Friday, December 18, 2015

Friday, November 6, 2015

Friday, October 16, 2015

MDHE October Newsletter


To see the online version of the MDHE newsletter go HERE.



Wednesday, March 18, 2015

NCAA Eligibility Center and Playing Division I Sports


*Taken from the NCAA Eligibility Center High School Newsletter*
ARE YOU AWARE?
The requirements are changing for students who enroll full time at an NCAA Division I school after August 1, 2016.   

Students must graduate high school and meet 
ALL the following requirements: 
  • Complete 16 core courses:
    • Four years of English
    • Three years of math (Algebra 1 or higher)
    • Two years of natural/physical science (including one year of lab science if your high school offers it)
    • One additional year of English, math or natural/physical science
    • Two years of social science
    • Four additional years of English, math, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy

  • Complete 10 core courses, including seven in English, math or natural/physical science, before the seventh semester. Once students begin their seventh semester, they may not repeat or replace any of those 10 courses to improve their core-course GPA.
  • Earn at least a 2.3 GPA in their core courses.
  • Earn an SAT combined score or ACT sum score matching their core-course GPA on the Division I sliding scale, which balances their test score and core-course GPA. If students have a low test score, they need a higher core-course GPA to be eligible. If they have a low core-course GPA, they need a higher test score to be eligible.  If they have a low core-course GPA, they need a higher test score to be eligible.
For more resources regarding these changes, visit NCAA.org/student-athletes/play-division-i-sports or the Division I Academic Requirements Guide.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Completing the FAFSA


Many of you have been asking about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (otherwise known as the FAFSA) How you complete it, when the deadlines are and so on.  I hope this serves as a way for you and your family to get the information that you need.  If you are the first student to attend college from your family then this can feel like a complicated process.  Thankfully, there's several resources available to assist you.  The first thing that you should know is that 
you do NOT pay anything to complete the FAFSA. If you find that the website that you are on is asking for money know that you are not on a credible website.

One of the things that you can do now, is get a Federal Student Aid PIN.  To do this go to: www.pin.ed.gov and provide some information such as:
  • your Social Security number
  • your full and correct last name
  • your full and correct first name
  • your middle initial
  • your date of birth
  • your street address
  • your email address (optional) 
From there you can create your own PIN or have the site create one for you. You can also choose to have the PIN displayed immediately, mailed or emailed to you. 

It's important that once you receive your PIN that you put it in a safe place.  You will need this every year that you reapply for financial aid.  It's also information that you do not want falling into the wrong hands.  Your PIN enables you to sign your FAFSA, sign federal student loan contracts online, find out whether your FAFSA has been processed or correct information that you reported on your FAFSA. 
Once you have obtained your PIN you will go to www.fafsa.gov to complete the FAFSA.

Something of the things that you will want to make sure you have available before you begin your application are: 
  • Social Security card
  • Drivers license
  • Permanent Resident Receipt Card (if applicable)
  • W-2 forms and other 2014 records of money earned
  • 2014 income tax return (see the instructions on the FAFSA if the tax return has not been completed)
  • Records of child support paid
  • Records of taxable earnings from Federal Work-Study or other need-based work programs
  • Records of student grant, scholarship and fellowship aid, including AmeriCorps awards, that was included in your (or your parents’) AGI
  • Current stock, bond, and other investment records
  • Current business and farm records
  • Current bank statements
For further instructions and resources these links may be helpful: 
  • FAFSA on the web worksheet go HERE
  • Completing the FAFSA Booklet go HERE 
  • Expected Family Contribution go HERE
If feel like you need further help you may want to attend FAFSA Frenzy at Missouri Western State University on February 22nd from 2:00-4:00.  The FAFSA Frenzy is a place where you can go and get free assistance with completing the FAFSA.  Please be sure to click the link above if you go so that you will have all of the proper documentation that you will need. Remember too, that the financial aid office at the college you've selected can be a great resource as well. 

You may also go HERE to access the financial aid presentation that was held at NPHS this fall.    

Good luck!