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.

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