Check out the YESS Post-Secondary Success Program Video!

Click here to view!

Senior Spring Post-Secondary Planning Checklist!

Senior Spring Checklist! 

January
	Complete remaining college applications
	Complete FAFSA or alternative forms if you haven't done so already
	Follow up on your college applications.
	Begin activating college portals. Ask us how!
	Update personal statement with fall semester experiences
	Check College E-mails
FEBRUARY
	Apply to at least three scholarships
	Filling out and submitting verification forms if needed for FAFSA
	submit institutional scholarship application for each college
	Grade check with all teachers
MARCH
	Complete Next Steps for Technical College Pathway
	Compare costs of the schools you are considering
	Grade check with all teachers
APRIL
	Collect Financial Aid Packages
	Choose an official college or pathway
	submit student housing application
	Check College E-mails
	Grade check with all teachers
	Sign up for orientation
MAY
	Set up a one-on-one check in with PSSN
	Prepare for graduation

I submitted my FAFSA! Now what?!

High five for completing your FAFSA! But that's just the beginning of your financial aid journey. Take a few minutes to watch the video below:

https://youtu.be/1c1gNefSw78?list=PL23B9A23CD8DD82DD

Keep an eye on emails from FAFSA. You'll receive one with a link to your SAR shortly after submitting your FAFSA application. You may want to search your inbox for FAFSA and/or SAR (student aid report) to be sure you haven't missed it! Some students didn't read the whole thing and never go to the link for the SAR! Your SAR will include the estimated amount of aid you'll receive aka your Pell Grant.

If you've already been admitted to any colleges, follow the steps provided in your admission paperwork/email to access your account for that school. Some of them may also create an institutional(college) email address for you. You'll want to check that regularly (at least once a week!) in case they send you information about financial aid and enrollment to that email address! Consider making a calendar reminder to check weekly.

Check out the info provided by FAFSA about Next Steps here. There's info about verification, your SAR, how to claim your award $, and some details about the loan process should you choose to accept a loan.

Always talk to a trusted adult or friend about financial aid decisions. Remember you'll get financial aid packages from all the schools for which you submitted an application. You'll want to compare these offers as you decide what school to attend! Don't commit to anything until you've considered your options from a financial perspective too!!!

LMK if you have ?s!

FAFSA and FSAID!

On Monday, October 1, many of you will be able to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid! You can start to prepare NOW! Check out the resources linked below for more info and instructions on how to create your FSAID. Make sure you save this information in a secure location. A parent or guardian will also need to create an FSAID in order for you to submit your FAFSA!

Here's the link for creating your FSAID. Follow the directions carefully. I'd recommend taking a screenshot of your Security Questions and Answers so that you never get locked out of your account. Remember, do NOT use your school email address! Your parent or guardian will also need to make an FSAID to sign your FAFSA application. Ideally, they need an email address to do this. We can always set one up for them if they don't have one! It is essential that your name, SSN, and date of birth are entered exactly as they appear on your Social Security card otherwise you will get an error. 
Let me know if you need help with either process or have any questions (especially about Social Security cards and numbers)!

Prepare NOW to complete your FAFSA as early as October 1st. Check out this 12th Grade Checklist to guide your preparation and keep you on track. If you are not in 12th grade, this page has links to other great resources for you.

If you are not eligible to complete the FAFSA, there are other sources of $$$ for college. Colleges have institutional scholarships as well as their own forms for determining financial aid. LMK if you need more info!

SENIORS! DO NOW!

Hey, Seniors! Take some time to log in to your Student Hubs or Portals (Click here for some direction!) and your college emails. If there are documents or pieces of information missing, you'll have a HOLD on your account. This can prevent you from getting a Financial Aid Package ($$$), being able to register for orientation, and stop you from being able to register for classes.

Let's get these things FIGURED OUT!

In your portal, be sure to click on tabs regarding Financial Aid and look for Red Flags 🔺 or other 'warning' signs. Each college uses different symbols! Usually you'll also have an email letting you know there are issues with your Financial Aid Package. Sometimes, following the link in your email will take you to the right place to resolve the issue.

Metro State Financial Aid

Colorado Opportunity Fund - $ for College!

University of Colorado Denver Financial Aid 

Community College Denver Scholarship Assistance- $TILL AVAILABLE! 

If you are still deciding which college to attend, check this out for some questions to ask yourself as you decide. Remember to ask people who are important to you and know you well what they think! They may know or notice something about you and your college choices that you haven't thought of before!

I got in, but where do I go?

I know you've completed your FAFSA/other Financial Aid Forms and acceptance letters are rolling in from your colleges of choice. YAY, you! 

It's time to REALLY start thinking about $$$ and your final decision on where to attend college. It can be a bit overwhelming, right?! 

I'd suggest watching and reading through this information. It lays the ground work for what you'll see from the schools where you've been accepted. You'll also learn how to compare and contrast your aid packages to make the best choice for your college experience! 

The "financial fit" of your college is a HUGE factor! You'll want to make a choice that you can afford throughout the length of your degree without causing overwhelming stress about $ or overwhelming debt that you'll be paying back well into your adult life. 

Once you have all of your award letters from your top schools, you can use this awesome tool to help you compare the awards. Just enter in the requested info and VOILA! 

The "Family Share of Cost" is what you'd be expected to pay for each college. Remember, just because something is less $ doesn't necessarily make it the best choice. But do consider our conversations about loans versus scholarships and other types of aid you do NOT pay back! 

Institutional Scholarship Information Links!

See below for links to scholarships from YESS' most attended colleges! 

Colorado State University

Community College of Denver 

Arapahoe Community College 

Metropolitan State University of Denver 

University of Colorado- Denver 

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs 

University of Northern Colorado

CU Boulder- DUE FEBRUARY 15TH

Remember to apply for scholarships at your Top 2 or 3 colleges!!!! This way, you'll receive a few options for Financial Aid Awards...you never know which school will offer you the best award! You have to have been admitted to the school and set up your portal/email with the college to complete the scholarship applications. Most of schools have a March 1 Deadline for institutional scholarships. Be sure to check and plan accordingly. To Sign In to most of the schools above, you'll have to activate your account with the school. Search your personal email for information from each school on how to log in! Make sure you are keeping track of usernames and passwords! 

Let me know if you have any questions. 

What types of Financial Aid are there?

Hey Seniors! We've talked a lot about the FAFSA and the federal Pell Grant, loans and work-study programs available with FAFSA completion. But there are OTHER options too! We've talked about Institutional Aid- money that is awarded to you by your school of choice. This can be need based, merit based and/or based on your chosen major/course of study. Get in touch with your College or University's Financial Aid Office and see what they offer! You may be able to search for Scholarships via their webpage too.

When should you be applying for Scholarships?

NOW! Even if you are a Junior or underclassmen...

There are scholarships for just Freshman.
NOW is the time especially if you are a Senior. Consider it your homework. Seniors, you should be spending a few hours a week researching scholarships, deciding which ones to apply for and then ACTUALLY APPLYING! As you near adulthood, this is a great test of your preparedness. No one can do it for you! Go get that $$$! 

Remember to look carefully at your scholarship options and avoid SCAMS!

Here are links to some of the Federal Grants:

• Federal Pell Grants  
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)  
• Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants  
• Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants  

Here's a great resource for SEARCHING for Scholarships! 

https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/training/find-scholarships.aspx

Don't forget the YESS Scholarship Resources page too!
http://yesscollegeandcareercorner.blogspot.com/p/scholarship-resources.html

Here are some ideas about other places to look for/ask about scholarships:

• your library’s reference section
• foundations, religious or community organizations, local businesses, or civic groups
• organizations (including professional associations) related to your field(s) of interest
• ethnicity-based organizations
• your employer or your parents’ employers

FAFSA and your FSAID!

In a few short weeks, you'll be able to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid! You can start to prepare NOW! Check out the resources linked below for more info and instructions on how to create your FSAID. Make sure you save this information in a secure location. A parent or guardian will also need to create an FSAID in order for you to submit your FAFSA!

Here's the link for creating your FSAID. Follow the directions carefully. I'd recommend taking a screenshot of your Security Questions and Answers so that you never get locked out of your account. Remember, do NOT use your school email address! Your parent or guardian will also need to make an FSAID to sign your FAFSA application. Ideally, they need an email address to do this. We can always set one up for them if they don't have one! It is essential that your name, SSN, and date of birth are entered exactly as they appear on your Social Security card otherwise you will get an error. 
Let me know if you need help with either process or have any questions (especially about Social Security cards and numbers)!

Prepare NOW to complete your FAFSA as early as October 1st. Check out this 12th Grade Checklist to guide your preparation and keep you on track. If you are not in 12th grade, this page has links to other great resources for you.

FINANCIAL AID "HOLDS", College Decisions and Summer Opportunities

Hey, Seniors! Take some time to log in to your Student Hubs or Portals (Click here for some direction!) and your college emails. If there are documents or pieces of information missing, you'll have a HOLD on your account. This can prevent you from getting a Financial Aid Package ($$$), being able to register for orientation, and stop you from being able to register for classes.

Let's get these things FIGURED OUT!

In your portal, be sure to click on tabs regarding Financial Aid and look for Red Flags 🔺 or other 'warning' signs. Each college uses different symbols! Usually you'll also have an email letting you know there are issues with your Financial Aid Package. Sometimes, following the link in your email will take you to the right place to resolve the issue.

Metro State Financial Aid

Colorado Opportunity Fund - $ for College!

University of Colorado Denver Financial Aid 

Community College Denver Scholarship Assistance- $TILL AVAILABLE! 

If you are still deciding which college to attend, check this out for some questions to ask yourself as you decide. Remember to ask people who are important to you and know you well what they think! They may know or notice something about you and your college choices that you haven't thought of before!

If you are attending one of the schools listed below, click here to sign up for a Summer Institute. Your Colorado Challenge Advisor will help you with any issues on your account, registering for classes and just getting used to college in general! AWESOME! There will be FREE FOOD TOO! 😀

Adams State University
Community College of Aurora
Colorado State University
Colorado State University Pueblo
Community College of Denver
Metro State University
University of Colorado Denver

Decisions! Decisions!

It's time to decide where you are headed next fall. Hopefully you've taken time to enjoy your acceptance letters and consider your choices. If you haven't yet, it's a good idea to make a pros/cons spreadsheet with a worksheet for each school you are seriously considering. List the BEST things about each school and the WORST things. This can range from the amount of money schools are offering you to the cafeteria food to distance from home. Talk to your friends about how they are making their decisions. Talk to trusted adults about how they chose a college (if they did) and what they think is best for you. It's good to have a few different perspectives!

A huge piece of your decision will likely be regarding School Aid offers. Here are some tips!
Remember to use the price calculator to clarify the cost to you. Both of these links will take you to pages that also break down types of aid, types of loans. This one will compare the cost of a few of your possible schools with each other.

When considering what college to attend, remember to focus on YOUR LONG-TERM GOALS! For example, while it may be fun to go to college with your best friend, if that school doesn't have the program you are interested in...it doesn't make sense for your long-term goals.

Consider the following 25 questions compiled by USA Today.

Yes, that's a lot of questions but this is a BIG decision!

1.) Is the city or town that the college is located in one that you’d like living in? Or has location never been something that’s negatively affected your day-to-day life?

2.) Is dorm life, as portrayed on a school’s website or seen during your campus visit, the experience you’re looking for?

3.) Does the school have the major you want and is the program sufficient? If not, is there a similar major offered?

4.) Is it a city that will have internships in your field or will you have to travel for that experience?

5.) Is it a social campus, a commuter campus or a quiet campus? Which do you prefer, and are you willing to compromise on this point?

6.) Is the school within your price range or worth going into debt over? Are they offering you scholarships or grants if you go there?

7.) Is the campus visually pleasant and a place you’d be okay spending a good chunk of your time on?

8.) If you end up landing a great job in town before or right after graduating, would you be okay living there? Same question for if you get married or meet the love of your life.

9.) What’s the weather like there? Is there a lot of one kind of weather, like snow or rain, that you love or can’t stand?

10.) Are the professors at the school renowned in their fields? Do they have doctorate degrees or books published? Do you care?

11.) How well does the school rank academically? Are you in a field where that matters at all?

12.) Has the school had significant price hikes from year to year, making it difficult to gauge how much it’d cost to attend for four years?

13.) Are the students at the college happy? Have you researched that or asked around, perhaps by emailing current students?

14.) Does the school have any interesting electives you’d like to take, such as philosophy of film or yoga?

15.) Are there any infringing rules the school places on students even off campus, such as no drinking or smoking, that you’d inevitably rebel against or despise?

16.) Does the cost of living in the city sound reasonable for a college student? (Remember, unless you’re living off financial aid in the dorms, you’ll likely move off campus for most of your years there).

17.) Is the school a weekend trip’s distance away from home? Does it matter to you how far away from home it is?

18.) Do you have any friends or acquaintances attending the school or living in the city? Or does it sound more exciting to you to go knowing no-one?

19.) Is there a line of successful alumni from the school? Have you browsed through the college’s alumni magazine or checked the alumni section of the website?

20.) Is the school located within a reasonable day’s drive to other thriving cities? This could be a consideration if, during your junior and senior years, you can apply for internships and jobs there and be able to drive there and back within the same day for interviews.

21.) Is there a good scene for whatever niche group you’re part of, such as a Christian club on campus or a libertarian group? If not, how about in the city?

22.) Does the college have big or small classes or both? Which do you prefer or think you’d prefer?

23.) Is the campus big or small? Can you reasonably walk from class to class in a decent length of time or would it be better to bike or bus?

24.) Are the professors kind or approachable? Have you checked some professor ratings on sites like ratemyprofessors.com or asked current students?

25.) Can you imagine going to any other school more than this one? Or does this one just feel right? How important do you regard your feelings vs. logic?

How to compare Financial Aid Packages!

I know you've completed your FAFSA and acceptance letters are rolling in from your colleges of choice. YAY, you! 

It's time to REALLY start thinking about $$$ and your final decision on where to attend college. It can be a bit overwhelming, right?! 

I'd suggest watching and reading through this information. It lays the ground work for what you'll see from the schools where you've been accepted. You'll also learn how to compare and contrast your aid packages to make the best choice for your college experience! 

The "financial fit" of your college is a HUGE factor! You'll want to make a choice that you can afford throughout the length of your degree without causing overwhelming stress about $ or overwhelming debt. 

Once you have all of your award letters from your top schools, you can use this awesome tool to help you compare the awards. Just enter in the requested info and VOILA! 

The "Family Share of Cost" is what you'd be expected to pay for each college. Remember, just because something is less $ doesn't necessarily make it the best choice. But do consider our conversations about loans versus scholarships and other types of aid you do NOT pay back! 

Second Semester Senior Year! What do I do?!

Hey Seniors! The countdown is ON! You are in the final months of your High School career. 

So, what's important now?! 

Check out the list below and consider setting reminders and deadlines in your phone's calendar. Trust me, it works! 

• Visit colleges that you are considering attending if you are able
• Make a final decision about which college to attend and notify the school of your decision 
• Give your school counselor/DSF Advisor a copy of your college acceptance notice 
• Keep track of all college deadlines for fees and paperwork 
• Notify the schools that you will not be attending 
• Continue to search and apply for scholarships opportunities 
• Remember your 2nd Semester grades DO MATTER! 
• Give your school counselor/DSF Advisor a copy of any scholarship award letters
• Continue to keep track of important financial aid and scholarship deadlines 
• Check you email for your SAR (Student Aid Report), if you haven't already
• Compare financial aid packages from different schools
• Create a Pros/Cons List for your possible colleges to help you decide where to attend
• Get in touch with the Financial Aid office at your school (or schools) of choice 
• Talk to your peers and trusted adults about the whole process
• Let your school counselor/ DSF Advisor know which college you will be attending so they can send out your final official transcript including 2nd semester

Accepted!!! Now what?

Many of you have received acceptance letters from colleges and universities around the country. 

Congratulations! 

Now what?! You have some big decisions to make but where do you even start?

Let's consider a few approaches to making your decisions! 

Remember: There is no such thing as a perfect college but you can DECIDE on the best college for you.  College really is what YOU make of it!

1) ASK QUESTIONS! Consider what is most important to you like distance from home, cost to you, sports teams on campus, course of study, clubs etc. Make a list of at least 10 questions that you can research and answer about your colleges. Create a chart to keep track of the questions and answers (something like this). You'll likely have to do some research to find your answers...but that's all part of the decision making process! 

2. Compare Financial Aid Packages! You'll need to consider  the cost of attendance for each school. This doesn't ALWAYS mean go to the school that will cost you the least! For example, if College A has the Major you want to pursue but College B does not, it may be worth it to attend College A! Don't lose sight of your long term goals. Here is some more info on assessing the $$$ part of your decision. Talk to people you trust especially when considering any loans! 

3. If you are able to do so, visit the campus (even if you've already been). You have now been accepted and are deciding where to spend a HUGE amount of time and energy over the next 2-4 years. Most schools provide opportunities to return after you've been accepted and even arrange for overnights where you stay in the dorms with current students. Let me know if you want help looking into this kind of opportunity! You get to learn first hand about life on campus by living it for a day or two! If you can't stay over night or won't be living on campus, you can probably find an event (a play, lecture, sports game) that's open to the public. Check it out! 

4. Talk to people who know and love you! While you don't have to do what they say, people who know you probably can help with the decision. They may bring up things you didn't think about and likely have your best interests at heart. Talking it through is also a great way to learn more about yourself and your interest in particular schools. Do you get really excited when talking about College B but not so much about College A? That tells you something important!!!! 

5. Pay attention to deadlines as they vary by school. You don't want to miss out out on your 1st Choice School because you missed the deadline for committing! 

As always, let me know if you have any questions! 

I completed my FAFSA>>>Now what?

High five for completing your FAFSA! But that's just the beginning of your financial aid journey. Take a few minutes to watch the video below:

https://youtu.be/1c1gNefSw78?list=PL23B9A23CD8DD82DD

Keep an eye on emails from FAFSA. You'll receive one with a link to your SAR shortly after submitting your FAFSA application. You may want to search your inbox for FAFSA and/or SAR (student aid report) to be sure you haven't missed it! Some students didn't read the whole thing and never got to the link for the SAR!

If you've already been admitted to any colleges, follow the steps provided in your admission paperwork/email to access your account for that school. Some of them may also create an institutional email address for you. You'll want to check that regularly (at least once a week!) in case they send you information about financial aid and enrollment to that email address! Consider making a calendar reminder to check weekly!

Check out the info provided by FAFSA about Next Steps here. There's info about verification, your SAR, how to claim your award $, and some details about the loan process should you choose to accept a loan.

Always talk to a trusted adult or friend about financial aid decisions. Remember you'll get financial aid packages from all the schools for which you submitted an application. You'll want to compare these offers as you decide what school to attend! Don't commit to anything until you've considered your options from a financial perspective too!!!

The Vocabulary of Finanicial Aid: A Glossary

The Vocabulary of Financial Aid: A Glossary 

Accreditation-

The US Department of Education recognizes that the school meets basic academic standards. Schools must be accredited to be eligible to participate in federal student aid programs. Make sure the schools you are considering are accredited! 

COA- Cost of Attendance

The total amount it will cost you PER YEAR to go to school. This number includes tuition and fees; room and board; and allowances for books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, and dependent care. It will include personal expenses, such as an allowance for the rental or purchase of a personal computer; costs related to a disability; and reasonable costs for eligible study-abroad programs.

DRN- Data Release Number
A 4 digit number given to you on your SAR (top right hand corner). It can be used to grant permission for your FAFSA data to be shared with other schools.

DEFAULT-
Failure to pay your loan according to the loan agreement or promissory note. There can be serious legal consequences of defaulting. Seek help before you choose to default!

DEFERMENT-
Postponing payment during which time interest does not accrue. You have to go through a process to request deferment. You can't just decide to stop paying!

DISBURSEMENT- 
Payment of federal aid funds to the borrower (usually the student- that's you!) by the school. This usually happens twice a year.

EFC- Estimated Family Contribution
The number used to determine your federal financial aid is based on the information you provide on your FAFSA.

FAFSA- Free Application for Federal Student Aid

FEDERAL STUDENT AID- 
This is financial aid provided by the federal government. You apply for the aid by completing the FAFSA. Grants, loans, and work study are all parts of Federal Student Aid. The money is to be used for college or career school costs at eligible schools.

FINANCIAL AID OFFER or PACKAGE-
The total amount of financial aid (federal and nonfederal) a student is offered by a college or career school. The school's financial aid staff combines various forms of aid into a “package” to help meet a student’s education costs.

FSA ID- Federal Student Aid Identification

INSTITUTIONAL AID-
Financial aid provided by the institution you are attending. This can come in the form of grants and/or scholarships for which you must submit applications.

INTEREST-
A loan expense paid to the borrower based on the interest rate and the remaining unpaid amount of the loan.

LOANS-
Money you borrow that must be repayed with interest.

PELL GRANT-
A federal grant for undergraduate students with financial need.

PERKINS LOAN-
A federal student loan, made by the recipient's school, for undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate financial need. 

SAR- Student Aid Report
You'll receive a SAR after you've completed your FAFSA application. If you provided an email address, the link to your report will come via email. Provided there were no errors on or questions about your FAFSA, this will also include your EFC.

SCHOLARSHIPS-
Money awarded to you for your educational expenses that does not have to be repaid. Don't forget to APPLY for a pile of scholarships!

WORK STUDY-

You'll complete part-time work on campus as part of your federal student aid. The money earned will be used to pay your college expenses.

Don't forget to talk to trusted people in your life about financial aid decisions! 

What types of Financial Aid are there?

Hey Seniors! We've talked a lot about the FAFSA and the federal Pell Grant, loans and work-study programs available with FAFSA completion. But there are OTHER options too! We've talked about Institutional Aid- money that is awarded to you by your school of choice. This can be need based, merit based and/or based on your chosen major/course of study. Get in touch with your College or University's Financial Aid Office and see what they offer! You may be able to search for Scholarships via their webpage too.

When should you be applying for Scholarships?

NOW! Even if you are a Junior or underclassmen...

There are scholarships for just Freshman. Now is the time especially if you are a Senior. Consider it your homework. Seniors, you should be spending a few hours a week researching scholarships, deciding which ones to apply for and then ACTUALLY APPLYING! As you near adulthood, this is a great test of your preparedness. No one can do it for you! Go get that $$$! 

Remember to look carefully at your scholarship options and avoid SCAMS!

Here are links to some of the Federal Grants:

• Federal Pell Grants  
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)  
• Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants  
• Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants  

Here's a great resource for SEARCHING for Scholarships! 

https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/training/find-scholarships.aspx

Here are some ideas about other places to look for/ask about scholarships:

• your library’s reference section
• foundations, religious or community organizations, local businesses, or civic groups
• organizations (including professional associations) related to your field(s) of interest
• ethnicity-based organizations
• your employer or your parents’ employers

The Countdown is ON!

As you may know, there have been some pretty major changes to the FAFSA dates this year. You can submit your FAFSA beginning October 1st, 2016. The closer to this date you submit, the better! Some aid opportunities run out and you don't want to miss your chance! 

(By the way, FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid!)

Below are some links that can help you prepare for the application process.

What to expect and how to complete your FAFSA application:

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out

Information about Eligibility:

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/eligibility

Myths about Financial Aid:

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/financial-aid-myths.pdf

Information about Deadlines

https://fafsa.gov/deadlines.htm

Check out these videos for all kinds of tips and information! 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL23B9A23CD8DD82DD&feature=plcp