WELCOME BACK!
WELCOME BACK!
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Here at Van Alstyne High School, we are committed to helping our students prepare for life after senior year. Each season, we will be sending out a CCMR publication for parents and students with information about college, careers, and the military. Our CCMR team also communicates with students through Google Classroom and works with students in small groups and individually to create a post-secondary plan tailored to each student’s interests.
CCMR Coordinator: Annie Smith
Academic Counselor Last Names A-L: Bobbi Dyer
Academic Counselor Last Names M-Z: Denise Jensen
Senior Seminar Teacher and Sponsor: Dacia McBryde
Where do I start??
The following websites offer students and parents guidance and steps for selecting a college, career, or military branch, as well as information about scholarships, financial aid, and more!
Mrs. McBryde's Minutes
Mrs. McBryde's Minutes
Grayson College's Office of Financial Aid will be at VAHS on October 27th from 6:00-7:30 pm to discuss the FAFSA and answer questions!
Grayson College will be at VAHS on Tuesday, November 4th to discuss the Texas Promise with all seniors during the school day.
Fall Senior College Checklist
Fall Senior College Checklist
Where do I go to apply to college?
One Application that can be used for most Texas state colleges, Texas community colleges, and some Texas private universities.
One Application that can be used for over 1,000 universities across the country.
Directly Through College
Directly Through College
Some college require a direct application through their own platform. Check college admission websites to find out which way is right for you!
Ways to Apply for FREE
Ways to Apply for FREE
Most college application fees range between $50-100 EACH. Click here for a list of colleges with NO application fee.
Most other states offer WAIVED college application fees during specific weeks in the fall. Check these resources out for information on your college of interest.
Article: October is Application Month Article: FastWeb-- Apply for Free
**Students that complete and qualify for free/reduced lunches through VAHS can receive fee waivers from College Board and ACT for exams AND college applications.**
Types of College Admission Options
Early Decision & Early Decision II
Student makes a commitment to a first-choice college where, if they are admitted, they will enroll (BINDING).
Application deadlines and decision notifications occur early.
Early Action & Early Action II
Students may apply early and receive a decision well in advance of the college's regular response date.
Non-binding. However, some colleges have Restrictive Early Action, which means a student can only apply to that single school through Early Action.
Regular Decision
Students submit an application by the specified date and receive a decision in a stated period of time.
Non-binding. Students can apply to as many colleges as desired but must notify their final-decision college by May 1 to confirm enrollment.
Rolling Admissions
Colleges review applications as they are submitted and render admission decisions year-round.
Common in Junior/Community Colleges.
Rolling Admission Colleges usually still have a "priority" deadline.
Help with College Applications
Most college applications will require one or more essays. Here are some pro tips from former college admissions officers to get your essay noticed!
Don't try to impress the reader. Be honest, be authentic, be yourself. They expect to read an essay and hear a teenager's voice (not informal but not professional level). They can spot AI generated essays!
Use a very creative hook or introduction to capture the readers attention. "I have participated in [blank] the past three years and it has taught me..." is a way-overused beginning to any essay. Tell a story! Use specific details to immerse the reader into your writing. Draw on core memories, summer experiences, or activities directly related to the major or field of study you are interested in or that demonstrate GROWTH throughout a specific journey.
Essay are not cover letters. Try to use examples in your essays that are not already present in your extracurricular lists or listed somewhere else on your application. Let the reader get to know the person behind the awards, the grades, and the activities.
Many schools value how you will fit into the campus culture (involvement both socially and academically). Would they want you as a roommate after reading your essay?
Click here for Common App's Essay Prompts and here for a list of essay prompts from ApplyTexas.
College applications will almost always require a list of student activities or extracurricular events. Follow these suggestions from college advisors to help make your list stand out!
Quality over Quantity! Colleges like to see a "theme" throughout your list. For example, being in the same program/club for several years shows commitment and consistency. Aligning experiences to your field of study is also a plus! This list can include other activities besides school-related extracurriculars.
Make sure you include positions of leadership, which can be anything from being an "officer" to just leading a project or group competition. Highlight experiences that you have connected with the community in a meaningful way that shows IMPACT, INITIATIVE, and OUTCOMES/GROWTH.
Click here for more tips!
You will need to request transcripts when you apply to college AND once you graduate high school. Some applications also require a Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS--formally knows as SRAR).
Students at Van Alstyne ISD request transcripts through Xello. Don't forget to request transcripts from Grayson if you have college hours.
Some schools will require students to complete the STARS as part of the application process. Simply put, the student will “report” all their courses from their transcript, GPA, and denote any Honors/Dual Credit/AP courses. The STARS provides a faster look into the student’s application until official transcripts can be reviewed. Make sure you understand your transcript! If you have questions about courses, designations, other anything else, reach out to the counselor!
Understanding GPA: GPA is a student’s comprehensive high school grade point average. Weighted GPA gives students more “weight” or grade-scale points for a semester grade if the course is an Honors, AP, or Dual Credit Academic course as outlined in the VAHS Academic Handbook. At VAHS, weighted GPA is on a 5.0 scale. For example, a 90 in an Honors English 2 class would translate to a 4.0. A 90 in an on-level English 2 class would translate to a 3.0. Unweighted GPA or College-4 Point GPA removes the extra “weight” from those courses and gives a GPA based on letter grades. For example, A (90-100)= 4.0, B (80-89)= 3.0, C (70-79)= 2.0). Please review the Academic Handbook for more information.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Types of Scholarships
Types of Scholarships
National Scholarships
Scholarships that are open to students around the country or large region. Can be general but are typically related to a specific field, social-economic status, or other specific criteria.
Student develop a profile with a national scholarship database and finding “matching” scholarships using websites like GoingMerry, Fastweb, Scholarships.com, Chegg, and Big Future.
State/Local Scholarships
Scholarships only open to students in our immediate area or state.
Find local scholarship on Google Classroom and the VAHS Counseling Website. Most local scholarships are published in the spring.
Merit-Based Freshman Scholarships
Scholarships based on academic achievement (ACT/SAT scores, GPA, rank, etc.)
Usually part of the Freshman college application. Typically given in “Tiers” (different amount for different levels of academic achievement)
Need-Based Scholarships
Scholarships typically based on Adjusted Gross Income as reported on FAFSA.
Institutional Scholarships
Scholarships given out by a specific college or department.
Students should look for an additional application for these on college websites.
The Department of Education is reporting that the 2026-2027 FAFSA Application should open on October 1st. Remember, even if believe your students does not have a major financial need based on your income, there are many other reasons to complete the FAFSA. Many colleges and scholarship donors require this as part of their application process. Beyond grants, the FAFSA application also includes work-study programs and student loans. More information about FAFSA in the next CCMR newsletter!
Several colleges in Texas offer financial aid assistance based on a family’s Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). AGI is calculated when you complete the FAFSA and is your or your family's wages, salaries, interest, dividends, etc., minus certain deductions from income as reported on a federal income tax return. Click here for a comprehensive list of these opportunities. Be sure you check each school’s AGI limit. Although most require an AGI of 60K or less, some schools offer assistance for AGIs up to 125K.
Vocational and Technical Programs
What are vocational or technical programs?
What are vocational or technical programs?
Vocational and technical programs offer students a pathway to become credentialed in a specific area. These programs can be academically based (associate degree track) OR certification-only based (no "basic" academic courses). Typically certification-based program are 6 months-12 months.
Examples: Fire Science, RN, HVAC, Cosmetology, Automotive, Welding, Culinary, Health Care Provider Assistants, Real Estate, etc.
Check out the CCMR website for more information!
Click the link above and scroll down to the box that says "Program Name." Type in what program of study you are interested in and click "search." This will create a list of public, private, and health institutions that offer an associate degree and/or a certificate in that field of study.
Although there are many private institutions that can certify students, junior colleges also offer a a wide variety of vocational and technical programs that for a more reasonable price. Some junior colleges also offer housing options. Financial Aid (FAFSA) can be applied to most vocational programs taken through Junior Colleges.
Internships and Apprenticeship Programs
Internships and Apprenticeship Programs
There are many companies that hire young adults for a PAID position, while TRAINING them in a certain area as they work along side more-experienced professionals. Find more information on the CCMR website.
Interested in the Military?
Learn more about academic and career option through the US Military
Life in the Military
Ways to Serve
Joining & Eligibility
Careers & Benefits
Education & Training
Parent Resources
Comprehensive site about careers and education in the Military
Search Military Careers
Military Branches
Benefits
Paying for College
Common Questions & Answers
Learn more about Enlistment Procedures
Contact Recruiter
Eligibility Requirements
Education & Testing (ASVAB)
Physical & Medical Requirements
Have you considered a Military Academy?
Have you considered a Military Academy?
Service Academies: For students who want to experience a military environment while getting a first-class education, the five service academies offer a fully-funded tuition that includes books, board and medical and dental care. Graduates of all academies receive a Bachelor of Science degree and are commissioned as officers in their respective Service branches. After graduation, they are obligated to serve a minimum of five years. The first five years will be active-duty, and the next three will be on a reserve option.
Senior Military Colleges: Similar to service academies, senior military colleges (SMCs) offer a combination of higher education and military instruction. They are among the most prestigious and famous education institutions in the world, and they offer financial aid packages for eligible students. Every SMC cadet must participate in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program, but only those cadets who receive an ROTC scholarship are required to enter military service following graduation.
Maritime Academies: An additional option for students is a maritime academy. The United States Merchant Marine is the fleet of civilian-owned merchant ships that carry cargo and passengers on behalf of the United States. In times of war, the Merchant Marine is an auxiliary to the Navy and can be called upon to transport service members and supplies for the Military.
Have you taken the ASVAB?
Have you taken the ASVAB?
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a multiple-aptitude battery that measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success in the military. It is administered annually to more than one million military applicants, high school, and post-secondary students (www.officialasvab.com). It is used by the United States Branches of the Military to help match applicants to different career areas, as well as a career exploration tool for college/career planning in high schools.
Your ASVAB scores may determine what jobs you qualify for in each branch of the military. Check out the CCMR page for study materials for the ASVAB.
ASVAB IS NOV 10th! Students can sign up with their counselor or through Google Classroom.
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