Guidance

State Financial Aid

The Commission for Higher Education is dedicated to making college affordable through need-based financial aid awards and to allow choice by granting awards to those attending public, independent, and proprietary colleges.

Award notices contain information about a student's eligibility for Indiana student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the approved tuition and regularly assessed fees at the college the student will be attending, the type of high school diploma the student earned, and the number of credit hours the student has successfully completed.

Indiana ranks fifth in the nation in the need-based grant aid per undergraduate full-time equivalent enrollment, making higher education more accessible and attainable for more Hoosiers. Indiana has two primary grant programs: The Frank O'Bannon Grant, Indiana's primary need-based financial aid program, and the 21st Century Scholarship, Indiana's early promise program where students sign up in middle school.

Please visit the Indiana Commission for Higher Education website at https://www.in.gov/che/ for more information about Indiana's grant programs.

Diploma Type Verification

Scholartrack is used to facilitate the reporting of eligible Academic or Technical Honors graduates to the Commission. Graduates not reported through ScholarTrack may not receive the full financial aid award for which they are eligible. To report this information in ScholarTrack you need to create your own account. If you have not already created your own ScholarTrack Account, please visit https://scholartrack.che.in.gov/Login?ReturnUrl=%2f#/RegistrationAccountType

FAFSA

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is available for the Class of 2023. The FAFSA must be completed by April 15th to qualify for Indiana state aid, but it is recommended to file as soon as possible. Many schools have deadlines as early as January 1, and some types of aid are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. You will need:

• Student's & Parent's Social Security numbers

• Student's driver's license number

• Parent's 2021 federal taxes and taxes for student if filed

• Information on untaxed income for students and parents

• Information on cash, savings, and checking account balances, and investments for student and parents

Go to https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

Need help filling out the FAFSA? College Goal Sunday takes place on November 6, 2022, at Ivy Tech in Fort Wayne from 2pm – 4pm. This event is for all seniors planning to go to college (YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE GOING TO IVY TECH TO ATTEND THIS EVENT). Your family will be able to sit down with a financial aid representative and completely fill out the FAFSA on this day.

As we enter the season of college applications and scholarships, remember that many of these applications will require letters of recommendation from school personnel. Make sure you give some time and consideration to those you choose to write your letters of recommendation. Please consider the following when requesting a letter of recommendation:

1. Ask someone who knows you well

2. Ask early and provide appropriate time to construct a well-written letter (at least two weeks)

3. Ask before assigning them as a recommender

4. Ask in person

5. Provide your resume or counselor information sheet (see attached) to the recommender

6. Send a thank you letter

What does “Test Optional” Mean?

Colleges that are test optional de-emphasize the importance of the SAT and ACT by making the tests an unnecessary component of the admission process. So if you took the SAT or ACT but didn't score as highly as you'd hoped you would, you can apply to test-optional colleges in order to avoid having to send in any unsatisfactory test scores that could potentially hurt your application. https://blog.prepscholar.com/test-optional-colleges-list

Important information regarding college applications:

Students must allow counselors/teachers at least two weeks to complete applications and letters of recommendations. Recommendation sheet (purple sheet) for students to complete and provide to recommenders.

Here are instructions for sending your transcripts through Parchment, it is important you list Homestead High School (Fort Wayne, IN) as your school. Please make sure to enter your year of graduation correctly.

Although SAT and ACT scores are on your transcript, most colleges want them sent directly through College Board or ACT. Students have to make this request; counselors cannot request official scores to be sent.

If applying to colleges using the Common Application, make sure you have email addresses for your recommenders and counselor. You do NOT have to have your portion of the application completed in order to submit the application to your counselor. Common Application allows students and counselors to work simultaneously.

Although colleges might offer multiple ways to submit information and transcripts, you should only use one. Priority should be given to Common Application and Parchment.

FAQs for College Applications

Common App FAQs

What is my class size (Class of 2023)?

590

Do you report class rank?

No (unless you have officially released your rank)

Do you have weighted grades?

Yes

Are you on a block schedule?

No

Have you ever attended another college or university?

Check with individual colleges as it varies by college. For example, Indiana University reports wanting students to mark “No” if it is dual credit or higher education. Whereas, Purdue University prefers students to mark “Yes”.

What is your school graduation date?

June 11th, 2023 at 4 pm

How should I send my high school transcript?

Electronically-Parchment unless applying with Common Application

What is Early Decision?

Early Decision is an early admission policy indicating that the college you apply to Early Decision is your top choice. Applying Early Decision is binding, meaning if accepted you are expected to attend that particular college. Students and parents should read the policy entirely before applying Early Decision to understand the terms of the commitment.

Yearbook Portraits

Senior students who have NOT yet had their Yearbook Photo Session:

In order to be included in the 2022-2023 Yearbook, each senior must schedule a session with Prestige Portraits/Lifetouch. See below for dates, times, and details.

These photos are different than the ones taken on Registration Day. Free Sitting Option - See Special Offer listed below.

Nov. 9,10 – (Room 900 - Enter HHS using Door #26)

Nov. 9: 11AM-5PM

Nov. 10: 10AM-4PM

Senior Yearbook Photos will be taken at Homestead:

1. Your unique code should have arrived to you via USPS Mail. Please reach out to Mrs. Bay if you are in need of your code jbay@sacs.k12.in.us .

2. To sign up for a time that fits best with your schedule, click prestigeportraits.com and enter your unique code. Appointments will be offered at Homestead on the dates above.

3. Photos will be taken in Room 900. Students should park and enter the building using Door #26. After school hours only: Students may bring one person with them to the session.

4. These photos are different from the Registration Day photos.

Dress Code:

1. All: Please do not wear t-shirts, masks, hats, or sunglasses. School dress code requirements apply.

2. Ladies must wear a nice blouse, sweater, or dress. Please do NOT wear low-cut, strapless, or sleeveless tops, as shoulders and upper arms must be covered for the photo.

3. Gentlemen must wear a collared shirt and tie (sport coat/suit coat preferred but optional).

Thank you for helping make our 2023 Homestead yearbook complete!

Photo Sitting Session Options:

SPECIAL OFFER: $10 OFF ANY SESSION – Use Discount Code: 9ZKQ

BASIC: 4 to 6 poses - 1 background - up to 2 outfits: $10 (free if you use the code above)

Standard: 8 to 10 poses - 2 to 3 backgrounds - up to 2 outfits: $20

Deluxe: 16 to 20 poses - 4 to 6 backgrounds - up to 3 outfits: $30

Ultimate: 24 to 28 poses - 7 to 9 backgrounds - up to 4 outfits: $40

Scholarships

A few featured scholarships with upcoming deadlines for Homestead High School students are listed below. For a full list of all available scholarships and their detailed eligibility criteria, please visit the Homestead High School General Scholarships page on our website.

• Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship: Five hundred 4-year scholarships ranging from $4,000-$50,000 will be awarded to highest-rated applicants pursuing a 4-year degree. Deadline 11/14/22.

• IU Honors Program in Foreign Languages (IUHPFL) Language Immersion Program: Participants have opportunities to further their language studies through “total immersion” programs. Deadline 11/15/22.

• Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship: Forty scholarships available for high-achieving high school seniors. Must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Deadline 11/17/22.

• Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship: A renewable scholarship of up to $7,500 each year for four academic years to students interested in pursuing a career in education. Deadline 1/31/23.

Students are encouraged to review scholarship opportunities for incoming freshmen at their colleges and universities of interest. More information about these opportunities at some of our most commonly attended post-secondary institutions can be found on our Collegiate Scholarships page: http://homestead.sacs.k12.in.us/guidance/scholarships/collegiate_scholarship_listing.

Additionally, students can peruse national scholarship search sites, such as the College Board Scholarship Search or Fastweb to widen their scholarship search.

Again, for a full list of scholarships and eligibility information, please visit the Homestead High School General Scholarships page on our website.