News from the Homefront:
Governor's School
It's that time of the year! Summer Residential Governor's School offers programming in the area of academics, visual and performing arts, and world languages. Programs are prestigious and highly selective. Albemarle County pays the tuition for the program (there are usually fees for each program which run about $200). Academic and VPA are 4 weeks long. World Language is 3 weeks long. I will be having meetings for students interested in applying to Governor's School Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. Please sign up through adaptive scheduler and complete this form. Governor's School is only for students in 10th and 11th grades in the following fields:
Academic Governor's School Programs:
Join 4-H:
The Albemarle/Charlottesville 4-H Teen Leadership Club is now open to new members. We’d love to welcome Teens who are excited about leadership and service! Each year, we always have a need for boys to join the club and apply to serve as Teen Leaders at 4-H Camp.
This opportunity is open to students in grades 9–12. As members, teens will have the chance to:
If they can’t attend that date but want to learn more, they may fill out our Member Interest Form.
Attached is a printable flyer that can be shared with students. Thank you for helping us connect CHS youth with meaningful opportunities to lead, grow, and serve.
Common App Crash Course
Did you miss the whole cycle? Never fear! It will be back next week starting 8 October during WP in the library. This is a change. We will cover:
Governor's School
It's that time of the year! Summer Residential Governor's School offers programming in the area of academics, visual and performing arts, and world languages. Programs are prestigious and highly selective. Albemarle County pays the tuition for the program (there are usually fees for each program which run about $200). Academic and VPA are 4 weeks long. World Language is 3 weeks long. I will be having meetings for students interested in applying to Governor's School Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. Please sign up through adaptive scheduler and complete this form. Governor's School is only for students in 10th and 11th grades in the following fields:
Academic Governor's School Programs:
- Humanities
- Math, Science, Technology
- Agriculture
- Engineering
- Health and Medical Science
- Marine Science
- Dance
- Drama
- Instrumental Music
- Vocal Music
- Visual Arts
- French
- German
- Latin
- Japanese
- Spanish
Join 4-H:
The Albemarle/Charlottesville 4-H Teen Leadership Club is now open to new members. We’d love to welcome Teens who are excited about leadership and service! Each year, we always have a need for boys to join the club and apply to serve as Teen Leaders at 4-H Camp.
This opportunity is open to students in grades 9–12. As members, teens will have the chance to:
- Meet monthly with peers to develop leadership skills.
- Represent our community at Virginia 4-H State Congress (June 16–19 at Virginia Tech).
- Meet with local and state legislators to practice civic engagement.
- Serve as Teen Leaders at 4-H Camp, mentoring younger youth (July 20–24 at Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center).
- September 26*
- October 24
- November 21
- December 16
If they can’t attend that date but want to learn more, they may fill out our Member Interest Form.
Attached is a printable flyer that can be shared with students. Thank you for helping us connect CHS youth with meaningful opportunities to lead, grow, and serve.
Common App Crash Course
Did you miss the whole cycle? Never fear! It will be back next week starting 8 October during WP in the library. This is a change. We will cover:
- Deadlines, Numbers, and Profile: 8 October
- Activities and Honors: 15 October
- Common App Essay: 22 October
- Supplemental Essays: 29 October
Girl Power:
Girl Power is a one day "camp" for young women who are interested in a career working in a line crew, at a substation, with advanced metering, or as a fiberoptic broadband technician. For more information and to apply, see this website
AI Boot Camp
The Mark Cuban AI Boot Camp is a competitive program that will run for three Saturdays in Richmond, VA. Apply by 30 September!
UVA Architecture
Are you interested in attending UVA's School of Architecture? They have visiting days! Check them out!
Girl Power is a one day "camp" for young women who are interested in a career working in a line crew, at a substation, with advanced metering, or as a fiberoptic broadband technician. For more information and to apply, see this website
AI Boot Camp
The Mark Cuban AI Boot Camp is a competitive program that will run for three Saturdays in Richmond, VA. Apply by 30 September!
UVA Architecture
Are you interested in attending UVA's School of Architecture? They have visiting days! Check them out!
Trunk or Treat is Coming!
Get your club or friends together and design a trunk for this great community event! Want your club to sponsor a trunk? Fill out the form today!
Get your club or friends together and design a trunk for this great community event! Want your club to sponsor a trunk? Fill out the form today!
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Food Drive:
Dress Up Days for Spirit Week:
Homecoming!
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Pledge Florals
HOCO is coming! Get your flowers from Pledge Florals! Seniors get a 15% discount. At Pledge Florals, we create corsages and boutonnieres, with all profits donated to environmental charities. Our mission is rooted in a commitment to positively impact the community's meaningful support for organizations in need. The name "Pledge Florals" reflects a promise to provide affordable floral options while uplifting people around us. Thanks to your support, we were able to raise over $300 for Rivanna River Conservation Alliance last homecoming! If you are interested in supporting our initiative, please visit our website. Our shop will be opening on September 29! Thank you so much for your consideration.
Skilled Trades Day:
NextGen Skilled Trades Day will take place Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Piedmont Virginia Community College V. Earl Dickinson Building. This free, hands-on community event welcomes all attendees, with a special emphasis on high school students and their families, offers an engaging introduction to the exciting and high-demand world of skilled trades. Attendees can take part in live demonstrations, hands-on activities, and conversations with local employers, offering a tangible feel for careers in building, engineering, manufacturing, and other high-demand skilled trades. Students and parents will find resources on training programs, job pathways, and opportunities to connect with educators and industry professionals. “NextGen Skilled Trades Day is all about individuals safely exploring careers that are in high demand—while having fun doing it,” said Todd Parks, Piedmont Virginia Community College’s Senior Director of Admissions. “Whether you're curious about building, engineering, manufacturing, or working with your hands in meaningful ways, this event offers an opportunity to see what a future in the skilled trades could look like.”
HOCO is coming! Get your flowers from Pledge Florals! Seniors get a 15% discount. At Pledge Florals, we create corsages and boutonnieres, with all profits donated to environmental charities. Our mission is rooted in a commitment to positively impact the community's meaningful support for organizations in need. The name "Pledge Florals" reflects a promise to provide affordable floral options while uplifting people around us. Thanks to your support, we were able to raise over $300 for Rivanna River Conservation Alliance last homecoming! If you are interested in supporting our initiative, please visit our website. Our shop will be opening on September 29! Thank you so much for your consideration.
Skilled Trades Day:
NextGen Skilled Trades Day will take place Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Piedmont Virginia Community College V. Earl Dickinson Building. This free, hands-on community event welcomes all attendees, with a special emphasis on high school students and their families, offers an engaging introduction to the exciting and high-demand world of skilled trades. Attendees can take part in live demonstrations, hands-on activities, and conversations with local employers, offering a tangible feel for careers in building, engineering, manufacturing, and other high-demand skilled trades. Students and parents will find resources on training programs, job pathways, and opportunities to connect with educators and industry professionals. “NextGen Skilled Trades Day is all about individuals safely exploring careers that are in high demand—while having fun doing it,” said Todd Parks, Piedmont Virginia Community College’s Senior Director of Admissions. “Whether you're curious about building, engineering, manufacturing, or working with your hands in meaningful ways, this event offers an opportunity to see what a future in the skilled trades could look like.”
College Visits:
Sign up in Schoolinks!
Tomorrow is a(n) No School day
Upcoming Events:
Sign up in Schoolinks!
- 25 September – University of Chicago
- 1 October – Longwood
- 2 October – UVA
- 2 October – Tulane
- 8 October – Boston University
- 8 October – Wofford
- 9 October – Tech
- 9 October – Guilford
- 15 October – Elon
- 16 October – Vanderbilt
- 21 October – CNU
- 22 October – Hobart William Smith
- 29 October – Randolph Macon
Tomorrow is a(n) No School day
Upcoming Events:
- 26 September – Teacher Work Day (no school for students)
- 2-3 October – Senior Picture Day Make Ups
- 3-10 October – Spirit Week
- 10 October – End of 1st Quarter
- 11 October – HOCO!
- 13-14 October – Teacher Work Day and Professional Development Day (no school for students)
- 16 October – Family Conference Night 4:30-7:00
- 18 October – Craft Vendor/WAHS Cheer Fundraiser
- 21 October – PSAT (10th and 11th)
- 22 October – Family Conference Night 4:30-7:00
- 25 October – Trunk or Treat
- 2-3 November – Teacher Work Day and Professional Development Day (no school for students)
- 19 November – School Picture Make Up Day
- 26-28 November – Thanksgiving Break
- 7 December – Winter Band Concert
- 18 December – End of 1st Semester
Use Your Brain for Fun (&$)!
Photo by Joe Ciciarelli on Unsplash
Humanities & Social SciencesBennington Young Writers is open for submissions. This writing contest is for students in grades 9-12. Submit by 1 November
Black and Latino Men Read has an essay contest that is open to male identifying people who also identify as Black or Latino. Submit your essay by 31 October. Omega Psi Phi has an International Essay Competition that is worth up to $5,000. Submit your entry by 31 October. Hey policy folks! Check out the International Public Policy Forum's current contest. Get a team together and submit your essay and qualify for the competition. The Writer's Eye is happening even as we speak! Head to the Fralin to check out the artworks and get writing! The International Writing Contest invites authors in grades 9-12 to submit their writing. Submit by 25 October. Want to be a Senate Page in the General Assembly? Get your application in by 17 October. We've had folks get in this program before! |
Photo by ThisisEngineering on Unsplash
STEMHispanic seniors planning to study green technology, computer science, or are active in community service can apply to the Hispanic Youth Heritage Awards. Due 2 November
Are you a woman identifying person who is interested and engaged in the computing world? NCWIT wants to give you a scholarship. Open to 9-12. Submit by 28 October. Get in on the NASA TechRise Challenge! This is a team competition to place an experiment on a suborbital mission. Submit by 3 November Join the Presidential AI Challenge! Do you have a plan for how AI could solve a community issue? Then you have a project! NASA invites you to their Student Launch Challenge. This is a 9 month challenge for those interested in aerospace engineering! Programmers, get your plans in place for the Congressional App Challenge. WAHS has had a winner in the past so we can definitely do it again! Check the contest out! |
Visual and Performing ArtsThe Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award is given to students ages 8-18 for music. It's worth up to $10,000. Apply by 15 November
Save the Frogs is an art contest for students of all ages. Submit your artwork to them by 1 November Growing Up with AI is a NYT multimedia challenge. Submit your entry by 22 October. Debbie's Dream Foundation has an art contest for students in grades K-12. If you have been affected by cancer, submit your work by 30 October. ConnectHer film festival is taking submissions from filmmakers ages 13-25. They ask you to submit films that illustrate the impact of women and girls. Submit by 1 October Enter the What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up? Art Contest. It is open to students in Pre-K-12 grades. Submit your vision by 3 October. Young Arts recognizes talented students in the visual, literary and performing arts. Submit your application by 8 October. |
Scholarships for Seniors
The NC State University Park Scholarship application is now available. This is a full tuition/room and board scholarship to NC State University. If you believe you’re qualified for the Park Scholarships based on our selection criteria of scholarship, leadership, service and character, we welcome you to apply. The application processes for Park Scholarships and NC State undergraduate admissions are separate, so be sure to follow the instructions below. The application for 2025-2026 is now open!
Eligibility Requirements: To be eligible for the Park Scholarships program, candidates must:
UVA Jefferson Scholars Program
The Jefferson Scholars Program offers a full tuition and housing scholarship to approximately 45 incoming first year students to the University of Virginia. Applicants must first earn their school's nomination and then go through a rigorous application process that involves recommendation letters, essays, group interviews, and individual interviews. This program is elite and only the highest achieving students qualify. The scholarship committee at WAHS selects our nominee. If you would like more information about the Jefferson Scholars Program you can find it here.
This is a highly competitive scholarship. Typically, our nominee has over a weighted 4.4 GPA, has taken the highest-level classes in all areas, has a demonstrated record of leadership and accomplishment both in and out of school, and has maintained the highest standards of character during high school. If you would like to be considered for this scholarship you must complete the essay questions and upload a resume in the attached Google Form by 11:59pm Tuesday, Sept. 30th. The resume, essays, your transcript, and any experience we may have had with you while in high school will be reviewed by the scholarship committee as part of our voting process. In house application
UVA Walentas Scholars Program
The Walentas Scholars Program offers a full tuition and housing scholarship to approximately 45 incoming first year students to the University of Virginia. Applicants must first earn their school's singular nomination and then go through a rigorous application process that involves recommendation letters, essays, group interviews, and individual interviews. This program is unique because it is only awarded to students who are first generation college students. First generation college students are defined as students whose parents and grandparents did not complete college. If you are the first in your family to go to college, you are first generation college student. The scholarship committee at WAHS selects our singular nominee. If you would like more information about the Walentas Scholars Program you can find it here
This is a highly competitive scholarship. Typically, our nominee has over a 4.0 weighted GPA, has taken the highest-level classes in all areas, has a demonstrated record of leadership and accomplishment both in and out of school, has maintained the highest standards of character during high school, and is a first-generation college student. If you would like to be considered for this scholarship you must complete the essay question and submit a resume in the attached Google Form by 11:59pm Tuesday, Sept. 30th. The resume, essay, your transcript, and any experience we may have had with you while in high school will be reviewed by the scholarship committee as part of our voting process. In house application:
Emily Couric Leadership Forum Award
The Emily Couric Leadership Forum offers an $18,000 scholarship to 9 graduating students who identify as female, one scholarship per school. The scholarship can be applied to any college or university. Applicants must first earn her school's singular nomination and then go through a rigorous application process that involves recommendation letters, essays, group interviews, and individual interviews. The Couric Leadership Forum then selects one winner for a $50,000 scholarship from the 9 high school winners. The scholarship committee at WAHS selects our singular nominee. Our nominee is guaranteed a scholarship. If you would like more information about the Emily Couric Leadership Forum Award you can find it here
This is a highly competitive scholarship. The major focus of the Emily Couric Leadership Award is demonstrated leadership both in and out of school. Applicants must identify as female to qualify. If you would like to be considered for this scholarship you must complete the essay questions and upload your resume in the attached Google Form by 11:59pm Thursday, Oct. 2nd. The resume, essays, your transcript, and any experience we may have had with you while in high school will be reviewed by the scholarship committee as part of our voting process. In house application
Indiana University Wells Scholars Program
The Wells Scholars Program is looking for outstanding students with exceptional academic accomplishments who have shown excellent leadership, significant commitment to extracurricular activities, a concern for their communities, and interest in the larger world.
Among the factors that will be considered are the student’s high school GPA and class rank, as well as the range and depth of academic courses taken; SAT and/or ACT scores; special academic honors and awards; unusual personal qualities as indicated by extracurricular activities, community service, or independent initiatives in any area; and exceptional talent in a specific area. There is, however, no rigid model for a Wells Scholar; and no single factor will determine the evaluation by our selection committee. WAHS is able to nominate 2 students to this program. If you become one of the WAHS nominees then you will go through a rigorous application process that involves recommendation letters, essays, group interviews, and individual interviews to compete to win the full tuition scholarship to Indiana University. Please complete this Google form with essays and resume no later than Tuesday, September 30th at 11:59pm. Link to in house application
Davidson College John M. Belk Scholarship.
A candidate’s record and recommendations must demonstrate academic excellence and purposeful engagement beyond the classroom. While academic achievement is paramount, Belk Scholars also exhibit intellectual curiosity and a commitment to both their local and global communities.
The Belk Scholarship provides comprehensive funding plus special opportunity stipends that allow great flexibility in the on- and off-campus experiences scholars choose to explore. Those experiences, paired with our academic programs, deepen students' insight, maturity and understanding of global issues. Website for more information about this program. If interested, please fill out this Google Form by Tuesday, September 30th:
VHSL and VIAAA Scholarship Nominations for Athletes
We will have opportunities to nominate student athletes to various scholarship programs throughout the year. If you are an athlete (played at least one Varsity sport) and would like to be considered, please fill out this Google Form by Wednesday, October 1st.
Link to the google form
Other Scholarship Opportunities of Interest:
UNC Chapel Hill is pleased to announce that The Thomas Wolfe Scholarship for Creative Writing will open for applications on September 1, 2025. This scholarship provides full undergraduate funding for four years, including tuition, room and board, textbooks, and a new laptop, along with a $5,000 annual summer stipend to support the recipient’s creative work. The application process consists of two steps:
Complete information about The Thomas Wolfe Scholarship, including the application form, is available on the University's website If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
The Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship:
Eligibility: US Citizen
Judging Criteria: Academics, Leadership, Service, Financial Need.
Applications can be found here
Awards between $4,000-$30,000
Deadline: Nov. 12th.
The Flusche & Fitzgerald Undergrad Scholarship Contest Award: $500 scholarship
Deadline: November 30, 2025
Where to Apply: The Flusche & Fitzgerald Undergrad Scholarship Contest
Eligibility Requirements: To be eligible for the Park Scholarships program, candidates must:
- Have a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.8.
- Be a United States citizen, permanent resident of the U.S., or graduating from a high school located in the U.S. (regardless of citizenship status).
- Apply for fall, first-year admission into a baccalaureate program at NC State.
- Apply for undergraduate admission to NC State.
- Complete the Park Scholarships application.
- Two recommendations
- Information about advanced coursework completed
- Two essays
UVA Jefferson Scholars Program
The Jefferson Scholars Program offers a full tuition and housing scholarship to approximately 45 incoming first year students to the University of Virginia. Applicants must first earn their school's nomination and then go through a rigorous application process that involves recommendation letters, essays, group interviews, and individual interviews. This program is elite and only the highest achieving students qualify. The scholarship committee at WAHS selects our nominee. If you would like more information about the Jefferson Scholars Program you can find it here.
This is a highly competitive scholarship. Typically, our nominee has over a weighted 4.4 GPA, has taken the highest-level classes in all areas, has a demonstrated record of leadership and accomplishment both in and out of school, and has maintained the highest standards of character during high school. If you would like to be considered for this scholarship you must complete the essay questions and upload a resume in the attached Google Form by 11:59pm Tuesday, Sept. 30th. The resume, essays, your transcript, and any experience we may have had with you while in high school will be reviewed by the scholarship committee as part of our voting process. In house application
UVA Walentas Scholars Program
The Walentas Scholars Program offers a full tuition and housing scholarship to approximately 45 incoming first year students to the University of Virginia. Applicants must first earn their school's singular nomination and then go through a rigorous application process that involves recommendation letters, essays, group interviews, and individual interviews. This program is unique because it is only awarded to students who are first generation college students. First generation college students are defined as students whose parents and grandparents did not complete college. If you are the first in your family to go to college, you are first generation college student. The scholarship committee at WAHS selects our singular nominee. If you would like more information about the Walentas Scholars Program you can find it here
This is a highly competitive scholarship. Typically, our nominee has over a 4.0 weighted GPA, has taken the highest-level classes in all areas, has a demonstrated record of leadership and accomplishment both in and out of school, has maintained the highest standards of character during high school, and is a first-generation college student. If you would like to be considered for this scholarship you must complete the essay question and submit a resume in the attached Google Form by 11:59pm Tuesday, Sept. 30th. The resume, essay, your transcript, and any experience we may have had with you while in high school will be reviewed by the scholarship committee as part of our voting process. In house application:
Emily Couric Leadership Forum Award
The Emily Couric Leadership Forum offers an $18,000 scholarship to 9 graduating students who identify as female, one scholarship per school. The scholarship can be applied to any college or university. Applicants must first earn her school's singular nomination and then go through a rigorous application process that involves recommendation letters, essays, group interviews, and individual interviews. The Couric Leadership Forum then selects one winner for a $50,000 scholarship from the 9 high school winners. The scholarship committee at WAHS selects our singular nominee. Our nominee is guaranteed a scholarship. If you would like more information about the Emily Couric Leadership Forum Award you can find it here
This is a highly competitive scholarship. The major focus of the Emily Couric Leadership Award is demonstrated leadership both in and out of school. Applicants must identify as female to qualify. If you would like to be considered for this scholarship you must complete the essay questions and upload your resume in the attached Google Form by 11:59pm Thursday, Oct. 2nd. The resume, essays, your transcript, and any experience we may have had with you while in high school will be reviewed by the scholarship committee as part of our voting process. In house application
Indiana University Wells Scholars Program
The Wells Scholars Program is looking for outstanding students with exceptional academic accomplishments who have shown excellent leadership, significant commitment to extracurricular activities, a concern for their communities, and interest in the larger world.
Among the factors that will be considered are the student’s high school GPA and class rank, as well as the range and depth of academic courses taken; SAT and/or ACT scores; special academic honors and awards; unusual personal qualities as indicated by extracurricular activities, community service, or independent initiatives in any area; and exceptional talent in a specific area. There is, however, no rigid model for a Wells Scholar; and no single factor will determine the evaluation by our selection committee. WAHS is able to nominate 2 students to this program. If you become one of the WAHS nominees then you will go through a rigorous application process that involves recommendation letters, essays, group interviews, and individual interviews to compete to win the full tuition scholarship to Indiana University. Please complete this Google form with essays and resume no later than Tuesday, September 30th at 11:59pm. Link to in house application
Davidson College John M. Belk Scholarship.
A candidate’s record and recommendations must demonstrate academic excellence and purposeful engagement beyond the classroom. While academic achievement is paramount, Belk Scholars also exhibit intellectual curiosity and a commitment to both their local and global communities.
The Belk Scholarship provides comprehensive funding plus special opportunity stipends that allow great flexibility in the on- and off-campus experiences scholars choose to explore. Those experiences, paired with our academic programs, deepen students' insight, maturity and understanding of global issues. Website for more information about this program. If interested, please fill out this Google Form by Tuesday, September 30th:
VHSL and VIAAA Scholarship Nominations for Athletes
We will have opportunities to nominate student athletes to various scholarship programs throughout the year. If you are an athlete (played at least one Varsity sport) and would like to be considered, please fill out this Google Form by Wednesday, October 1st.
Link to the google form
Other Scholarship Opportunities of Interest:
UNC Chapel Hill is pleased to announce that The Thomas Wolfe Scholarship for Creative Writing will open for applications on September 1, 2025. This scholarship provides full undergraduate funding for four years, including tuition, room and board, textbooks, and a new laptop, along with a $5,000 annual summer stipend to support the recipient’s creative work. The application process consists of two steps:
- Step 1) Apply to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill by October 15, 2025.
- Step 2) Apply to the Thomas Wolfe Scholarship by November 15, 2025. Students must apply to both the University and the Scholarship to be considered. Preliminary screening will be completed in January 2026, with final screening concluding in early March 2026. Three to five outstanding candidates will be interviewed virtually and a final decision will be made in early April 2026.
Complete information about The Thomas Wolfe Scholarship, including the application form, is available on the University's website If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
The Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship:
Eligibility: US Citizen
Judging Criteria: Academics, Leadership, Service, Financial Need.
Applications can be found here
Awards between $4,000-$30,000
Deadline: Nov. 12th.
The Flusche & Fitzgerald Undergrad Scholarship Contest Award: $500 scholarship
Deadline: November 30, 2025
Where to Apply: The Flusche & Fitzgerald Undergrad Scholarship Contest
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Self Care:
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Scholarships
Do you need money to make post high a reality? Start with these two databases!
Regeneron Talent Search is looking for your work. You must apply by 6 November. It's worth up to $250,000 for college.
The Elks' Most Valuable Student Scholarship is worth up to $50,000. Apply by 12 November The National Space Foundation Keynote Scholar application is open for submissions. The winner gets up to $20,000. Apply by 17 November. ROI Biologicals offers a $10,000 scholarship to someone who is interested in agriculture and associated fields. Apply by 1 October Stantec has various scholarships up to $10,000 available for students who are intending to pursue a career in the STEM field. Apply by 15 October The Voice of Democracy is worth up to $35,000. There is a specific prompt to respond to. Complete this by 31 October. Become a Chick-fil-A Scholar and bring in up to $25,000 for college or post high learning. Submit your application by 28 October. The Stamps Scholarship is a full ride (tuition, room and board, and fees) scholarship that partners with various universities in the US. You must go through the partner institutions. Dr. Pepper has a scholarship sweepstakes worth up to $10,000. Golden Doors is a scholarship program for students who are DACA eligible or undocumented. They partner with 21 different schools. There is career counseling, mentorship, and more. Apply by 1 October. Young Arts recognizes talented students in the visual, literary and performing arts. Submit your application by 8 October. The Jack Kent Cook Scholarship awards artists up to $10,000 for college. It's open to people 8-18 so get your fall app in! It's due by 15 November |
Do Good Things for People
"The Best School" and "The Best School for You" should be one and the same. You're not buying a pair of shoes. You're going to school for four years. Just because it's a good brand name, doesn't mean it fits you or that you're comfortable there.
College Corner
Christopher Newport
FAFSA and CSS Profiles
FAFSA opens next week on the 1st of October. But while that is the main source of financial aid documentation, there is another one that many schools use called the CSS Profile. They are different animals so let's break it down.
First of all let’s look at the FAFSA. FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The application opens on 1 October and is something that needs to be filled out every year for every student. For some schools you fill it out for both need based aid and for merit aid. My daughter’s school was one of these schools. Most public schools are this way as well. This is the application that will determine if you need to get support from schools based on your federal income taxes. It is based on your taxes from the year before. So for the 2025-2026 FAFSA it will be based on the taxes you paid in 2024.
To be eligible for the FAFSA you need to be a citizen of the US, a US national, or a holder of a green card. If you are male between the ages of 18-25 you need to be registered with selective services (you can do this through the FAFSA in case you don’t have a driver’s license). You have to be making satisfactory academic progress (so you can’t be on probation in college), and hold a diploma or a GED (or be expecting it in the spring). Finally, you have to not be in default of any educational loans or be guilty of a drug crime while receiving loans. So basically, be a good student and keep learning.
The earlier you fill out the FAFSA the more money is available to you. If you know you need money based on your income, fill out the FAFSA as early as possible. And, do it every year. I will confess that I filled out the FAFSA for my daughter every year she was in college and that I am still not a pro. I have also filled out the FAFSA with students and with a former students and every time it’s like the first time for me. I don’t know why this is the case, but it is. I am a reasonably intelligent person, but it’s taken me years to figure out these tips:
For our family, we qualified for student loans only through the FAFSA. We chose not to take those loans (you can choose to do this; no one is required to take loans). We decided that between my business outside of school and my husband teaching in some additional programs, we could make up the difference. We only took the merit aid offered to our daughter. In order to keep it though, we had to fill out the FAFSA each year. I am not sad that I don’t have to do this anymore.
The CSS Profile is a different kind of beast. It is for students who are applying for college scholarships and like everything else, is owned by CollegeBoard. CSS stands for College Scholarship Service Profile. This allows students to apply for scholarships who do not qualify for federal student aid. But you may not ever need to do it at all. The schools who want you to do the CSS tend to be smaller, private schools. Washington & Lee, University of Richmond, Middlebury, these sorts of schools want the CSS. On the upside, you only have to do this one once, whereas the FAFSA you have to do every year. My daughter went to Macalester College and they take the CSS. We filled it out when she applied, but have never had to do it since (which is a relief).
Like FAFSA, CSS opens on 1 October. Unlike FAFSA it takes into account some different things. CSS wants to know what’s in your bank accounts, how much your house is worth, what your mortgage is, and medical expenses. The FAFSA just needs one parent’s information, but CSS will need both parents even if they are divorced, which can be tricky.
As aggravating as the FAFSA can be, it’s never taken us more than 45 minutes to do. But plan an afternoon for the CSS. CollegeBoard tells you to expect it to be 45 minutes to 2 hours to complete. We were definitely in the closer to 2 hours camp. By the time we’d figured out all of the accounts and mortgage statements and medical etc, the afternoon was gone. It was a production in a way that losing a password several times is not.
Plus while FAFSA is free, CollegeBoard as you know, will take a bite. The CSS will cost you $25 for the first school and $16 for each additional school you send it to. You can get fee waivers of course, same as you can on APs and SATs, but those prices can take a bite if you don’t qualify, especially if you are paying application fees as well. And you have to make less than $100,000 a year to qualify for the fee waiver.
Why do the CSS? Because it’s a more sensitive instrument it may mean you qualify for more financial aid and more merit aid than you would with just the FAFSA alone. All of the Ivies take the CSS and that is one of the ways they determine the 100% need based grant aid they provide to families. They give no loans at all. Everything is grant aid. But they are strategic about it and they use the CSS to determine to the penny what you spend and what you need, like, need, need. Just because Harvard and Yale have deep pockets, don’t expect them to be generous if you don’t need much. It’s still going to cost a Tesla a year to go there.
Only about 400 schools take the CSS but a lot of those schools are ones you’re applying to including UVA. It never hurts to do both if you can afford it because they measure different things. Some schools will ask you to do both in which case if you can, you should.
Finally, when it comes to paying for college, my advice is always to be honest about what you can afford from the very start. Do not get caught up in dreams of paying for a school based on its name if you cannot afford it. When you are honest with yourself and each other about what you can and cannot afford, it makes a world of difference. My daughter knew what we could afford from the get-go. And while we were really proud of her getting into that good name school, we could not afford a BMW/year tuition. She didn’t go to that school. She went to a Jetta/year school. Just like we told her we could afford.
First of all let’s look at the FAFSA. FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The application opens on 1 October and is something that needs to be filled out every year for every student. For some schools you fill it out for both need based aid and for merit aid. My daughter’s school was one of these schools. Most public schools are this way as well. This is the application that will determine if you need to get support from schools based on your federal income taxes. It is based on your taxes from the year before. So for the 2025-2026 FAFSA it will be based on the taxes you paid in 2024.
To be eligible for the FAFSA you need to be a citizen of the US, a US national, or a holder of a green card. If you are male between the ages of 18-25 you need to be registered with selective services (you can do this through the FAFSA in case you don’t have a driver’s license). You have to be making satisfactory academic progress (so you can’t be on probation in college), and hold a diploma or a GED (or be expecting it in the spring). Finally, you have to not be in default of any educational loans or be guilty of a drug crime while receiving loans. So basically, be a good student and keep learning.
The earlier you fill out the FAFSA the more money is available to you. If you know you need money based on your income, fill out the FAFSA as early as possible. And, do it every year. I will confess that I filled out the FAFSA for my daughter every year she was in college and that I am still not a pro. I have also filled out the FAFSA with students and with a former students and every time it’s like the first time for me. I don’t know why this is the case, but it is. I am a reasonably intelligent person, but it’s taken me years to figure out these tips:
- Make a note of your FSA ID (your username that connects your taxes to your FAFSA)
- Use a safe password that is also not just saved in your browser but that you have somewhere else (because if you have to change it you will have to take a day or so to come back to it)
- Fill it out together if possible (you and your student).
- When in doubt, print it out (and send it on).
For our family, we qualified for student loans only through the FAFSA. We chose not to take those loans (you can choose to do this; no one is required to take loans). We decided that between my business outside of school and my husband teaching in some additional programs, we could make up the difference. We only took the merit aid offered to our daughter. In order to keep it though, we had to fill out the FAFSA each year. I am not sad that I don’t have to do this anymore.
The CSS Profile is a different kind of beast. It is for students who are applying for college scholarships and like everything else, is owned by CollegeBoard. CSS stands for College Scholarship Service Profile. This allows students to apply for scholarships who do not qualify for federal student aid. But you may not ever need to do it at all. The schools who want you to do the CSS tend to be smaller, private schools. Washington & Lee, University of Richmond, Middlebury, these sorts of schools want the CSS. On the upside, you only have to do this one once, whereas the FAFSA you have to do every year. My daughter went to Macalester College and they take the CSS. We filled it out when she applied, but have never had to do it since (which is a relief).
Like FAFSA, CSS opens on 1 October. Unlike FAFSA it takes into account some different things. CSS wants to know what’s in your bank accounts, how much your house is worth, what your mortgage is, and medical expenses. The FAFSA just needs one parent’s information, but CSS will need both parents even if they are divorced, which can be tricky.
As aggravating as the FAFSA can be, it’s never taken us more than 45 minutes to do. But plan an afternoon for the CSS. CollegeBoard tells you to expect it to be 45 minutes to 2 hours to complete. We were definitely in the closer to 2 hours camp. By the time we’d figured out all of the accounts and mortgage statements and medical etc, the afternoon was gone. It was a production in a way that losing a password several times is not.
Plus while FAFSA is free, CollegeBoard as you know, will take a bite. The CSS will cost you $25 for the first school and $16 for each additional school you send it to. You can get fee waivers of course, same as you can on APs and SATs, but those prices can take a bite if you don’t qualify, especially if you are paying application fees as well. And you have to make less than $100,000 a year to qualify for the fee waiver.
Why do the CSS? Because it’s a more sensitive instrument it may mean you qualify for more financial aid and more merit aid than you would with just the FAFSA alone. All of the Ivies take the CSS and that is one of the ways they determine the 100% need based grant aid they provide to families. They give no loans at all. Everything is grant aid. But they are strategic about it and they use the CSS to determine to the penny what you spend and what you need, like, need, need. Just because Harvard and Yale have deep pockets, don’t expect them to be generous if you don’t need much. It’s still going to cost a Tesla a year to go there.
Only about 400 schools take the CSS but a lot of those schools are ones you’re applying to including UVA. It never hurts to do both if you can afford it because they measure different things. Some schools will ask you to do both in which case if you can, you should.
Finally, when it comes to paying for college, my advice is always to be honest about what you can afford from the very start. Do not get caught up in dreams of paying for a school based on its name if you cannot afford it. When you are honest with yourself and each other about what you can and cannot afford, it makes a world of difference. My daughter knew what we could afford from the get-go. And while we were really proud of her getting into that good name school, we could not afford a BMW/year tuition. She didn’t go to that school. She went to a Jetta/year school. Just like we told her we could afford.
On the Town
Tonight you can see Inter Alia Live from the National Theater
- Romeo and Juliet continue their run as does Two Gentlemen of Verona
- Tomorrow you can see Cinderella danced at the Paramount
- Saturday The Charlottesville Jazz Society and WTJU welcome Todd Marcus
- The Manhattan Short Film Festival is Saturday
- Saturday is a walking tour, Court Square Where Charlottesville Began
- Don't miss Gullah Meditations on Saturday
- Saturday SPICMACAY presents an Evening of Hindustani Classical Music
- Bruce Holsinger will be signing his new book Culpability on Saturday
- Saturday is a good day to Become a Tree Steward
- See a screening of Freedom Hair on Saturday
- Saturday you can see Georgia O'Keefe: The Brightness of Living
- Learn about Beekeeping on Saturday
- Saturday at St. Paul's Ivy is Patrick Lundy and the Ministers of Music
- Have the Wizard of Oz Experience this Saturday
- Saturday is Respighi Fountains of Rome and again on Sunday
- Sunday is Highland Rustic Dog Trials (Kiki will not be there. Getting out of bed is a trial for her each morning)
- Head to Frontier Culture for The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore Sunday
- Sunday is Cville Stories: Back to the Garden – Stories about Mother Nature
- Monday night is Creaturing: Geo-Zoo-Botanical Diplomacy and the Modern Metropolis
- Learn how to Select, Plant, and Care for Trees on Monday
- Don't miss Amina Claudine Myers' concert on Tuesday
- Tuesday is Black Violin: Full Circle Tour
