Connections Newsletter

FAFSA The FAFSA is open and all students and families are now able to access and submit their 2025-26 FAFSAs. We recommend you file as soon as possible. Here are some tips.

Seniors Check your applications for any letters of recommendation required from your counselor or your teacher(s). Staff does not work on vacation days. Come by Connections with any questions. For applications due on January 1, requests should have already been made to your teacher and /or counselor For applications due on January 15, counselor letter requests are due December 9; teacher letter requests are due December 17.

At TCA

Application Deadlines

Application: 1/1/25; Connections Rec Ltr: 12/2; Teacher Rec Ltr: 12/9

Application: 1/15/25; Connections Rec Ltr: 12/2; Teacher Rec Ltr: 12/17

In the Community

Friday, February 7, 7:00-2:00: UNC Future Teacher Conference, Greeley. Spots fill quickly.

Saturday, March 8, 9:00-11:00: RMACAC Spring College Fair, Pine Creek HS

Saturday, March 9, 1:00-4:00: RMACAC Spring College Fair, Cherokee Trail HS

If you qualify, here are two avenues to waive college admission testing (SAT, ACT, AP) or college application fees. If you qualify for an SAT fee waiver, or the ACT fee waiver, you can be approved for a fee waiver to most colleges. Another route is the NACAC College Application Fee Waiver. Please contact Ms. Peters at tcacollege@asd20.org for assistance.

Colorado Promise - Two Free Years of College Expanded: Beginning in Fall 2024, students who attend public institutions and have family incomes of $90,000 or less are eligible for a complete reimbursement of any out-of-pocket tuition and fees paid for their education. The program expands on individual institutional promise programs and extends financial support to middle-income Colorado residents.

At Ursinus College, the Abele Scholars Program is for high-achieving students from low- and middle-income families, providing $10,000 a year scholarship plus additional financial and program support. Deadline to apply is January 1.

Junior Scholarship: The Horatio Alger Association is seeking students that display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity, and plan to pursue higher education. Students must have financial need and a determination to turn their adversity into opportunity and pursue their American Dream. 600+ scholarships available, up to $25,000 each. Deadline to apply is March 1.

Lockheed Martin Space’s High School Internship Program gives students interested in pursuing STEM-related careers the opportunity to work with aerospace scientists and engineers. Interns will spend 9+ weeks during the summer working on world-changing projects and defense tech. For more information, sign up for an Info Session on December 17 at 5:30 p.m., or check out this video.

Smith College, a women’s college, will be offering a two-week precollege summer program. Financial aid available.

Carnegie Mellon's Pre-College Programs is hosting two virtual Discover Sessions this December to learn about their programs: Art and National High School Game Academy on Wednesday, December 11, at 5:00; and Computational Biology and Summer Session on Tuesday, December 17, at 5:00.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute will be offering virtual and in-person summer programs. Registration begins on January 8.

At Clarkson University 100% of students receive financial aid, gain hands-on experience, and recent graduates with 0-5 years of experience have median salaries of $82,900.

Western Michigan University offers an Assured Admissions Program. Any first-year student with a 3.00+ GPA and most recent semester without multiple unsatisfactory grades (D or below) will be assured admission.

SAT fee waivers are available to low-income 11th- and 12th-grade students in the United States. A student is eligible if they enroll in or are eligible to participate in the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP), or their family's annual income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service. Be sure to look at the current year's guidelines to verify.

The next SAT testing date is March 8, 2025. Register by February 21, 2025.

Additional test dates: May 3, 2025

Schoolhouse offers freeSAT Tutoring Bootcamp

March2Success offers free online SAT, ACT and ASVAB test prep

More test prep resources available on our Connections page

The next ACT testing date is April 13, 2025. Register by March 8, 2025.

Additional test dates: March 8, May 3, and June 7, 2025

Katina Dahl, Advisor - Freshmen, Sophomore, AP, PSAT/NMSQT

Jodi Hoffman, Office Manager - College & Career Visits, Community Service

Email: tcavisits@asd20.org
Website: tcatitans.org/ Connections
Location: 975 Stout Road, Colorado Springs, CO
Phone: 719-484-0091 1104