To Do
Programs
Competitions
SAT/ACT News
College Search
Scholarships
Recs
Attend the College Application Workshop, Monday evening, May 19, 5-6, in the KC Commons.
Verify your information for a possible College Board Recognition Award. Check your email for notification from Big Future. Deadline: June 27
Three awards offered: First-Generation, School Recognition (based on grades, test scores), and Rural and Small Town
Take 5 minutes to verify your information. Awardees will be notified in September.
Summer is great time for SAT/ACT prep. See SAT/ACT News to the right.
Summer assignments
IB research paper final drafts are due in early August.
Formatting guidelines, including coversheet requirements
Consider the endgame for your EE. For example, perhaps next year you could submit your work to the Regeneron Science Talent Search, application opens June 1.
IB Lit Common App essay draft due in early September. Here are Ms. Grant's guidelines.
Tweak/Create your credential documentation.
Build a resume
Keep your CAS page updated.
Review your Power School profile. Do you have changes to make? Resubmit the Power School profile questionnaire by August 7 for an August 9 data upload.
Set up your Common App account now. Information entered under the Common App tab and your college list will roll over when the new application launches in August. See here for more info about starting early on the Common App.
Create your FSA ID (see Scholarship and Financial Aid Information below)
Register for Parchment, a free transcript service. Check your email for the invitiation and registration code. You should use this service anytime you need a transcript or want access to your transcript. Do not create an account without the registration code assigned to you. Here's a guide.
Academic and Leadership Programs Not Associated with a University
Free Summer Healthcare Academy at IVY TECH
June 2-July 30, MTW
Earn up to 4.5 hours of free Ivy Tech College credit in Success in Healthcare, CPR/Basic Life Support, Customoer Relations Healthcare
Engage in health-related experiences like Stop the Bleed, Blood Pressure/Pulse Measurement, Mock Interviews
Earn $400 by successfully completing the program.
Register here, deadline unclear.
Contact Jamalte Thacker at jthacker17@ivytech.edu with questions.
Become a Schoolhouse tutor in many topics, including the SAT, deadline dependent on program. Don't delay if you want to volunteer over the summer.
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
New DePauw University's Gateway to Gold Summer Experience
Students choose from a number of courses with many 2-day sessions available.
Free to students who are members of Boys and Girls Club, the Center for Leadership Development, and the YMCA. Otherwise, tuition is $20 for families earning < $175,000 annually, or $150 for families earning > $175, 000
This is a residential program. Parents who drop off their children may choose to attend an information session about college admissions and financial aid.
Actuarial and Data Science camps at Lebanon Valley College, in Harrisburg, PA, applications accepted on a rolling basis; cost is $950, but financial aid is available
Actuarial Science Camp-June 22-27 or July 6-11
Computer and Data Science Camp-June 22-27
Ball State's Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning High School Workshops registration now open; space is limited--apply now!
In-person and online options available, programs in interior design, archtecture, and urban planning, both residential and singe-day offerings, scholarships available
UE's Journey to Justice registration open, deadline unclear.
Join a bus tour to visit key sites in the Civil Rights movement, June 7-13
Open to teachers, community members, and students at least 15 years old
College credit is available (tuition is $100) as are scholarships to help pay the $1400 cost that includes lodging, transportation, museum entry fees, and most meals.
Redbird Risk Mangagement Challenge applications are due May 31, but spots are filling up, so you should apply ASAP!
Free program, July 12-18, sponsored by State Farm and the Spencer Education Fund, held at Illinois State University
High School Journalism Camp at IU-Bloomington, 2 sessions available in July, registration deadline June 15
Cinema Academy at IU-Bloomington applications accepted on a rolling basis
Game Development Camp at IU-Bloomington applications are accepted on a rolling bases
Many sessions offered for all levels, in person and online
Free Knowledge for Freedom Seminar at Dickinson College (#45 in U.S. News and World Report National Liberal Arts Colleges) application due May 31, but don't wait if interested.
Open to any rising senior who loves history. Program organizers assure me that Indiana students are welcome!
2 weeks of free residential college experience at Dickinson
Rigorous and engaging academic study with nationally recognized faculty
Field trips to Carlisle, Gettysburg, and Washington, DC
Mentorships and assistance with college admissions process
Possibility of free college credit
Emory's Pre-College program offers both residential and online experiences, college credit courses, and college search and application courses. Financial aid applications were due May 1.
Dartmouth's Precollege program offers online and in-person courses both throughout the year and over the summer; need-based aid is available; deadlines and course content vary by program
William and Mary, online courses in law, entrepreneurship, medicine, and psychology, need-based scholarships available
Multi-length courses available throughout the year.
Rice University Pre-College Program
online, scholarships available, multi-length courses available throughout the year.
Wake Forest Online and In-Person Courses in business, medicine, bioscience, and psychology, and criminal law available throughout the year or this summer.
Columbia Business School programs available new through summer, deadlines vary by program.
Georgetown Pre-College Online Program application open; many programs of varying length available; both college credit and enrichment courses available; financial aid available. The website also has links to in-person summer options.
Northwestern's Pre-College Online Program application open; scholarships available. The website also has links to in-person summer options.
University of Chicago's Pre-College Summer Session program applications now open. Deadlines depend on the option chosen. Financial aid available.
Notre Dame's Pre-College Online Programs; various courses offered throughout the year; scholarships available
We the Future Contest for grades 9-12 submissions are due 11:00 p.m. our time, May 31, but early entries are encouraged. The contest is hosted by Hillsdale College.
Submissions might be one of 2 different essay prompts, a song, a survey with a marketing plan to determine knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, a short film on how the Constitution makes the U.S. unique, or a PSA geared to one of 2 prompts about citizenship.
The winner from each category will receive a $1000 scholarship prize (group entries will split the prize money); winners who commit to attend Hillsdale College will also be considered for a one-time $5000 scholarship award.
SAT
The next realistic SAT date is June 7; deadline to register is May 22
Free August SAT bootcamp registration here; deadline to register: July 10
Fee waiver eligibility information
See Ms. Cirino to obtain a fee waiver
ACT
Registration link (two ACT summer dates: June 14 with late registration deadline of May 27 and July 12 with registration deadline of June 6)
Fee waiver eligibility and benefits
See Ms. Cirino to obtain a fee waiver
College Outreach News
Interested in attending Williams College, one of the "Little Ivies?" Windows on Williams (WOW) is a highly selective, all-expenses-paid fly-in program offered to 150 high-achieving seniors. Preference is given to those who couldn't otherwise afford to visit Williams. The fly-in program occurs Sept. 28-30. Application due: August 1.
Dartmouth Bound Summer Fly-In application due May 19. Low-income, first gen, and rural students encouraged to apply. The program is completely free.
Compiled List of Fly-In Programs, often for low-income and first generation students
College App Resources
Complete a rought draft of your Common App essay, due in early September to your IB English teacher. Here are Ms. Grant's guidelines.
Click here for the college application overview we discussed at College Information Night, September 24.
College Search Resourses
Sign up for College Fairs Online and enter a drawing for a $1000 scholarship. The more you engage, the more chances you earn..
Admissions Beat, a podcast wherein an Ivy League Dean demystifies the college search and application process
The College Tour on Amazon Prime, spreadsheet of all episodes here. Free college search classes here including "How to Choose a College Major?"
Big Future's College Search Guide
Planning a college visit during the school year? You must print out and complete the College Visit form.
Bryan Cameron Impact Scholarship early application deadline is May 21 at 12:00pm PT. There is a regular applicaton deadline of September 3, but do not wait for this since the portal will close when they receive 3000 applications.
This scholarship covers full tuition, fees, and books. There are 15 awarded each year.
Applicants must have a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.7
be full U.S. citizens
show proven excellence in extracurriculars, be motivated leaders with a strong work ethic, demonstrate active participation in community service and or civic/minded arenas and complete all application components.
25% of the applications spots will go to individuals pursuing careers in education, nonprofits, government and/or military and have a stated goal of public service
The FAFSA will not open until October 1, but you and your parents can create your FSA IDs now!
Explore Scholarship Databases
BigFuture’s Scholarship Search
Financial Aid Information Guide (includes FAFSA info)
Get your website documentation ready. (Examples: update your CAS page, update your PowerSchool profile in time for the next data upload)
Obtain your recommender's consent.
If the recommendation is for a 2025 summer program, after securing the verbal agreement of your recommender, complete the form, linked here.
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 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.