Career and College Planning

The annual College Planning Kick Off Event: Class of 2024 event was held on Thursday, December 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Spring Lake Park High School. If you missed it, or need a little refresher below are some of the session PowerPoint Presentations.

College Planning : In Spanish

Concurrent Enrollment vs. PSEO

Financial Aid Jeopardy

2 year college vs. 4 year college

Application Review and the College Visit

Highly Selective Colleges

Upward Bound Program Overview

CommunityCollegevsTechnicalCollege.pptx

PrivateVsPublic.pptx

Senior Parent Night Presentation

The Student Services department hosts a fall presentation for senior families to prepare for college, military or career options post graduation.  If you would like to review what was covered at this meeting click the link below:

Senior Parent Night Presentation

Below is a list of really helpful information for students and parents in preparing for Post-Secondary Education. Please watch the tutorials and sign up for events as you wish!

• College and Military visits: Want to know who is coming to your school to visit?? (Well, virtually anyways?) Click here to see how to sign up for college and military visits.
• Applying to College Tutorial
• Requesting Transcripts Tutorial
• Requesting Letters of Recommendation Tutorial
• Matching your Common App Account to Naviance Tutorial
• College Fairs, there are so many opportunities to connect with colleges from all over the world this fall. If you are still undecided or not sure what your plan will be after graduation, your best bet is to be informed. Register for these events and attend whatever sessions or colleges you want to gain insight into possibilities for your future. All of these fairs are FREE to students and parents. 

Contact your counselor

Don't hesitate to reach out and set up a meeting with your counselor if have questions. Your assigned counselor is listed at the bottom of the page. 

COLLEGE AND MILITARY VISITS: Want to know who is coming to your school to visit? Click on this link to see how your student can sign up for college and military visits at SLPHS.

NACAC College Fairs (National association for college admission counseling): There are so many opportunities to connect with colleges from all over the world this fall. Register for these events and attend whatever sessions or colleges you want to gain insight into possibilities for your future. All of these fairs are FREE to students and parents. Fairs are happening in the fall and in the spring each year.

MnACC College Fairs : MnACC (Minnesota Association of Counselors of Color): This is the organization that we typically have in our building each fall for our annual College fair. Many of their fairs are open to the public. Check the website for fairs near you.

 

College Entrance Exams:

ACT/PLAN Test: This website has all you need to know about the PLAN and ACT tests. This is also where you register for the ACT test, and has information about college and scholarship searches.

College Board: This website has all you need to know about the PSAT, SAT, SAT II Subject Tests and AP tests. This is where you register for SAT and SAT II Subject tests, and has information about college and scholarship searches.

PSAT Exam Registration: Juniors & Sophomores at Spring Lake Park High School can register for the PSAT if they choose. Registration opens in the spring for the upcoming classes to register for this exam. 

A Few Test Preparation Options:

ACT Test Prep - Options for free test prep and paid test prep are available. 

SAT Test Prep - Options for free test prep and paid test prep are available.

USA Test Prep - Options for free test prep and paid test prep are available. 

Naviance - Has FREE student resources for ACT test prep.

The Minnesota Private College Guide includes general information about Minnesota private colleges as well as a one-page profile on each institution. It closes with a grid showing where more than 140 undergraduate majors, minors and concentrations are available. 

Click here to access the Minnesota Private College Guide publication

It is time for your college-bound student-athletes to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center? Students typically register anytime during their sophomore, junior or senior year.  Any athlete who wishes to participate in intercollegiate athletics at an NCAA Division I or II College or University should register.

How Does Registration Work? Registrants may access the NCAA Eligibility Center site. From the home page, click on "Enter Here" for NCAA college bound student-athletes, then click on the "New Account" link in the upper right corner.  From there, follow the prompts. 

What about my eligibility? Division I and Division II have different eligibility requirements for their athletes. Check with NCAA and your counselor to be sure you are going to be eligible by graduation time!

Naviance

Is a comprehensive resource for colleges, occupations, financial aid and military service.  All students at SLPHS have their own account for Naviance Student. Parent can view Naviance Student through the student account log in.  Click here to access Naviance.

College Planning Timeline

Many families and students wonder what the timing is for all of this college planning? Check out the College Board resources below, based on what grade your student is currently in.

• 12th graders
• 11th graders
• 10th and 9th graders

Additional Resources

Click the links below to access the resource websites:

• Educational Opportunity Centers Program 

• Best Colleges in Minnesota

• GAP Year Association Resources

School Profile

Our School Profile for Spring Lake Park High School will be provided to colleges during the application process for our students. This will help colleges in the selection process to understand our school and our student body better. If you have any questions, please see your students counselor with questions.

Download Spring Lake Park High School's Profile

AVID 

Did you know SLPHS is an AVID schooL? Do you know what this means?  AVID is a support program to assist in those students who are 1st in their family to pursue a 4-year college degree! 9th-12th grade students are eligible, click the link to learn more about this program at SLPHS!

TRIO / Upward Bound

Spring Lake Park High School is lucky to be part of the Upward Bound Programing from Anoka-Ramsey Community College.  If your student will be a first generation college student and you are worried about how you will afford the college experience for your child, this may be the program for you! Upward Bound accepts students 9th-12th grade to provide college prep help and academic support as well, click the link to learn more! 

College Possible Minnesota

Hey Juniors! Applying to college may sound difficult, but you can have a dedicated coach from College Possible help you every step of the way. Get one-on-one mentoring from a recent college graduate to help you prepare for the ACT, fill out your FAFSA, and draft and edit your applications for colleges and scholarships. Check out our website for details and application, or visit your school counselor for more information. Follow College Possible on Instagram for more information! The early deadline to apply is OCTOBER each year, but applications remain open until all slots are full. Click this link to learn more

Looking for opportunities before college go get on a campus and do college level work and expose yourself to staff and students on a campus? Here are a few resources for you to help you find what you are looking for.  Going directly to the colleges website is also a great way to find summer learning opportunities!

College Match Point

Teen Life : Summer Programs

MN Private Colleges: Summer Enrichment Opportunities

Joyce Ivy Summer Opportunities

Each spring, Spring Lake Park High School graduates are presented with a variety of local community scholarships.  Funds for the scholarship program come from the Spring Lake Park Lions and Spring Lake Park Schools Scholarship Foundation, local businesses, service organizations and generous families and individuals. These scholarships help students who are pursuing further education at four-year colleges, two-year colleges, technical colleges and trade schools.

Become a scholarship donor: If you would like to become a scholarship donor, please contact Spring Lake Park High School’s student support services department at 763-600-5130.

History of Spring Lake Park Lions and Spring Lake Park Schools Scholarship Foundation

The foundation began with a large donation from the Spring Lake Park Lions to Spring Lake Park Schools in 1988 and 1989. Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Foundation were completed in March of 1990 and the Certificate of Incorporation was issued May 1, 1990.

The first meeting of the Foundation’s Board of Directors was held October 24, 1990. The purpose of this foundation is to provide scholarships for Spring Lake Park High School graduates and to raise funds to ensure a future self-perpetuating source of income.

The Spring Lake Park Lions continue to be the chief contributor to the foundation. However, since the 1998 fiscal year, the Board of Directors has actively solicited other sources for money.

Presently, it is the policy of the foundation to award only the interest earned from the scholarship fund. This action allows the principle to continue to grow as new money is accepted.

The Board of Directors consists of the following members with the Lions, school district, and the community each providing members.

2023-2024 Board of Directors

• Bill Verkennes
• Jane Johnson
• Ken Wendling
• Norm Kelzenberg
• Steve Rowan
• Michael Kreun
• Toni Mortensen
• Tony Easter
• Troy Willemssen

Completing the FAFSA is the first step in the college financial aid process. The FAFSA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid will be available in December of 2023. You will use your 2021 tax returns for this years FAFSA. Remember, the FAFSA is FREE! Do not ever use a website that is asking for payment to submit the FAFSA.

The FAFSA is used to determine the amount of money a family is expected to contribute to the price of attending a postsecondary institution. This is referred to as the Student Aid Index. This form is required for any student seeking federal aid.

Federal student aid is awarded in the form of grants, low-interest loans, and work-study funds. 

• Grants are typically awarded on the basis of need and generally do not have to be repaid. Grants are offered at the Federal and State level.
• Although more than 3,400 colleges and universities across the country take part in the Federal Work-Study Program, some schools award positions based on the date that students complete the FAFSA. This is a strong reason to file your FAFSA as soon as possible each year.  Here is a helpful article on the Federal Work-Study Program.  

Many colleges require students receiving any kind of scholarship funds to complete a FAFSA.  Additionally, some families complete a FAFSA in order to get access to unsubsidized federal loan funds that are not income dependent.

To determine your approximate financial aid package, use FAFSA4caster. It is a free financial aid calculator that gives you an early estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid.

Helpful Web Resources:

• AmeriCorps Volunteers
• The CSS Profile
• Federal Student Aid

College-specific:  For most students, their best bet is scholarships offered through their College or University.  Students should find out if scholarships at the schools to which they are applying require a separate application or if their application for admission ALSO serves as the application for scholarships.  Students should check the admissions website of the colleges to which they have applied AND the site for the specific major they are interested in (many colleges offer major-specific scholarships).  Students may also contact the Admissions Office or Financial Aid Office of a college to ask about additional scholarships.

Local:  Seniors should check their Naviance Account for Local Scholarship listings.  The Counseling Office posts local (and some national) scholarship information in Naviance to make for an easy search for our students. This should be the 2nd place a student goes for Scholarship access outside of directly from their institutions.  

Other places students may look for local scholarships:  the student’s employer, their parents’ employers, civic and community organizations, local businesses, religious institutions or organizations, banks or credit unions, etc.

National:  National scholarships can be found on many scholarship search sites including:

• fastweb.com
• scholarshipexperts.com
• StudentScholarships.org
• Big Future Scholarships

Application Fee Waivers

Students who qualify for free/reduced lunch may be eligible for a fee waiver for College Applications, ACT and SAT tests. See your high school counselor for additional information.

Tuition Reciprocity

Minnesota has agreements with neighboring states to provide lower tuition for Minnesota residents to attend public colleges and universities in those states. This is called reciprocity. Typically, non-resident admission fees and tuition are reduced (or eliminated) if you are a reciprocity student.

Minnesota has reciprocity agreements with Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota.  It also has an agreement with the Canadian province of Manitoba, and a limited agreement with Iowa Lakes Community College in Northwestern Iowa.

Midwest Student Exchange Program

The Midwest Student Exchange Program, or MSEP, is a multi-state tuition reciprocity program. Through the MSEP, public institutions agree to charge students no more than 150% of the in-state resident tuition rate for specific programs; private institutions offer a 10% reduction on their tuition rates. All enrollment decisions are made at the discretion of the receiving campus and the campus may exercise its right to limit participation or set specific admission requirements for MSEP. To learn more about which states and which institutions participate in MSEP, visit the Midwest Student Exchange Program website.

529 College Savings Plan

Learn more about Minnesota's 529 College Savings Plan and the Private College 529 Plan.

Net Price Calculator

To determine the approximate cost of a specific college or university, use the Net Price Calculator on the school's website. Every college/university is required to have some kind of price calculator on its website. Cost estimate precision depends on what and how much information is asked for. Generally, Net Price Calculators provide trustworthy cost estimates for families.

Additional Scholarship and Financial Planning Resources

• American Indian College Fund
• Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund
• College Affordability - College Affordability and Transparency Center (US Dept of Education)
• College Greenlight - A scholarship resource site for first-generation college students
• CSS/Financial Aid Profile - Financial aid information provided by the College Board
• Education Tax Credits - Information on tax credits, deductions and savings that can help with college expenses
• FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid
• Fair Opportunity Project - Guide on how to get into college and how to afford it
• FinAid - Student guide to financial aid
• Financial Aid Toolkit - US Dept of Education information on Federal Student Aid
• High School Study Abroad Scholarships - The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs offers scholarships to high school students (ages 15–18) to study abroad for one academic year.
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund
• Institute for College Access & Success - Works to make college available and affordable to people of all backgrounds
• MoneyGeek.com - A helpful guide to completing the FAFSA
• Purdue University Global - Many scholarships, grants, and other programs are available to help racial and ethnic minority students pay for a college education. 
• Sallie Mae - Financial planning for college
• Scholarship Search (Fastweb) - Search scholarships based on your strengths, interests and skills
• Scholarship Search (GoodCall) - Search scholarship and financial aid information
• Student Scholarships - Minnesota School Districts are eligible for the following scholarships.
• The Purpose Challenge - The Purpose Challenge helps high school seniors find their purpose and write their college essays–and be eligible for scholarships up to $25,000
• Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid - Reports from the College Board on trends in pricing and aid
• uAspire - Financial planning tools
• UNCF - United Negro College Fund

Our Mission

To enable college and career success for Minnesota students with financial need through scholarships, comprehensive advising support, and collaboration with our educational, business, and philanthropic partners.

The Need

College is out of reach for many lower-income students who have high potential, are ready for college, and have much to gain from a college degree.  Time and money are wasted if graduation is not achieved.

Our Model

Honed over 25 years, we've worked hard to make college graduation possible for high potential students with financial need.  We are more than a scholarship. We are a proven support system.  Our results are clear and compelling with nine out of ten students completing their degrees. We supply the following throughout the college experience! 

Financial Aid

Individualized Advising

Effective Partnerships

Application for the 4-year Scholarship is open through February 1st each year.  Application for the 2-year Scholarship will open in March each year.

WHAT IS THE PAGE GRANT?

For over 30 years, the Page Education Foundation has awarded annual, renewable scholarships to students of color who are pursuing a post-secondary education in Minnesota. Page Grants range from $1,000-$2,500 and can be applied to pay for tuition at any accredited Minnesota college or university. Students who accept a Page Grant make a commitment to volunteer and tutor younger children of color in grades K-8th during the academic year they are awarded the grant.

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE?

• A student of color and/or American Indian • A Minnesota high school graduate • Will be enrolled full-time at a MN post-secondary educational institution • Willing to complete 50 hours of volunteer service with children in K-8th grade • Apply at: https://pageeducationfoundation.submittable.com/submit

Application is open until April 1st - Contact your counselor if you need assistance applying

Do you have a senior who is looking forward to getting right to work after high school? There is no better time than now to explore possible career opportunities after high school that need little or no college education.

Please check the Anoka County Job Training Center for great resources for students and parents both!  They have everything from Career Labs to Hiring Events to Assistance Programs (child care and transportation to name a couple).  Everything you or your senior may need to help prepare for the work force. 

Naviance Student is also a great tool for our students to engage in learning about their strengths, interests and how those two things correlate to a career choice. The CAREER INTEREST PROFILER will help students find careers that best fit them, and help them explore the pay and job opportunities that are currently available to them in their selected fields. 

Spring Lake Park High School is officially partnered with Trades-Hub. A non-profit organization helping to connect students to careers in the Trades! Participate in the Trades-Hub Ambassador Experience and participate in trades discovery, connections to careers and businesses, scholarships and more! 

What do you want to do when you grow up?

That question gets more and more real for our high school students each year, and it’s one we are actively trying to help them answer. Through our Career and College Readiness planning and through resources available through Naviance, our students will be ready when it comes to graduation.

During November, at Spring Lake Park High School, students will have an opportunity to explore different career paths with several student-focused events planned to help students begin to discover what they are passionate about. Check out the information at the top of this page to see all the events we are hosting this November and December! 

Current High School Students

Transcripts, both initial and final transcripts, for current students are requested through Naviance.

Please note:

• Current students who request through Parchment will be charged for the transcript without the possibility of a refund.
• Students in the current graduating class who request a transcript after June 30 will need to use Parchment for their request. 

Alumni

Alumni can request transcripts through Parchment. Those ordering through Parchment will be charged a $5 surcharge for every transaction. Please allow 5 business days for requests to be filled. 

Click here to setup a profile through Parchment, a transcript service

Follow these instructions :

1. Click on the blue button labeled “Order”
2. Search for Academic Organization, Admissions Office, Business, or Other Organization
   • Select the Academic Organization, Admissions Office, Business, or Other Organization by clicking “Add”
3. Review your order details then click “Save and Continue”
4. Click “Continue” to go to the next screen
5. Sign the consent using your finger or a computer mouse
6. Type in your Parent/Guardian’s name
7. Click “Save and Continue” to go to the confirmation screen
8. Click “I’m done” to return to your main profile

Please allow 10 business days for requests to be filled.