To Do
Programs
Competitions
SAT/ACT News
College Search
Scholarships
Recs
Review the IB exam schedule, the AP exam schedule, and the late AP exam schedule for conflicts. All morning IB exams begin at 9; all IB afternoon exams begin at 1. Please complete the preliminary conflict form: https://forms.gle/TqjgbspCaJcNPjRDA.
File your FAFSA today!
Document your college acceptances and scholarship offers here. Why? State/School Board reporting and Class of 2026 Profile.
Complete the Applications and Recommenders Plan and update it as your plans change. Why? We need to know where to send your high school credentials.
Mid-Year (7 Semester) Transcripts
Review the transcript provided during January's CPWD. Mark any changes that need to be made to complete your mid-year transcript and return to SH.
Need to send a transcript to a non-Common App school or to a scholarship selection committee? Use your Parchment account. No Parchment? See Ms. Hughes.
Keep your eye on scholarships and school outreach by closely monitoring your college application portals, often the best means for updating your schools with good news.
Some schools accept ACT/SAT self-report and/or transcript, and some do not. If a school has reached out to you to send this information, verify its policy and act immediately. (See ACT/SAT News).
Academic and Leadership Programs Not Associated with a University
New Catapult, a selective, paid summer internship wherein students learn coding fundamentals and develop workplace and teamwork skills; June 2-July 2, 9-4 each day, with additional experiences throughout the 2025-26 school year; application opens on January 14 and closes on February 13. Do not delay if interested.
Become a Schoolhouse tutor in many topics, including the SAT, deadline dependent on program.
Receive training, develop leadership, accumulate service hours!
To become an SAT Bootcamp tutor you need a score of 700+ on SAT Math or SAT Reading and Writing.
Academic and Leadership Programs, University-Affiliated
Nothing for now!
Presidential AI Challenge projects due Jan 20, 11:59 p.m. Local Time
Groups of 1-4 students and a Supervising Adult (>= 18 yrs old) must submit consent and release forms to AI.Challenge@science.doe.gov and must register at the link found here.
Teams choose from two tracks:
Track 1: proposal for how AI can address a community challenge.
Track 2: build a solution with AI that addresses a community challenge.
Projects winning at the National Level earn $10,000 per team member.
MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge registration open!
Many prizes for finalist teams, including a trip to NYC.
Teams consisting of 3-5 students with a coach (minimal role). Only open to juniors and seniors.
Teams must request their free MATLAB license by February 20.
Registration closes on February 24.
Challenge Weekend: Feb 27-March 2.
New Bill of Rights Institute MyImpact Challenge submissions are due May 3.
Civic engagement contest that rewards student service projects with cash prizes of up to $10,000.
Send a project report of up to 2000 words, an essay of up to 1200 words on how your project upholds one civic virtue and one founding principle, and photo or video documentation.
Entries may be from groups of up to 5 or from individuals. Winning group entries split the prize money.
College Outreach News
No news for now!
College App/Decision Resources
Was your Early Action application deferred to regular decision? Waitlisted? Follow the directions your school sent, often involving a letter of continued interest, tips here.
Planning a college visit? You must print out and complete the College Visit form.
Order a transcript sent to Common App through Parchment. Still no Parchment account? Check for the emailed invite; see Ms. Hughes.
Resume building resources
Does your college require you to send official SAT results for admission? Here's the link to make the order. If you qualify for an SAT fee waiver, you will not pay to send your scores.
Does your college require you to send official ACT results for admission? Here's the link to make the order. If you qualify for an ACT fee waiver, you will not pay to send your scores.
Teacher Recommendation
Get your website documentation ready.
Update your CAS page.
Obtain your recommender's consent.
If the recommendation is for a 2025-2026 college application or scholarship:
Register your recommendation request here. Complete the form for each request. You may upload or link files to the form. (A recommendation request for the Common App is considered one request.) Print a hard copy of the form and any additional documents like your PS Profile for your recommender's files.
Complete the Teacher Recommendation Questionnaire. You may upload or link files to the form. Print a hard copy of the questionnaire and any additional documents for your recommender's files.
Counselor Recommendation
Ensure that you and your parents have completed the Student and Parent/Guardian Questionnaires availabe since last fall and that you have completed the College Interview with Ms. Hughes. See earlier editions of the Notes for links.
Update your news by completing the College Counselor Information questionnaire.
Complete the Counselor Recommendation Request form for each new request or set of requests needed.
Scholarship Information: No School Affiliation
Vanderburgh County Community Foundation Scholarships, dates/amounts/eligibility vary. Most due January 19. Coming December 1. Don't miss these!
The Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship is due January 31, 2025.
Up to $10,000 per year for students who plan to teach in Indiana 5 years or more
Apply through ScholarTrack.IN.gov.
New The Westside Improvement Association (WIA) scholarship is due Feb. 16.
A $2000 scholarship for a resident of 47712 or 47720
Financial need is a factor.
Foundation 649 Scholarship for Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders application due March 1 ($4000 over 4 years). Must demonstrate financial need. Big Future advertisement here.
Horatio Alger Targeted Scholarships open December 1 and are due March 1 for students with families with financial need (usually $100,000 or lower AG family income). There are many scholarships here, some to specific universities and some that may be applied to various schools.
New Liberty Federal Credit Union Ted Hitch Scholarship application must be RECEIVED by March 6:
Applicant or guardian must be a member of LFCU for at least 18 months by March 6, and members must use at least 3 LFCU services (see Section 1 of the application);
10 awards of $5,000.
Diamond Valley Federal Credit Union 2026 Scholarship application deadline is March 6.
Open to any graduating senior whose parent, guardian or grandparent is a credit union member by the app deadline.
Requires 2 recs, only 1 from a teacher or counselor, an essay, and a copy of your Student Aid Report (FAFSA)
10 nonrenewable $1000 scholarships offered
New Indiana Oil and Gas Association Scholarship application due April 1 (scroll to bottom of page for application and history of giving)
Amounts vary, but multiple awards were distributed in 2024, from $7500 to $500.
Must plan to pursue a career in the oil and gas industry and to major in Earth Sciences, Petroleum or Chemical Engineering, or Geology
Requires a 3.0 GPA or better
Scholarship Information: School Affiliated
Centre College's full-tuition plus for First Gen students Grissom Scholars due January 15. Want a non-required nomination? Let Ms. Hughes know!
New Are you or a family member impacted by Myasthenia Gravis? UCB is awarding 15 $10,000 scholarships. Applications are due January 31.
New Applying to SCAD with an excellent record (UW GPA of 3.75, exceptional visual arts, performing arts, writing, STEM, business or equestrian capabilities, honors and awards, leadership skills)? Let Ms. Hughes know. I'd love to nominate you for a $25,000 Scholar Award. Nominations close Sunday, February 15.
Financial Aid and Merit Aid Information/News
File your FAFSA today. This is an Indiana requirement.
Sig's Financial Aid Information Night was on September 15. Notre Dame's Senior Assistant Director of Financial Aid, Gary Rigley, presented:
Explore Scholarship Databases
BigFuture’s Scholarship Search
Financial Aid Information Guide (includes FAFSA info)