College Resources

Each campus provides a wealth of College Readiness information, as well as a dedicated College Relations Director who is an expert in helping guide & assist you on your college prep path. Our graduation rates are some of the highest in Arizona, and 99% of our scholars go on to higher education; the majority with scholarships! Select the campuses listed below for specific information.  For general info, please reference resources below. You can also follow our updates on our Facebook or Instagram pages.       

Laveen’s College Advising Page 
Gateway’s College Advising Page
Maricopa’s College Advising Page
Mesa’s College Advising Page
Pointe’s College Advising Page
Paul Revere’s Advising Page

Frequently Asked Questions: 

DUAL ENROLLMENT FAQ: 
RECENT  FAQ:
#1 How do I schedule a virtual conference or phone appointment?

If you have more than one child, please schedule a time for each child to accommodate your needs.

#2 Interested in earning your Associate’s degree by graduation? Want to learn more about maximizing your dual enrollment credits? How about ways to save time and money toward your bachelor’s degree?
Each campus has an Early College Success Coach that works closely with Rio Salado College, and can provide a personalized student support system for information, advice, and encouragement. As your student success coach, he can recommend which courses to take, ensure you are taking them in the right order, and answer any questions you may have along the way. To get started, schedule your appointment now with the links/info above.

#3. Maricopa Community College Grant Application (NOW OPEN!)

The Maricopa Grant Application for Tuition Assistance for the 2020-2021 school year is now available. Approved applications will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis up to 9 credits ($780). Apply now.

#4. Dual Enrollment Scholars: Do you need help with your MEID and/or password? 

Contact the Rio Salado’s Technology Helpdesk: https://www.riosalado.edu/help/technology-helpdesk or call 480-517-8600

#5. SAT/ACT test information

See the attachment for dates and test information

ACT: website

SAT: website

#6. How do I request a transcript?

older FAQs:
1. Are you trying to register for your Dual Enrollment courses? 
  • Go to the website and login to your “Student Center” with your MEID & Password
  • Select “Add a Class”, then the “Fall 2019” term
2. Where do I find my Course 5-digit Section number?
3. Do you have a “Special Admissions Hold” on your account?
4. Do you have an “ID Authentication” Hold or “Under 18” Hold?
  • If so, simply click the “details” and follow the directions. These will take 3-5 days to clear. After the “holds” clear, then proceed to Step 1 above
5. When is the deadline to register?
6. Are you NEW to Dual Enrollment? 9th grade or just new to Dual Enrollment Courses?
  • Complete the admissions process now AND consider attending your school’s Dual Enrollment Parent Information Night: (next sessions coming July/Aug 2020)
7. Did you forget your Rio Salado MEID and/or password?
  • First try “Find my MEID” or “forgot password?” using this link.
  • No success? Call the Rio Salado Help Desk 480-517-8600

College Prep FAQ:
1. Scheduling an appointment? If you have more than one child, please schedule a time for each child to accommodate your needs.
**Seniors – please schedule a time during an elective hour, not a core class**
2. Dual Enrollment: Spring Registration?
Registration is now open. Login to your Student Center at https://my.maricopa.edu/. Choose “Add a Class”. Course section numbers can be found under “Participating Schools”. Registration ends January 31st, 2020
3. How do I request a transcript?
See Senior Year Checklist (bottom of page 2)
4. Dual Enrollment? 
To learn more about dual enrollment visit the Rio Salado website or view the list of frequently asked questions.
5. ACE Puente Program (10th grade ONLY – must apply 2nd quarter 2019)
Applications will be available early November. ACE Puente participants are recruited in their sophomore year of high school. Students take hybrid and online college courses while in their junior and senior years, allowing them to graduate with up to 24 college credits. See the website for more information.
Apply by Tuesday, November 19 (Gateway) or Wednesday, November 20 (Mesa)

Scholarship Resource List

Chamber of Commerce.org recently created a guide to college scholarships

https://pages.collegeboard.org/scholarship-opportunities-from-collegeboard

Access over 1.5 million scholarships
to help you pay for college

Fastweb is your connection to scholarships, colleges, financial aid and more.

START YOUR SEARCH

Actuary Scholarships for Minority Students www.beanactuary.org

American Chemical Society Scholarships https://www.cnetweb.org/american_chemical_society_scholarships.htm

American Geological Institute Minority Geoscience Student Scholarship https://www.agiweb.org/mpp/index.html

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants www.aicpa.org/members/div/career/mini/smas.htm

Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars Program https://kff.org/about/jordanscholars.cfm

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation https://www.coca-colascholars.org/cokeWeb/

The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta https://www.cfgreateratlanta.org/Grants-Support/Scholarships.aspx

Engineering for Minorities https://www.nacme.org/ Gates Millennium Scholars https://www.gmsp.org/( bfnb4u55ixjaak3qoius3wqg)/ default.aspx

International Education Financial Aid https://www.iefa.org/

The Jackie Robinson Foundation https://www.jackierobinson.org/apply/faq.php (for high school seniors only)

Jack Kent Cook Foundation Graduate Scholars Program https://www.jackkentcookefoundation.org/

John L. Carey Accounting Scholarship https://www.aicpa.org/members/div/career/mini/jlcs.htm

Kaiser Media Internships in Health Reporting https://kff.org/mediafellows/mediainternships.cfm

LGBT Scholarships https://www.leaguefoundation.org/

Microsoft Scholarships https://www.microsoft.com/college/ss_reqs.Mspx (for computer related degrees)

Morris K. Udall Undergraduate Scholarship https://www.udall.gov/  (for environmental studies)

National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (SMART Grant) https://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/NewPrograms.jsp

Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education https://www.naspa.org/programs/nufp/default.cfm

Students of Color Scholarship https://www.financialaid4you.com/index.php/home

Unmet Need Scholarship https://www.thesalliemaefund.org/smfnew/scholarship/Unmet_need.html

USA Funds https://www.usafunds.org/planning/access_to_education_scholarship/index.html

Herbert Lehman Education Fund https://www.naacpldf.org/content.aspx?article=35

The Jackie Robinson Foundation https://www.jackierobinson.org/apply/faq.php (for high school seniors only)

Ron Brown Scholarship https://www.ronbrown.org/ (for high school seniors)

Black Excel Scholarship Gateways https://www.blackexcel.org/

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation https://www.cbcfinc.org/

Dr. James M. Rosin Scholarship https://www.uncf.org/

Fisk Premedical Summer Institute / Minority Medical Education Program https://www.uncf.org/

General Mills Technology Scholars Award https://www.uncf.org/

Law School: MCCA Lloyd M. Johnson, Jr. Scholarship Program https://www.uncf.org/

NAACP Earl Warren Shearman and Sterling Law School Scholarship https://www.naacpldf.org/content.aspx?article=44

NAACP Scholarships: Earl G. Graves Scholarship, Agnes Jones Scholarship, Lillian and Samuel Sutton Scholarship, Roy Wilkins Scholarship, and the Hubertus W.V. Williams Scholarship https://www.naacp.org/advocacy/education

National Association of Black Journalists https://www.nabj.org/page/SEEDScholarships?

National Black Police Association https://www.blackpolice.org

National Society of Black Engineers Scholarship List https://national.nsbe.org/

Programs/Scholarships/tabid/84/Default.aspx

Sallie Mae Fund American Dream Scholarship https://www.thesalliemaefund.org/smfnew/scholarship/american_dream.html

Siemens Teacher Education Scholarship Program https://www.uncf.org/

Spieler, Rhea and Louis Scholarship Program https://www.uncf.org/

UNCF Merck Science Initiative https://www.uncf.org/Merck/

United Negro College Fund https://www.uncf.org/forstudents/scholarship.asp

Hispanic Scholarship Fund https://www.hsf.net/ (also for college students)

Adelante US Education Leadership Fund https://www.adelantefund.org/adelante/Default_EN.asp

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute https://www.chci.org/ (Congressional Internship)

First in My Family Scholarship Program https://www.thesalliemaefund.org/smfnew/scholarship/first_family.html

Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement https://www.haceonline.org

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities https://www.hacu.net/hacu/Scholarships_EN.asp

Hispanic Internship Program https://www.hnip.net/

La Unidad Latina Foundation https://foundation.launidadlatina.org/Apply.htm

Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund https://www.maldef.org/leadership/scholarships/

National Association of Hispanic Journalists https://www.nahj.org/home/home.shtml

Salvadoran American Leadership and Education Fund https://www.salef.org/salef/fulfilling.html

State Farm Hispanic Scholarship Fund https://www.statefarm.com/about/part_spos/grants/ hispanic.asp

Cluff Law in Mesa, Arizona is offering the Cluff Law Car Accident Scholarship,

Details are below:

Criteria: Applicant must be attending college by Fall 2018 and have at least a 3.0 GPA. They must be interested pursuing a law-related degree.

Deadline: May 31, 2018

Award Amount: $750

Application: Only online applications will be accepted. The application can be found here: https://clufflaw.com/#scholarship-application

College-Specific Resource List

Early Bachelors Program with Benedictine and Rio Salado College    Learn more HERE

The major challenge in higher education today is affordability. Most universities are in denial that this problem even exist while they continue to raise tuition, add meaningless fees and bury students in debt.

Today there are over 44 million students with loans totaling over $1.3 trillion dollars. The average graduate in 2016 had student debt of $37,172. This financial burden stops many from starting, completing or finishing in a timely manner. There must be another way and now there is for Heritage Academy scholars.

We are thrilled to announce a new partnership with Benedictine University and Rio Salado College where our scholars can start working on their bachelors degree while at Heritage Academy.

Heritage Academy already partners with Rio Salado College to provide all the Dual Enrollment classes needed for an Associates of Arts degree. This can be accomplished in the regular four years due to our innovative 4-day schedule without summer school. Now, these credits will cleanly transfer to BenU and scholars can finish a bachelor degree in two more years.

Imagine what one can do by earning a bachelor degree two years earlier? While nothing is guaranteed, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the positive impact of higher educational attainment.

Benedictine students major in Accounting, Management and Organizational Behavior, Communication Arts, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Fine Arts, Graphic Arts and Design, Nutrition, Political Science, Psychology, among other things.

For another 18 months, a student can finish a Benedictine MBA and further enhance their earning potential and employability.

These programs are provided for every Heritage scholar at each of our campuses. While everyone might not be finishing all the credits for an Associates degree, our partners with Rio Salado and Benedictine will make a personalized plan to complete a Benedictine Bachelor’s plan in a timely manner. Even finishing one year early has tremendous benefits.

Come take a tour of a Heritage Academy today and learn more about the innovative opportunities for your scholar.

About Heritage Academy 

Heritage Academy is dedicated to youth, their growth and development. The purpose of education is to build strong character. Strong character is reflected in strong families, strong communities and a strong nation.

While teaching the academic disciplines, Heritage Academy is dedicated to instilling into the minds and hearts of today’s youth a knowledge of and respect for the ideals and values of the great men and women of history, including those who founded the American nation.

As today’s rising generation gains an appreciation of these people of accomplishment, they will be ready to provide the selfless service to their fellow citizens and to their country which will be required in the coming years to assist in preserving America’s greatness. Heritage Academy exists to this end.

About Benedictine University

Recognizing that sustainable growth and prosperity starts with providing resources to educate the minds of its masses, the City of Mesa embarked on a journey to attract a distinguished university that would help revitalize its downtown area while giving the city and area residents something it lacked.

As part of Mesa’s HEAT Initiative, Benedictine University, based in Lisle, Ill., just outside of Chicago, was invited to be the first institution of higher education to locate a campus in Mesa.

Benedictine University at Mesa is a branch campus of Benedictine University, which is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (www.ncahlc.org) and licensed by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education to operate an accredited, degree-granting institution of higher learning in Arizona.

Forbes magazine named Benedictine among “America’s Top Colleges” for the fourth consecutive year in 2014. Education and technology blog edcetera named Benedictine University at Mesa among 10 universities in the nation on the cutting edge of tech for 2013.

Benedictine University at Mesa is a Roman Catholic university that offers traditional undergraduate and adult and graduate degrees in a diverse and caring environment. A core Benedictine value is living life in balance. In support of this ideal, Benedictine offers a burgeoning intercollegiate sports program, student groups, fitness facility access and other services toward fulfilling our promise to provide students an affordable and attainable values-based education that builds better learners, leaders and world citizens.

Learn more HERE

Below are links to information re: the Engineering Fast Track and 3+1=2 degree programs through the Fulton schools of engineering.  If you have questions, contact Hope Parker, who does outreach for Fulton.

https://engineering.asu.edu/programs/accelerated/three-plus-one/

https://engineering.asu.edu/programs/accelerated/fast-track/

https://ea.asu.edu/partner-with-us/high-school
Dear Counselor,

Thank you for helping us spread the word about Duke Summer Session’s incredible summer opportunities for high school students.  Please share the message below with your students and colleagues to let them know that we are now accepting applications:

Good news from Duke Summer Session!  We are happy to announce that we are now accepting applications for our life-changing summer programs at Duke University.  Whichever program you choose, over the course of the summer, you will find that Duke Summer Session is committed not only to building lifelong memories and friendships from around the world, but to laying the foundation for a future of collegiate success.  It is for this reason that students regularly report that our programs strengthened their college application and paved the way for academic excellence at top universities.  Follow the links below to apply to one of our transformative summer programs:

Summer College Application – A four-week, credit-bearing program for US students currently in 10th or 11th grade and international students currently in 10th – 12th grade in which they take undergraduate-level courses.

Summer Academy Application – A three-week program for students currently in 9th – 12th grade in which they take a certificate course.

Intensive STEM Academy Application – A one-week, STEM-based program for students currently in 9th – 12th grade that consists of a variety of laboratory tours, faculty lectures, and workshops.

We strongly encourage you to apply online today, as spaces fill quickly!

Sincerely,

Nicki Charles, Ed.D.
Director of Summer College and Summer Academy for High School Students
Duke University
summercollege@duke.edu  |  Facebook  |  Website

With help from a generous grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), we are offering a STEM scholarship program for students interested in STEM fields (Biology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physics). STEM Scholars will have their full demonstrated financial need met for all four years with no loans, and have the opportunity to:

  • Attend a STEM-focused pre-orientation workshop with other STEM Scholars.
  • Enroll in an exclusive First-Year Seminar taught by STEM faculty.
  • Participate in bi-monthly luncheons with STEM faculty and a variety of learning activities on and off campus.
  • Take advantage of various STEM offerings, including faculty-student research, peer-mentoring, preferential residence in Gettysburg College’s Science House, and internship opportunities with industrial partners.

Our deadline for Regular Decision admission (using the Common Application) is January 15, and students should file both the CSS Financial Aid Profile and FAFSA by January 15.

Please visit our website, which also has a link to the application, and feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

We will also be holding a special STEM Scholar focused session during our January Open House. Interested STEM Scholar-eligible students should sign up here rather than using the general registration link on the Gettysburg College website.

Sincerely,

Gail Sweezey
Director of Admissions
Gettysburg College

There is an application (link at the bottom of this email) and the deadline is March 15th. We’ve attached a flyer with the camp information and provided the criteria below.

  • The 2018 Summer Institute is a FREE opportunity for high school juniors and seniors to stay overnight at GCU to experience campus life and explore academic programs such as engineering, computer science, hospitality, business and more.
  • 7 CSET Camps
  • 2 Honors Camps
  • 6 CCOB Camps
  • 4 CHSS Camps
  • Applicants must be an Arizona resident
  • Applicants must be a student entering their junior or senior year of high school in fall 2018
  • Applicants must be 16 years of age or older
  • Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA weighted

Registration: https://pages.gcu.edu/gtr/2018-summer-institute-registration.php

Leigh

LEIGH CRITCHLEY
Executive Director, Academic AlliancesOperational Support and CommunicationsStrategic Educational Alliances
3300 West Camelback Road | Phoenix, AZ 85017
P. (602) 639-6556    
leigh.critchley@gcu.edu

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The University of Texas at Dallas
Dear Colleague,

It’s not too late for your students to apply for the Eugene McDermott Scholars Program at UT Dallas.

The scholarship includes:

  • Full UT Dallas tuition, fees and yearly book stipends.
  • $1,400 per month to cover on-campus housing and living expenses.
  • Up to $12,000 per Scholar of study abroad funding.
  • Up to $3,000 per Scholar of career-oriented support for academic conferences, graduate school interview travel, MCAT, LSAT, etc.
  • Cultural experiences at the Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Opera and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
  • Cohort travel with destinations including: Santa Fe, NM; Austin, TX; and Washington, D.C.

The award provides an essentially debt-free college education with benefits valued at more than $250,000 (out-of-state) or $150,000 (in-state) over the four-year term.

The application deadline is Jan. 3.

Do you know the perfect candidates for this program? Help them apply.

Sincerely,
The Eugene McDermott Scholars Program
UT Dallas
UT Dallas

Additional Resources

Senior Year_Planning Checklist <

https://www.ecampustours.com/

Career Clusters

The National Career Clusters® Framework provides a vital structure for organizing and delivering quality CTE programs through learning and comprehensive programs of study. In total, there are 16 Career Clusters in the National Career Clusters Framework, representing more than 79 Career Pathways to help students navigate their way to greater success in college and career.

As an organizing tool for curriculum design and instruction, Career Clusters provide the essential knowledge and skills for the 16 Career Clusters and their Career Pathways. It also functions as a useful guide in developing programs of study bridging secondary and postsecondary curriculum and for creating individual student plans of study for a complete range of career options. As such, it helps students discover their interests and their passions, and empowers them to choose the educational pathway that can lead to success in high school, college and career.

Download a full list of the Career Clusters and Career Pathways here.  And learn how to access the Career Cluster logos here.

9th grade

10th grade

11th grade

12th grade

source: Great Schools Blog

Free ACT Test Prep Resources both LIVE and ONLINE at https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation.html

Download a Free Study Guide: Get a taste of the ACT test with practice questions.

Question of the Day: More than 100 free practice questions

Practice for Each Test Section: Visit these pages for free online practice.

BYU Continuing Education is hosting a three-day, ACT Prep workshop (the same one hosted at BYU over the summer, including the same teachers, materials, etc.) at the Mesa Polytechnic Institute over Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend this year on January 17-20, 2020. This is a great opportunity for high school students to prepare for and improve their score on the upcoming February 8, 2020 ACT exam, or to otherwise jump-start their college entrance exam preparations. This workshop has helped thousands of youth — whether or not they plan to attend BYU! You can learn more about this opportunity by going to  https://actprep.byu.edu/off-campus

Students have improved their scores by up to 9 points! Information on FLYER> CLICK HERE

  • Register for the SAT

  • Practice for 15 Minutes a Day to Get Ready for the SAT

  • Send Your SAT Scores to Colleges

https://www.collegeboard.org/

https://www.teachingdegree.org/resources/sat-guide/

Get help paying for college

Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

https://www.finaid.org/