CFHS Counseling Department Update

January 13, 2023

Important Information for Juniors and Sophomores

It has been a very productive fall. The students from the Class of 2024 and Class of 2025 were able to meet with the school counselors in small groups to review transcripts and talk about all of the opportunities available to help them with career and college exploration. During two of the Monday Power Hour times, students were also given a presentation to learn about all of the opportunities available to them and also to log into their XELLO accounts and make a plan for their future.


It is now time to look ahead and schedule classes for next year. Please join us at the Career and College Planning meeting on Monday, January 30th at 5:30 p.m. to learn more about all of the options and timeline. Representatives from the elective departments will also be available to share information about their course offerings.


We will also have a meeting on Monday, March 6th to learn more about paying for college. More information is below. Hope to see you!!

A Guide to Career and College Planning

Monday, Jan. 30th, 5:30-6:30pm

1015 South Division Street

Cedar Falls, IA

  • This meeting is for Juniors and Sophomores and Parents/Guardians.

  • Please join us on MONDAY, January 30th at 5:00 P.M. to visit with Elective Departments (CAPS, FCS, IT, Art, PLTW, Computer Science, Business, and Music) to explore options for what classes to take next year.

  • At 5:30 P.M. Abby Martin from the Iowa College Access Network will share an informative presentation on Career and College Planning. Representatives from Iowa, UNI, and Hawkeye will also be present.

  • The CFHS counselors will also share information about the 2023-24 Registration/Scheduling of classes for next year.


Many post-high school options are available to students through education and training programs. This program engages students and parents in a discussion of the planning process for selecting career pathways and education and training programs, as well as a review of the steps to the financial aid process.

This program covers:

  • Career Exploration & Assessment

  • Academic Preparation & Requirements

  • Admission Process & Requirements

  • College/Training Program Selection

  • Financial Aid Process

  • Understanding Costs - Cost of Attendance

  • Scholarships Process

  • Where to Go For Help

Senior Updates

College Application Week

In September and October, all seniors were invited to sessions that gave them information about what they should be doing to prepare for next year and also fill out their college applications. We had college admissions representatives from Hawkeye Community College, Wartburg College, University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa, and Iowa State University. We also had a session on how to fill out the Common Application.

Skilled Trades Fair

This year, we held our 2nd annual Career Fair for opportunities in the Skilled Trades. We had representatives from Young Plumbing and Heating, CFU (Cedar Falls Utilities), Story Construction, John Deere, Maloney Landscaping, Cedar Valley Steel, Built by Pros, and a few others. The representatives shared information, and students were encouraged to visit with them. These jobs are in very high demand right now, and so many opportunities are available.

Last Dollar Scholarship-College for FREE!!

Iowa Community Colleges offer the Last Dollar Scholarship for high-demand careers in our state. Please take a look at this information about what community colleges offer FREE programs to students who apply and fill out the FAFSA.


We're excited that the 2023-24 financial aid application process is well underway. We want to draw your attention to one of the state's newest and most popular financial aid programs, the Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship.


The Last-Dollar Scholarship saw more growth than any other state aid program last year. We encourage you to share the following message with seniors (and juniors planning) at your school who may be interested in pursuing training and a career in one of Iowa's fast-growing, high-demand professions.


Do you plan to earn a certificate, diploma, or associate's degree to work in one of Iowa's high-demand jobs after high school? The Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship may cover your tuition. The Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship will fill the gap if all other available state and federal financial aid falls short of paying for your tuition.

To apply for the Last-Dollar Scholarship for the 2023-24 academic year, you must enroll full-time in an eligible program of study and complete the FAFSA. The FAFSA deadline for the 2023-24 academic year has yet to be set; complete the FAFSA ASAP to qualify! Details can be found here: https://iowacollegeaid.gov/LastDollar.


Eligible High Demand Hawkeye Community College Programs

Pre-programs are not eligible for the Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship.

Additional programs may be added to this list at a later date. The eligible programs list is based on job demand and is subject to change year to year. Students in programs removed from this list who previously received Last-Dollar Scholarship funds for that program will still be eligible for the Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship until they complete their credentials or leave the college, as long as they continue to meet all other eligibility criteria.

FAFSA Information and Support

If you still need help completing your FAFSA, please check out how to make a virtual or in-person appointment. We can also help in the CFHS Counseling Office. Students who complete their FAFSA will receive a "I completed my FAFSA" sticker.

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Scholarships!

Please check out scholarships on the Cedar Falls HS Counseling Department website. The Cedar Falls Community Schools Foundation Scholarships and the Community Foundation of NE Iowa Scholarships are now open.

How to Pay for College

Monday, March 6th, 6pm

1015 South Division Street

Cedar Falls, IA

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THIS IMPORTANT PRESENTATION SO YOU CAN BE PREPARED FOR SENIOR YEAR! THE FINANCIAL AID PROCESS CAN BE CONFUSING. ATTENDING THIS PRESENTATION WILL HELP YOU LEARN WHAT TO DO NOW SO YOU CAN BE READY TO PAY FOR COLLEGE.



The high school counseling office has invited a representative from the Iowa College Access Network (ICAN) to provide a free presentation on financial aid for Juniors and their parents on Monday, March 6th at 6:00 p.m. at the CFHS Auditorium. We would also welcome Sophomores and their parents to attend. It is never too early to start planning for how to pay for college.

Topics will include:

  • Financial Aid Process
  • FAFSA Application Review
  • Understanding FAFSA Results
  • Understanding Costs – College Comparisons
  • Financial Aid Options
  • Scholarships Process
  • Where to Go for Help


About ICAN

The Iowa College Access Network is a nonprofit, educational organization. ICAN is the College Access Network for Iowa, and a member of the National College Access Network (NCAN). ICAN has 10 Student Success Centers in Ankeny, Cedar Rapids/Hiawatha, Coralville, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Orange City, Sioux City, and Waterloo, which provide information and support to students and their families as they plan their postsecondary education and apply for financial aid. All ICAN programs and services are provided without charge. For more information about ICAN, call (877) 272-4692 or visit www.ICANsucceed.org
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Cedar Falls High School Counseling Office

Cedar Falls High School Counseling Office

Cedar Falls High School Counseling Office

Cedar Falls High School, 1015 South Division Street, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613, USA 319-553-2515 cfhsschoolcounseling.weebly.com/