POSTSECONDARY PLANNING
Our department’s Spring College and Financial Aid presentation can be found at this link. TheFall/Winter Postsecondary Planning presentation can be found at this link. Updated April 4, 2019.
COLLEGE AND CAREER SEARCH AND APPLICATIONS:
Student and Counselor College Application and Financial Aid Responsibilities - Ask your counselor for more information or help!
Senior Notes - Important information about the college and financial aid application process, updated regularly in the fall and winter.
Big Future - College Board's free planning and search site, used with Baxter students (grades 9-12) and families. The in depth college search feature is especially useful.
Quick Guide to Starting Your College Search - Great for students in any grade.
Common Application - Over 700 colleges and universities accept this undergraduate admissions application. Students can create an account at any time. The Common App site also includes helpful information about planning and paying for college. We also created some specific instructions for selecting deadlines and inviting recommenders that students should review here.
Benefits and drawbacks of applying early are explored in this College Board document.
Visiting a school? This college visit checklist helps you make plans and use your time wisely.
Exploring Careers on College Board and researching careers on the Occupational Outlook Handbook are the best ways to kick start your career search.
Roadtrip Nation allows students to view short videos with leaders in different fields and encourages students to create their own Roadmap to further their career exploration.
Many colleges visit our school in the fall and winter. Click here to check the list regularly!
TESTING:
SATs - Learn more about and register for the SAT. Note: Juniors take the SAT at Baxter in April. They do not have to register or pay for this test.
Khan Academy offers free SAT prep as a stand alone unit or tied to a student's PSAT scores. Learn more here.
ACTs - Learn more about and register for the ACT.
FairTest complies and shares a list of test optional schools.
FINANCIAL AID:
Scholarship List - Baxter's list, regularly updated during the winter and spring. This document lists local and national scholarships brought to our attention.
FAFSA - The FREE application for Federal Student Aid . You must fill out a FAFSA to qualify for financial aid. The form can be filled out starting Oct. 1 each year for the following academic year.
Finance Authority of Maine - From the FAME website: "FAME works for Maine students and families, adult and returning students, military families and college students." This site offers a great deal of information to help students and families learn more about different types of financial aid, what to expect in the application and award process, and how to interpret financial aid packages. You can also contact them directly for more information.
Net Price Calculators (from the US Dept of Education Net Price Calculator Center)
"Net Price is the amount that a student pays to attend an institution in a single academic year AFTER subtracting scholarships and grants the student receives. Scholarships and grants are forms of financial aid that a student does not have to pay back.
Net price calculators are available on a college’s or university’s website and allow prospective students to enter information about themselves to find out what students like them paid to attend the institution in the previous year, after taking grants and scholarship aid into account."
Follow the link above to search for a college's net price calculator.
Tuition Break - NEBHE's Tuition Break program, the New England Regional Student Program (RSP), enables thousands of New England residents to enroll at out-of-state New England public colleges and universities at a discount. Students are eligible for the RSP Tuition Break when they enroll in an approved major that is not offered by the public colleges and universities in their home-state.
7 Things You Need Before You Fill Out the FAFSA from the Department of Education.