Completing the FAFSA

*Information taken from the FAFSA website* 

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 October 1st. 

Before you can complete the FAFSA you and a parent must each create your own FSA ID. This can be done at www.StudentAid.gov/fsaid.  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.  In order to create a FSA ID you will need your: 

• First and last name (must match exactly what is on your social security number card)
• Date of birth
• Social security number 
• Email address (email address cannot be shared or used for multiple FSA IDs

Once you have your FSA ID you are ready to apply for financial aid you will need to go to fafsa.gov.  

A very handy document that you can use to help you through this process can be found at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/2018-19-completing-fafsa.pdf

We will be hosting a financial aid workshop for parents and students on October 17th at 6:00 p.m. This will be in conjunction with Parent/Teacher Conferences.  If you have your FSA ID (parent and student) and bring your 2017 tax returns and W2's for yourself and your student you will even have time to sit down with a financial aid specialist and complete the FAFSA.

Medical Laboratory Science Night at Missouri Western State University

On Thursday, September 27th from 5-7 p.m. Missouri Western State University will be hosting a Medical Laboratory Science Night on the 3rd floor of Agenstein Hall.  Practicing medical lab scientists from Mosaic Life Care, North Kansas City Hospital, St. Luke's Hospital, and Encompass Medical as well as program faculty will be present to talk with students about medical lab science and related career opportunities in our region and beyond. There will also be a wide variety of interactive exhibits related to medical lab science. If you have any questions about the event or Missouri Western's BS Medical Laboratory Science program you may contact Michael Ducey, Ph.D. at 816-271-4391 or by email at: ducey@missouriwestern.edu.  You may also find out more by going to: www.missouriwestern.edu/chemistry/medical-laboratory-science.

High School 101 Presentation

Transferring Dual Credit

If you are Senior who has taken dual credit classes, you are probably wondering how to transfer the classes that you've taken to the college that you will be attending this fall.  As a North Platte student, you could possibly have classes from Northwest Missouri State University, Missouri Western State University, Missouri Valley College and/or Central Methodist University.

For information on how to transfer classes you've taken from Missouri Western State University click HERE

For information on how to transfer classes you've taken from Northwest Missouri State University click HERE.

For information on how to transfer classes you've taken from Central Methodist University click HERE.

For information on how to transfer classes you've taken from Missouri Valley College click HERE

Journey to College

The Monthly Reminder is published 10 times a year by Journey to College, an initiative brought to you by the Missouri Department of Higher Education. Learn more at journeytocollege.mo.gov.

Monthly Reminder February 2018 Spring fever You may be going a little stir crazy as you wait for spring to arrive. Don't let winter get you down. Take advantage of extra time indoors to work on college and career planning. America Saves Week is coming up, Feb. 26 - March 3. Follow along on social mediafor tips about saving money for college and during college.  High school students College is a major commitment of time and money, but earning a degree or certificate can offer many benefits throughout your life. Start planning now.    • Research degree programs and colleges.    • Take the right courses in high school.    • Consider job shadowing or summer internships.    • Take the ACT or SAT.    • Start saving now for college-related expenses.               High school seniors If you haven’t filed your 2018-19 FAFSA yet, make it a top priority. Your FAFSA should be filed by the Access Missouri final deadline of April 2. Eligible students who apply between Feb. 1 and April 2 will be awarded if funds are available. The sooner you file, the better!  It's not too late to apply to college. Now is the time to finalize your plans for after graduation. Be sure tocompare the schools you're considering in order to find your best fit. Scholarships are still available. Thousands ofscholarships go unclaimed each year simply because no one applies. Take advantage of opportunities to help pay for college and avoid taking on debt.           College students You should file a FAFSA every year you plan to enroll in college to be eligible for most financial aid. File your 2018-19 FAFSA before your school’s FAFSA deadline, or the April 2 Access Missouri final deadline, whichever comes first. Some financial aid is limited, so file as soon as possible. Time is money – the more time you spend in college, the more your expenses rack up. Think 15 to Finishas you work toward your degree. If you are a recipient of the Bright Flight or A+ Scholarship, keep in mind that as a renewal student, a 2.5 cumulative GPA is required to continue receiving the award.

Important dates Feb. 9 SAT Registration  Feb. 10 ACT Test Date March 9 ACT Registration  March 10 SAT Test Date April 2 Access Missouri Final FAFSA Deadline April 6 SAT Registration April 14 ACT Test Date Connect with us Follow Journey to College on social media for daily planning and paying for college tips and reminders. Twitter: @Journey2College Facebook: @JourneytoCollege Online: JourneytoCollege.mo.gov Parents Your high school senior or current college student should complete the 2018-19 FAFSA as soon as possible. The FAFSA determines eligibility for federal, state, and some college financial aid. Help foster a college-going culture in your household. Talk regularly about possible careers and the education it takes to achieve those goals. Start saving now and encourage your child to seek out scholarships throughout high school and college.

Missouri Department of Higher Education P.O. Box 1469 Jefferson City, MO 65102 journeytocollege.mo.gov To learn why you received this and how to remove yourself from the list, see Privacy & Permissions Policy Review / edit information about you | Unsubscribe Generated by Learn more

KC Scholars Scholarship Opportunity for Freshmen and Juniors

The entire Kansas City region is extremely fortunate to be home to KC Scholars a scholarship and student support program for 9th graders, 11th graders, and adults. KC Scholars is a scholarship program that will provide financial assistance and support services to low and modest-income students in three categories: • Traditional (students will apply and be awarded in 11th grade), • Adult Learner (adults ages 24 & older with some college, but no degree), and • College Savings Account/Match (students will apply and be awarded in 9th grade). A minimum of 500 scholarships will be awarded annually by KC Scholars across a six-county area (Johnson and Wyandotte in Kansas and Cass, Clay, Jackson, and Platte in Missouri). The application is open now and the deadline to apply is March 2, 2018. For more information, please reach to KC Scholars at info@kcscholars.org or 816.581.5700.  You may also talk to Mrs. Justus about this opportunity.

Journey to College-January Newsletter

New year, new goals A couple weeks into 2018 and you may be tempted to abandon the resolutions you made. The good news is you can choose each day to take steps toward meeting your goals. For college students and high school seniors, your top priority right now should be securing financial aid. High school students should focus on classes and set goals for being college and career ready.   High School Students A new semester is a fresh start. Get organized and make studying and projects your priority from the beginning. Consider doing something new. High school is a time to explore your interests. Go out for the Spring play, volunteer for a local organization, join a new club, or get a part-time job. All of these activities can help you develop valuable skills and look good on college and scholarship applications. Use http://www.missouriconnections.org/ to see which careers match your interests. Find information about jobs available in your area and how much education you need to pursue your dream career. If your school participates in Missouri Connections, be sure to log in so you can save your information. If you can’t create a log in, choose the guest option and print any assessments you complete for future reference. High School Seniors If you haven’t filed your 2018-19 FAFSA yet, today is your day! You can’t qualify for most student aid without it. Your FAFSA should be filed by the Access Missouri priority deadline of Feb. 1. Eligible studentswho apply before Feb. 1 are guaranteed an award. This is a need-based grant and is free money. You don’t have to pay it back! Senioritis: it effects even the most motivated of students. Here are some ideas to overcome! Keep searching for scholarships. Schedule a time to meet with your high school counselor to find out what local scholarships are still available. If you haven’t applied to college yet but think you might be interested, call the school’s admissions department and submit your admissions applicationASAP.             College Students You have to file a FAFSA every year you plan to enroll in college to be eligible for most financial aid. File your 2018-19 FAFSA, before your school’s FAFSA deadline, or the Feb. 1 Access Missouri priority deadline, whichever comes first. Time is money – so the more time you spend in college, the more your expenses rack up. Think 15 to Finish as you work toward your degree.     • Know how many credit hours you need for the degree you’re seeking.     • Take at least 15 credit hours each semester to put you on track to earn an associate degree in two years and a bachelor’s degree in four years.     • Consider all your options. Take advantage of summer or online courses to help you get the credit hours you need. Start your new semester out right. Set aside time to study and work on projects. Consider forming a study group or meeting with your professor if you find yourself struggling in a course. If you have a renewable scholarship, make sure you know and meet the requirements to qualify for another year.

Important Dates Jan. 12 ACT Registration  Feb. 1 Access Missouri FAFSA Priority Deadline Feb. 9 SAT Registration  Feb. 10 ACT Test Date March 9 ACT Registration  March 10 SAT Test Date April 1 Access Missouri Final FAFSA Deadline April 6 SAT Registration April 14 ACT Test Date Connect with us Follow Journey to College on social media for daily planning and paying for college tips and reminders. Twitter: @Journey2College Facebook: @JourneytoCollege Online: JourneytoCollege.mo.gov Parents Your high school senior or current college student should complete the 2018-19 FAFSA as soon as possible. You’ll provide 2016 income tax information so no need to wait until taxes are filed this year. The FAFSA determines eligibility for federal, state, and some college aid. This includes federal work-study. File prior to the Feb. 1 Access Missouri Grant priority deadline. College visits may be the determining factor when high school seniors are trying to make their final college decisions. Encourage your senior to take online tours and in-person tours if possible. Use this checklist to make the most of college visits.

The Monthly Reminder is published 10 times a year by Journey to College, an initiative brought to you by the Missouri Department of Higher Education. Learn more at journeytocollege.mo.gov.

Missouri Department of Higher Education P.O. Box 1469 Jefferson City, MO 65102 journeytocollege.mo.gov To learn why you received this and how to remove yourself from the list, see Privacy & Permissions PolicyJour