Seniors and Families,

If you were unable to attend last week's Senior postsecondary night, please review the slides for important information.

Tomorrow is a busy day in the Postsecondary counseling office: we have two college visits, an essay feedback session, as well as a free application day with FLC.

• 10:00am - University of Colorado at Boulder in person visit
• 11:00am - Colorado College in person visit
• 11:50-1:00 seniors have the opportunity to conference about their college essay with Hillary Dickman, our admissions officer from Colorado College. This is a unique opportunity to receive feedback from a real live admissions officer who reads applications and makes decisions. This opportunity is open to students who plan to apply to CC and those who do not plan to apply to CC. Students can sign up for a time slot on the sheet taped to my office window.
• 1:00-3:00: Free Application day with Hallie Denman from FLC. Students can sign up for a time to meet with Hallie Denman, our admissions officer from FLC, to review their application for admission and receive an admission decision on the spot.

Upcoming College and Career Events

10/5: University of Colorado at Boulder visit to AHS @ 10:00am

10/5: Colorado Colege visit to AHS @11:00am

10/5: Fort Lewis College free application day 1:00-3:00pm

10/19: College and Cupcakes @ AHS during lunch

10/24: FLC pre-med tour @ 10:00am

11/1: Early Decision/Early Action deadine for many colleges

College & Career Events Calendar

College & Cupcakes 10/19

Come to Kyle's room during lunch on Thursday, Oct. 19th to get help submitting your Colorado applications for free. Don't need help? Just come and hit submit. Everyone gets a cupcake (or two) after you submit!

Senior Postsecondary action items:

What do be doing now

• Schedule an individual meeting with Erin CR and attend her office hours to get college and scholarship application help
• Confirm your final college list, application deadlines, and requirements. Get organized with this College Application Organizer Spreadsheet.
• Start your college applications: Check out these How to Apply to College Slides if you're not sure where to start
• Begin your college essays. This will include one general personal statement on one of these topics: 23/24 Common App Essay prompts.
• Begin writing your college-specific supplemental essays.
• Ask an Erin CR to review your Common Application and personal statement.
• Continue to research scholarships, adding requirements and deadlines to your list.
• Attend College visits! These will help you finalize your list.
• View upcoming visits to AHS
• Check out the Albuquerque College fair this Sunday!
• Attend the regional college fair @ DHS on 9/19 @ 6pm
• Attend the Western Slope College Fair in Oct with us! Complete this google form to sign up. Space is limited. 11th & 12th graders get first priority if the trip fills up.
• Check in with your recommendation writers. Update your Student Profile and resume and send them to your recommenders along with a deadline. Enter your recommenders into SCOIR so they can upload their letters when complete.
• Apply to scholarships throughout the school year.
• Parents/Caregivers: Start preparing financial aid paperwork

Financial Aid

FAFSA Completion is now a Graduation Requirement at AHS

In Spring 2023, AHS was awarded a Fund my Future grant through the Colorado Dept. of Eduation to provide college-going support and increase the number of students who complete a student aid application (FAFSA/CASFA) before graduating high school. The Fund My Future Grant requires that all students at Animas High School complete the FAFSA or complete this waiver.

Assistance completing the FAFSA:

The FAFSA is scheduled to become available to students and families in December. We will provide assistance in completing the FAFSA on an evening in December or early January (TBD depending on the FAFSA release date) at AHS. We will also provide ongoing support for FAFSA completion from December-May to ensure that each AHS senior is able to obtain assistance in filing the FAFSA successfully.

What do I need to complete the FAFSA?

• Your Social Security Number
• Your Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
• Your 2022 federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned. (Note: You may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.)
• Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
• Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
• An FSA ID to sign electronically.

CSS Profile

The CSS Profile is an online application used by colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid. Most students will not need to complete the CSS Profile. If you are applying to a private or selective school you may need to submit the CSS Profile. Here is a list of schools that ask for the CSS Profile.

Scholarships

Look for scholarships with deadlines at least a month in advace to give yourself time to apply. Get help applying for scholarships during Financial Fridays office hours on Fridays from 12:00-3:00

• Check out this How to Find and Apply for Scholarships handout
• National Scholarship listing
• State and Local Scholarship listing
• Going Merry Scholarships with September deadlines

Resources: Check out this How to apply to College at AHS slides presentation

Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)

Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining"!

The Small Town and Rural Students (STARS) College Network is dedicated to working with high schools and access organizations to widen pathways to higher education for rural and small-town students.

Upcoming events (click to register):

Are you interested in construction, education, early childhood education, firefighting, law enforcement, or nursing?

• The Career Advance Colorado program provides free training for in-demand jobs through

the state’s 19 community and technical colleges.

• Starting in August 2023, students who enroll in qualifying programs will have tuition, fees,

course materials, and other costs completely covered while program funding is available.

• Students must apply for federal and/or state financial aid to enroll in a Career Advance

Colorado program.

Article: Pueblo Community College offers tuition-free options for high demand jobs

Are you interested? Meet with Erin CR to discuss next steps!

Starting in Fall 2022, students who enroll in one of the following healthcare certificate programs will have tuition, fees, and course materials covered as Care Forward Colorado funding allows.

• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
• Phlebotomy Technician
• Pharmacy Technician
• Medical Assistant
• Dental Assistant
• Nurse Refresher
• Integrative Health Practitioner & Massage Therapy
• Sterile Processing
• Paramedic Certificate
• Echocardiography Certificate
• Medical Billing and Coding
• Medical Office Certificate

Are you interested? Meet with Erin CR to discuss next steps!

More Info

Sunday, October 15, 2023, 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM

2023 Virtual College Fair -OctoberMore Inf

Sunday, November 12, 2023, 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM

2023 Virtual College Fair -NovemberM

LINK & LINK 2.0

LINK 2.0 is a great way to continue with an internship you had and loved, or start something new. Students who complete 60 hours of internship with a qualified mentor will be awarded .5 elective credit (one semester's worth). This is a great way to continue to build your resume and demonstrate rigor as a senior!

Please reach out to Elliot if you have LINK questions or to make arrangements for a LINK 2.0. His email is: elliot.baglini@animashighschool.com

SAT

If you plan to retake the SAT to try to improve your score, the deadline is TODAY for the November test in order to receive your scores in time to submit with your college applications. Click the image below to register. Not sure if you need to retake the SAT? Schedule a meeting with Erin CR or tome to office hourse to discuss.

INTERNSHIP/EMPLOYMENT & other OPPORTUNITIES:

The purpose of the Mayor's Youth Advisory Commission is to involve youth participation in city government as stated in the Children, Youth, and Family Master Plan resolution that the City Council adopted in March 2009. The goal is to create opportunities for meaningful youth involvement, to develop citizenship skills in Durango’s youth, foster greater understanding of their concerns and contributions, and encourage greater youth participation in community issues.

Erin Cummins-Roper (she/her)

Director of Career & College Counseling  

Animas High School |Tel: (970) 247-2474 | x2335 | Cell: 970-903-1617

www.animashighschool.com 

Schedule an appointment with me!

Office hours:

T/TH 1:00pm-3:00pm

Fridays: 9:00am-12:00pm

Financial aid and scholarship help every Friday 12:00pm-3:00pm