College Board:  http://www.collegeboard.com
Provides SAT preparation and registration tools.  All students interested in continuing their education beyond high school need to begin the SAT process no later than their Junior year of high school.

ACT:  http://www.actstudent.org
Provides ACT preparation and registration tools.  Some students elect to take the ACT exam in lieu of the SAT exam or in addition to the SAT exam.  All students interested in continuation their education beyond high school need to begin the SAT or ACT process no later than their Junior year of high school.

Paying for College

FAFSA:  http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
US Department of Education U.S. Department of Education FREE Application for Federal Student Aid Web Site.  January 1 marks the beginning of FAFSA filing season.

• Check with your intended college to make sure you meet any of their application deadlines that may be different from FAFSA deadlines.
• By filing your FAFSA no later than March 10th, Indiana students will also be considered for state-based grant assistance

SSACI:  http://www.in.gov/ssaci
State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana (SSACI) provides tools and information for state based aid.

CSS Profile:  https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf
The financial aid application service of the College Board.  There is a cost to completing this profile.

FAST WEB:  http://www.fastweb.com
Free tool that matches students with potential scholarship opportunities.

Scholarship Foundation of St. Joseph County:  http://www.scholarshipfoundation.org
Provides renewable scholarships to students residing in St. Joseph County, Indiana.  This organization is separate from the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County and has a separate application process.

College Board's Scholarship Search: http://apps.collegeboard.com/cbsearch_ss/welcome.jsp
An online tool to locate scholarships, internships, grants, and loans that match your education level, talents, and background.

Sallie Mae's Free Scholarship Search: http://www.collegeanswer.com/paying/scholarship_search/pay_scholarship_search.jsp
Search provides access to a scholarship database containing more than 3 million scholarships worth over 16 billion dollars, and is expanded and updated daily.

Tips to Remember:

• It is never too early to begin thinking about college!  Do not wait until the last minute to complete forms, prepare a game plan at the beginning of your senior year listing important due dates for various forms and applications.  Make phone calls and send emails to gather information and don’t be afraid to ask questions.  Guidance counselors, teachers, admission and financial aid persons are a wealth of information if you seek them out.
• Most scholarship applications request the same information, just in a different form.  It is to your advantage to fill out as many applications as possible to increase the likelihood of receiving a scholarship.
• Recalling all of the activities you have participated in can be the most difficult part of completing both scholarship applications and college admission forms.  Begin early by making a list of all activities, community service, outside jobs, student government, etc. participated in along with the hours you participated and leadership positions held.  Leave the list out so you can add to it as things come to mind.
• There is no right or wrong answer to essay questions.  Those reading your work are looking to see if you can clearly articulate your thoughts in a concise and clear manner.  Make sure your work is free of minor grammatical and spelling errors.
• You are your only “cheerleader”!   Be specific when listing activities and explain acronyms, those reading the application will most likely not be versed in all of the clubs and activities available at each school.  Activities that may seem minor to you are important in describing your activities and interests over the last four year.  Have someone else proof your application to look for omissions and errors; they will be able to provide valuable feedback about the content you include.