Senior Fall!

Hey Seniors! I know you have A LOT going on...SAT prep and testing, homecoming, sports, clubs, enjoying the last year of high school, work, AP/Honors classes, concurrent enrollment, etc, etc.

Don't forget your Post-Secondary Planning! Check out the tasks below to help guide your planning, application and access process. As always, let me know if you have ANY questions!

FALL OF SENIOR YEAR! 

• Finalize your College/Post-Secondary Program Application List! Be sure to include some schools that may be harder to get in to as well as at least one school to which you will for sure be admitted. This list can include colleges, apprenticeships, military and/or technical schools. These are all GREAT post-secondary options. 

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• Prepare for and complete the FAFSA. Use the search tool in the blog to find LOTS of information regarding what documents you need, creating a FSAID and other info about the process. The application opens October 1!

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• Stay focused on your grades and extracurricular activities. These remain important parts of your resume. Finish strong! 

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• Keep track of deadlines! Consider using calendar reminders on your phone to alert you well ahead of deadlines (so you take time to work on applications) as well as the day applications are due. 

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• Meet with your School Counselor. They will need to know what schools/programs you are applying to so they can send Transcripts, Score Reports, and other application items. Be sure to give them access to the required forms WELL in advance. Be sure to THANK them for their help. 

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• Continue researching scholarships, add them to your College Research Spreadsheet, and complete these applications! 

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• Ask for Letters of Recommendation NOW! Be sure you are giving your teachers, counselors, etc enough time to write you an AWESOME letter. If you wrote one for yourself last year, you an share it with them along with your resume to help them out! 

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• Complete your College/Post-Secondary Program applications as soon as possible. Even if a school has a deadline in the spring, aim to complete your application by Thanksgiving Break. Put yourself at the TOP of the pile! 

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• ASK for help! If you have questions, ASK them! It's ok to not know everything about the post-secondary process. It's a whole new world. If something doesn't make sense, ASK! This is a good habit to get into as you'll have LOTS of questions once you get to college. ASKING for help is part of being an adult, trust me! 

Check out the YESS Post-Secondary Success Program Video!

Click here to view!

Scholarships with Upcoming Deadlines!

Don't forget about your institutional scholarship applications! Get started NOW so you have plenty of time to refine them AND submit BEFORE the deadline! #reducestress

Here are a few other scholarships to check out! 

La Raza Youth Leadership Institute Scholarship  -Due March 8th, 2 $1500 for MSU Denver and 7 $1000 for Community College of Denver 

El Cafe del Futuro Scholarship -20 $5,000 scholarships 

MCA Denver Failure Awards Scholarships - Top Prize $10,000

M.R. Hellie Memorial Scholarship - $500-$5,000 awards

Hearthstone Housing Scholarship- Adams County Residents Only  - $500-$5,000 awards

Davis-Putter Scholarship - $10,000 per year maximum award

Hispanic Scholarship Foundation - $500-$5,000 awards

Education First Scholarship - West and North HS Students are eligible. Due 3/15/19

Click here for MANY MORE Scholarships! 

How do I compare the costs of different colleges?

You've completed your Institutional Aid forms or the FAFSA! WOOOOHOOOO

You've been accepted! Congratulations! 

Your colleges have offered you some Grant $$$! Way to go! 

You are working on Institutional Scholarships! Nice effort! 

• But how much is it going to cost?! 
• Which school is the best fit (financial and otherwise)?
• How do you know?! 

I'm sure you are working on your Institutional Scholarship applications and this will increase the aid you'll get from your colleges. But you can get a head start on figure out the COST OF COLLEGE to you with this tool from College Board. Click on the link begin comparing the cost of up to 4 colleges. Enter your Pell Grant (FAFSA $$$) amount as Gift Aid because you do NOT have to pay it back.

Remember to SAVE the info by following the steps when you click Save Info at the bottom of the page!

Let your Post-Secondary Success Navigator know what your results are!

YESS Post-Secondary Success Update!

The YESS HS Class of 2019: YESS Road to Success

99% of the YESS HS Class of 2019 have an active post-secondary plan.

YESS Scholars have already earned almost $900,000 in scholarship monies to be distributed over the next 4 years.

40% have applied for scholarships with many deadlines coming up in the next 2 months.

85% have been accepted to college at this time. More to come, we are sure!

YESS Scholars have been accepted to CU Boulder, Community College of Denver, Wartburg, Morningside, CSU, Cottey College, UC Denver, University of Denver, Metro State, Mesa and UNC- to name just a few of their options!

The YESS Road to Success Scholarship was released today. We're excited be able to distribute about $12,000 to YESS Scholars this year.

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

Winter Break TO DO LIST!

Be sure to check items off the following list over your Winter Break!

• Log in to your college email and Student Hub AT LEAST twice a week! If you have any questions, text me!
• 
  
• If you haven't applied to all of the colleges you are interested in, JUST DO IT! 
• 
  
• Check your Student Aid Report by logging in with your FSAID credentials as fafsa.ed.gov Let me know how much $$$$ you'll receive for your Pell Grant! 
• 
  
• Apply for SO MANY scholarships. The more you do now, the better. Click here for essay tips! 
• 
  
• Apply for your INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS! These are the ones that your colleges offer ONLY to students at that school. 
• 
  
• HAVE FUN!
• 
  
• REST! 
• 
  
• Get excited for THE LAST SEMESTER of HIGH SCHOOL! 

Scholarship Essays!

You guys! If you haven't started (and maybe even finished) your scholarship application essays...

IT IS TIME! 

I know it can be hard to write about yourself and share your thoughts, feelings and experiences with total strangers. But it can be the MOST POWERFUL part of your application. Sure, grades and test scores matter but most colleges want to get to know YOU as a person with a story...not just the numbers and letters on your transcript! Your essay really is an opportunity for the people in admissions to learn more about WHY they should admit YOU to their college. 

Carve out some time over Winter Break to work on essays! 

TAKE A CHANCE! 

Be yourself! Make sure your essay 'sounds' like you. Just like you want people to be REAL with you, being REAL in your essay makes a difference! 

Start NOW! Select one of your essay topics. Set your timer for 30 minutes and just brainstorm. Write/type EVERYTHING that comes to mind...even if it's takis! I mean, try to stay focused on the topic and write any and everything that comes to mind. You may come across an idea or direction you weren't expecting BUT that will make an awesome essay! And remember, no one has to EVER see your brainstorming document. 

Check out the links below for some great tips on writing your BEST college essay! There are some video clips too. 

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/essays/8-tips-for-crafting-your-best-college-essay

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/essays/tips-for-writing-an-effective-application-essay-college-admissions

Institutional Scholarship 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. 

I've been accepted! Now what do I do?!

YESS HS Class of 2019! 

You all are doing a PHENOMENAL JOB submitting college and scholarship applications. The ACCEPTANCE Letters are rolling in, too! Your hard work is paying off BIG!

So, you've been admitted to some of your colleges. NOW WHAT?! 

Read your acceptance letter/ email VERY CAREFULLY. 

Follow the directions provided to set up your PORTAL/HUB and email for EVERY SCHOOL. 

Review the information in the portal.  Look for TO DO LISTs and RED FLAGS

If your college's scholarship applications are open for application, GET STARTED TODAY! 

ASK QUESTIONS! If you aren't sure what something means, take a screen shot and send it to your Navigator! 

Be sure to check your college email(s) frequently. Many of your schools will ONLY communicate with you via the college email from this point forward. 

<<<Figure out when your institutional scholarships OPEN for APPLICATION>>>

Senior Fall Checklist!

Hey Seniors! I know you have A LOT going on...SAT prep and testing, homecoming, sports, clubs, enjoying the last year of high school, work, AP/Honors classes, concurrent enrollment, etc, etc.

Don't forget your Post-Secondary Planning! Check out the checklist below to help guide your planning, application and access process. As always, let me know if you have ANY questions!

FALL OF SENIOR YEAR! 

• Finalize your College/Post-Secondary Program Application List! Be sure to include some schools that may be harder to get in to as well as at least one school to which you will for sure be admitted. This list can include colleges, apprenticeships, military and/or technical schools. These are all GREAT post-secondary options. 

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• Prepare for and complete the FAFSA. Use the search tool in the blog to find LOTS of information regarding what documents you need, creating a FSAID and other info about the process. The application opens October 1!

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• Stay focused on your grades and extracurricular activities. These remain important parts of your resume. Finish strong! 

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• Keep track of deadlines! Consider using calendar reminders on your phone to alert you well ahead of deadlines (so you take time to work on applications) as well as the day applications are due. 

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• Meet with your School Counselor. They will need to know what schools/programs you are applying to so they can send Transcripts, Score Reports, and other application items. Be sure to give them access to the required forms WELL in advance. Be sure to THANK them for their help. 

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• Continue researching scholarships, add them to your College Research Spreadsheet, and complete these applications! 

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• Ask for Letters of Recommendation NOW! Be sure you are giving your teachers, counselors, etc enough time to write you an AWESOME letter. If you wrote one for yourself last year, you an share it with them along with your resume to help them out! 

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• Complete your College/Post-Secondary Program applications as soon as possible. Even if a school has a deadline in the spring, aim to complete your application by Thanksgiving Break. Put yourself at the TOP of the pile! 

APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS! 

• ASK for help! If you have questions, ASK them! It's ok to not know everything about the post-secondary process. It's a whole new world. If something doesn't make sense, ASK! This is a good habit to get into as you'll have LOTS of questions once you get to college. ASKING for help is part of being an adult, trust me! 

Class of 2019! Major $cholar$hip$!

Check out the following links for information about some major scholarships with EARLY deadlines. Let me know which one's you'll pursue. Share your essays for review with yess.emily@gmail.com

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

Greenhouse Scholars: https://greenhousescholars.org/our-scholars/become-a-scholar/

QuestBridge:

https://www.questbridge.org/high-school-students/national-college-match/who-should-apply

Rose Scholars: https://rosescholars.com

Gates Foundation: https://www.thegatesscholarship.org/scholarship

Cameron Impact Scholarship: https://www.bryancameroneducationfoundation.org/cameron-impact-scholarship/selection-criteria-eligibility

Daniels Fund: http://www.danielsfund.org/scholarships/

Dell Scholarship(For AVID or GEAR UP students): https://www.dellscholars.org/scholarship/#

Coca Cola Scholars: https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/apply/

Horatio Alger Scholarships: https://scholars.horatioalger.org/scholarships/about-our-scholarship-programs/

Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship:

https://www.jkcf.org/our-scholarships/college-scholarship-program/how-to-apply/

Jump Start your Senior Year!

YESS Class of 2019! Take some time NOW to get started on your plan for life AFTER high school.

I know it seems early but the more you do now, the better! 

Let me know if you have ANY questions. 

1) College and Scholarship APP Prep:

Check out the prompts at the following link: 

https://www.commonapp.org/whats-appening/application-updates/2018-2019-common-application-essay-prompts

 

Write an essay for TWO of these prompts. These will be useful for college and scholarship essays. 

2) Begin RESEARCHING scholarships for which you are eligible. 

BE SURE TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT YOU FIND! 

Check out the options here: http://yesscollegeandcareercorner.blogspot.com/p/scholarship-resources.html

If you want a google sheet that is set up for tracking your research, let me know. 

3) Not sure what you'd like to do after high school? Take some time to complete these questions: https://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip 

When you are done, you'll have some ideas about post- high school education options AND career paths. 

BE SURE TO WRITE THEM DOWN and EMAIL them to me! 

4) Send me a list of your TOP 3 Choices for after High School- this could be colleges, apprenticeships(job training education), etc. Please include the $$$ cost of attendance for each of your TOP 3 choices! Keep in mind, your Top 3 Choices may change over the next few months as we do more research. No problem! 

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. 

Scholarships! Private and Institutional!

Hey Seniors! If you've been slacking on scholarship applications, now is the time to ramp up your search and completion of apps.

Remember to look for Private AND Institutional scholarships. Private scholarships will be the ones offered by different businesses (McDonald's) and organizations (like YESS!). Institutional scholarships are offered by the schools you've been accepted to and are ONLY valid if you attend the school that awards you the scholarship. So, you can't use a scholarship from Metro to attend CCD!

Take some time to identify your top 2-3 colleges of choice and begin scholarship applications for EACH of these schools. Perhaps your 2nd choice school will give you a ton of scholarship $$$ and that may impact your decision on where to attend. We don't want to close any doors too soon!

You can usually find institutional scholarships by logging into your portal/dashboard for each school. Let me know if you have any questions! Some schools have built in search engines so you can enter your GPA, for example, and the search will identify which scholarships you can submit. Other schools will require more search time from you. Please remember you can share your essays for review with yess.emily@gmail.com as google docs!

Most institutional scholarships are due March 1st. Be sure to confirm deadlines for each of your top choice schools! This HAS to be something you set aside time for like homework or a part time job. Remember, the rewards for winning scholarships will PAY OFF next year!

Second Semester Senior!!!!

Hey Seniors, Congrats on making it through the FIRST semester of your Senior Year. 

ONE MORE TO GO! 

Here are some thoughts on making the most of your next few months of high school....

• Slow down! Take time to appreciate the people around you even the challenging ones! Think of all of the lessons you've learned and how you've changed over the last 4 years. 

• Stay FOCUSED! It's easy to get sidetracked. You are almost across that finish line...BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO FINISH. Your grades and attendance still matter.  

• Dream BIG! Imagine your dream future. Where will you live, what will you do and, most importantly, who will you choose to spend your time with especially your free time. Some people think we are the average of the 5 people we spend the most time with...Who are you?

• Apply for ALL the scholarships. Come on, you knew I was going to say that!!! :)

• Use a checklist like this one so you stay on top of your college admissions and financial aid requirements. Check that college email!!!! 

Please let me know if you have any questions as you continue on your Road to Success! 

Have fun out there! 

I've applied to college(s). Now what?!

Hi Fives, Seniors! 

You've submitted college applications and are opening doors for your future....It's important to have a few choices and there is still plenty of time to apply to other schools. But what else can you be working on?

1. Fill out the FAFSA! Most of you have done this but if you haven't THE TIME IS NOW! Let's set up an appointment to get this done! 

2. Keep your grades up. I know it's hard as you get further along in your Senior Year. Senioritis is REAL! But your grades STILL matter. Your colleges will get your Final Transcript and they can 'un-admit' you. 

3. Check your COLLEGE email! Make sure the admissions office has all of your application pieces. Your colleges will send you information about establishing an email account with them. YOU HAVE TO CHECK THIS REGULARLY! If you don't, you could miss out on deadlines, $cholarship opportunities, and other important information. If you have trouble remembering user names and passwords, make sure to make a note in your phone so you can log in!

4. Apply for ALL of the $cholar$hips! Seriously, apply for as many as you can. Use the Scholarship List on the right side of this page and consider setting up a Fastweb.com search that will email you scholarships you are eligible to receive! 

College and Scholarship Essays!

You guys! If you haven't started (and maybe even finished) your college application essays...

IT IS TIME! 

I know it can be hard to write about yourself and share your thoughts, feelings and experiences with total strangers. But it can be the MOST POWERFUL part of your application. Sure, grades and test scores matter but most colleges want to get to know YOU as a person with a story...not just the numbers and letters on your transcript! Your essay really is an opportunity for the people in admissions to learn more about WHY they should admit YOU to their college. 

Carve out some time over Thanksgiving Break to work on essays! 

TAKE A CHANCE! 

Be yourself! Make sure your essay 'sounds' like you. Just like you want people to be REAL with you, being REAL in your essay makes a difference! 

Start NOW! Select one of your essay topics. Set your timer for 30 minutes and just brainstorm. Write/type EVERYTHING that comes to mind...even if it's takis! I mean, try to stay focused on the topic and write any and everything that comes to mind. You may come across an idea or direction you weren't expecting BUT that will make an awesome essay! And remember, no one has to EVER see your brainstorming document. 

Check out the links below for some great tips on writing your BEST college essay! There are some video clips too. 

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/essays/8-tips-for-crafting-your-best-college-essay

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/essays/tips-for-writing-an-effective-application-essay-college-admissions

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

College and Scholarship Apps! It's your JOB!

Hey Seniors! The time is NOW for completing your college and scholarship applications! Think about the process as a part time job...that can pay off in $cholar$hip dollar$ as well as in higher earning$ over your lifetime once you graduate. Remember, this is true for certificates, associates degrees, AND bachelors degrees.

Commit to a few hours a week of work on your applications! Be sure to have a few trusted adults read your essays! Label your essays well as google docs. For example, "Emily Webster MSU Essay" so that your readers know it's your essay!

Remember to use your College App Info Sheet to help you complete your applications accurately. You should apply to at least 3 schools....one you're sure to get into, one you will likely get into and a REACH school...one that may be a bit harder to get into. But now is the time to try!


Click here to search for Scholarships!

Click here for Essay Writing Tips! 

Click here for some help deciding where to apply!