Scholarship Timeline for High School Seniors
August through November
You should already be applying to the schools you may want to attend. Now is also the time to begin searching for scholarships that can help you pay for your education. As you search for scholarships, make a list of those you are interested in and for which you are eligible. Be sure your list includes application deadlines and information about how to apply. Visit the Barry Community Foundation website to view other opportunities that may be available to you. Please consider the following:
- Search for scholarship opportunities available to you.
- Ask you parents if the companies they work for offer scholarships.
- Check with the financial aid offices for the colleges you are interested in attending.
In addition to searching and applying for scholarships, you should:
- Take the ACT or SAT. If you haven’t already taken the ACT or SAT, you should register to take one of these tests by October of your senior year.
- Check with your school’s guidance office to find out if it will offer a financial aid information program during the fall or winter and plan to attend if one will be offered.
January through March
Keep searching and complete the applications for the scholarships you are interested in and eligible for. Make sure you read pay attention to submission dates and read directions carefully. Try to submit before the deadlines. The majority of scholarship opportunities available to graduating seniors will be applied to through the e-Grant online application.
Please be aware of the following dates:
- e-Grant online application open on January 1
- TK Seniors/parents will receive a reminder postcard regarding the scholarship process.
- January 13 at 6:30pm in the high school auditorium. If you are graduating from high school in 2013, or even if you are already in college, you need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid—commonly known as the FAFSA—by March 1, 2014 to be considered for federal student financial aid. You are welcome to attend Financial Aid night for TK Junior and Senior parents on January 13 at 6:30pm in the high school auditorium.
- Scholarship Workshop on February 19 offered during lunch hour and after school.
- March 1 Complete and submit your FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Before you fill out the form, you and your parent/gaurdian must each get a PIN from www.pin.ed.gov. Filling out the FAFSA online is the best way to do it, but you can still get a paper form by calling 1-800-433-3243 or 1-800-730-8913 if you are hearing impaired. You may request up to three forms.
- Online Scholarship Deadline: March 15
April through June
In the spring you will begin receiving information about the various forms of financial aid (scholarships, grants, loans, etc.) for which you have applied:
- If you submitted the FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report. If you filed electronically, you will receive your SAR electronically. Review your SAR and make sure the information is correct. If corrections are necessary, respond promptly.
- Scholarship applications are reviewed.
- TAEF Traditional Scholarship Interviews.
- Thornapple Kellogg/TAEF Award Presentation. Most TK scholarships will be awarded during the Awards Presentation. If you are awarded a scholarship, you will be given your award and most will require that you respond or sign an agreement by a specific date. These deadlines are just as important as the initial application deadline.
July through August
- Submission deadline for scholarship recipients to submit required documents to ensure scholarship distribution.
