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College Fairs offer a unique opportunity to connect with colleges in a way that online research just can't match. The chance to talk directly to someone from the school, ask those personal, specific questions, and get a feel for the culture and vibe can be a game changer.

Another benefit of college fairs is the ability to compare different schools in real-time. You can visit multiple booths, chat with several representatives, and get a sense of how each institution stands out in terms of academics, resources, and overall student experience. It's like a live, interactive version of the research process!

These events are typically hosted in the summer and fall.  I will post upcoming events and fairs below, but you can always check these websites:

Colleges That Change Lives

College Fair Guide

The National Association for College Admission Counseling

Find Your Christian College

Search schools that might be a good fit, and add to your compare list to see how they match up.

COLLEGE SCORE CARD - https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/search/?search=colorado&page=0&sort=threshold_earnings:desc

CAMUPS GUIDE - https://campusguide.com/

BIG FUTURE - https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/

SCOIR - https://www.scoir.com/

College Essay Guy is a premier online platform founded by admissions expert Ethan Sawyer to provide accessible, stress-free guidance for college personal statements, supplemental essays, and applications. The organization is highly regarded for its comprehensive blend of free, pay-what-you-can, and premium resources tailored for high school students, parents, and school counselors.

• The Free Guide to Writing a Personal Statement

• College Essay Examples

• College Essay Brainstorming Worksheet

FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE FAFSA

Get your FAFSA submitted as soon as possible!

2027–28 FAFSA® Form Coming Soon!

Learn about the form’s timeline or go to the access page.

The office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) provides approximately $120.8 billion in grant, work-study, and loan funds each year to help students and their families pay for college or career school. 

• This guide walks students through the FAFSA form step by step.

• The 2026-27 FAFSA by College Money Matters video on YouTube may also be helpful. 

COLORADO FREE APPLICATION DAY: 

2026 Colorado Free Application Days Will Be Oct. 20-22, 2026 -   CO Free Application Day

PAYING FOR COLLEGE IN FOUR STEPS

While understanding everything that goes into college affordability is quite a feat, the basics of successfully paying for college can be boiled down to four steps.

In this guide you will learn how to:

• find and apply for scholarships efficiently and successfully

• determine which colleges are most likely to be affordable for you

• apply for grants with minimal stress (#FAFSA), and

• make sense of your financial aid award letters so you can make an informed decision about your college costs

Sounds doable, right? Good. Because it is. You can do this.  

GET THE GUIDE HERE!

CRASH COURSES:

• Crash course to understanding grants

• Crash course to understanding scholarships

• Crash course to understanding state aid

• Crash course to understanding financial fit

SCHOLARSHIPS SEARCHES:

• Big Future Scholarship Search

• Fastweb

• Cappex

• Unigo

• Gocollege

• Raise Me

• Scholarships.com

• SoFi

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:

• The Denver Foundation

• Daniel's Scholarship Program

• Lyceum Scholars Program at Clemson

• Boettcher Scholarship

• Boston University

• Lands' End Scholarship

• Sachs Scholarship - The Sachs Foundation is an Undergraduate Scholarship, supporting Black students in Colorado with $10,000 per year for up to four years of full-time study.

• BrightFuture - Weld Country Residents

• The Coolidge Scholarship -  A prestigious, full-ride, four-year merit scholarship for sophomores/juniors to study at any accredited U.S. university.

• National Merit Scholarship Program: Juniors must take the PSAT/NMSQT to enter this program, with winners announced during senior year.

• Dell Scholars Program: Offers $20,000, a laptop, and ongoing support for students with a demonstrated need who overcome obstacles.

• Horatio Alger Scholarships: Targets high school juniors who have faced great obstacles and demonstrated financial need, with awards up to $25,000.

• Alexander Hamilton Scholars: A program for high-achieving, service-oriented juniors.

• Davidson Fellows Scholarship: Provides up to $50,000 for significant, original work in various categories.

• United States Senate Youth Program: For juniors/seniors interested in public service, including a $10,000 scholarship. 

Essay-Based and Specialized Opportunities

• Profile in Courage Essay Contest: Asks for essays on political courage, open to grades 9-12.

• Ayn Rand Essay Contests: (Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead, Anthem) For students writing on Ayn Rand's novels.

• VFW Voice of Democracy Competition: Audio-essay contest with significant prizes.

• Doodle for Google: Artistic competition with a $30,000 prize.

• Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest: For creative work raising awareness about ocean issues. 

Scholarship Tips:

• Take the PSAT: This is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship.

• Start Early: Many applications open during the fall of the junior year and have deadlines throughout the spring.

• Build Your Profile: Focus on leadership, community service, and academic performance.

• Look for "No Essay" Options: Use platforms like Niche, Cappex, and CollegeXpress for faster applications. 

For more financial aid information reach out to your college rep.  Also check out these Colleges That Offer Complete Financial Aid and learn more about non-government loans.

Read this article by Christopher Perrin, PhD  HERE.

There is no doubt that higher education benefits both individuals and society at large. In the publication “Education Pays”, the College Board reports that college graduates earn more over their lifetimes, have access to higher paying jobs, and benefit from better healthcare and retirement plans. They tend to achieve healthier lifestyles and higher rates of civic engagement, such as volunteering.

8 reasons to go to college

Statistics generally show that earning a college degree leads to:

More pay

Earnings typically increase with higher levels of education. The median weekly earnings for workers with a high school diploma and no college was $781 in 2020, compared with $1,305 for those with a bachelor’s degree and $1,545 for those with a master’s degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS.

Steadier employment

The higher the level of education you've attained, the less likely you are to be unemployed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Better benefits

College-educated workers are more likely to have employer-provided health insurance and retirement plans, according to the 2019 College Board “Education Pays” report. For instance, 52% of full-time workers with a high school diploma had employer-provided health insurance in 2018, compared with 64% of bachelor’s degree holders and 70% of advanced degree holders.

Valuable skills

Going to college doesn’t always mean getting a four-year, or bachelor’s, degree. You can also obtain a certification or associate degree, equipping yourself with the skill set to become, for example, a dental assistant or welder. These certificates or degrees typically take two years or less to complete. Those with an associate degree had median earnings of $938 per week, or around $150 more than someone with just a high school education, according to the BLS.

More career options

More and more jobs paying at least $35,000 require a college education, and getting a degree can mean expanding your job options. According to a 2018 study from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, 80% of well-paying jobs require training after high school, including certifications or a bachelor’s degree.

In recent years, more universities have launched academic incubators, or university-affiliated programs that provide support to student-run startups, including through mentorship or education, and in some cases, access to investors. Academic incubators are offered by schools such as the University of Michigan, Emory University, the University at Buffalo, the University of Washington and many others.

Expanded horizons

Even if you want to study subjects like philosophy and sociology — topics that are interesting but don’t lead clearly to one particular occupation — college can still be worth it. A 2020 survey from the American Association of Colleges and Universities found that 92% of employers said it was either very important or somewhat important that college students be exposed to a “wide variety of academic topics and disciplines.”

Social, civic and community engagement

Compared with those who hold only a high school diploma, bachelor’s degree holders are more likely to vote, volunteer and participate in their communities, according to the 2019 College Board “Education Pays” report. Those with college degrees are also more likely to be married, according to 2017 Pew Research data. And a 2021 survey by the Survey Center on American Life found college degree holders tend to have larger friendship networks and are less likely to be lonely compared with those without a degree.

“One of the most damaging messages of educational romanticism has been that everyone should go to college.” – Charles Murray

Some of the arguments for the idea that college may not be for everyone can be found HERE.