HCS Jr-Sr Newsletter
April edition
Seniors…Important FAFSA information for you and your parents
The IRS recently took down its Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) due to security concerns. The DRT allows students and parents to transfer income tax information into the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
If you already filed your 2017-18 FAFSA and used the DRT to input your tax information, this outage should not affect you.
If you and your parents have NOT completed your 2017-18 FAFSA, follow these steps:
- Complete the FAFSA at fafsa.gov. If you get an error message when you try IRS Data Retrieval (“page not found” or “access denied”), manually input your 2015 tax data.
- Request an official tax return transcript of your 2015 income tax data from the IRS. You will need the transcript if the college(s) you list on the FAFSA request verification of your tax data.
- Respond to verification requests as soon as possible and send all requested documents to the college. Colleges will not award financial aid until the verification process is complete.
For free help with the FAFSA or verification process, contact EducationQuest to make an appointment. See locations and phone numbers at the bottom of this bulletin. You may also submit questions via Facebook and Twitter. We will quickly respond!
College fairs happening across the state
Talk to representatives from colleges across the state, region, and nation during upcoming college fairs.
Juniors…these events will help you narrow your college choices before taking the ACT this spring and applying for college and financial aid early in the fall.
Seniors…attend if you haven’t made your final college decision.
Lincoln Area College Fair – Sunday, March 19, 1-3 p.m., Southeast Community College
Grand Island Area College Fair – Sunday, March 26, 1-3 p.m., Pinnacle Bank Expo Center
Scottsbluff Area College Fair – Sunday, April 2, 1-3 p.m., Western Nebraska Community College
Omaha Area College Fair – Sunday, April 9, 1-3 p.m., University of Nebraska Omaha Sapp Fieldhouse
Tri-State Area College Fair (South Sioux City) – Sunday, April 23, 1-3 p.m., Marina Center
Before you attend, register for a barcode at NebraskaCollegeFairs.org. Print the barcode (or download it to your smartphone) and take it to the fair so college reps can scan it.
Seniors…It’s decision time!
Here’s how to decide on the college that’s the right fit for you.
Compare your college acceptance letters, financial aid award notifications, and campus visit notes. List the pros and cons of each school using the following criteria:
Location – Is the college too close? If you come home every weekend, you won’t experience true campus life. Is the college too far away? If so, you may not make it home as often as you’d like.
Cost – Can your family afford the school? What can you expect for financial aid beyond your freshman year? Did you receive renewable scholarships? How much in student and parent loans will you need to cover expenses?
Academic program – Does the college offer the program that interests you? What happens if you change majors? Does the college offer other programs that interest you?
Student life – Does the school offer activities you will enjoy? Do you like the living arrangements provided by the school? Will you have an opportunity to work on or near campus?
Make your final decision by May 1 – and then notify the colleges you’re rejecting so they can offer your spot, and any financial aid, to another student.
April “To Do” List
___ Continue applying for scholarships.
___ Make your final college decision.
___ Start purchasing dorm essentials now to avoid sticker shock in August.
___ Start looking for a summer job.
Juniors
___ Attend a college fair in your area.
___ Schedule campus visits while colleges are still in session.
___ Register by April 7 for the May 6 SAT.
___ Register by May 5 for the June 10 ACT.
___ Start looking for scholarships.
$$Scholarships$$
Scholarship search web sites:
Seniors: Check your email for links to the following scholarships:
CVA Scholarship: The first consideration of the applicant is that the parents or guardian of the applicant is a current stockholder of Central Valley Ag, or one of the parents or guardians is an employee of Central Valley Ag. Must be seeking an ag degree. http://www.cvacoop.com/careers/scholarship/ Deadline: March 15.
York American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship: To be eligible, students must graduate from a York County high school and plan to attend college in Nebraska. It is not required that applicants are veteran connected. Need 2 letters of reference. Financial need is a consideration. Deadline: March 15.
Hirschfeld Family Scholarship: one $500 scholarship will be available to a current graduating senior that resides in York County, NE, that has been active in 4-H and/or FFA, and is pursuing an agricultural major. Deadline: March 15.
Independent Insurance Agents of Nebraska: Selection of the scholarship winner will be based on scholastic application, as well as participation and leadership in school and community activities, and educational goals. Applicants must be a Nebraska resident enrolled as a full-time student and at least a second semester college sophomore or junior at an accredited post-secondary institution located in Nebraska. Applicants must be a business major with a preference for an insurance-related field. Deadline: March 17.
The Alyssa Sandmeier Foundation is offering a $750 scholarship to a student who submits the winning creative writing sample. Essay will be judged on creativity, structure and grammar. Deadline: March 27.
Lincoln Builders Bureau Scholarship: Applicants must be an employee of a Lincoln Builders Bureau member company or the dependent of an employee. Must plan to attend a college with a focus on construction science. Deadline: April 1.
Midwest Dairy Association Scholarship: For some scholarships, must be going into agriculture or dairy in college, others there is no requirement as to college major. https://www.midwestdairy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2017ScholarshipAppNE.pdf Deadline: April 1 (the website may still say the wrong deadline.
Henderson State Bank Scholarship: Must be in the top 50% of the class and plan to pursue a degree in a field employable in a rural community. Deadline: April 10.
Henderson Foundation Scholarships: Applications for the three Foundation scholarships Including: Lauren Huebert Memorial Scholarship, Friesen/Yoder Superintendent Scholarship and Henderson Community Foundation Scholarship, have been emailed to each senior. Deadline: April 10.
James M. Cox Scholarship: $1,000, must demonstrate financial need. Deadline: April 17.
Burke Scholarship Awards: The Upper Big Blue NRD is offering two 2017 Burke Scholarship Awards of $2,000 each to a student in the Upper Big Blue District who plans to study a natural resources related field at a college in Nebraska. Deadline: April 21.