Completing the FAFSA

If this is your Senior year and you are planning on attending college, community college a technical school, or using A+ money, completing the FAFSA is a must. The FAFSA form is the application you will use to apply for federal student aid programs offered by the U.S. Department of Education. Completing and submitting the FAFSA form is free, and it gives you access to the largest source of financial aid to help pay for college or a technical school. Students may complete the FAFSA beginning on October 1st. Before you can complete the FAFSA you and one parent must each create your own FSA ID. This can be done at https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch. Your FSA ID has the same legal status as a written signature and is used to sign legally binding documents electronically. Do not share your FSA ID with anyone. To create an FSA ID you will need your: Social security number Your own mobile phone number and/or email address Once you have your FSA ID you are ready to apply for financial aid you will need to go to https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. This website contains a lot of good information and links to help you. Before you begin applying for financial aid make sure that you have your social security number, your 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) The FSA ID will be needed to sign electronically. There is also a mobile app available. The 2021-2022 FAFSA form is available on the myStudentAid app, available on the App Store (iOS) or on Google Play (Android). 

Information is taken from the FAFSA website*

College Representatives Visiting North Platte High School

We have a few colleges who have already scheduled visits for this fall at NPHS. This is a great way to find out more about a college, community college or technical school. These visits take place during seminar (2:56-3:12). You can sign up by clicking any of the links below, or by signing up outside of the counseling office. Missouri Western- Thursday, September 16th. Go HERE to sign up. Northwest Missouri State University- Monday, September 20th. Go HERE to sign up. Grand River Welding Institute- Wednesday, September 22nd. Go HERE to sign up. University of Missouri-Columbia- Wednesday, September 29th. Go HERE to sign up. William Woods University- Thursday, October 14th. Go HERE.

Class of 2022 Information and Important Dates

Your senior year...you might be feeling anxious, excited, and perhaps even unsure about life after high school graduation.  I want to assure you that as you maneuver through the applications, deadlines, feelings, etc. I am here to help. 

If you are planning on going to college you will want to make sure that you get September 15th on your calendar. The Missouri Western State University Financial Aid Office will be doing a Zoom presentation about the FAFSA. The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is the document that must be completed in order to see if you will qualify for grants and low-interest loans for college.  Be looking for a Zoom link to be emailed to both you and your parent/guardian in order to hear this important information. The FAFSA application opens on October 1st.  

One resource that I would like for you to become familiar with is the counseling website.  If you go to the North Platte website you will go to "Schools" and click on "High School", then "Student Resources", and then "Counselor News".  It is here that you will find access to scholarships, colleges, tech schools, etc. that are visiting North Platte, mental health resources, and more.  For a direct link go to: http://preparingnppanthers.blogspot.com/

If you are college-bound it isn't too early to begin applying for admission. Once you have applied please let me know and I will send your official transcripts to the school(s) you have applied to. 

I have started updating the scholarship list (found on the counseling website), but not many are available at this point in time. Be sure to check back often as many more will be added as we progress through the school year. Be sure to look for college-specific scholarships as well. 

If you will be going straight to work I can assist you with that process as well.  

I look forward to working with you this year as you make many important decisions.  Let me know how I can help you. 

Sincerely, 

Mrs. Justus