SENIOR NEWSLETTER

December 2009

College Goal Sunday – Financial Aid administrators will help you fill out your FAFSA. In Lawrence and Topeka. 2-4 p.m. Feb. 21, 2010

Those of you going to K.U. need to please understand about math classes and possible remediation. IF you don’t have over a 21 on the math test on the ACT you will be required to take Math 002, Intermediate Algebra, before enrolling in math requirements for your major. This means you have to pay for it and take the class but it doesn’t count toward your major! HCC offers Intermediate Algebra each semester. Please go to for more information. You should also be receiving a letter explaining this from K.U., if you have applied and if you did not have a high enough score. Or ask me! Most other regent’s schools have similar policies.

FAFSA4caster is an online tool to help you and your family prepare financially for college before officially applying for federal student aid. It provides an estimate of federal student aid eligibility by instantly calculating an estimated Expected Family Contribution.Your EFCdetermines what kind of financial aid you are eligible for, whether it’s loans or grants. Go to to access the Fafsa4caster!

Work hard for the money!!!

As we learned at Financial Aid Night, scholarships are out there and the people who win them are the students working very hard! Scholarship deadlines are coming up and many senior deadlines are within

the next few months! Don’t just wait for local scholarships. Our community is generous but many of you are procrastinating a bit and waiting to make all of your money from local groups. You may be disappointed. REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT THE PLHS SCHOLARSHIP “BUTTON”! Students who earn scholarship money have to work hard applying for many, many scholarships. Be active!

Don’t forget that you will be needing letters of recommendations. Be thinking of the people you will ask and be prepared to give them your activity lists and all of the scholarship information they need to write a good letter! Also, please be polite and grateful as you ask people to do this favor for you!

Local scholarshipswill be ready by the end of January. ALL OF THESE SCHOLARSHIPS WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE under the PLHS Counselor’s Corner! Most deadlines aren’t until April or May. This is competition and you want your best effort out there! Don’t procrastinate in filling out the forms so you can do a great job! Politely ask ahead of time for recommendation letters and pick people who know you well and like you! It is very helpful to give the person recommending you a copy of your resume or list of activities as well as any specific things the scholarship asks them to address in their letters.

Chadron State Collegewishes to bring attention to its GEOSCIENCE program. This field includes all of the earth sciences: geology, hydrology, meteorology, climatology, oceanography, even astronomy and geology of other planets! Chadron is in Nebraska.

The FAFSA needs to be completed as soon as you and your parents can get taxes figured, after January 1. Applying online is now the preferred method of submission. It is easier to fill out online than the paper form because help is available and errors are reduced. Be sure to check out the priority deadlines for the schools you will attend so you aren't late getting the FAFSA results to schools. Several of you have already applied for your PIN! I am so impressed! Your pin is your electronic signature. Apply now, before you push send on the FAFSA so that there’s no waiting.

Helpful websites:

use the FAFSA4cast or complete the FAFSA

inspirational stories and information about planning, preparing and paying for college

information on various careers and their earning potential

I have some GREAT booklets on Financial Aid that can help you a great deal! We gave these out at Financial Aid night. Please come get one!

We have submitted the names of those students who have been enrolled in the Kansas Scholar curriculum. If you believe you will qualify for KS Scholar designation, please remember that there is a formula that looks at GPA and the ACT score to determine selectees. The average designees have a 29 ACT and a 3.90 gpa. IF a student earns the designation of Kansas Scholar, he or she must complete a Kansas Student Aid Application. There is a $12 processing fee. You must have completed the ACT no later than December to be considered!

  • Kansas Vocational Education Scholarship program EXAM March 6 Sign up by Feb. 14

$500 scholarships. For students who will pursue vocational programs

FAFSAFacts

The amount of financial aid available is on the rise: A recent statistic indicates that in 1965, $600 million was available for financial aid. Today that figure has soared to more than $144 million

Seven out of ten undergraduates receive some sort of aid for college.

Source: SallieMae CollegeAnswer.com/KFC Winter Edition

Dating Violence Facts

Dating abuse is defined as “Any hurtful or unwanted physical, sexual, verbal or emotional act inflicted by a casual or intimate dating partner.

Approximately one in five female high school students reports being physically or sexually abused by a dating partner.

One of the most common types of acquaintance rape is date rape. If you are a female between the ages of 16-24 you run the greatest risk of being raped by a date.

Drugs and alcohol are not the main cause of women being abused in relationships. While drugs and alcohol do play a part in abuse they are an excuse not a reason for the abuse.

Approximately 60% of men who batter grew up in homes where they were beaten or they witnessed battering.

What You Need to Complete Your FAFSA
• Social Security Number
• Driver’s License Number, if you have one
• Alien registration number, if you are not a U.S. citizen
• W-2 Forms
• Federal income tax return
• Current bank statements and records of stocks, bonds, and other investments
• Records of untaxed income received
• Business and/or farm records, if applicable
• Dependent students will also need parent(s)’:
o Social Security number(s)
o Income and financial records (as listed above)
Q: What’s the Online FAFSA?

A: The online FAFSA is a web-based version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It’s a fast, easy, secure way to apply for student financial aid over the Internet!
Tips for using the Online FAFSA
• Get a PIN to access & sign your FAFSA at (students & parents)
• Print & complete the Pre-Application Worksheet
• Save your FAFSA before exiting
• Sign your FAFSA (via PIN or signature page)
• Submit your FAFSA and print your confirmation number
Your PIN has Multiple Functions!

You can use your PIN to:
• Sign your FAFSA electronically (both students & parents)
• Review and, if necessary, correct answers on your processed FAFSA
• Sign loan promissory notes electronically
• View information about your federal loans and grants
• Reapply for financial aid in the future
• Conduct other online business with the U.S. Department of Education