December Newsletter Available - John Hersey High School - High ...

College and Career Center News
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From the desk of Nancy Davis
Parents of seniors:
The hustle and bustle of the fall application season is beginning to slow. While some seniors
are still finalizing applications, nearly 73% of our seniors have already sent application materials to
more than 1500 colleges. For college-bound seniors who have finished their applications, it is time to
focus on scholarships and financial aid. Here are a few evening programs and suggestions to help
you and your senior with the financial aid and scholarship process:
Kick-off the Financial Aid Season with the District 214 Financial Aid Seminar for senior
parents on December 12 th at 7 p.m. in the Forest View Educational Center Theatre. The
Director of Financial Aid from Lake Forest College will walk you through the steps to apply,
qualify, and evaluate your student’s financial aid opportunities. Both the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and CSS profile will be discussed.
Complete the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as a first step in qualifying
for Federal, State, and school-specific financial aid and scholarships. We recommend that all
senior parents file the FAFSA between January 1 st and the end of February when funding
levels are the greatest. To assist you, the District 214 college counselors will host a FAFSA
Completion Night:
When: February 5, 2013 at 6:30 AND 7:45 p.m.
Where: The Wheeling High School Library
Reservations: Call Kim Austin at 847-718-7046 after January 1 st
What to bring: Completed 2012 Federal Tax Returns and W2’s or 2011 Tax Returns,
bank and investment statements, and student’s driver’s license.
The goal is to complete the FAFSA and submit it to the U.S. Department of Education during
the evening. If you are not able to attend, remember to complete the FAFSA in January or
February of 2013, even if you need to estimate. Awards are made until funds are depleted.
Check the Financial Aid webpage for each college to see if there are additional forms
required for financial aid and scholarships. Some schools ask for the CSS Financial Aid
Profile (see https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/index.jsp) or their own financial aid forms
in order to qualify for school scholarships. Additionally, colleges and universities may post
online scholarship applications for your student to complete.
Additional scholarship information can be found on the College Resources Page of the
JHHS website. You will find links to trusted search engines that will help you identify national
scholarships that match your student’s profile. There is also a comprehensive list of local
scholarships. New local scholarships are added daily so your student should check back on a
regular basis over the next few months.
And remember the College Career Center is closed for winter break between December 21 st and
January 7 th . During this period, we cannot answer emails/calls or processing requests for transcripts
or other application materials. Since our office needs 15 business days to process materials, any final
requests for January or early February deadlines, should be submitted now.
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