CMHS College & Career Counseling
December Newsletter
Welcome (officially) to Fall/Winter!!!
What you will find in the issue...
- General Updates
- Parent/Guardian Reads, etc!
- Senior Class Updates
- Financial Aid Application Completion
- Career Resources.
- Scholarships
- Underclassmen Corner
General Updates for College & Career!
Open Office Hours!
I will be doing open office hours starting December 6th – 16th (with the exception of the 9th) from 1:00-4:00 PM. Students may stop by during lunch or free periods to meet with me about applications, career advising or any other postsecondary planning. Priority will be given to seniors but I welcome any students wishing to discuss their future planning!
College Visits and Fairs
Make sure to watch the College Rep Visit page (CMHS webpage/Support Services/College & Career Services/College Rep Visits) for upcoming visits to CMHS. Students may sign up through their Cialfo account. Priority for visits is given to juniors and seniors. Sophomores may attend with special permission from Mrs. Kutsner.
Junior Presentations and Meetings!
Juniors and parents, get ready! Starting in the spring semester we will be ramping up our postsecondary planning with meetings and presentations about Cialfo, college searches, Common Application, career planning, etc. Watch your emails and the website to ensure you receive information regarding these important events coming your way!
Freshman Access to Cialfo
Freshmen access to Cialfo is here! Have your student try to access Cialfo and explore what the program can do!
College & Career Website
Regularly check the website (https://cmhs.cmsd12.org/cms/one.aspx?pageId=13697934) for information about events and assistance with Cialfo or other important details regarding college/career.
Parent/Guardian Reads
The Chronicle for Higher Education
"Who Gets In and Why"
"The Truth About College Admissions"
"What Color is Your Parachute"
"Do What You Are"
Important Announcements for Seniors and Senior Parents/Guardians
- All transcript requests for colleges/scholarships must be completed through through the Transcript Request Form. This is located on the website under Support Services/College & Career Services/Transcript Request. A form must be completed for each college you wish to have the transcript sent to.
- Even if you do not believe you will qualify for financial aid it is still a good idea to complete the FAFSA as many scholarships require this important document.
- PLEASE check the Financial Aid page or Scholarship page of the colleges you are applying to as many merit scholarships have a separate application and deadline!
- If you need help with your college essay please come see me and I will review it!
- Make sure you ask your student to access the video I sent in October for important directions and resources for college applications.
- If you or your child are still unsure about the application process or just need some career assistance make an appointment to see me!
Seniors, still confused about how to apply to college here at CMHS?
Now there is a document (with links) showing you step-by-step what to do!
Use the document below to assist you in getting all of your applications complete on time. Juniors, use it to get ready for next year!
Financial Aid Completion
List of Current Scholarship
Career Information
FAFSA Completion
Filing a FAFSA is the single most important thing you can do to get money for college. It's the gateway to more than $150 billion in college grants, work-study funds, and federal student loans, as well as certain state-based aid.
Additionally, many scholarships are dependent on FAFSA completion.
Below you will find two presentations about FAFSA and how to complete this important form. Please note the following:
- Make sure you go to studentaid.gov to complete the FAFSA. Other sites may charge you for this application but the government site is free.
- Both parents/guardians and students need to fill out the FAFSA and have an FSA ID to complete it.
- Once the FAFSA is complete and sent to the government they evaluate the application and determine a families EFC (expected family contribution). This comes in a report called the SAR (Student Aid Report).
- The SAR is then sent to the institutions the family has requested. It is evaluated by the financial aid office to determine an offer to the student.
- Families/students do not need to accept financial aid extended to them from an institution. They may instead decline or only accept a portion.
Career Resources!
Confused about what to do in the future? Let us help!
Rather than making a student decide on a career instead focus on strengths, talents, and what they like to do. This will help them to overcome the fear and begin the exploration process.
One of the best websites to start this journey of exploration is My Colorado Journey. By simply making an account students then have the freedom to take career and interest inventories, explore different jobs, and learn about valuable skills needed to become and stay employed.
Some other resources that are helpful in career exploration:
ICAP - Another tool for Career Exploration and Skill Development!
9th Grade:
- Transcript Access & Review
- Graduation Credits AND Graduation Guidelines Requirements
- PSAT 9
- College & Career Counseling
- Cialfo Introduction
- Next Steps/Homework
10th Grade:
- Transcript Access & Review
- Graduation Credits AND Graduation Guidelines Requirements
- Creating a CollegeBoard Account
- Cialfo & Career Exploration
- Next Steps/Homework
11th Grade:
- Transcript Access & Review
- Graduation Credits AND Graduation Guidelines Requirements
- 11th Grade State & College Testing Plan
- CMHS College & Career Counseling
- Cialfo & Career Exploration
- Next Steps/Homework
12th Grade:
As seniors are currently in the midst of future planning ICAP was not presented to them at this time. They have access to Mrs. Kutsner and Mr. Lambros as needed for questions regarding postsecondary planning.
Ask your student what they learned, how to login to Cialfo and how it may help them, or how to access College & Carer Services at CMHS!
Current Scholarships for Seniors and Beyond!
You may also access these by going to CMHS website/Support Services/College & Career Services/Scholarships.
Underclassmen Corner!
What should you be doing?
- Researching colleges on Cialfo or College Board's College Search Tool
- Visiting college campuses
- Attending college Fairs
- Registering with NCAA (if you would like to do competitive sports in college at the Division I or Division II level)
- Maintain or raise grades
- Start a resume
- Check your graduation credits
What should you be doing?
- Researching colleges on Cialfo or College Board's College Search Tool
- Visiting college campuses
- Attending college Fairs
- Registering with NCAA (if you would like to do competitive sports in college at the Division I or Division II level)
- Maintain or raise grades
- Start to explore careers you may be interested in!
- Take the Career Assessments in Cialfo.
- Take or retake the PSAT!
- Keep up volunteering and extracurriculars. Get involved in your school and community!
What should you be doing?
- Maintain or raise grades
- Start to explore careers you may be interested in!
- Learn how to navigate Cialfo!
- Rake the Career Assessments in Cialfo.
- Take or retake the PSAT!
- Begin volunteering and extracurriculars. Get involved in your school and community!
- Begin to know your graduation requirements!