The SAT and ACT are college entrance exams typically taken in the spring of your junior year and/or fall of your senior year.  Some colleges require either SAT or ACT scores.  It is important to check with each college you are thinking about applying to see what their requirements are to determine the best exam for you.  Please let us know if the test fee is a concern.  Taking the SAT and need some test prep?  Khan Academy is College Board approved and offers FREE test prep help.  http://www.khanacademy.com

If you have any questions please come and see us!

 

 

Financial Aid is a critical piece of the college selection process because it can help a family afford higher education for their child. There are many types of financial aid that a student can receive and the process can be confusing.  

Where to begin:
The Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is where every family who receives federal and state aid must begin.  Once a family fills out the forms, the federal government does an analysis and establishes an Estimated Family Contribution or EFC.  The EFC is the number that college financial aid offices use to determine what kind of aid students are eligible for and can receive.

How to fill out the FAFSA:
The FAFSA forms are now available October 1 of each year.  To receive financial aid this form needs to be completed each year a student attends college. It is important that you meet the deadlines for the colleges that a student is applying to or attends.  The earlier the FAFSA is complete, the better chances a student may have at securing different kinds of financial aid.  

Before you actually begin filing out the FAFSA form you need to register  for a FSA ID.  Students, parents, and borrowers are required to use an FSA ID, made up of a username and password, to access certain U.S. Department of Education websites. Your FSA ID is used to confirm your identity when accessing your financial aid information and electronically signing your federal student aid documents. You can create your FSA ID here: https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm

Once the FAFSA and TAP forms (see below) are completed and sent in, the colleges will use the information from these forms to create a financial aid award package.  It is important to be in touch with the colleges to ensure that they have all the information they need.  

*** Important: Many private colleges require additional forms for financial aid consideration. Please check the college websites for this requirement.***

At no time should a student have to pay money to file for financial aid or for scholarships.  The sites that charge a fee are usually a scam, so beware! 

 

COMPLETE THE FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is now open to complete. Click above to get started.  

 

 

 

COMPLETE THE TAP application
When you complete the FAFSA please plan to complete the NEW YORK State TAP application through HESC.  TAP is the Tuition Assistance Program for NY State Residents.  Once the FAFSA form has been submitted, an option will appear to fill out the NY State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) form.  Although you can apply for this state aid separately, it is very convenient to do it at the end of the FAFSA form because information that you have already filled out on the FAFSA will appear in the TAP form automatically.  Take a few more minutes to apply for TAP off the FAFSA, it makes it faster and easier to apply!

 

 

 

Guidance Direct
Seniors click on Guidance Direct to explore your interests, careers, college options, scholarships and revise and update your resume.  Don't remember your user name and password come to the Guidance Office.

 

 

GPS for success is a new website that students can use to learn more about career opportunities, income potential and education/training requirements in 16 different career clusters. This website can support students career exploration options to become better prepared for college and or a vocational career.

 

SUNY Smart Track

 

SUNY Smart Track is a tool developed by the SUNY system to provide a clear and understandable information to students and their families about the cost of attending SUNY.  The tools on this website are designed to help you and your family to make the best decision in college financing.
SUNY Smart Track