Seniors

Graduation fee of $100 must be paid by April 15th. It includes your cap and gown, diploma, a senior activity and senior banquet.

Graduating seniors should be applying for scholarship money to pay for college throughout the school year. Don’t wait until the end of the year because every scholarship has their own deadline and many of the deadlines are early in the school year.

Graduating seniors should be thinking about their career choice and researching colleges throughout the year, as well. You need to have a career/college plan even if that plan changes as you get closer to graduation. Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) can be filled out after January 1st of your Senior year. You will need both your tax return forms and your parents tax return forms. This form should be filled out as soon as possible to have the best opportunity to receive grant money. Many scholarship applications require you to file a FAFSA form as well.

Paying for college doesn’t have to be stressful. There are plenty of options for assistance, all you have to do is look! Each of these financial aid options must be applied for every year you attend college.)

• Grants: Money that does not have to be repaid! Grant money is given out based on student’s financial need. To receive grant money for college you must fill out the Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA). Grant money is basically first come, first serve for students who need financial help to attend college. Your financial need is based on both your income and your parents income as reported on your yearly income tax forms. Click here to go to FAFSA for more information.

• Scholarships: Money that does not have to be repaid! Scholarships are given to students who apply for them. There are millions of scholarships being offered each year. Scholarship award amounts vary depending on the amount of money the scholarship fund is offering. Scholarships are awarded to student based on each scholarships selected criteria. Scholarships may require an essay, portfolio, or some creative work. Scholarship selection can also be based on financial need and GPA, SAT/ACT scores. Each organization chooses their own selection criteria and each application will list their criteria. Scholarships can be applied for throughout your senior year. Check the school board to keep updated on scholarship information or visit web sites that list opportunities.  A short list of web sites is provided below and your local library has scholarship books.
  

  Burger King Scholarship	Hispanic Scholarship Funds	Scholarships.com
  Coca-Cola Scholarship	USA Funds	BigFuture Scholarships
  Mesa Community College Scholarships	Fast Web Scholarship Search	AZ Community Foundation

  Don’t forget to apply for the Makiling-Angst + Margaret Williamson Scholarships offered through ACP. There are 2 scholarships each for $500 and only offered to ACP graduating seniors! Pick up an application in the office or from the scholarship board.

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• Student Loans: Money offered from the federal government that DOES have to be repaid once you graduate from college. To receive a federal government loan you must fill out the FAFSA form. The award letter will be mailed to you telling you which financial aid options are available to you (grants, loans) and how much of each you are eligible for. You do not have to take the loan if you choose not to. Loans are usually the last resort option of paying for college, but may be necessary for you to reach your career goals.

Selecting a College: Choosing a college isn’t always an easy decision to make. College choice should depend on your career choice, preferred location, class size, transportation, and much more. ACP has several college guide books that list Arizona colleges, the majors/programs they offer, and tuition rates. Simply visit the office for these guide books.

Applying for College: Once you have selected a college or two, you need to visit the college’s website to find out what their application process is. Each college has their own process for applying. Then you can start the application process. If you don’t have a computer at home, you are welcome to use a school computer. Do not wait until after you have graduated to apply. You should apply and register for classes before your high school graduation day!

ACT vs. SAT:  What’s the difference between the ACT and the SAT?

Both the ACT and the SAT are nationally administered standardized tests that help colleges evaluate candidates. Most colleges and universities accept either test. As you begin to think about college and creating the best application package possible, your admissions plan should begin with the question, “Which test should I take?”

When weighing your options, keep in mind that there are differences in test structure and the type of content assessed. Use the chart below to see which test makes the most of your strengths to help you determine which test might be best for you.