This is your final year to prepare for college. Experiment with various classes but continue to challenge yourself in the majority of them. This is the last chance to improve your transcript!! Keep organized and budget your time. KEEP AN EYE on deadlines this year and keep up with the work. Keep in mind that your timeline may be different depending on which college you are planning on attending

September-October

Financial Aid Night will be held on Wednesday, October 26th, in room 121A at 6:30. A representative from NMU will be down to do a financial aid presentation. This has always been a very informative session but this year we're going to combine the informational presentation with time to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Aid) online.
There are some things that families can do to streamline the process the evening of the workshop.

1. Bring the student along

2. Bring or know the student and parent social security numbers

3. If the parent and student have already applied for a Federal Student Aid PIN, bring those 4-digit numbers along

4. Tax info: Copy of 2015 federal income taxes and a copy of W-2's, record of unemployment and IRS schedules

5. Other info:

• Amount of child support paid or received in 2015

• Asset information for parent and student - including current balance of cash, savings, and checking accounts, net worth of investments (not retirement accounts and not the home they live in), net worth of business or investment farm (only if business employs more than 100 full-time workers)

Jeff Gagnon from NMU will do the presentation and help with FAFSA completion. Any questions please feel free to email Jeff (jgagnon@nmu.edu) or call him at (906)227-1563.

Attend a college fair on at NMU’s Jacobetti Center or at Bay de Noc to receive information on colleges. The school does not take students to these fairs; this is just the information for you. If you have questions, please stop in or call the Guidance Office. Also, please stop in to see what colleges have representatives coming and sign up for schools you would like to learn more about.

Study for the ACT and/or SAT if retaking or taking for the first time.

ACT

SAT

*The late registration deadline is one week earlier if you are regestering by mail.

• NCAA athletes--send out team schedule as soon as possible to keep college coaches updated. Take advantage of college paid visits, if offered. Study hard, play hard and continue to make college contacts.

• Pay attention to announcements and sign up to meet with college and military recruiters in the Guidance Office throughout the school year. Try to meet with a college that you are not familiar with…you may like what you hear.

• Stop in the Guidance Office throughout the year. A monthly scholarship sheet will be available for scholarships sent to the school. They are also posted on our website: www.mps-up.com.

• Finalize your list of colleges and begin to apply. Make sure to tell Mr. Mattson if you apply on-line so that your transcripts and/or counselor’s page get sent to the college.

• Give recommendation forms, in advance, to appropriate teachers/counselor/clergy… with a stamped, college addressed envelope, making certain that your parts are filled in correctly and accurately.

• Begin checking for scholarships on your own (colleges, websites, unions, parent’s employers).

• Decide if Early Decision for college is right for you. Most Early Decisions are due between October 1st and November 1st.

• Check to see if your college requires the PROFILE and file in late September or early October.

  
  

November-December

• Early Decisions confirmations should arrive in December.

• Continue to search for scholarships.

• Keep your grades UP! Colleges request semester grades (and final transcripts).

January-February

• Both the student and the parents should acquire a PIN for FAFSA.

• In January or February, both parents and students should attend Financial Aid Night at the high school!!! You will receive valuable information and tips.

• Acquire FAFSA information from the financial aid website www.fafsa.ed.gov .

• If you didn’t complete PROFILE, do it now to see if applicable.

• Male students, 18 years and older, must register with Selective Service.

• Complete FAFSA as soon after Jan. 1 as possible.

• Parents make sure to complete tax forms

• 4 weeks after completing you should get a Student Aid Report (SAR) to review for accuracy.

Spring

• Local scholarship packets for graduation will be handed out in the spring. Fill out correctly, properly and neatly!!!! Need help… see Mr. Mattson.

• Review letters of acceptance, college financial aid awards and finalize your college choice.

• Send in deposits and paperwork by the DEADLINES.

• Take AP exams if applicable.

• Verify that your final high school transcript has been sent after graduation.

• Send thank you letters for scholarships received and people who wrote letters of recommendation.