Central Catholic College Counseling
Class of 2021 - November 2020
Request a College Counseling Meeting with Mrs. Martin
Class of 2021 To Do List - November 2020
FAFSA - Complete as soon as possible. See below for tips. This is required for all federal and state financial aid, federal student and parent loans, and most scholarships.
CSS Profile - Do you need to complete this financial aid form too? Some schools require it -- check your school's financial aid websites. See below for resources.
Update Naviance Student - Are ALL schools to which you're applying in your College's I'm appying to list? Are your deadlines accurate? Add all non-Common App schools too!
If you did not submit your application by the college's early deadline then you can submit by the regular deadline --usually in Jan or Feb. Check Naviance for future deadlines.
Letters of recommendation and Transcripts! I have sent all letters of recommendation that were requested for Nov 1 deadlines. Check Naviance Student, Colleges I’m applying to list. In the Office Material column you will see “Initial materials submitted” if letters, transcripts, school report, school profile, and common app forms have been sent.
Thank your letter writers! Teachers and counselors have been working overtime the last few weeks writing your letters and completing academic forms.
Letters of Recommendation- Do You Need to Request? - If you have a December or January application deadline you should get these started. See Canvas for process.
NetPrice Calculator - Students and parents work together to complete a NetPrice Calculator for each school on your list. This will give you an estimate of what each school will award in financial aid and scholarship. See below for information.
Scholarships - Check out the scholarships listed at the end of this newsletter! The OSAC Scholarship application is now open!
UC Night for the Pacific Northwest
- Wednesday, November 4, 2020
- 5-6pm PST: Meet the nine UC Campuses
- 6-7pm PST: UC Application Workshop
- REGISTER HERE
'Appy Hour - University of California Application Help!
- Lunchtime 11am - noon
- Thursdays - Nov 12, Nov 19, Nov 26
- Zoom link - HERE
CAL Apply Help
- Cal Poly has published their annual "Tips and Tricks Guide"
- Ryann Wegrzyn - Cal Poly Admissions Representative, is offering one on one application review! Sign up HERE!
'Appy Hour - California State Application Help!
- Lunchtime 11am - noon
- Tuesdays - Nov 17, Nov 24, Dec 1
- Zoom link - HERE
Common Application Help!
See CANVAS for tips and best practices for completing your Common Application (Utility, College Counseling, Seniors, Common Application).
Complete Your FAFSA Now!
Here's how to start!
- Student - Create an FSA ID - HERE. FSA ID's are needed to sign and submitt your FAFSA.
- One Parent must also create an FSA ID - HERE
- Use 2019 tax return data!
- Complete the FAFSA for the 2021-2022 school year.
- Add all the colleges you are applying to! If you add colleges to your list after you have completed the FAFSA -- just edit it and add!
- Use your legal name!
Virtual Financial Aid Workshops, Hosted by the University of Portland
You are invited to attend one of the Financial Aid Workshops being hosted by the Financial Aid Department at University of Portland.
- Wednesday, November 18 at 3:00 p.m.
- Register to attend (Zoom webinar format) here
FAFSA and the IRS Retrieval Tool - Should you use this?
YES! You can save time and effort if you qualify to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. It will transfer your income tax data directly from the IRS to your online FAFSA.
You and your parents may be eligible to use this tool if:
- Your family income tax returns were filed electronically at least two weeks before you complete the FAFSA.
- Your family income tax returns were mailed to the IRS at least eight weeks before you complete the FAFSA.
If you are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool and choose to do so, you’ll be transferred from the online FAFSA to the IRS website, which will guide you through the transfer of your tax information. When you’re done, you’ll be sent back to your FAFSA.
If an applicant does not use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool and the applicant's FAFSA is selected for verification, the applicant will be required to complete IRS Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return, during verification. ... It is no longer sufficient to provide a photocopy of the federal income tax return.
View list with dates, times, and zoom links above. (students can access using a Central Catholic email. Parents must request access to view the list).
Virtual Jesuit Excellence Tour
- Thursday, November 5: 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM (ET)
- See the JET webpage for all updates and the link to join : HERE. Use this code to register - JetTour2020.
NACAC Virtual College Fairs
Last day to attend is approaching! 600+ colleges and universities.
- Sunday, Nov. 8 (or download PDF version), 2 - 10 p.m. ET
- Sign up at virtualcollegefairs.org
OSAC Scholarship Application Is Now OPEN!
- Must be an Oregon resident - If you only apply to one outside scholarship apply to OSAC!
- OSAC awards more than $10 million in scholarships annually. You don't need to be a merit scholar or a student with financial need to apply.
- OSAC administers more than 600 scholarship programs.
- APPLY - HERE.
- Early Bird Deadine - February 15, 5pm PST. Error-free applications will be entered into a drawing for one of several $1,000 Early Bird scholarships.
FINAL DEADLINE March 1, 5pm PST.
FAFSA is required for all scholarships!
Scholarship Searches - Where to start!
Network
- Do you belong to a church group or a local chapter of some national club?
- Are either of your parents a member of a union or civic groups?
- Does either of them work for a large corporation? Many of these types of organizations offer scholarships to members and their children.
- Check out the PTA, Kiwanis Club, Chamber of Commerce, churches, foundations and others in your town, which often offer scholarships based on a variety of factors. There’s often less competition for these, since they have to be awarded locally.
- Oregon Gear Up - HERE
- University of Portland’s Outside Scholarship List - HERE
- Beaverton School District Scholarship List - HERE
- Scholars App - HERE
- Oregon Promise - Community College Grant - HERE
- The WashBoard (WA residents) - HERE.
SCHOLARSHIPS
WSU Vancouver Offers In-state Tuition to Students from 3 Oregon Counties
Students who are residents of Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties can take advantage of the PDX Tuition Advantage in spring and fall 2021.
Oregon Promise Grant is Open - Scholarship for community college.
University of Oregon Scholarships - freshman merit scholarships. All scholarships for fall 2021 applicants are test-blind, meaning UO will not look at or use test scores whatsoever in the awarding process, even if they are submitted. Students should plan to submit the 2021-2022 FAFSA (now open!) by March 1 at the latest.
Oregon State University Scholarships - HERE
The Contingent: Act Six Scholarship
What it covers: 4 year full tuition at Corban University, George Fox University, or Warner Pacific University.
Who's eligible: Students who live in the Portland or Salem area and are leaders in their community.
When applications are due: November 5.
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Black United Fund of Oregon: ACCESS Scholarships
What it covers: $10,000 to full unmet need at Lewis & Clark College, Pacific University, or Reed College. $10,000 - $15,000 renewable scholarships are also available at Linfield University, University of Portland, and Willamette University.
Who's eligible: Varies, minimum 3.0 GPA
When applications are due: March 1
The Ford Family Foundation: Ford Scholars Program
What it covers: 90% of unmet college costs including tuition, fees, room and board, personal costs, etc. Includes academic, emotional and professional guidance and leadership development.
Who's eligible: Residents of Oregon or Siskiyou County, Calif. who are graduating high school seniors (or equivalent) or community college students at point of transfer as a junior and who are seeking a bachelor’s degree who plan to enroll full time in the fall in their state of residence (Oregon or Calif.), and who have NOT already started full-time at a 4-year college. Adult learners and single parents are also eligible for other scholarships.
When applications are due: March 1
Scholarships Awarded by the College or University
Check each school on your list's Financial Aid and Scholarship webpages! Are there any additional applications needed (besides the admissions applicaion)? Are there any scholarships that fit your profile and need an additional application?
Complete a Net Price Calculator for every college on your list! Net Price Calculator's, available on every college's website, are an easy tool to use to estimate how much each college might give you in scholarship money!
Net Price Calculators - How much will a college really cost?
Search for Net Price Calculators on each college's financial aid page or search HERE
What is a Net Price Calculator?
Net price calculators are available on a college’s or university’s website and allow prospective students to enter information about themselves to find out what students like them paid to attend the institution in the previous year, after taking grants and scholarship aid into account.
What does Net Price mean?
Net Price is the amount that a student pays to attend an institution in a single academic year AFTER subtracting scholarships and grants the student receives. Scholarships and grants are forms of financial aid that a student does not have to pay back.
Complete a NETPRICE CALCULATOR for each school on your list! Students and parents will need to work together to provide the required information.