Blue Water College Access Network
St. Clair County's College Resource | March 2023
College Knowledge for EVERYONE
Welcome to your resource for planning, preparing, and going to college after high school. Blue Water College Access Network is here to provide information and opportunities that will ensure you graduate confidently prepared, with plans for career and college beyond high school. Whether you choose to go on to earn a bachelor's degree, an associate degree, or an industry credential, we can help you get there!
Each month, we will publish a newsletter to keep you on track, informed, and engaged in college activities provided by organizations across the county. To subscribe to the newsletter, submit your email address using this form. Past editions of the newsletter can be found at bwcan.org. Contact Nick Beaudry with any questions you might have at beaudry.nick@sccresa.org.
Spring Application Week March 20-24
Graduating Seniors: It's not too late to apply!
Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) wants all graduating students to know that it's not too late to apply to college, and there is still financial aid available. This includes the new Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which offers up to $27,500 over five years for the class of 2023 and beyond to attend an in-state college or university.
Many institutions in Michigan offer free applications, and several more are waiving their application fees March 20-24. Check out our fee waivers document for details.
Resources
MCAN has created a folder of Spring Application Week Resources, including social media graphics, a planning guide, and a printable #IApplied pennant.
Access the resources folder →
Michigan Institution Updates
Our Michigan Institution Updates website offers a list of all 84 public and private, 2-year and 4-year colleges in Michigan. You can find up-to-date, institution-specific information, including admissions policies and financial aid opportunities, by navigating through the tabs at the top of the page.
Access the MIU →
Spring Transition Webinar Series
The Spring is a vital time for you and your family to begin transitioning your career & college plans into the summer in preparation for next Fall. These live, virtual events will provide you with the information, resources, and advice from the experts to help you make well-informed decisions for your future career & college plans.
Sign up for your Class webinar today! FAFSA is Open
2023-24 Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Michigan Priority Deadline: May 1
The 2023-24 FASA opened Oct. 1. Incoming and returning students can apply. The application will remain open until June 30, 2024, but Michigan students should complete the FAFSA before May 1, 2023, to get priority consideration for state-based scholarship programs. Financial aid deadlines at postsecondary institutions may be even earlier. Submitting the FAFSA is free and there is no income limit; please encourage all students to apply as soon as possible!
Learn more and complete the FAFSA →
Michigan Achievement Scholarship
High school students and their families/caregivers looking to secure more financial aid for college are encouraged to register for an informational webinar about the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which is a new State of Michigan scholarship program expected to impact the majority of students in the Class of 2023 and beyond!
Participants will be able to gather the following information:
- Michigan Achievement Scholarship eligibility requirements
- Michigan Achievement Scholarship award amounts
- Important action items for students and families
- Additional resources and program information
All sessions are free of charge and open to the public. Please register for one session only, as space is limited.
Not able to attend one of the informational sessions? You can view a recording of the presentation.
The Michigan Department of Treasury is not affiliated with National Merit Scholarship Corporation or its registered trademarks National Achievement®, Achievement Scholarship®, or Achievement Scholar®.
Understanding Your Award Letter
Understanding Your Award Letter
Financial aid award letters can often times be difficult to understand. That is why MI Student Aid has developed the Understanding Your Award Letter web page!
High school students and their families/caregivers interested in learning more about this helpful resource are encouraged to register for an informational webinar provided by Michigan Department of Treasury’s MI Student Aid team.
Participants will be able to:
- Gain a better understanding of how to approach comparing multiple college financial aid award letters
- Utilize online tools to help you make the best financial decision
- Better understand the individual awards offered and applicable requirements of scholarships, grants, and Federal loan options
- Identify additional scholarship search resources and easy to use budgeting tools
- Submit general aid related questions via Q&A and receive real-time answers from Michigan Department of Treasury’s MI Student Aid team
All sessions are free of charge and open to the public. Please register for one session only, as space is limited.
We look forward to your participation!
How to College Crash Course Playlist: To College or Not To College?
Each month, we feature a video from the
"How to College" series produced by the Study Hall Program, a partnership between Crash Course and Arizona State University. The Study Hall Program is in the process of publishing the 15-video series, and we will feature a video each month over 16 months.
In this month's video, How to Transfer Colleges, Erica walks us through the Why? and the How? of transferring colleges. Get a list of upcoming episodes for Fast Guides and How to College at https://gostudyhall.com/
Because there's a lot of information to keep track of when you're applying to college, Crash Course made an easy spreadsheet to help you compare schools, keep track of application requirements, and set your goals! Copy this free template and make it your own: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ycGCb-JeGpiu0LLJCUVvV_Zlm5W8u5eimgk3N3blmug/edit#gid=0
To preview upcoming topics, check out the episode guide.
From the Study Hall Program:
Dr. Erica Brozovsky (from PBS's Otherwords) hosts and breaks down how to apply for, succeed at, and graduate from college. We hope you'll join us for this journey and check out our all new Study Hall Channel where you can watch Fast Guides about college majors and even more series. Get a list of upcoming episodes for Fast Guides and How to College at https://gostudyhall.com/
Blue Water Building Trades Fair
Each month, counselors can find current college and career counseling information and professional learning opportunities in the Counselor Corner section of the BWCAN newsletter. A running compilation of opportunities can also be found on the Counselors page at
bwcan.org.
SC4 Resource for Counselors and Advisers
College Bound Michigan Registration Now Open
Registration is now open for the 2022-23 cycle of College Bound Michigan, MCAN's suite of initiatives designed to build and support college-going cultures in high schools and their surrounding communities. This program helps school counselors, college advisers, and other educators create systems and practices that connect all students with the opportunity for formal education beyond high school, including postsecondary certificates and academic degrees.
CBMI brings together all of the statewide initiatives — Michigan College Month, College Cash Campaign, and College Decision Day — into one campaign to help bring Michigan closer to Sixty by 30. Click the register button below to learn more and sign up. Current CBMI sites, be sure to register to ensure you are included as a host site for next year! Registration will remain open through the fall, but signing up now ensures timely delivery of resources and takes something off your summer/fall to-do list.
Why should my school sign up?
As a CBMI Host Site, you will have access to:
- Exclusive grant opportunities
- Promotional materials
- Student-facing, grab-and-go resources
- Counselor/adviser-facing toolkits and implementation guides
- Professional development opportunities
REGISTER
Questions?
Contact Kiersten Nolan, MCAN’s strategy assistant for high school innovation, with any questions about CBMI eligibility or programming at 517-316-1713 or kiersten@micollegeaccess.org.
Contact Nick Beaudry, Supervisor of Career and College Programs, St. Clair County RESA
