Class of 2027 Notes 9-14
Updated 9-16
Updated 9-16
To Do
Contests/Programs
SAT/ACT
College Search
Scholarships
Recs
Urgent. We must hear from you regarding your SAT scores and your transcript: complete this one-question questionnaire right now.
Take advantage of exciting Indiana College Go! Week news.
Apply to many Indiana schools for free during the week of September 21-25.
IU and Purdue (see more about Purdue in College Outreach below) are on the list this year and will allow free applications through the Common App. USI is participating but only through their portal.
College Information Night was Tuesday, September 16, 5:30-6:30. Slides here.
Class of 2027 Financial Aid Night on Monday, September 28, 6-7, KC Commons to answer questions about the financial aid process and to explain the FAFSA and CSS Profile just before they become available on October 1. This event is for all families, regardless of whether you think you qualify for aid. Indiana requires a FAFSA or a FAFSA waiver. Register here.
Complete the Class of 2027 College Counselor Information questionnaire now. The information you give me will help Faculty Selection committees make informed decisions and help me understand your ACT/SAT testing plans so that I don't submit your transcript before you are ready. Click here for a list of those who've submitted as of 9/13 at 9:12 pm.
Did you complete summer coursework for the Indiana Diploma Enrollment with Honors Plus Seal? Update ManageBac with the 15 CAS hours and send for review, supervisor Shannon Hughes. If you've sent this once with no result, please send again along with an email to me with subject line, "ManageBac Supervisor Review."
Set up your Common App.
Make sure to assign shannon.hughes@signature.edu as your counselor. Not sure if you've done this? Here's a list of those who have as of 9/13 at 9:20 PM.
Need a fee waiver? You must have the Free and Reduced Price Lunch form on file with Ms. Farris (stacie.farris@signature.edu)!
Create your FSA ID (see Scholarship and Financial Aid Information below).
Register for Parchment to send official transcripts. You must use the link in the email invitation last sent on 8/6/2026. Can't find the email? See Ms. Hughes ASAP. Here's a guide.
To send a transcript to Common App, select the destination as "Common App--First-Year Student." Then select "Hold for Grades if your transcript is not ready to send.
Scholarships: University Affiliated
Bennington College Young Creators Awards. Apply through Common App well before November 1 to receive award submission portal link. Cost: Free.
First place wins $2,000 and eligibility for four-year undergraduate scholarships up to $60,000. Because you must wait to receive this link via email, you should submit your Common App well before the November 1 deadline (ideally in September or October).
Award Categories: Young Writers/Artists/Innovators/Musicians/Scientists
All entries must be reviewed and approved by a high school sponsor teacher.
Duke or UNC-CH: The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program application is due Oct 15 for early notification or Nov 15 for regular notification.
Benefits: full tuition, room and board, and most mandatory fees; access to generous funding for up to three summer experiences and for up to two semesters of study abroad.
Register for the Sept 20 webinar for info.
You must also apply to Duke or UNC-CH. Note UNC-CH's EA deadline of Oct 15.
Standardized test scores not considered
25-30 Scholars per year
The Thomas Wolfe Scholarship (UNC Chapel Hill). October 15, 2026 (UNC general application) and November 15, 2026 (Wolfe portfolio submission). A full-merit scholarship covering all expenses for student writers who apply and enroll at UNC Chapel Hill. Focuses on creative writing portfolios in prose, poetry, or playwriting.
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 3.96 U/4.51 W, a 31 ACT, and a 1431 SAT; benefits: full ride plus
Eastern Carolina University's Brinkley-Lane Scholarship full-ride plus 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.
IU's Wells Scholarship application opens for self-nomination on Friday, September 18 and is due November 1. Scroll down the linked page to the self-nomination form.
Highly selective (GPA 3.9 or better, test optional but Scholars typically have 1430+ SAT, 32+ ACT); nominees show character and leadership, extracurricular and community engagement; interest in joining a community of scholars with diverse interests; Wells nominees may not apply Early Decision to any school.
NC State University's Park Scholarship app due November 1. Applicants must also apply to NC State by this date.
Website, brochure, application support for under-resourced students
1/3 of the offers are for out-of-state students; about 38 new Scholars per year
4-year full ride plus (many perks: please look)
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!
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.
$35,000 scholarship
USI's full-ride + B/MD program, application due November 4. 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, reside in rural Indiana; full tuition
IU-SouthEast's B/MD program application opens October 1 and was due January 8 last year. Requirements: 1200 SAT/27 ACT, 3.5 GPA. Benefit: $5,000 per year
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); full ride plus
USI's highly selective, full-ride plus Presidential Scholarship application due November 20. Requirements: 4.0 WGPA, 1280 SAT/27 ACT.
Indiana State University's selective, full-ride plus President's Scholarship application due December 1; Requirements: 3.8 UGPA, 1270 SAT/27 ACT.
UT-Dallas's McDermott Scholars Program application and recommendation forms are due December 1. This is a premier full-ride-plus scholarship. Do not delay, since you must submit your UT Dallas application to access the McDermott Scholars application.
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.
Centre College's full-tuition plus Lincoln Scholars application is due December 1. Eligibility extends to domestic and international students with strong academic and leadership records. Nominations are not required, but Ms. Hughes is happy to nominate you if interested.
Centre College's full-tuition plus for First Gen students Grissom Scholars due January 15. Want a non-required nomination? Let Ms. Hughes know in time to nominate you by December 1.
Scholarships: No University Affiliation
The Gates Scholarship due September 15: Highly selective award for outstanding minority, Pell-eligible student leaders.
Coca-Cola Scholars Program due September 30: An achievement-based $20,000 scholarship recognizing students for their capacity to lead and serve.
The $25,000 Chick-fil-A Community Scholar application is due November 3: 13 awards given, must demonstrate financial need.
Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship due November 11: Up to $55,000 per year for high-achieving seniors with financial need. Submitted via the Common App.
Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship due November 12: Awards 500 four-year scholarships ranging from $4,000 to $30,000 based on academics, leadership, and financial need.
NHS Scholarship app due November 20. Many substantial awards offered. See the FAQ.
Hagan Scholarship due December 1: Need-based merit award helping rural and public high school students graduate college debt-free. Gross annual income in 2025 must be $125,000 or less. Brochure link.
Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship application is due January 14, (link to flyer).
Generous four-year scholarships plus mentorship and support
Eligibility: h.s. senior, U.S. citizen, demonstrates financial need, excellent academic and leadership record
Intensive application includes CSS profile, 4 essays, and more. Don't delay.
Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship: Provides up to $10,000 per year for high-achieving Indiana students who commit to teaching in Indiana for at least five years after graduation. Opens October 1 and closes February 27.
Horatio Alger Targeted Scholarships open due February 15 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.
Foundation 649 Scholarship: Disburses $4,000 awards to Asian American and Pacific Islander students dedicated to community involvement. Opens in the winter.
Explore Scholarship Databases
BigFuture’s Scholarship Search
Financial Aid Information Guide (includes FAFSA info)
Get your website documentation ready.
Update your CAS page.
Print your updated School Profile to pdf so that you can attach it to the forms.
Obtain your recommender's consent.
If the recommendation is for a 2026-2027 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.
Complete the Counselor Recommendation Request form for each new request or set of requests.
Standard deadline: 3 weeks before the application deadline.
November 1 Common App Exception: Requests are due on October 1 due to high volume.
As of 9/13, I've received 9 requests for Common App recommendations.
To ensure your scores arrive by November 1 early application deadlines, you should complete all SAT and ACT testing by the end of September. Applying for a fee waiver? You must have the Free and Reduced Price Lunch form on file with Ms. Farris (stacie.farris@signature.edu)!
October: October 3, 2026 (Registration Deadline: September 18)
Registration & Calendar: College Board SAT Dates
Fee Waivers: SAT Fee Waiver Eligibility. In addition, eligible students must have a Free and Reduced Price Lunch application on file with the school. See Ms. Cirino to obtain a fee waiver.
October: October 17, 2026 (Registration Deadline: September 29)
Results may arrive too late for November 1 applications. In many cases, you can update schools with new information.
Registration: ACT Registration
Test Prep: Free ACT Test Prep
Fee Waivers: ACT Fee Waiver Eligibility. In addition, eligible students must have a Free and Reduced Price Lunch application on file with the schoolSee Ms. Cirino to obtain a fee waiver.
Service Programs
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.
U.S. Senate Youth Program Application due September 18
The Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation essay contest entries are due December 10, Human Rights Day.
The question: When if ever do human rights violations by a country against its own citizens justify armed intervention by other countries?
Prizes of $5,000, $2500, and $1250
Note the need for a teacher to verify the authenticity of your work.
John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest submissions due January 11.
Students write an original, creative, 700-1,000-word essay that demonstrates an understanding of political courage as described by John F. Kennedy in Profiles in Courage.
1st place: $10,000; 2nd: $3,000; Three 3rd place awards of $1,000. Fifteen submissions receive honorable mention.
You must name a nominating teacher.
Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) due November 5. Cost: Free. The nation's oldest and most prestigious science competition for high school seniors. Focuses on original, independent scientific research across all STEM disciplines. Requires a comprehensive research report, transcripts, and recommendations.
Davidson Fellows Scholarship. Early February 2027. Cost: Free. Awards scholarships up to $50,000 for students who have completed a significant, graduate-level piece of work. Focus areas include STEM, Literature, Philosophy, or Music. Eligibility: Open to students aged 18 or under attending any traditionally accredited public or private high school in the United States.
National YoungArts Competition submissions due October 6. Cost: Free. The premier national platform for young artists. Focuses on Creative Nonfiction, Novel, Play/Script, Poetry, or Short Story portfolios. Requires a substantial multi-page portfolio compiled over the summer. Winners receive cash prizes, national mentorship, and exclusive consideration for the Presidential Scholar in the Arts nomination.
The New York Times Student Writing Contests. Rolling throughout the year. Cost: Free. Short, creative prompts with strict word limits that teach precise editing skills. Focuses on short-form opinion writing, reviews, and 100-word personal narratives. The Summer Reading Contest runs weekly from June through August. Winners are published on the NYT Learning Network.
STEM Contests
Congressional App Challenge. October 26, 2026. Cost: Free. Hosted by the U.S. House of Representatives, this competition encourages middle and high school students to learn to code and create their own original applications. Students compete against peers in their specific congressional district. Winning apps are eligible to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol and on the House.gov website.
NASA's TechRise Student Challenge entries due Nov 2, 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 22, 11-12:30 PT, to find out more!
CSforGood: Nextech's Competition projects due November 4. Teams of 2-6 students create a technology project demonstrating how CS and AI can be used to address real-world challenges.
Presidential AI Challenge. Annual cycle starting in late September, according to the website. Cost: Free. A national initiative from the White House challenging students to develop artificial intelligence-powered tools that solve real-world problems in their local communities. Students can compete individually or in teams, with national champions earning recognition in Washington, D.C.
Journal of Emerging Investigators (JEI). Rolling submission. Cost: $49 submission fee (100% waivable upon request for financial need). A peer-reviewed journal publishing original, hypothesis-driven STEM research by middle and high school students. Submissions undergo an authentic review process by graduate students and faculty. Note: Submissions must be uploaded by a teacher or adult mentor.
The National High School Journal of Science (NHSJS). Rolling submission. Cost: Free. A student-run, peer-reviewed journal with a professional advisory board designed to make academic publishing accessible to high schoolers. Focuses on STEM original research articles and comprehensive literature reviews. https://nhsjs.org/
Purdue application support:
Sign up for one of Purdue's Virtual Application Workshops: "We’ll walk through our application process, discuss campus and major selection, review important deadlines and answer questions to help you submit a strong and complete application."
Sept. 21, 6 p.m. our time, in time for College Go!
Oct. 26, 6 p.m. our time
Evening Phone Support Sept. 22-24 and Oct. 27-29, 5-7 p.m. our time.
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 on October 1 of senior year. Here is some more information:
Congressman Mark Messmer is accepting applications through this form. He provides a checklist, and a Service Academy fact sheet.
Attend the College Essay Guy Live Workshop series either live or on demand:
Invitation in your school email
All sessions recorded and available on your dashboard
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 is a free video series providing an inside look at over 110 college campuses through the perspective of current students. Use their website to access their complete library and guided search tools that filter featured colleges by state, public or private status, size, and acceptance rate.
Free College Search Classes: Self-guided, 45-minute video courses designed to help you identify what you want in a university. The core class covers four pillars: location, campus culture, college type, and majors. They also offer a dedicated course for first-generation college students.
Big Future's College Search Guide