Mr. Goodman, Counselor
email: pgoodman@rivervalleyschools.org
Seniors: Information about local scholarships will appear here in the Spring
Senior Information
WELCOME BACK EVERYONE! This forum will update you on all matters that pertain to senior activities including applications, testing, and financial aid. All seniors will be seen on an individual basis during the first semester of the school year to discuss these issues and provide applications and other materials.
ACT TEST DATES: Listed below you will find the test dates and deadlines for the ACT.
Test Date |
Registration Deadline |
(Late Fee Required) |
February 11, 2012 |
January 13, 2012 |
January 14-20, 2012 |
April 14, 2012 |
March 9, 2012 |
March 10-23, 2012 |
June 9, 2012 |
May 4, 2012 |
May 5-18, 2012 |
To register for an ACT test listed above, you should go online to www.act.org. You will need a credit card to cover the fee. You should probably choose the ACT & Writing option, as more and more schools are requiring the essay as part of their admission requirements.
 APPLICATIONS: Applications for all of the schools in the state of Michigan are available in the guidance office. I will also be glad to get any out of state applications that you may desire. However, many schools now prefer that you apply online. This has many advantages, including faster processing and, in some cases, reduced application fees. If you do apply online, be sure and print out the counselor recommendation section so I can fill it out and mail your transcripts in for you.
If you decide to apply with a paper application, please remember the following:
- Fill out the application in pen. I have plenty, so if you mess one up, I can give you another one.
- Type up a list of activities, awards, and honors that you have received. This can then be copied and attached to your application.
- If you need to write an essay, do it on a separate piece of paper first and bring it to me to read. I will be glad to make suggestions on ways that you might improve your composition. Do not be afraid to sell yourself. This is what the essay if for. Be sure and point out your strengths and those things that set you apart from others.
- Let me send the application in for you. That way I will be able to attach a copy of your transcripts and ACT scores, as well as a letter of recommendation.
FINANCIAL AID - Trying to figure out how to pay for college can be one of the most stressful activities that you may ever face. One of the biggest mistakes that people make is assuming that the family makes too much money to qualify for aid. There are tons of scholarships, grants, and work study options available, some based on need and some based on other factors.
The major component of this process is the federal form known as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Awards based on this application are made on a need basis. Academics are not taken into consideration. Eligibility for any need based award from the federal government will be determined by simply filling out this one application. This form is also used by the State of Michigan to help determine the Michigan Competitive Scholarship winners, an award based on ACT scores and financial need. It is important for everybody who desires financial aid to fill out this form. Do not assume that you make too much money to be eligible. Some colleges will not even consider you for any other money until you have demonstrated that you won’t receive anything from the federal government. The FAFSA will be available shortly before Christmas break.
Scholarship Search Services: These services will typically ask the student to provide some personal information, such as religion, heritage, and hobbies. Based on this profile, the student will typically receive a computer printout which will list different scholarship possibilities. It is then up to the student to write to the address provided and request an application. You will receive many advertisements in the mail for this type of service, asking you to send anywhere from $80.00 to $500.00 to do a search. Usually there is a guarantee involved, in which they state that if you don’t receive a certain number of awards they will refund your money. Unfortunately, in order to take advantage of that guarantee, you have to prove that you applied to all of the possibilities sent to you. In most cases, this is impossible because many times the places listed will not respond to your inquiry. However, there is a search service on the web that will do this for free.
FASTWEB - The opening screen will ask you to provide a username, password, and e-mail address. You will then fill out their search form online and scholarship possibilities will be sent to your fastweb mailbox, along with instructions on how to apply for the award. There is no guarantee, but it easily provides as much information as the services that charge a fee.
Back to the top
SCHOLARSHIPS (newest additions will be at the top)
If you decide to apply with a paper application, please remember the following:
- Fill out the application in pen. I have plenty, so if you mess one up, I can give you another one.
- Type up a list of activities, awards, and honors that you have received. This can then be copied and attached to your application.
- If you need to write an essay, do it on a separate piece of paper first and bring it to me to read. I will be glad to make suggestions on ways that you might improve your composition. Do not be afraid to sell yourself. This is what the essay if for. Be sure and point out your strengths and those things that set you apart from others.
- Let me send the application in for you. That way I will be able to attach a copy of your transcripts and ACT scores, as well as a letter of recommendation.
FINANCIAL AID -
Michigan Education Association Scholarship: The Michigan Education Association Scholarship is now
available. The recipients must attend a public state college or university. There are also a few eligible
private institutions listed on the application. The following criteria will be used for selection:
• Academic achievement
• School/Community service
• Extracurricular activities
• All other criteria being equal, first consideration will be given to children of MEA members and
students from lower income households.
The completed application must include the following:
• Official High School Transcript (including 1st
semester of the senior year, and any higher education
course transcripts
• ACT Scores
• Personal resume’ written by the applicant
• Two letters of recommendation which are in addition to that written by the counselor
• Signature of counselor on statement, page 3
Applications are available in the guidance office or can be downloaded at
www.mea.org/awards/meascholarship.html.
Application must be postmarked no later than Friday, February 10, 2012.
~~~~~~~
Back to the top
|
 |
