Senior Guidance Office Update
Seniors please make sure you have all of your Gananda Dollar for Scholars paperwork completed to be eligible for scholarship opportunities!
GDFS paperwork is due by March 18th. All forms need to signed and submitted to Guidance. You must also complete the GDFS Profile in order to access and apply to the available scholarships.
To complete your Gananda Dollar for Scholars Profile.
Follow the directions below:
Go to ganandany.dollarsforscholars.org. Once Your Profile is completed, go to “scholarships” and apply to open scholarships. Some scholarships will require you to write an essay. Continue checking on the scholarships weekly to see what new opportunities become available.
6 Things to Do After Receiving a College Acceptance Letter
First of all, congratulations on getting accepted into college! There are many things you should consider when making your final decision.
Wait for more options. If you applied to more than one school, wait until you hear back from the others. Weigh the pros and cons of all your options before committing to the first school that accepts you.
Do your research… again. If you applied to a college, you’ve likely done some kind of research, and maybe even visited campus. Now that attending a particular college went from a possibility to a reality, you will likely view things a little bit differently. Before making a final decision, consider visiting (or revisiting) the campus as a first-year student. If a campus visit isn’t in the cards, use online resources to go on a virtual campus visit.
Talk it out. Talk to your family and friends about your options. Consider the costs associated with attending each school.
Reflect. Read your notes from your campus visit. If you haven’t already, make a college list to compare potential schools. Know what’s most important to you about each option (cost, distance from home, majors offered, student population, etc.). Sit quietly and picture your first day of college. What campus are you visualizing?
Access your student portal. Many schools have a student portal that hosts all the pertinent information and deadlines you need to know to move forward in the admissions process. Activation details are usually found in your acceptance materials.
Keep track of deadlines. Read through your acceptance letter completely and take note of important dates. Dates to keep in mind may include:
- Deadline to take placement tests
- Deadline to sign up for orientation
- Deadline to apply for housing
- Deadline to submit final high school transcript
- Deadline to file your financial aid documents
- Deadline to accept admission (and pay the acceptance fee, if applicable)
Five Major Things to Look for in Your Financial Award
Cost of Attendance: The estimated amount of money the college or university charges for tuition and fees. This may also include other educational costs such as books, supplies, and living expenses.
Expected Family Contribution (EFC): This is the number used to define how much financial aid you’re eligible to receive based on your family’s income, assets, benefits, size, and the number of family members attending college at the same time.
Scholarships and Grants (Gift Aid): Gift aid is money that does not have to be repaid. Keep in mind that there may be academic requirements, work study obligations, or athletic or artistic fulfillments.
Loans: Federal and college loans can be critical to your ability to earn a higher education. It is important to keep in mind that this money must be repaid and that the terms (interest rate, payment schedule, etc.) can be complicated.
Net Cost: This is the gap between what financial aid covers and the cost of attendance. It’s your remaining out-of-pocket balance. Net Cost is NOT what college will cost you, as financial aid often includes loans. Do not use net cost alone to compare which college or university is the least expensive.
As you review your financial aid package, remember to pay special attention to which funds are gift aid and which are loans.