Senior families will be able to access the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on October 1. It is helpful to go to https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa prior to that date to get your FSA ID. Based on priority deadlines from colleges and universities, it is helpful to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible.
We are lucky to have the best resources available locally:
– INVestED is a local organization that provides free financial aid assistance to families. https://www.investedindiana.org/
– The University of Indianapolis is hosting a FAFSA completion night on October 8. Learn more and register here: https://attend.uindy.edu/register/fafsa_workshop_1
– College Goal Sunday is an event on November 6 that hosts families for FAFSA completion. More information is available here: https://collegegoalsunday.org/
You can also call the college financial aid offices; they are always willing to help! The FAFSA help line is available at 1-800-433-3243 Monday through Friday from 8 am to 10 pm.
As a reminder, fastweb.com is the most comprehensive resource for outside scholarships and you will want to contact each college and university to which you are applying to ensure you know the process for institutional scholarships and grants.
College Application Week is part of Learn More Indiana’s annual College GO! initiative that takes place each August through November with information and resources designed to help Hoosier K-12 students explore and plan for education beyond high school. The official kick-off to College GO! is the last full week in September (Sept. 26-30), coinciding with College Application Week. Check out the chart on free applications and view more information on College Go Week 2022.
Mark your calendars for these important dates.
Updates will be added as they are available at THIS LINK
Indiana-Based
National Links
View the videos from the BCHS 2021 College Information Night and Financial Information Night for current parents.
Many Indiana schools are waiving their application fees through THIS FRIDAY, 9/24. If you are applying to the schools listed on the attachment, please be sure to submit it before Friday. This is only for your actual application; the other documents can be sent later.
This has other helpful information about applying to college.
This walks you through the Common Application.
Remember, if you are not using the Common Application, you will also need to request your transcripts through Parchment. Please add Mrs. Nixon to your Common App and place orders in Parchment before October 15 to ensure your documents can be submitted before the deadline.
Some schools allow you to self-report test scores, but other schools require them to be sent directly from College Board or ACT. The scores typically take 3 weeks to arrive, so you need to request these before October 8.
Nothing helps students and families more in the college search process than making an official college visit to schools of interest. Many college visits can take place on non-BCHS school days, but there are times when it is necessary to take a day off of school.
Colleges have admission counselors assigned to work with Bishop Chatard students; you should be able to determine our rep by going to the college’s website and clicking a link similar to “Find My Counselor.” This person is your resource and your advocate; utilize them! There are also opportunities to visit colleges through their virtual programs, which can be found on their websites.
Every senior should try to take advantage of the opportunity to visit a college when the underclassmen take the PSAT exam, in mid October. Seniors may choose to use additional days for college visits as needed.
College Visit Procedure
To make a physical visit to a college during a school day:
The Class of 2022 College Autobiography is now available for current juniors. This helps us nominate students for scholarships or opportunities and write letters of recommendation for college applications.
Please complete the following form to send us your information.
NOTE: You must be signed in to your BCHS email to open this form.
Read a fully accessible guide of resources for applying and paying for college for students with disabilities.
Mrs. Nixon shares tips on how to begin thinking and preparing for college, careers and planning.
JUNIOR YEAR
There is a great deal of information to consider, so the most important step in jumping in and getting started. Taking action makes the process much less overwhelming.
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
FRESHMAN YEAR
It’s never too early to prepare for your future! Take steps now to set yourself up for a wider range of post-secondary opportunities later.
Most recent edit : 1/12/2021
Mrs. Nixon shares her tips on submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Mrs. Nixon shares her experience on trending ideas of what colleges look for when considering admitting a student.
Celebrate – You’ve been admitted to several colleges! Mrs. Nixon interviews Whitney Ramsay, from the Butler University, on the next steps in making that final choice.
Mrs. Nixon explains the importance of college fairs, even in a virtual world, and the unique language associated with college admissions.
Register for the Virtual College Exploration Program for Indiana Students, from Oct. 5-22, 2020, mentioned in this video at https://iafcac.wildapricot.org/
In this episode, Mrs. Nixon interviews Lindsey Speer, from the Ball State University on the importance of Freshman and Sophomore year studies.
Mrs. Nixon provides helpful hints to get students started on their FAFSA applications. FAFSA applications open Oct. 1, 2020.
A 2020 BCHS alumna offers Mary’s Top Ten Things to Remember for College Applications to help you with the search, application, and decision-making process you have in front of you. 
In this episode, Mrs. Nixon interviews Ariel Moore, from the University of Louisville, with tips to consider when thinking about the location of a college you may attend.
This video covers transcripts, dual credit transcripts, recommendations and applications, using SCOIR to help select a college and the importance of FAFSA.
Mrs. Nixon interviews Aimee Scheuermann, from Hanover College with information about campus visits, open houses and interesting tips from the pro!
This episode answers the questions when and how should I submit my application.
The second in this series introduces SCOIR and how it helps students recognize their career interests and aptitudes.
View the introductory episode of BCHS’s Trojan College Counseling Video Series with Mrs. Nixon.
This Common Application Dictionary document walks you through some confusing terms from the college application process.
The NCAA Eligibility Center has made changes to the initial-eligibility certification process for students who initially enroll full time in a collegiate institution during the 2021-22 academic year.
Visit https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/ for other information and application.
General information can be found at www.ncaa.org.
Students often have questions regarding their potential to earn college credit as they evaluate which senior English course to take. This chart shows what credit some local universities currently award for AP Language, AP Literature, and W131.
A few reminders as you review this information:
|
|
AP Language | AP Literature | W 131 |
| Ball State University | ENG 103 (3 or 4)
ENG 103 & 104 (5) |
ENG 206 (3, 4, or 5) | ENG 103 |
| Butler University | EN 185 (4 or 5) | EN 185 (4 or 5) | General elective: 100 level credit |
| Indiana University | W 131 (4 or 5) | X 101 (3, 4, or 5) | Grade is taken in GPA |
| Marian University | ENG 101 (4 or 5) | ENG 101 & ENG 112 (4 or 5) | ENG 112 |
| University of Notre Dame | WR 13100 (4 or 5) | No credit transfers | No credit transfers |
| Purdue University | ENGL 10600 (4 or 5) | ENGL 23100 (4 or 5) | ENG 10300 |
College coaches often ask Bishop Chatard for copies of the current transcript of a student-athlete as part of their eligibility screening process. For the school to release your transcript, the school needs your permission. Please complete the BCHS Transcript Release Form now in order to save yourself a step later. Return completed form to the School Counseling Office.
Résumés are an important part of the college application process. The College Board offers some tips on the key features of an effective résumé and how to adapt it to various audiences. View the CollegeBoardtipshighschoolresume for suggestions.
Did you know…
This helpful site allows you to see how some colleges and universities in Indiana accept AP credits. Indiana state law requires all two and four-year Indiana public colleges and universities to award college credit that counts toward a degree for scores of 3 or higher.
College Fairs are events where students of any grade can get acquainted with the multiple colleges at the fair in one evening or afternoon. BCHS posts College Fair information we receive during the school year.
View 2022-23 College Fair Schedule
We recommend this article from the University of Colorado for tips and top questions to ask at a college fair.
View Episode #10 in our Trojan College Counseling Video.
Here is one suggestion from Ruth P., from Louisville U.:
I made 4 lists that were the backbone of my search. The first contained my extracurricular activities, skills/abilities, leadership roles, community service, honors/talents and awards. The second held potential effective recommenders. The third consisted of scholarships that I qualified to apply for, based on my ACT score and GPA. And, finally, the fourth, a list of colleges that fit my intended major.
I turned the first list into a resume, the second into actual recommendations, the third into applications that I filled and submitted, and the fourth into colleges that I applied to, based on my intended program/major.
After getting accepted into my college choices, I then made the decisions considering “location, tuition, advantage of my intended program/major, involvement opportunities.”
Taylor Keasey, BCHS Class of 2016, offers her advice:
If you can, visit when campus in in full swing during the academic year. But if that’s not possible, a Saturday or in the summer will still give you the campus flavor.
Do both. An organized tour will allow you to understand process, logistics, dates and deadlines and all the nitty gritty. Hanging out helps you get a feel for the environment.
Ask questions that aren’t about facts and figures you can find on their website. And don’t judge a university by just one tour guide or the weather on the day. After your visit is over, everybody should compare notes. Mom may have noticed something that perhaps the student didn’t. Remember, you can always visit again.
These insights are from Mitch Warren, Purdue Director of Admission, 2016
Visit the BCHS Senior Page . On that page, go to the ‘College’ tab to find out what you need to do if the visit is during school hours.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is nationwide application that calculates the EFC (Expected Family Contribution), that is used to determine federal, state and institutional financial aid and sometimes scholarships for a college student.
Application generally opens around October 1 with early submission recommended by December 1. Students must submit the FAFSA application in order to be eligible for both Indiana and Federal Student Aid.
You do not need to send AP scores during the application process. Colleges typically use AP scores for placing you in classes and awarding credit, not for admissions. When you take your senior year AP tests, you can enter the code for the school you will attend and they will automatically send them all of your scores, so you won’t have to order them. Another option is to order them to one school only after you decide where you will enroll. You do need to send your SAT and ACT scores directly from the testing service in order for your application to be considered complete, however. It takes approximately 3 weeks for scores to be received.
Use this College Application Checklist, from Collegeboard!
Students who qualify for free/reduced school meals are encouraged to contact BCHS College Counselor Pam Nixon (pnixon@bishopchatard.org) for information about SAT/ACT test fee waivers and possible college application waivers.
Your household size is the number of people living in your home who are dependent on the primary unit for 51% or more of their finances. For example, if your grandparent lives with you but does not have an income, he or she would count in the household size. If your brother is employed and moves home while he is building his first house, he does not count in your household size. If your parents are not involved in financially supporting you and you live with another family member who does not have legal guardianship, but who does support you financially, you will want to complete a dependency verification form. If your parents/guardians cover your living costs but cannot contribute to financially supporting the costs of your tuition and living expenses, you are not an independent student. Their income must be counted on the FAFSA; your EFC should reflect your financial need. If the parents are separated, but live together, they must select “Married or Remarried” when filing the FAFSA. If the student’s legal parents are divorced or separated, and do not live together, the parent with whom the student primarily lives (often called the custodial parent) should complete the FAFSA. Additional information is available at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/dependency. The best resources for these questions are fafsa.ed.gov, INvestEd, and the financial aid offices at the colleges and universities to which you are applying. They are experts and are very willing to help.
College Board has a wonderful article they call the Ultimate Guide on Choosing a College Major. It is a good place to start. They suggest
John Michael Mason, BCHS Class of 2016, offers this advice:
Sami Katra, BCHS Class of 2016, offers her experience:
First: Congratulations on looking here to see how to find out how you can get help!
Listed are some of the options at the school that are available to all:
Stressed?
It’s inevitable that we all experience stress in our daily lives. Some stress is actually good for us but too much stress can be harmful. Check out the special edition School Counseling Newsletter specifically addressing stress and how to effectively manage it.
Inside you will learn about…
•Tips for staying healthy
•How to create a stress plan
•Who you can talk to if you are stressed
•Apps to help you identify and manage your stress/anxiety
•Deep breathing exercises
•And more!
A really good way to view upcoming and new items is to follow Mrs. Nixon’s and the College Counseling twitter, @BCHSCollege. Mrs. Nixon tweets on many topics, some not found on this website. Of course, checking this website will help you find college, career and scholarship topics too, many not found in her tweets.
If you have taken dual credit classes, we aren’t able to send dual credit transcripts to colleges because they are issued directly through the credit-granting institution. You will need to request that the college sends your transcript. For Indiana University Advance College Project (ACP) courses (Public Speaking, W131, Finite), you can request your transcript at transcript.indiana.edu/nocas/fax_welcome.cfm. If you have any trouble with that, their phone number is (812) 855-4500. For Vincennes University courses (Accounting), you can request your transcript at www.vinu.edu/transcript-requests. For questions, please contact them by phone at 812.888.4220 or email at records@vinu.edu.