Pupil Personnel - Fort Plain CSD, Fort Plain, NY

Ms. Colleen Cushing, 7-12 Counselor, ext. 3407 E-mail
Mr. Kurt Fetter, 7-12 Counselor
Mrs. Lara Gordon, Psychologist
Ms. Andrea Bouck, Secretary

        Need help filling out financial aid forms for college? Then check out College Goal Sunday at Fort Plain Junior/Senior High School on a date and time to be announced. The event is usually held in February.
       Parents and students may arrive anytime between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The program takes about 40 minutes to complete. It is being held on a Saturday this year due to scheduling conflicts.
        College Goal Sunday is a free national program designed to assist students and their parents with online completion of financial aid forms. Financial aid counselors will be on hand to answer questions and help complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), used to qualify students for money for 2011-12 college tuition, books, housing, and other expenses.
        Students may register for College Goal Sunday online at www.collegegoalsundayny.com or with their guidance counselor. All area high school students and their parents are encouraged to participate. Anyone with questions should contact Colleen Cushing at (518) 993-4000 ext. 3409 or e-mail colleencushing@fortplain.org.

      Each year in December, Fort Plain Guidance Department’s holds a Financial Aid Night. This year's event was held on Dec.8.

      Information was provided on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and what information to expect on the Student Aid Report that is returned to applicants.

     FAFSA, available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov, should be completed as soon as possible after Jan. 1. Parents will need estimated income tax information for the year and should complete tax forms early to help in filling out the FAFSA. They should keep a copy of this information and make a copy of the online FAFSA application.

     It is important to meet all deadlines and contact the colleges being applied to see what financial aid is available though them and the forms they might require.

      It is also important that each student apply for local scholarships. Different scholarships have different criteria to be eligible. These can include letters of recommendation, a letter of college acceptance, an essay or other requirements. Scholarships, grants, and loans are available to eligible students, but the student needs to apply. Scholarships

      The event also provided information on how to apply for New York State Tuition Assistance and being careful to avoid financial aid/scholarship scams.

Junior Year	- Think about your college choice. Talk with your counselor about your options. - Use http://www.fastweb.com to find money for college. - Take the PSAT: consider taking the ACT/SAT in the spring.
Summer after Junior Year	- Visit college campuses; ask college friends for advise. - Request applications and brochures from your top college choices and visit their web sites. - Practice application essays by writing sample drafts.
Senior Year: Fall	- Organize your applications by creating files for your choices. List application requirements and deadlines. -Take the ACT and/or SAT. Listen to announcements for application deadlines. Dates and locations of exams will be announced. - Request letters of recommendation from teachers and community leaders early. - Talk to your parents about college costs. What can you afford? - Visit http://www.finaid.org to learn about financial aid. - Attend FPCS financial aid night and FMCC college night. Listen to announcements for date and time.
Senior Year: Winter	- Work on college applications. They are due to FPCS Guidance Office late December. -January: File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid as soon after Jan. 1 as possible. Check out http://www.fafsa.ed.gov - Check with your prospective colleges about additional financial application forms and requirements.
Senior Year: Spring	- Check the mail for admission letters and financial aid awards. - Compare your admission offers. Ask your counselor to help you weigh your options. -Time for a decision! Most schools ask you for a decision by May 1. -May: Don't forget to notify schools you have decided not to attend. - Double check deadlines for housing, financial aid, etc. - Send your final high school transcript to your new school.