The college process is a part of the long goodbye that parents experience with their children. Love for children makes the last months of high school a bittersweet time for parents: you are excited about your children moving off to college, but sad to see them go. As final admissions decisions from colleges start to roll in, it seems like an appropriate time to address the emotional impact of the college process — not on the kids but on their parents. Here is an article that helps keep it all in perspective.

Now is the time to start updating your resume if you are thinking about summer job or entering the job force after graduation. When you are applying for jobs, employers want to see what skills you have even if you don’t have paid work experience. What kinds of skills can you include on your resume if you’re a high school student? Here are examples of the different types of skills students can use on their resumes, as well as in cover letters and job interviews. You’ll also find tips on how to include these skills in your job materials. If you completed YouScience, go to the "Describing Yourself" tab for more ideas.

As you are applying to college, verify what other materials you need in addition to the application and all required parts from you. Other than the transcript, you do not have to submit the application before requesting materials.

• Transcript (enter in Naviance AFTER applying)
• ACT or SAT official scores (send from act.org or collegeboard.org)
• Teacher Letter of Recommendation (ask your teacher in person and then add to Naviance, including only the names of colleges for whom a letter is required or recommended. Give them 2 weeks to write it. Give your teacher a copy of your resume.)
• Counselor Letter of Recommendation (complete Skip’s form in Schoology; request CR letter from Connections)
• FAFSA or CSS Profile (don’t miss this step. Some colleges have FAFSA deadlines of Dec. 1)
• Early Decision form or Fee Waiver form (let Connections know you have requested it)

Remember to use the multiple HOW TOs on our webpage, Naviance documents, and FAQs in Common App and FAFSA.

If you are submitting a college application with a deadline BEFORE January 15, that requires a teacher or counselor letter of recommendation, you must make your request BEFORE December 15.

When it comes to which schools, you’re actually going to apply to come fall, your plans might not be so concrete. Sure, you’ve got the school you’ve been dreaming about since you were a freshman, and your state flagship school is on your list by default, but what about everything else? A balanced and realistic, yet reasonably ambitious college list will not only make the applications season less stressful, but also maximize your chances at being accepted to schools you’d be excited to attend. Here are 3 reasons you should start drafting your college list ASAP!

Junior year usually marks a turning point. This is because for most students and families, it’s when college planning activities kick into high gear. Here are some things you can do this year to support your child and give him or her the best options.

If you have not yet completed the FAFSA, here are a few tips and videos to help with the process.

Where to create a FAFSA account. you will specify a role and be prompted to create an FSA ID

How to create an FSA ID. Parent/Guardian AND student must create their own FSA ID!

SAVE your FSA ID, username, and password somewhere secure. You’ll need It every year!

You will need to confirm via email and cellphone.

At the end of the process, you will see a confirmation success of account/FSA ID creation.

FAQ about the FAFSA

Connections, Room 1104

* Tuesday, 1/10 10:30, BINGO

In the Community

Save the date for Spring RMACAC College Fairs: March 4, 2023, from 9:00-11:30 at Pine Creek High School in Colorado Springs and March 5, 2023 from 1:00-3:30 at Cherokee Trail High School in Denver.

Virtual

Save the Date for Spring 2023 NACAC Virtual College Fairs on February 19, March 19 and April 23. All fairs will feature College MatchMaking which matches students to specific colleges and universities based on the criteria they provided. Register here.

Do you love playing video games? Do you play sports or enjoy competition? Do you like helping others? Do you like fighting for a cause? Do you like brain teasers or enjoy coming up with solutions to complex problems? Are you curious about the world around you? If you answered yes to any of these questions, try Cyber Security through CyberStart. Create a free account at cyberstart.com and Join the TCA Explorers Group by emailing Ms. Peters for the group access code. Students are welcome to come to Connections over flex to explore the games! Stop by for a pass. Click here to create a free account.

Colorado School of Mines Summer Multicultural Engineering Training (SUMMET) Program Application is now open. SUMMET combines non-accredited coursework, hands-on projects, industry tours, team-building activities, and social events. SUMMET provides exposure to the lifestyle, opportunities, and challenges of college and is designed to help build skills and experiences for a smooth transition from high school to college. SUMMET is a one-week residential program, allowing participants to live on campus for the duration of the program, experience life as a college student, and participate in STEM-related curriculum instruction.

ImpactLab is Wentworth's pre-college adventure for rising juniors and seniors, designed for students to explore their passions in STEM while getting a preview of college life in the city of Boston. Register here for their information session on Tuesday, December 13 at 3:00 PM.

Volunteer Opportunity: Elite Equine Rescue provides rehabilitation, re-homing, and aftercare to equine athletes that no longer serve their previous life and were in jeopardy of being discarded, neglected, or even abused. Their main objective is to meet the rehab needs of those animals that require it, evaluate training/skill level and personality traits, and determine long-term general care needs for each horse. Then, they pair them with an individual that matches each horse's needs. Volunteer information here

Queener Law is sponsoring the Noah Thomas Foster Scholarship, which will offer a $1500 scholarship to be applied toward tuition or other education-related expenses. This scholarship will be awarded on an annual basis to one high school senior, that will be attending a 2 or 4-year college or university in one of the following states; Kentucky, Tennessee, or Colorado.

The ExxonMobil Engineering Scholarship Program is intended to assist and encourage outstanding Hispanic college freshmen who plan to pursue a degree in engineering at U. S. post-secondary institutions. This program will award one (1) national scholarship of $20,000, paid over four years, and twelve (12) $2,000 local scholarships to qualified high school seniors.

Colorado Masonic University & College Scholarship Program, sponsored by the Colorado Masons Benevolent Fund Association, is for seniors graduating from a Colorado public high school, are US citizens, and are accepted at a Colorado postsecondary institution. The maximum scholarship is $7,000 per year, renewable over four years. More information here.

The CBC Spouses Education Scholarships were established by the spouses of Congressional Black Caucus members to address the educational need in the congressional districts in response to federal cuts in spending for education programs and scholarships, which disproportionately affect people of color. Award types range from Academic, Essay, Performing and Visual Arts. Create an account here to apply.

The Yale Bassett Award for Community Engagement is given to high school juniors who demonstrate a record of creative leadership and public service, academic distinction, interdisciplinary problem solving, and experience addressing societal issues that might include, but need not be limited to, race and racism. Students with non-traditional leadership experiences or significant work experiences are also encouraged to apply. Apply by February 1, 2023.

The Stephen Feinberg Scholarship Program awards academically talented and highly motivated African-American or Black students pursuing an undergraduate degree in all discipline areas. This scholarship is renewed yearly up to 4 years, upon meeting the renewal requirements. Deadline to apply is April 14, 2023.

The Colorado Council on High School/College Relations is awarding a $1,500 Volunteerism/Community Service Scholarship to a senior, who will attend a Colorado college that is a member of the Colorado Council for High School/College Relations. Deadline to apply.is February 15, 2023.

The Latin American Educational Foundation is awarding $500 – $2,500 scholarships to students of Hispanic heritage who have been accepted in an accredited college, university, or vocational school. Deadline to apply is March 1, 2023.

The Horatio Alger Association honors the achievements of outstanding individuals in our society who have succeeded despite adversity and who are in pursuit of increased opportunities through higher education. State, Career & Technical, Targeted and National Scholarships are now available.

The Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder is offering Business at a Glance in the fall of 2023, which provides first-generation, diverse, underrepresented, students of color a glimpse into Leeds and different career opportunities in business. Date TBD.