Class of 2026 Notes 9-25
Updated September 30
Updated September 30
To Do
Programs
Competitions
SAT/ACT News
College Search
Scholarships
Recs
Register here for Indiana's College Ready Webinar, hosted by State Reps Tim O'Brian and Wendy McNamara and the Commission for Higher Education, October 1, 6-7 PM CDT. Topics: financial aid, the FAFSA, state grants, and Indiana's Pre-Admissions program. You must register by 10/1, 4 PM.
Complete the College Counselor Information questionnaire now.The information you give me will update my record of your achievements and help Faculty Selection committees make informed decisions.
Common App Urgent Tasks (see more under College App Resources):
Assign Shannon Hughes (shannon.hughes @signature.edu) as your counselor. If your name is on this list, you have completed this task.
Complete the Applications and Recommenders Plan and update it as your plans change.
Complete the Transcript Reporting form now and update as your plans change, letting Ms. Hughes know by email of any significant changes.
Keep track of college acceptances and other offers here: College, Scholarship, and Program Application Outcomes (link coming soon; meanwhile save everything!)
Applying through Common App? See important resources under College/App/Search>College App Resources. Need help? See information under College App/Search/Outreach. Stop by KC 207 or KC 210 for help on B-days at lunch.
Register for Parchment to send official transcripts. You must use the link in the email invitation last sent on 7/9/2025. Here's a guide.
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.
Academic and Leadership Programs Not Associated with a University
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
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.
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.
Notre Dame's Pre-College Online Programs; various courses offered throughout the year; scholarships available
(also listed under Scholarships) Interested in a career in technology? Register for the IU Luddy School of Informatics and Engineering inaugural TechQuest event on October 4, 9-3 Bloomington time. Contestants will enjoy a light breakfast, lunch, and a chance to win $1000 in IU scholarship money. Register here today: https://iu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b7qmp8kk7mqDmjI
Bennington Young Writers Awards contest submissions due November 1.
Categories: poetry, fiction, nonfiction
Winners in each category receive up to $1000.
All submitters must obtain teacher sponsorship.
New The Buckley Institute's 2025 essay contest submissions are due October 5, at 11:59 PST. The 700- to 800-word entries respond to a prompt found at the website Prizes are $250, $500, or $1,000.
NASA's TechRise Student Challenge entries due Nov 3, 11:59 PM PT
Get a teacher or school employee sponsor and form a team of up to 4 to develop an experiment idea for the Suborbital Spaceship or a High-Altitude Balloon.
60 winning teams will get their experiment funded and supported; winners will be announced in January.
Register for a student virtual field trip, on Sept 25, 11-12:30 PT, to find out more!
Regeneron Science Talent Search app due November 6, 8pm ET
New The Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation essay contest entries are due December 10, Human Rights Day.
The question: Many claim climate change poses a threat to human rights. Do you agree? Provide a clear explanation of the reasons you think specific proposals to deal with the issue are beneficial or harmful.
Prizes of $5,000, $2500, and $1250 offered
Flyer for U.S. residents or citizens
Note the need for a teacher to verify the authenticity of your work.
New 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.
SAT
The next SAT date is October 4 (register by September 19). Note this may be too late for November 1 applictions.
Free August SAT bootcamp registration here; deadline to register: July 10
Fee waiver eligibility information
See Ms. Cirino to obtain a fee waiver
ACT
Fee waiver eligibility and benefits
See Ms. Cirino to obtain a fee waiver
Scholarship Information: No School Affiliation
The $20,000 Coca-Cola Scholars application is due September 30. The ideal applicant has a strong record of leadership and service.
The $25,000 Chick-fil-A Scholar application is due October 28 by 3:00 p.m. Central Time.
The Cooke College Scholarship Program application is due November 12 at midnight, our time zone.
Gross famly annual income is at most $95,000. (Last year's median income: $34,000)
You must be a resident of the U.S. but you do not have to be a citizen.
Last dollar funding after instiutional aid, up to $55,000/year
Minimum unweighted GPA: 3.75
Typical recipients hold leadership roles, have a 3.96 GPA, and particpate in community service.
Apply through the Common App.
NHS Scholarship app due November 24, 5 p.m ET. Many substantial awards offered. See the FAQ.
The need-based and merit aid Hagan Scholarship application is due December 1 for the Fall 25 cycle.
Adjusted Gross Income in 2024 < = $100,000
If non-citizen, then must be fluent in English
3.5 cumulative unweighted GPA; high-achieving, goal-oriented
Must work 240 hours from January 1, 2026 to September 1, 2026.
Receive up to $7,500 per semester for up to 8 consecutive semesters plus many other opportunities.
Scholarship Information: School Affiliated
(also listed under Competitions) Interested in a career in technology? Register for the IU Luddy School of Informatics and Engineering inaugural TechQuest event, on October 4, 9-3 Bloomington time. Contestants will enjoy a light breakfast, lunch, and a chance to win $1000 in IU scholarship money. Register here today: https://iu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b7qmp8kk7mqDmjI
Duke or UNC-CH: The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program application is due Oct 15 for early notification or Nov 15 for regular notification.
Register for the ept 21 webinar for info.
Does not accept and will not consider AP/IB or SAT/ACT score
You must also apply to Duke or UNC-CH. Note UNC-CH's EA deadline of Oct 15.
UNC at Chapel Hill's full-ride plus The Thomas Wolfe Scholarship is due November 15, but you must apply to the university by the October 15 Early Action deadline.
New UNC-Charlotte's Levine Scholar, school or self-nomination, due October 15. Scholars must apply to UNC-C by November 1; test optional; no GPA minimum but most average a 3.99 U/4.31 W, a 32 ACT, and a 1430 SAT
New Eastern Carolina University's Brinkley-Lane Scholarship program requires admission to ECU first (application due October 15) with an invitation to apply as a B-L Scholar if you have a minimum GPA of 3.7 U/4.0 W or minimum SAT of 1330. 20 open seats.
NC State University's Park Scholarship app due November 1. Applicants must also apply to NC State by this date.
Brochure, website, information for assistance for under-resourced applicants
1/3 of the offers are for out-of-state students
4-year full ride plus (many perks: please look)
New UT-Dallas's McDermott Scholars Program application and recommendation forms are due November 1.
You must submit your UT Dallas application to access the McDermott Scholars application
Are you interested in Valparaiso's music scholarship program? There are generous scholarships for majors and non-majors alike! To maximize aid offers, you should apply to Valpo by November 1.
Lynne Thissen, Class of 2024, would love to field your questions!
New North Carolina A &T's (largest HBCU) Cheatham-White Scholars program requires an application to NC A&T first through the Honors College Portal by November 15; requires a 4.0 weighted GPA, a 1280 SAT, or 28 ACT (test optional)
New USI's highly selective, full-ride plus Presidential Scholarship application due November 21. Note that the required 4.0 refers to a weighted GPA.
New Ranked #21 in US News Liberal Arts Colleges, Washington and Lee's full ride plus Johnson Scholarship application due Dec 1. Apply to W & L through the Common App and submit the supplemental Johnson essay.
44 scholars selected based on academic achievement, leadership and integrity, and potential to contribute to the intellectual and civic life of the W&L campus and the world at large.
Benefits: tuition, fees, room, board, and $10,000 for summer study. Students with financial need may qualify for me.
New ISU's Presidential Scholar due Dec 15 but must apply to ISU by Dec 1; full-ride plus housing and food; 18 seats; 3.8 GPA, 1270 SAT/27 ACT
Boston University's highly selective, full-tuition plus fees Trustee Scholarship is due December 1.
New Considering medicine? Consider tuition-free/reduced + B/MD programs.
UE's B/MD program application is due November 1. Requirements: 29 ACT/1350 SAT and 4.0 UW GPA (approx.)
Update: program managers have stated that qualified applicants with a few Bs should not be daunted by the "nearly a 4.0" guideline.
USI's full-ride + B/MD program, application due November 6. Requirements: UW 3.5 GPA, miniumum 1280 SAT or 27 ACT--no superscoring
ISU's Rural Health Scholarship application opens Oct 1 and is due Dec 15. Requirements: apply to ISU by Dec 1, reside in rural Indiana, 3.5 UW GPA, 1270 SAT/27 ACT, have an interest in rural medicine
IU-SouthEast's B/MD program application opens October 1 and is due January 8.
Financial Aid and Merit Aid Information/News
New College Kickstart's list of merit aid deadlines by school (not comprehensive and many deadlines already listed in the Notes)
Breaking News Emory University just launched its Emory Advantage Plus grant: students with families earning $200,000 or less pay NO ($0) tuition. Note that many Ivies, especially Princeton, have similar grant programs.
Emory Deadlines: Emory University Scholars must apply (directions here) by Nov 15 unless applying ED 1, in which case apply by Nov 1. ED I: Nov 1, ED II & Reg Dec: Jan 1
Are you eligible for admission? Emory is test optional; 2029 Class Profile.
Sig's Financial Aid Information Night was on September 15. Notre Dame's Senior Assistant Director of Financial Aid, Gary Rigley, presented:
The FAFSA officially opens October 1, but is unofficially open now in Beta testing. Whether you wait or file today, you'll need to create your Federal Student Aid account, as your parent(s) will if this is the first time filing.
Explore Scholarship Databases
BigFuture’s Scholarship Search
Financial Aid Information Guide (includes FAFSA info)
College Outreach News
Register for Princeton University's Fall 2025 Virtual Arts Open House, Sept 25, 7-8:30 ET, for information on arts programs including architecture, performing arts, visual arts, digital arts (including film, sound, and animation).
Interested in attending a Service Academy for a full ride plus room, board, and textbooks? Applications for a congressional nomination to the four Service Academies requiring such a nomination are due October 1.
Congressman Mark Messmer is accepting applications through this form. He provides a checklist, and a Service Academy fact sheet.
Compiled List of Fly-In Programs, often for low-income and first generation students
College App Resources
Senior College Application Night materials: Slides here as a pdf or here as a PPT
Applying through Common App?
Complete Profile, Family, Education, Testing, and Activities sections.
Once you've selected at least one school, click on that school and complete the FERPA Release Authorization form and the counselor invitation using shannon.hughes@signature.edu. Screenshot here Invite Counselor.
Order a transcript sent to Common App through Parchment. Still no Parchment account? Check for the emailed invite; see Ms. Hughes.
Considering a degree in art or design? Attend IU-Indy's Herron School of Art National Portfolio Day, Saturday, September 27, 10-2 EST. Register here. Bring finished pieces, works in progress, and sketchbooks. Many art and design schools will be at the event. Can't attend this event? Here's a link to other regional National Portfolio Day events coming soon.
Resume building resources
College Search Resources
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.