College Newsletter
Benson Tech
April 29, 2024
Kathleen Reid
College Counselor/AVID Coordinator
kreid@pps.net or 971-238-8322
Sign up for an appointment with Kathleen here
Katie Clark
College Coordinator
kclark@pps.net or 503-894-4660
Sign up for an appointment with Katie here
Please visit our College Webpage for lots of important info: Benson College Webpage
Important Deadlines!
Seniors - Some colleges have an enrollment deadline of May 1st. Be sure to track your deadlines so you don't lose your spot. U of O and OSU have extended their deadlines to June 1st.
PCC and OSU on 5/2
Seniors - Come find out next steps. If you have been admitted to PCC or OSU and wonder what to do now, come meet with the rep in the library during flex on Thursday, May 2nd. Representatives will be on there from both schools to work with students and answer questions.
Next Steps at Portland State, Plus Donuts!!
On Friday, May 3rd PSU will be meeting with seniors who have been admitted. Come to the College Career Center (B6) to find out what is next and grab a donut!! Please register here: PSU Donut Party Registration
College Fair - April 28th
FINANCIAL AID
Need Financial Aid Help?
Students and families - Do you need support to interpret your financial aid packages or completing FAFSA or ORSAA, Oregon Promise or other financial aid applications? Please set up an appointment with Kathleen Reid or Katie Clark.
Sign up for an appointment with Kathleen here
Sign up for an appointment with Katie here
Benson Featured Again on OPB
FAFSA Information
Some of the kinks are being worked out for FAFSA and colleges are beginning to receive students' FAFSA data. The FAFSA is now open for corrections, so students can add a signature, add colleges or make other necessary changes to their FAFSA form.
FSA has created a solution for parents with no social security number. Students should invite their parent, indicating the parent does not have an SSN. The parent can create an account through a verification process and then complete the FAFSA manually and submit online. We can support students and families with this process.
Please reach out to Kathleen Reid (kreid@pps.net) or Katie Clark (kclark@pps.net) if you would like support in completing your FAFSA or if you have questions.
The FAFSA financial aid form officially opened on December 31st. Complete your FAFSA soon to make yourself eligible for the most free money possible.
ORSAA is the financial aid form for students without a social security number. Find the application HERE. Please reach out to Kathleen Reid or Katie Clark for support and/or questions.
New York Times Financial Aid Resource
SCHOLARSHIPS
Many UNCF Scholarships for BIPOC students can be found HERE
Thurgood Marshall Scholarships for HBCUs are at this LINK
Nursing Scholarships can be found at this LINK
4/30/2024 Joshua David Gardner Memorial Scholarship Fund $2,000 need-based scholarships to undergraduate students at HBCUs.
4/30/2024 OnPoint Community Credit Union Scholar Program Up to $5,000 for Oregon students who have a 3.50 or higher GPA and earned a varsity letter in an OSAA-sanctioned sport or competed in an OSAA-sanctioned activity.
4/30/2024 Sean Carter Foundation Scholarship Jay-Z wants to give you money for college! Students who have at least a 2.0 are eligible to apply.
4/30/2024 Good in the Hood For seniors who have a record of community service. Multiple $2,500 scholarships.
5/1/2024 Bailey Passion Scholarship A scholarship for Portland Public School seniors, with a minimum 3.0 GPA, that have a clear and proven passion and are looking to positively impact the world.
5/15/2024 Oregon Music Hall of Fame Scholarship $2,500 scholarships for Oregon high school seniors planning to major or minor in music.
5/17/2024NAACP ScholarshipEight scholarships ranging from $1000 to $1500 to help Black students in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties pursue their post secondary goals.
5/19/2024 Portland Chinese Scholarship Foundation $500 - $3,000 scholarships for Oregon students of Chinese ancestry with a minimum 2.75 GPA.
5/24/2024 Beans for Brains Scholarship $2000 scholarships for students who have a 3.0 GPA and who know how to knit, crochet or weave.
5/31/2024 Full Circle Scholarship Scholarships for Native American students with a 2.0 GPA or higher.
6/1/2024 ACF Visionary Scholarship $5,000 scholarship for students who complete an essay on why college is important to them. Open to all high school students.
6/1/2024 American Indian Graduate Center Scholarships Scholarships for undergraduate students including AS, BA and BS degrees in all majors, with special scholarships for STEM majors.
6/1/2024 American Indian Nurse Award Scholarships for Native students planning to major in nursing. Need not be enrolled.
6/1/2024 Women in HVACR Scholarship $2,000 scholarships for women preparing to enter the HVACR industry.
6/14/2024 Oregon Sports Hall MacTarnahan Scholarship $3,000 scholarships for student-athletes attending Oregon colleges with a 3.3 GPA or higher.
6/15/2024 Horatio Alger Association Career & Technical Scholarship Up to $2,500 for students to pursue a career or technical certificate/degree.
6/30/2024 Against the Grain Scholarships Several scholarships for Asian-American students who are artists, entrepreneurs, fashion designers and leaders.
6/30/2024 Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship $1,000 scholarship for a short essay on the impact of cyberbullying. Open to students in grades 9-12.
6/30/2024 Islamic Society of North America Scholarships Several scholarships open to Muslim students pursuing higher education.
6/30/2024 Korean American Scholarship Foundation Western Regional Chapter Scholarships for students of Korean heritage who will be a full-time student in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, or Washington.
6/30/2024 Navigate Your Future Scholarship $2,500 scholarship offered to a high school graduate continuing his or her education in the aviation industry.
6/30/2024 OWRF Scholarship $2000-$5000 for students with an interest in pursuing a career related to water, agriculture and/or natural resources.
6/30/2024 Women in Trades For female-identifying students who plan to pursue a trade after high school. $2,500.
6/30/2024 Automotive Hall of Fame Scholarships Must have 3.0 GPA minimum and be pursuing an education for an automotive career.
7/13/2024 Score Navigator Financial Literacy Scholarship For juniors or seniors from low-income backgrounds with a 3.0 GPA or higher. To apply, write about your personal financial experiences and how you plan to use your financial education to better your future.
BENSON COLLEGE FIELD TRIPS
COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS at BENSON!
College Applications
COLLEGE APPLICATIONS:
For information on completing college applications, please refer to our College Website and the Applying to College.
THE COMMON APP:
The Common App is a college admissions application students can use to apply to any of more than 900 colleges including Oregon State University and the University of Oregon. Start your Common App today at https://www.commonapp.org/
PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY:
Seniors - Looking for an affordable college choice? PSU's GPA requirement for admission is 2.5. PSU also has a program which offers 4 years of free tuition for those who qualify. See PSU website for more information.
PCC:
Apply to PCC: pcc.edu/admissions
Applying to any colleges using the Common App?
You must sync Maia Learning to your Common App account. This allows Benson to send your transcript and other required documentation.
Follow these steps:
1. Create a Common App account at commonapp.org
Then complete your basic profile information
In the Education section, add Benson as your high school
Search for and add at least one college
2. Log into Maia Learning Log in with Google and use your school email
Click on the profile icon in the upper right corner
Select Settings
Click on Connect to Common App
This will prompt you to log in to Common App
Enter the necessary info, and click Connect
Applying to colleges through an application other than the Common App (i.e. directly on the college's website)?
Log into Maia Learning
Click on Universities
Then Applying
Then Add College
Select the college you plan to apply to
Under the college, select that you will be applying through other app/online
Repeat for any other college you will be applying to outside of Common App
Applying to colleges that require a Counselor Recommendation? (most private colleges require one)
Let your counselor know ASAP! Email or let them know in person. Give them 3-4 weeks' notice before the deadline.
Then, you must complete the Counselor Recommendation Survey in Maia Learning - You will find it by going to Dashboard, then Surveys, then click on Counselor Recommendation Survey
When you have submitted it, let your counselor know!
Does your college require one or more Teacher Letters of Recommendation?
Ask no more than two teachers if they would be willing to write a letter for you. It should be core class teachers (math, English, science, social studies) you have had junior and/or senior year.
Then, in Maia Learning, go to Universities, then Recommendations
Search for one teacher at a time.
Check the college(s) to send the recommendation to.
Add the deadline.
Write a quick note thanking your teacher.
Submit.
As always, reach out if you have questions or want support with any of the above - email kreid@pps.net or call/text 971-238-8322.