Counselor's Corner

___ Create a FSA ID at studentaid.gov for you and one for a parent. This task will need to be completed before you can complete a FAFSA application to apply for financial aid for college. The FAFSA application will open in December.

___ Complete college applications. Participate in the Apply2College Event on Friday, October 27th!

___ Continue exploring and applying for scholarships!

___ If you plan on re-taking the ACT, register by November 3rd for the December 9th test.

___ Set up a college visit or job shadow for College Visit/Job Shadow Day on Wednesday, November 8th.

• You can learn more about the FAFSA and financial aid by signing up for an EducationQuest Financial Aid Program webinar. The information presented will be very similar to what was presented during the Senior College Planning meeting. There are many new changes coming to FAFSA this year, so if you need a refresher or are applying for the first time, I would highly recommend signing up for the webinar. There are sessions on October 4th, 16th, and 20th. A session in Spanish will be held on October 18th. Click the button below to register.
• Mrs. Reese also briefly presented information about fall planning, scholarships, and upcoming events. Slides from this presentation are linked below.
• Also linked below is the to-do list given to seniors. This checklist highlights the college prep tasks seniors need to complete during the fall semester.

On Tuesday, October 17th, the sophomore class will be attending the Northeast Nebraska Sophomore Career Day at Wayne State College. In the morning, students will participate in several sessions tailored to their career interests. In the afternoon, students will be attending breakout sessions on topics designed to help them prepare for life after high school. This is a great opportunity for sophomores to explore careers and start thinking about their next steps after high school.

The week of October 23rd is College Week! Students will be participating in college related activities throughout the week. Apply2College Day will be held on Friday, October 27th. Apply2College is part of a national campaign to encourage students to consider college. Seniors will have time during the morning to complete college and scholarship applications. Admissions representatives from Wayne State College and Northeast Community College will be available to help students with admission and scholarship applications.

All juniors will participate in the ASVAB Career Exploration Program on Wednesday, October 25th. The ASVAB Career Exploration Program is a great opportunity for students to learn about their strengths and interests. It assesses academic ability and predicts success in a variety of career fields, offering a unique opportunity for all students to learn about themselves, whether they’re interested in pursuing post-secondary education, work-based learning, or the military. Results will not be released or shared with recruiters.

The Susan T. Buffett Foundation has offered scholarships to college students in Nebraska for over 50 years. Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis to first-time freshman entering college who live in Nebraska, graduate from a Nebraska high school (or GED) with plans to attend a Nebraska public college, and demonstrate financial need.

The award amount varies based on the school in which you enroll. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see award amounts at various schools: Award Amounts

This is an excellent scholarship that our students have received several times in the past. I strongly recommend every eligible senior apply!

Application Deadlines:

February 1, 2024 before 5:00 pm CT /4:00 pm MT

Application must be submitted including all required documents except for the FAFSA Submission Summary.

March 15, 2024 before 5:00 pm CT/4:00 pm MT

FAFSA Submission Summary must be submitted.

Applicants will be judged on scholarship, leadership, and financial need. Ranging from $1,000 per year to $12,500 per year, Most Valuable Student scholarships are for students pursuing a four-year degree, on a full-time basis. Apply here.

The application closes November 13th at 11:59 p.m Pacific Time.

This is a local scholarship. Four $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to students demonstrating high academic achievement, community service, leadership, religious participation, and demonstration of high personal character.

This scholarship is due by Friday, February 16th.

One Wisner-Pilger high school senior who is interested in pursuing a career in health related fields will be awarded this scholarship. This scholarship is due by Friday, February 16th.

There are several places that students can check for scholarships.

1. Check the website of the schools you are applying to. All colleges have a scholarship application that can be filled out after applying. Be on the look out for some scholarships that may require a separate application or essay.

2. Check the Scholarship List. Mrs. Reese updates the scholarship list as new scholarships are announced.

3. Use online sources. The following websites are useful when searching for scholarships.

• Scholarship Quest
• Scholarships.com
• Unigo
• Cappex