Central Catholic - Find Your Path

College Search - Learn more about two- and four-year colleges by attending college visits at CC or research colleges on your own through college fairs and campus visits.

Watch the Senior College Planning Night recording - If you were unable to join us in person in September, click on the links below to watch the presentation recording about the four-year college admission process.

Presentation recording

Presentation Slides - You will find direct links to many items referred to during the presentation.

College Applications - If you are applying to four-year colleges, begin working on applications now. Applying through the Common Application? You will need to match your Common App to Naviance Student. It will allow us to send your transcript and recommendation (if needed) to colleges once you request them. Click HERE for instructions.

Letters of Recommendation - If a college requires a recommendation letter, your initial request should be submitted at least four weeks prior to your application deadline. There is some flexibility; however, teachers and counselors need time to write letters in addition to their other responsibilities. See details below about the process.

Watch the Senior College Planning Night recording - If you were unable to join us in person in September, click on the links below to watch the presentation recording about the four-year college admission process.

Presentation recording

Presentation Slides - You will find direct links to many items referred to during the presentation.

Recommendation Letter input - We also welcome input from parents/guardians to assist with the counselor recommendations. Click HERE and share input about your senior.

Net Price Calculator - Work with your student to complete a Net Price Calculator for each college on their list. This will give you an estimate of what each one will award in financial aid and scholarship. See details about it below.

Get ready to submit FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) - The FAFSA for the 2025-26 school year will open in December. Sign up for the virtual Financial Aid Night (listed below in Paying for College). They will send out the recording to everyone who registers even if you cannot watch live.

Check out potential career paths through Naviance Student. Login and go to "Careers" and select "Explore Roadtrip Nation Videos" to get started looking at options. The assessment tools in the Self Discovery section can also be helpful in figuring out potential careers based on interest and strengths.

Join the ACE Mentor Program! Participants get mentoring and career advice from practicing professionals, visit multiple professional workplaces and network, plus design a building project from start to finish. The program is for Seniors and Juniors runs January through May 2025 with students meeting once a week in-person from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. ACE is offering Information Sessions on October 10 & October 29. Click HERE to learn more and apply by November 12.

NEW! Moreau Pathway is a non-binding Direct Admissions program that proactively admits

students. This expedited application streamlines the admission process and provides CC students with a 3.3 GPA or higher guaranteed admission to University of Portland. Applicants will receive a scholarship of at least $20,500 renewable each year, direct entry to a degree program of choice, and much more! Click HERE to learn about the program and apply today.

We are continuing to host sessions for seniors who would like assistance completing their college applications. No sign-up is required. Seniors can join us for any or all of the following sessions in the Commons unless otherwise noted below:

• Every Thursday & Friday from 7:25 to 7:55 am
• The following Tuesdays from 2:40 to 3:30 pm
• October 22
• October 29
• The following Wednesdays
• October 9 during lunch in the Counseling Center & from 2:40 to 3:30 pm
• October 16 from 1:30 to 3 pm
• October 23 from 8:30 to 9:05 am
  
• October 30 from 2:40 to 3:30 pm
  
• The following Thursdays from 2:40 to 3:30 pm
  • October 17
  • October 24
  • October 31

Once you have determined if your college requires a teacher recommendation, what do you do after your teacher agrees to write for you?

You will need to complete the First Teacher Recommendation Input survey under the "Tasks from My School" section in Naviance Student. If your college requires two teachers, complete the Second Teacher Input survey for your other teacher.

What if you need a counselor recommendation?

Complete the Letter of Recommendation Info survey also under the "Tasks from My School" section in Naviance Student. We also expect students to provide a resume of activities. There is a Resume tool in Naviance Student or students may email their resume to collegecounselors@centralcatholichigh.org and we'll upload it into Naviance for them.

How will your recommender access the survey and upload their recommendation?

After completing the above surveys, you will need to complete the Transcript & Recommendation Request Form (also found in Naviance Student). Be sure to match your Common Application and Naviance Student to allow us to submit your recommendation and transcript electronically as shown in the "How to Request Recommendations" slides below.

What if my college does not want recommendations?

If a college does not require any recommendations, students may request an Initial Transcript by submitting the Transcript and Recommendation Request form referred to above.

Additional Resources

Find Colleges That Are Right for You

How to Choose a College

Early Action vs Early Decision

College Interviews: Practice Questions and Strategies

Can't make it to the college fair in Portland? The virtual college fairs feature hundreds of different colleges and universities from the US and worldwide. Don't miss these free, one-day events for high school students, transfer students, and families. Click below to register for each program and to see the list of participating colleges.

October 13 from 10 am to 3 pm PT

November 3 from 10 am to 3 pm PT

Senior Scholars is a yearlong engagement with Reed's community that is designed to answer the unique questions posed by underrepresented students and students of color. High-achieving high school seniors will learn about life at Reed, create lasting connections with current students and faculty, and receive financial support to visit Reed’s campus in the spring. All students are welcome to apply. Learn more about Senior Scholars. To be considered for the program, a student must apply Early Action or Early Decision to Reed and submit a Senior Scholars interest form by October 15.

UNIVERSITY OF OREGON ADMISSION EVENTS

Duck Preview is an open house hosted on two different Fridays this fall - October 18 or November 1. High school juniors, seniors and their family members are welcome to attend and learn more about UO. Be sure to register ASAP as space will fill quickly.

Can't make it? Students and families can sign up for a campus tour HERE.

OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY VISIT OPPORTUNITIES

OSU Beaver Open House is an opportunity to connect with academic colleges and learn about our major/program options, take a campus tour, see a residence hall, eat at a dining center and hear more about what it's like to be an Oregon State student. Talk to current OSU students, staff and faculty at this day-long campus open house. Choose from the following dates: October 4, October 18, November 2 or November 15. Space fills quickly - click HERE for details and to register soon.

Can't make it? Students and families can schedule a campus tour HERE.

PREVIEW DAY AT PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY

Get to know Portland State and experience their dynamic urban campus for yourself at Preview Day on October 19. Attendees will have the opportunity to go on a campus tour, learn about their academic programs, financial aid, student resources, and admissions. High school seniors can apply to PSU during Preview Day and they’ll waive the $60 application fee (International students are not eligible for the fee waiver).

Showcase your artistic evolution! Visit with admission counselors and faculty from art and design schools for a portfolio review before applying to colleges or universities. Click on the preferred date below to register in advance.

Virtual: November 1 from 4-8 pm PT

In-Person: November 3 at Pacific Northwest College of Art from Noon-4 pm PT

Virtual: December 8 from 9am-1 pm PT

Are you a high school student thinking about going to Portland Community College? Would you like to learn more about PCC’s excellent academic programs? Do you have questions about how to fulfill your college goals? Then PCC Preview Day is the event for you! Sign up for the campus that interests you below.

Sylvania Campus - October 18

Southeast Campus - November 15

Rock Creek Campus - Feburary 21

Cascades Campus - April 25

Click HERE to register in advance.

The annual Paying for College webinar will be hosted by the Oregon Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (OASFAA), The Ford Family Foundation, HECC/OSAC, and Oregon Goes to College. The webinar will be offered both in Spanish and English on the same date with one registration link. Families will be able to ask questions (and ask anonymous questions) via the Q & A feature, which will be staffed by financial aid administrators from OASFAA. Click HERE to register in advance and receive the recording afterwards.

The University of Portland will be hosting a virtual presentation to help all students and families with the financial aid process regardless of their interest in U of P. Click HERE to register in advance.

You may have heard that the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) continues to be going through some changes this year for students planning to enroll in college for the 2025-26 school year. Due to lots of behind the scenes programming, the FAFSA will not open until December. ORSAA and WASFA, alternate forms for undocumented students living in Oregon and Washington respectively, will open as soon as possible. Next year, we hope FAFSA be open in October.

The CSS Profile is an online aid application used by some colleges and scholarship programs to award their own institutional aid. It asks for information in addition to what you will provide on the FAFSA. A list of participating colleges is also found on the CSS Profile homepage. Some colleges may also require divorced or separated parents to complete separate applications. The CSS Profile is free for domestic undergraduate students whose family income is at or below $100,000.

What is a Net Price Calculator?

Net Price Calculators are available on every college'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.

What does Net Price mean?

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 would likely receive.

Complete a Net Price Calculator for each institution on your list. Students and families will need to work together to provide the required information.

Search for Net Price Calculators on each college's financial aid page or search HERE.

THINK LOCAL

Let EVERYONE know you are looking for scholarships. Your parent/guardian or grandparent might work for a company or belong to an organization that offers scholarships to dependents or descendants; it never hurts to ask. Check out the Kiwanis Club, Chamber of Commerce, churches, foundations and other local organizations, which often offer scholarships based on a variety of factors. There is often less competition for these, since they are awarded locally.

• OSAC Scholarships (OR residents) -OSAC awards more than $10 million in scholarships annually. Oregon residents planning to attend a two- or four colleges as well as trade schools will find potential scholarships HERE. The application will open in November but cannot be submitted until after first semester grades are available. You can also check out Oregon Promise - Community College Grant - HERE.
• The WashBoard (WA residents) - Washington residents have access to a database of scholarships that might be a good fit. Create an account and start your search HERE.

SEARCH FOR OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIPS

There are lots of free search sites for scholarships. You should never have to pay to find or apply for scholarships. Here are some helpful sites:
Fastweb

Oregon Gear Up Scholarship List

STAY ORGANIZED

It can be challenging to keep track of all the different scholarship deadlines and requirements. Check out the scholarship tools including the Scholarship Tracking Worksheet developed by the University of Portland HERE (under the "Scholarship Applications" section).

The scholarship opportunities listed below partner with a broad range of colleges to offer scholarships and additional opportunities for their scholarship recipients. Interested students must apply directly to their campus partners. Each campus has their own application and selection process.

The Bonner Program provides a scholarship award to students in exchange for a weekly commitment to intensive and meaningful service with a local community organization over the four years as an undergraduate student with their campus partners.

The Stamps Scholars Program was founded with the purpose of enabling extraordinary educational experiences for extraordinary students. Through partnerships with institutions across the nation and the U.K. Scholars receive annual awards that range from $5,400 to $75,000 per year with additional funds for enrichment activities such as study abroad, academic conferences, and leadership training.

OCTOBER

AES Engineering Scholarship - The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of character, as determined by an evaluation of the essays that are submitted for it. Scholarships are intended for our future leaders across a wide spectrum of fields of study. You are not required to be taking Engineering courses to be eligible. Due October 8

National YoungArts Foundation Scholarship - Up to $50,000 for young artists in grades 10-12 or ages 15-18 with talent in cinematic arts, dance, design arts, jazz, music, photography, theater, visual arts, voice, and writing. Due October 17 at 8:59 pm PT

NSHSS Foundation STEM Scholarship - $1,000 scholarships for underrepresented students with a 3.0 GPA or higher who plan to study a STEM field. Due October 13

U.S. Bank Student Scholarship - Up to $20,000 for completing a series of financial education online learning modules. Due October 30

Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW) Voice of Democracy Scholarship - Students have the opportunity to express themselves in a 3-5 minute democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Entries must be submitted to the sponsoring local VFW Post by October 31 Midnight.

NOVEMBER

Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship - Ranging from $1,000 per year to $7,500 per year, scholarships are for students pursuing a four-year degree, on a full-time basis, in a U.S. college or university. Due November 12 by 11:59 pm PT

Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards - Up to $4,000 open to high school seniors of Hispanic/Latino descent with at least a 3.0 unweighted GPA who have demonstrated leadership in the classroom and community. DACA students are eligible to apply. Due November 13 by 11:59 pm PT

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarships - Up to $55,000 renewable scholarships for high-performing high school seniors with demonstrated financial need who want to attend a four-year college. Due November 14

Lewis & Clark College Barbara Hirschi Neely Scholarship - This full-tuition scholarship recognizes incoming first-year students of exceptional academic achievement. Only students who attend high school in Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington are eligible to be considered for the scholarship. To be considered, students must apply to L&C through the Common Application using either their Early Action or Early Decision program. Due November 1