Supplemental Materials (Match & Fit and Scholarships)

College Board has a series of guides that support school counselors/college advisers with the college going steps. These are great resources for you to use a supplemental trainings as you work to build your confidence around the college-going steps. While every advisers navigates program orientation and monthly PD's we know it's helpful to have supplemental resources to support the learning process. We encourage advisers to utilize these resources throughout the year!

College Advising Essentials Volume 1 - click here to access (anatomy of a college app, college app tips and trackers, tips for letters of recommendation, college exploration worksheet, financial aid tips for families, the college essay).

College Advising Essentials Volume 2 - click here to access (contains resources/materials to help students and families with college exploration and selection)

College Advising Essentials Volume 3 - click here to access (college planning checklist (the senior checklist is part of the Monthly Toolkits on the Appreciative Advising Tab, NCAA eligiblity, college admission glossary, transcripts, academic roadmap: tracking your progress, supporting students experiencing disabilities, and more!)

College Advising Essentials Volume 4 - click here to access (contains resources and materials around size of college, campus setting, SAT Fee waivers, first gen students, what to do when students aren't accepted)

You can also access materials for the Big Futures Scholarship at this link. Remember to utilize the student's College Board portal to have them complete the Big Future's Scholarship steps that align with your work and CBMI for a chance to win mini scholarships!!

This document contains a list of certificate programs at the community colleges throughout the state. Some of our community colleges have residential housing for students so it could be a possibility a student could engage with a community college in a different region. We strongly encourage advisers to use this resource and make connection with program coordinators/directors to invite them in for panels (could be students from the program or a panel of certificate options). It's also great to connect with them to see if they would be interested engaging with a student through Zoom or a call for a 1:1 to explain more about their program. They may also have materials they would be happy to send your way to have in your office.

Click here to access the list.

The Roadmap to Opportunity initiative highlights in-demand, high-wage careers in Michigan through the creation of a video, printed collateral and professional development for school counselors, college advisers, and other practitioners working directly with students.

Michigan has many high-demand, high-wage jobs available that require a certificate or an associate degree to get started. Research shows that Michigan’s economy demands a strong mix of all types of post-secondary degrees, and requires fewer residents with no post-secondary education at all. Michigan's in-demand fields offer entry level and ongoing educational opportunities that could increase students' potential for professional growth, promotion, and higher wages over time, as well as lead to a meaningful career.

Click here to access the Roadmap to Opportunity website and materials.

This state and regional hot job lists includes a list of high demand/high wage jobs through 2032. 

• 90% (45 of the 50) require formal (degree or certificate) learning past high school. 

• 84% (42 of the 50) require a bachelor's degree or more.

We find these regional brochures helpful to share with students/families who aren't sure about college as a way to start the conversation around their career plans. In doing so, they can then see opportunities that are available in the community and what continued education they may need to engage in to be prepared to obtain one of those jobs.

Click here to access a link that will enable you to download a copy of your regional brochure. 

The Michigan Assured Admissions Pact is a group of schools who are committed making the application process easier to navigate and bringing awareness of educational opportunities to students throughout our state. The Pact includes 11 colleges who will automatically admit students if they have a 3.00, or higher, GPA. There are no additional steps they need to take, just apply by the college deadlines and meet the criminal and/or disciplinary check for applicants (if the college evaluates these through the admissions process). 

We encourage advisers to send a letter home to students/families who have a 3.00, or higher, GPA letting them know they are automatically admitted to these colleges as long as they complete the applications by the deadlines. Even better if you can wrap information regarding Michigan Achievement Scholarship into the letter. Let them know you are there to support the process. 

Click here to learn more about the Michigan Assured Admissions Pact.

The following colleges participate in the Pact:

• Central Michigan University

• Eastern Michigan University

• Ferris State University

• Grand Valley State University

• Lake Superior State University

• U of M: Dearborn

• U of M: Flint

• Northern Michigan University

• Oakland University

• Saginaw Valley State University

• Wayne State University

Mi Scholarships (local scholarships and state level scholarships):

Click here to find a link to search for scholarships by county and to also access the state level scholarship students may be eligible for.

National Scholarship (College Board):

Click here to access College Board's scholarship search feature. This tool is even more beneficial if students continue to enter information for all the components of their scholarship process by logging into their portal and engaging with the steps associated with Big Future (click here for the login site)

Michigan Achievement Scholarship and Community College Guarantee (Mi Student Aid offers virtual info sessions for these and you can also sign up to have them come into your school for a session on this or FAFSA - you can access this information in the Monthy toolkits and on their website):

• Achievement Scholarship - click here for more details

• Community College Guarantee - click here for more details

It is challenging to learn all the details associated with all the local, state, and national scholarships. Scholarship eligiblity requirements may change from year to year, new scholarships may be added, and current scholarships may end. Therefore, the best approach for advisers to take is to know where to find the scholarship search tools and then work with students to help them apply

A video/guide will be posted to share more about first, middle, and last dollar scholarships.