Counselor Connection

November 2024

ADM High School Counseling Office

DID YOU KNOW...?

We are 50 days away from Winter Break!

Presidential elections always occur in November but do you know why?? It's for the farmers. Not wanting to disturb the planting, growing or harvest seasons, the month of November was chosen as the most logical month for everybody to be able to vote.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The FAFSA is a necessary requirement for all students seeking Federal and State financial aid for higher education in the United States. This application determines how much financial aid a student is eligible to receive from the government based on need, and often, students are required to fill out the FAFSA when applying for private scholarships and grants.

The FAFSA form will be available on December 1, 2024. In the meantime, parents and students can apply for their FSA ID. You will need to create an FSA ID before you can file the application (both parents and students need their own individual FSA ID). This is a great way to get started on the application process. Here is a PDF with more information on FSA IDs. Also, the Iowa College Aid Network has a considerable amount of information. Also Sallie Mae has this step by step FAFSA Guide. Please look at their websites for more information.

Students, parents and families should watch their emails for notification from the counseling office regarding the release of the FAFSA application.

DMACC Online - Spring Semester

Counselors are continuing to register ADM High School students for DMACC online courses for Spring. If you are interested in taking a DMACC online class for next semester, please email your counselor to set up a time to review your schedule and register! Here is a link of course options available.

Online registrations cannot be taken after November 26th, and classes fill up quickly, so please email us ASAP if you are interested in taking a class.

4-YEAR PLANNING

We will be reviewing 4 year plans three times this year. Those dates are listed below:

February 3rd - Make sure you have all of the classes you need. Review elective options. Talk with parents and/or counselors before advisory on February 10th to get input or answers to questions.
February 10th - Continue revising your plan. Look over electives. Ensure you have all classes you need.
February 17th -Finalize your plan so that your schedule can be written for next year.

Please remember that 4 year planning is crucial to ensure that you are meeting all of the requirements for graduation at ADM.

Scholarships can be daunting sometimes! We want to make that a tad easier for students and families, so we post scholarships to our High School Counseling Page!

For a direct link to general scholarships, click here.

For a direct link to local scholarships, click here.

EFR at ADM

ADM partners with EFR's Students Assistance Program (SAP) to bring more support to our families. Through EFR's SAP, students and anyone in your household are eligible for three free, confidential counseling sessions. Counseling appointments are offered in person or virtually. EFR's Student Assistance Program offers you and your student immediate help and resources to support your mental health and well-being, navigate challenges, and achieve personal and academic success.

Some of the concerns that EFR can help with are: anxiety/worry, depression/suicidal thoughts, stress, conflict, bullying, relationship concerns, alcohol or drug concerns, and school performance.

There are a few ways to utilize your SAP. You can chat with one of their counselors through the EFR app, call them at 515-244-6090, or schedule a session with one of their counselors at their office or virtually. You can learn more about EFR and their student assistance program here.