Nolan Catholic College Counseling
Class of 2023 - August 2022
SENIOR TO DO LIST, NOVEMBER 2022
- College Checklist!
Review the checklist. Stay on task so you don't get overwhelmed! - Complete the FAFSA, The Free Application for Federal Student Aid opened on October 1! Apply as soon as possible to maximize your aid! The FAFSA® form allows students to request federal grants, work-study, and loans, all in one application. It is also required for students to be considered for most scholarships.
See below for more information about FAFSA help available for Nolan Catholic families. - 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!
- Is your Colleges I'm Applying to list up to date?
- Are your application deadlines correct?
- Have you checked which application type you will be using? Common App, ApplyTexas, or the institution's own application. - After you submit your application you must request a transcript! See below!
- College Application Deadlines! The Early Action November 1 or November 15 deadlines are fast approaching! If you can not submit your application by the college's early deadline then you can submit by the regular deadline --usually in January or February. Check Naviance for regular application deadlines.
- Applying to Texas AM or Texas Tech? Once you submit your application you will get an email with instructions to set up your application portal and complete a SRAR. See your counselor as soon as you've set up your application portal for assistance. See below for more details!
- College Acceptance and Scholarship Awards! As offers roll in, be sure to let us know by completing this form - HERE! One form needs to be completed for each scholarship and college acceptance.
- Thank your letter writers! Teachers and counselors have been working overtime the last few weeks writing your letters and completing academic forms.
- Scholarships - Check out the scholarships listed at the end of this newsletter!
PARENT TO DO LIST - NOVEMBER 2022
- College Checklist!
Review the checklist. Stay on task so you and your student don't get overwhelmed! - Work together to complete the FAFSA!
- Work together to complete and PROOFREAD COLLEGE applications and submit by the deadline!
- Assess the financial feasibility of each college by completing a NetPrice Calculator for every school your student is interested in applying to. See instructional video posted below. (TX Colleges NetPrice Calculator)
COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
After You Submit An Application...
- Request a Transcript be sent to each school you apply to!
- Transcripts are only official if sent by Nolan Catholic!
Naviance>Colleges Applying to> Request Transcripts (upper right corner)
URGENT! If You're Applying to Texas A&M
- After you've submitted your application, see your counselor for help uploading needed documents (letters of rec, school profile, and transcript).
- Complete the SRAR (Self-Reported Academic Record) which includes all the courses and grades you've received in high school (and sometimes middle school). See video tutorial HERE.
Senior Survey! College Acceptance and Scholarship Awards!
Help us celebrate your accomplishments!
- As you are accepted into schools and/or receive notification of awards/scholarships, please update us using the link below.
- Please submit 1 survey response per college acceptance or recognition. We’re excited to share your achievements!
- Senior College Acceptance and Scholarship Awards HERE
FINANCIAL AID
Financial Aid 101 courtesy of the University of Notre Dame
Understanding Financial Aid
You know of our reputation for academic excellence. We also want you to know that we are committed to need-blind admission and to meeting 100 percent of financial need.
Wondering what these statements really mean? In this issue of Financial Aid 101, we'll start by defining a few financial aid terms. Click to learn more.
Estimate Your Cost - HERE
FAFSA Opened OCTOBER 1!
The most vital step in applying for federal grants, work-study, and loans for college is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form.
Take these steps to apply for federal student aid.
- Student and one parent each need to create an FSA ID - HERE
- Get Prepared - Gather the documents you’ll need.
- Complete FAFSA® Form - Apply early to maximize your aid.
- Review Student Aid Report - Make corrections, if necessary.
- Respond to Aid Offer- Accept the aid you want.
- Receive Aid - Get your aid from your school.
- Renew Your FAFSA® Form - Reapply each year.
When filling out the FAFSA remember to...
- Student - Create an FSA ID - HERE. FSA IDs are needed in order to sign and submit your FAFSA.
- Parent - One parent must also create an FSA ID (separate from your student's) - HERE
- Use 2021 Federal Tax Return data!
- Use the IRS Retrieval Tool if you are eligible - see below for more info!
- Complete the FAFSA for the 2023-2024 school year.
- Add all the colleges to which you're applying! If you add colleges to your list after you have completed the FAFSA -- just edit it and add!
- Use your legal name!
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.
MORE INFO HERE
CSS Profile - Financial Aid Form Required by Some Colleges & Scholarships
The following colleges, universities, and scholarship programs use CSS Profile and/or IDOC as part of their financial aid process for some or all of their financial aid applicants in the populations listed below. Please check schools’ websites or contact the institution for more information.
See Participating Institutions and Programs HERE
COLLEGE COST
Net Price Calculators - How much will a college really cost?
A SAFE school is also affordable for your family. See below to determine how much a college might cost (after scholarships and financial aid).
Search for Net Price Calculators on each college's financial aid page or search HERE
Texas Universities Net Price Calculator search HERE
What is a Net Price Calculator?
A Net Price Calculator is a tool that is available on every college or university’s website and allows 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 NET PRICE CALCULATOR for each school on your list! Students and parents will need to work together to provide the required information.
Scholarship search engines
- Going Merry - It’s free! Going Merry has thousands of national, regional, and local scholarships. To sign up, go to: https://app.goingmerry.com/sign-up#students
- Access Scholarships
- CollegeBoard, BigFuture - Complete the college planning steps on the BigFuture dashboard! Participating Juniors will be automatically entered into drawings (.pdf/403 KB) for $500 scholarships plus two $40,000 awards every month.
Scholarships Awarded By A College Or University
Check the Financial Aid and Scholarship webpages of each college you're applying to! Are there any additional applications needed (besides the admissions application)? Are there any scholarships that fit your profile and need an additional application?
Complete a Net Price Calculator for every college on your list! A Net Price Calculator is available on every college's website and is an easy tool to use to estimate how much each college might give you in scholarship money!
Other Scholarships
- Hispanic Heritage Foundation 2022 Scholarship - Due Nov 13
- The 2023 GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program - Due Jan 5
- The Eugene McDermott Scholars Program at The University of Texas at Dallas - Due Dec 1.
- Texas Veterans Hazlewood Act - HERE
- MLK 2023 Essay Contest, due Dec 9 - see attached.
- TCU’s STEM Scholar Program
- Jack Kent Cooke Foundation: Offers scholarships to qualified students with demonstrated financial need. When to apply: August 1–November 13 Learn More
- Ron Brown Scholar Program: Offered to African American high school seniors, this scholarship focuses on leadership and civic engagement. When to apply: Early timeline: August 1–November 1. Regular timeline: August 1–January 9 Learn More