Bond County Community High School Guidance Department
Guidance Office Staff
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Financial Aid Information |
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Please contact the Guidance Office if you would like to have your transcript printed. If a college has requested a copy, it must be an official document sent from our office. Provide the name of the college, address, and your birthdate. You may also request to pick up a copy of your transcript from our office; please indicate whether you need an official or unofficial copy.
College Application ProcessA. Begin your Search ON-LINE – You are considered a “Prospective Student” in the Undergraduate Program
B. Apply by the Deadline – “early decision”, “priority”, “rolling” or “regular”
C. Set up a Campus Visit
> Personal interests, obstacles and experiences > Extra-curricular activities, including offices/leadership positions held > Volunteer experiences (community and church) > Your goals/reasons for going to college, possible major, and career goals
NCCA Eligibility:www.ncaa.org – Must register with the NCAA if you are playing sports at a Division I or II school. If your college is NCAA Division III, NJCAA, NAIA, or other, you should contact that school to find out specific requirements. Click on the Eligibility Center link to register.
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FINANCIAL AID for college – Grants/Scholarships/Low-Interest College Loans:
FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid -www.fafsa.ed.gov After October 1st of your senior year, you will need to fill out this form on-line. Get your FSA ID (personal identification number) before Oct. 1st. College/Scholarship/Career Websites:Please see "Scholarship/College/Career Websites" on the Scholarship Listing Weebly website:
Scholarship Information:Three Categories of Scholarship information:
I. National Scholarships – Begin applying in the Fall of Senior year: National scholarships are open to all students nation wide, and as many as 120,000 applications may be received for each scholarship. Read the criteria to learn if you are eligible to apply, and apply by the deadline date. Conduct a national based search through www.fastweb.com, or search using the words “Scholarships for High School Seniors.” II. Local & Regional Scholarships – Begin applying after January 1st: Bond County clubs, churches, families, and other organizations award scholarships annually. Students that meet the criteria may apply. Parents and Students should do the following: 1. Check the Daily Bulletin to get updates on available scholarships; the Bulletin is e-mailed daily, and posted outside the Guidance Office. 2. Look for scholarship applications in the Guidance Office; some are printed, but many are only available on-line. 3. Review the requirements, criteria, and deadlines before you decide to complete the application. 4. Your application must be complete, neatly written, and error-free; essays must be well written and organized. 5. Document your extracurricular activities and involvements, both in high school and in the community, in the form of a résumé; most scholarship applications requires this information to be listed. 6. Recommendation Letters are often required, and you may ask teachers, employers, counselors, or others to write one. Please allow 2 weeks notice and provide them with your résumé or completed Autobiographical Sketch from Guidance. 7. Return completed scholarship application to Guidance Office at least one week before the deadline date so that an official transcript can be attached to your application. 8. It is your responsibility to make sure the application package is complete. III. Institutional Scholarships – These are Awarded by the College You Attend: Most scholarships are awarded by individual colleges and are called Institutional Scholarships. To learn about scholarships that you might qualify for, you should contact the Financial Aid Office at the school you plan to attend. Testing:A. ACT (American College Test): The ACT is required for admission to many colleges and institutions including all state supported universities and some public community colleges in Illinois. Illinois high school students who want to compete for Illinois State Scholar Awards must take this test in their junior year. The ACT assessment format is comprised of four tests: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science Reasoning. It will provide four test scores and a composite score plus two sub-scores in English and Reading and three sub-scores in Mathematics. For additional information, visit the guidance office.
Quick Links: ACT Website · ACT Registration · ACT Procedure · ACT F.A.Q. B. ADVANCED PLACEMENT TESTS: These tests are given in several subject areas. Tests will be given in Advanced Placement English, AP Calculus, AP American History, and AP Biology. Students who score well may be able to obtain college credit and/or proficiency out of certain courses. Quick Links: AP Prep · AP F.A.Q. · AP Exam Information C. PSAT/NMSQT (PRELIMINARY SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE TEST/NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP QUALIFYING TEST): This test is required for all students who wish to be considered for a National Merit Scholarship. A very high test score is required to become a semifinalist. This is also the test African-American students must take to compete for scholarships from the National Achievement Program for Outstanding African American Students. The PSAT/NMSQT is a multiple-choice test that measures verbal and mathematical reasoning ability important for success in college. It is recommended that this test be taken in the junior year. This test is not required for college admission. Quick Links: PSAT/NMSQT Information · PSAT/NMSQT Prep |
