hambarger-menu-icon

College Info

section-devider-shape-upated

Preparing for College
Grade By Grade

border-shape-img

Grade 7

  • Explore your interests. Get involved in a club or sport to learn more about your likes and dislikes.
  • Learn about different careers and what educational background is expected.
  • Develop strong organizational skills and schoolwork habits.

Grade 8

  • Do your best in your current classes – they set the stage for your course options in Grade 9.
  • Try a new activity. Keep learning more about your likes and dislikes.
  • Explore different careers and majors and see how they match with your likes and dislikes.
  • Set your goals for the types of classes you want to take in high school.

Grade 9

  • Make the most out of your high school courses. Learn about the prerequisites for future courses and set yourself on the best path to reach your goals.
  • Join/continue extracurricular activities, including community service.
  • Begin a resume to keep track of the different activities and service that you do and any awards that you receive throughout your high school career.

Grade 10

  • Continue to take and plan challenging courses.
  • Explore different career possibilities.
  • Start collecting college information.
  • Start visiting colleges and taking with college students.
  • Attend College Day.
  • If you’re thinking about playing college athletics, register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.

Grade 11

  • Take the PSAT in the fall and register for the SAT or ACT in the winter or spring.
  • Continue to take and plan challenging courses.
  • Talk with your parents and counselor about colleges and majors that interest you.
  • Continue to visit colleges and talk with college students.
  • Get a part-time job, internship, or job shadow in a profession that interests you.
  • Narrow down the list of colleges that you want to apply to.
  • Attend College Day.
  • Visit with admissions counselors who come to school.

Grade 12

  • Keep working hard all year.
  • Ask for letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or community members early on.
  • Write a thank-you note to all who wrote you a recommendation letter.
  • Write your college essay(s).
  • Visit with admissions counselors who come to school.
  • Check in the guidance office regularly for scholarship opportunities.
  • Learn about the application processes for each college that you want to apply to.

Helpful College and Career Sites

College Financial Aid

border-shape-img

Federal Student Aid / FAFSA

What is Federal Student Aid?

Federal student aid is financial help made available to eligible students to pay for educational expenses at an eligible post secondary school (e.g. college, vocational school, graduate school).

The U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid programs are the largest source of student aid in America. If you’re interested in financial aid for college these programs provide more than $60 billion a year in grants (Pell Grants), loans (Stafford, PLUS), and work-study assistance (Federal Work Study).

If you have questions regarding the financial aid process please call 1-800-4-FED-AID to speak to a Customer Service Representative. Local assistance is available at the Financial Aid Offices of Binghamton University and Broome Community College.

Remember to check with each college to which you applied to see if there are any other institutional financial aid forms that are necessary.

The FAFSA becomes available on October 1 each year.

FAFSA Links:

The CSS Profile

College Board: CSS Profile
The CSS Profile is an online application used by colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid. A schools use the CSS to help determine student aid. A number of prominent schools use this in their financial aid determinations.

Avoiding Scholarship Scams

NY State Scholarships and Financial Aid

  • Excelsior Scholarship
    Students from families earning $125,000 or less can attend a state-operated SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free with this scholarship from the NY HESC.
  • HESC: NYS Grants & Scholarships
    Information about various grants and scholarships from the state, their amounts and requirements, and whether they are currently accepting applications.
  • NYS Higher Education Services Corporation
    HESC is the state agency that helps people pay for college by administering the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), guaranteeing student loans, offering guidance, and administering a highly successful College Savings program for students and families. A must-see site for New York students seeking loans or scholarships.
  • New York State Tuition Assistance Program
    The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) helps eligible New York residents pay tuition at approved schools in New York State. An annual TAP award can be up to $5,665. Because TAP is a grant, it does not have to be paid back.
  • SUNY Scholarships
    Links to pages for the overall NY State Excelsior and Carey Gabey scholarships, and links to the scholarships pages for all SUNY schools.

Scholarship Search Sites

Other Financial Aid Info

Upcoming Scholarship Deadlines

Varying Deadlines

Citizens Scholarship Sweepstakes
For legal U.S. residents enrolled or intending to enroll at least half-time in an accredited post-secondary institution.
Award: $2500 for the monthly drawing; $15,000 for the grand prize.
Application period runs from April 1st to March 31st each year.</span.
Excelsior Scholarship
The Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with other student financial aid programs, allows qualifying students to attend a SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free. The Excelsior Scholarship covers any remaining gap in tuition expenses, after other federal and state grants and scholarships are applied.
HESC: NYS Grants & Scholarships
Information about various grants and scholarships from the state, their amounts and requirements, and whether they are currently accepting applications.
UHS Education Incentive Program
Applicants must be pursuing a degree in one of the listed health-related professions and agree to work for UHS for one year for each year of tuition paid, with a minimum 2-year commitment.

Due May

May 12: James Wheeler Seton Rocks Memorial Scholarship
A music scholarship for graduating SCC seniors who will be attending a college or university in the fall. Selection for this scholarship is based on SCC Performing Arts Department participation and a commitment to participating in music in college.
May 13: Sgt. Lawrence D. Peters Memorial Scholarship
For Broome County high school seniors who are children or grandchildren of veterans who are residents of Broome County or were residents at the time of their death. All materials must be received – not just postmarked – by the due date.
Award: $1,000
May 13: St. Vincent de Paul Blessed Sacrament Women’s Club Ministry Scholarship
Applicant must be a high school senior belonging to St. Vincent de Paul Blessed Sacrament Church in Vestal.
Award: $1000
May 15: Blue Brothers Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club Scholarship
Applicant must be a high school senior planning to enroll in a criminal justice program. Two letters of recommendation are required; one must be from someone who works or worked in a public service position such as police officer, fire fighter, etc.
Award: $500
May 15: St. Anthony Holy Name Society College Scholarship
This scholarship is offered to seniors who are parishioners of St. Anthony of Padua in Endicott, NY
May 15: St. Joseph College Scholarship
For seniors who are parishioners of St. Joseph in Endicott, NY. An online application is also available as a Google form.
May 26: PAST Jim Bryden Memorial Scholarship
For college or trade school-bound students pursuing a career in fields related to historic preservation, such as architecture, urban planning, construction, etc.
Return Application Form and a recommendation to Guidance by May 26.
Award: $2,000
May 31: SENYWWC Scholarship
The Southeastern New York Water Works Conference offers one $500 college scholarship to a high school senior pursuing a degree in an environmental field related to their industry.
Award: $500

Due June

Jun 12: Cohen & Jaffe, LLP Scholarship Essay Contest
This is an essay contest for students accepted to college or law school. Applicants must be residents of New York State.
Award: $2500
Jun 15: Horatio Alger Career & Technical Vocation Scholarships
For students interested in pursuing an associate’s degree or certificate program. The Horatio Alger Association supports deserving young people who are overcoming significant challenges and are committed to pursuing higher education, with family income under $100,000.
Award: varies

Due July

July 1: New York State Student Research Awards
Students, working individually or in groups, develop projects such as research papers, exhibits, documentaries, performances, PowerPoints, websites, or other projects using historical records, and including an annotated bibliography.
** Open to Grades 4-5, 6-8, 9-12**

Due August

Aug 15: NYS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program
Tuition award for students who graduate in the top 10% of their NYS high school class and pursue a degree in STEM at SUNY or CUNY.
Award: Covers the cost of tuition

Admission to Catholic Schools of Broome County is the first step on a journey toward personal success.

Learn more