will also often use the FAFSA to award their own need-based financial...

Do you know the entire name of the PSAT test?  It is officially the PSAT/ NMSQT test. “NMSQT” stands for “National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.” The only time you can be considered for the National Merit Scholarship is during your junior year.  Taking the PSAT is the only way to be considered. 

Taking the PSAT by grade level 

• Freshman year– It is your first opportunity to take a college-prep standardized test. Check to see if your school allows first-year students to take the PSAT/NMSQT.  The school may want you to take the new PSAT 9 in the fall or the spring. 
• Sophomore year– Take it more seriously- this is the last time you can take this test and not have it sent to the colleges. You may be taking the new PSAT 10 in fall or spring. 
• Junior year– Game time!  Prepare just as you have for the SAT test.  Do your best on this PSAT/NMSQT test. You will have colleges knocking at...

College fairs are a great place to start your college search!  So, what’s a college fair and what can you expect?   
 
Think “science fair” for colleges.  College fairs are events where colleges from around the country will gather to provide students with information.  College representatives (usually admission staff or college alumni) are available at tables to answer questions and distribute brochures or handouts about their college.  You might also be able to sign up to be on a college’s mailing/email list.  College fairs typically happen at your school (or a school nearby), or sometimes at a hotel, community center, or convention center.

To make the most of your college fair experience, here are some general do’s and don’ts.   

DO: 

• Make a plan!  Get a list of the colleges that will be at the event and decide which college tables you want to...

You may have already started to look at different colleges, but how do you compare them?  Here are five categories that you should consider when evaluating a college.  

• General Information – Where is it located?  Is public or private?  How many students go to school here? 
• Academic – What majors are offered?  Does the school offer the academic area you are interested in?  Undecided about your major – how will the school help you choose a program of study?  What other special academic programs does the school offer – honors, academic themed housing, study abroad, etc.?   
• Admissions – How selective is the school?  (A lower the acceptance rate equals a more selective the school.)  What are the average ACT and SAT scores of admitted students?  What about the average GPA of admitted students?  Is it a weighted or...

AP scores will be available online at the beginning of July.  Scores are released over several days based on the state in which you tested.  View the date and location schedule, and your scores, on the College Board website.  

What is the AP exam score scale? 

There is no “pass” or “fail” on the AP tests.  It’s important to understand the definitions of the AP scores. 

5 = extremely well qualified | Many universities award college credit  

4 = well qualified | Some universities award college credit 

3 = qualified | Some universities award college credit 

2 = possibly qualified | No college credit awarded 

1 = no recommendation | No college credit awarded 

What if I have other scores? 

Go to www.apscore.org to view scores on tests you took in previous years. 

What if I have other...

It’s all about you! 

This summer start thinking about what you like, and what is important to you.  Summer is a good time to do as much preparing for next year as you can.  Here is an activity you can do with your friends.  It is fun to compare notes and learn about each other. 

Think about the following questions.  What are?… 

• 2 things in your room important to you? 
• 2 songs you like? 
• 2 words your friends would use to describe you? 
• 2 words you would use to describe yourself? 

Let’s take it a bit deeper.  What are?… 

• 2 feelings you have about going to college? 
• 2 things you want from a college? 
• 2 colleges you know about and like? 

What did you learn about yourself? 

Did your friend’s answers surprise you?  What did you learn about your friends? What did you learn about yourself?  

Take Action 

Take...

It’s officially summer now!  You may not want to think about school but now is a good time to reflect on this past year and set your goals for the upcoming school year.  

Look back at this past year: 

• Are you happy with your grades?   
• Did you enjoy your classes? 
• Did you spend enough (or too much) time in extracurricular activities?  
• Are there activities or classes you wish you could have taken? 
• What one change will you make for school next year? 

Take Action 

Login to your GuidedPath account.  Do you have everything updated?  Update your profile.  Set yourself a TASK with all your goals for next year. 

As you are researching colleges, you will hear comments about how one campus is “very liberal” or another is “conservative”, or another is “middle of the road”.  These are references to the political leanings of a college campus.  Is it red (conservative), blue (liberal), or somewhere in between?  How do you know? 

Here are some tips for exploring the political atmosphere on a college campus: 

1. Check out the list of college clubs.  What kinds of clubs are available? 
2. Look at the campus newspaper or campus news sites online?  What are the issues?  Are the issues balanced, or slanted more toward a liberal or conservative viewpoint? 
3. Review the mission statement.  Does the college have core beliefs that favor one political perspective over another?  
4. Check the school’s social media.  What is the Twitter and Facebook chatter covering? 
5. ...