General News and Information on College

  

• College Board's Big Future
• Curious about which schools require SAT or ACT?  Always confirm the current situation via any school's own website, but this is a useful link.  
• College Majors 101 to explore career paths and majors.
• WOIS: Most students were given their WOIS log in info before leaving for the COVID-19 break.  Site key required, contact counselor if need yours.  Great resource!  Spend some time learning your strengths, interests, and options!  
• College Scorecard is a great comparison tool. 
• Check out this website featuring student-made videos at colleges across the country: Campus Reel

Opportunities Abound!

• Frenchtown Rural Fire District Resident Firefighter Program:  Live and work alongside professionally trained career and volunteer firefighters while earning nationally recognized certifications and an associates degree in fire and emergency services.  100% tuition reimbursement available.  Website is under construction, but visit frenchtownfire.org, email recruiting@frenchtownfire.org, call 406-626-5791, or see the poster in senior hall for more information, application due 3/31/23.  
• National Diplomacy Matters High School Essay Contest:  Win $2500 and a trip to DC and a full scholarship to Semester at Sea!  Impressive prizes for the runner-up as well.  Deadline is April 3, 2023.  Details at www.afsa.org/essaycontest

Tough to Make a College Visit?  Virtual Fair!

PNACAC has moved its annual fall fairs online!  Washington Student Week is October 19-23, and you can register now by clicking the button on this site.  Free!  

NCAA or NAIA

Click  HERE to find information or to create your profile to become eligible.for NCAA.
Click HERE for information or to create your profile to become eligible for NAIA
 

Tips for College Visits

WWCS School Counseling enthusiastically recommends high school students of all levels making official visits to as many campuses as possible!  The link below has some tips for focusing on what is important; the academic and career tips are especially helpful and too easily overlooked on any "tour," so you may have to ask!

 

At DeSales 

• PSAT/NMSQT:  A preliminary SAT and scholarship contest, in October of junior year. Wednesday, October 12, 2022.  $18 fee
  • Video, How to access PSAT scores online, click here
  • Video, understanding your PSAT score report, click here
  • Video, How to link your College Board account to Khan Academy, click here
• PSAT 8 and 9:  January 18, 2023
• PSAT 10: March 1, 2023
• ASVAB: For Juniors, March 2023, Date TBD
• ASVAB Follow Up/Career Exploratory:  TBD
• NWEA MAP- 7th and 8th grade participate in MAP testing, a tool used by the school to follow the progress of students and meet their individualized growth needs.
• SAT:  Free full-length test and free KHAN ACADEMY prep accessible HERE; register HERE

To Search for SAT Test Centers on any date: HERE
SAT Dates and Deadlines
 

• Career Services:  WOIS is a great way to learn about careers.  Visit www.wois.org and use the site key available from the school counselor.  

At Assumption 

• NWEA MAP- All Assumption students participate in MAP testing three (3) times per year. This tool is used by teachers and parents to track progress and meet the individualized learning needs of each student
• DIBELS ASSEMSSEMENT (The Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills)- This tool is used to track the literacy progress of our early grades, and insure the all students are mastering these fundamental skills.

 

Test Scheduling

• Updates from the College Board (SAT'S) HERE.
• Updates from ACT on testing HERE. 
• Updates on AP testing HERE
• ACT :
  • *Note: Until further notice, ACT testing at WWCC has been discontinued.  Therefore, testing in Walla Walla will take place on SUNDAYS, so the day after the mainstream test dates below.  WWVA is hosting these sessions, but they are open to our students.  Other tests sites like Mac-Hi and Tri-Cities are available on the Saturday dates below.
  • Register HERE
  • Free full-length ACT practice tests and information booklets available in the office and online. ACT fee waivers for financial need available in the counseling office!

Scholarship Documents and Information, Class of 2023!

• P1FCU Scholarship:  15 awards will be given this year.  You need to be affiliated (a customer), but it's simple to open an account if you don't already have one.  Fillable PDF at the link; worth a look!  
• Far West: Just in, this scholarship grants a minimum of $1,000 to applicants connected to numerous ag-related companies.  Check it out here.  
• Blue Mountain Community Foundation Scholarship!  This is the best investment you can make as you apply for a number of local scholarships with a single application.  Start early, it's not a short task, but it's worth your effort.  The application has an internal link to request your school counselor send your transcript, and FAFSA information is requested as well.  Due by March 6, this scholarship will announce its winners in time for our end-of-year awards.  Good luck!  
• Cardinal Newman Society Essay Contest:  Click Here to learn more, but this is a $5000 renewable scholarship (over $20,000 over four years) based on one essay!  It only applies to participating colleges, but some are colleges we have applied to or been recruited by in recent years!  
• WSSRA Scholarship for TEACHERS!  Visit this link and see the Foundation Scholarship tab to apply for awards specific to WA state for those interested in teaching as a career!  See the poster in senior hallway also!  Due March 1, 2023.
• Elks Dave Nicholas Memorial Scholarship: Only for students with a GPA between 2.2 and 3.2, not above!  This is a slam dunk for those who apply.  Due March 17, 2023, paper application available from Mrs. Ruthven
• This link takes you to a page page from Scholarships.com clearly lists a number of scholarships available only to Hispanic and Latino students.  
• For a WA state scholarship search tool, create a profile here and see what you can access: theWashBoard.org
• Lots of students applying to WSU this year, so be sure to do the WSU Scholarship application by Jan 31, 2023!
• Marsden Scholarship:  One of the most generous scholarships rewarding academic potential in the Pacific Northwest.  Opens Jan. 15, 2023.  Full information at the link, including a checklist.  High-achieving students should check this out!  
• Opening January 4: WSOS (WA State Opportunity Scholarship) funds high-demand careers in WA state.  Check out this link to see if the state will pay for YOU to go to college! 
• Cut Costs on Private Education  Hoping to cut costs on a private school in WA?  Check out this website.  There are awards requiring applications, and some corporate monies available.  Worth a look!    
• Frenchtown Rural Fire District Resident Firefighter Program:  Live and work alongside professionally trained career and volunteer firefighters while earning nationally recognized certifications and an associates degree in fire and emergency services.  100% tuition reimbursement available.  Website is under construction, but visit frenchtownfire.org, email recruiting@frenchtownfire.org, call 406-626-5791, or see the poster in senior hall for more information, application due 3/31/23. 

Scholarship Documents and Information/Historical

• PB and J Scholarship, dealdine is May 31.  No GPA requirement! 

• The Gillette is in, paper copies only available from Counseling Office.  This is for scholar-athletes and requires a coach's recommendation in additon to the other materials.  Due April 20, 2022. 

• Trippeer!  Paper copies available in Counseling Office!  This is a great local source for funding.  They usually interview serious applicants in May.  Requires letters of recommendation, passport-sized photo, and other paperwork, so plan ahead, due April 8, 2022..  Click here to learn more.   

• McGregor Standing Tall for Northwest Agriculture scholarship, follow the link, up to $1,000 for ag-based or ag-related fields of study.  

• 4-H:  Check out the Burgess or these WA State 4-H awards, March deadlines.

• Horatio Alger:  See this site for a list of "targeted scholarships' that may apply to your school (Montana, Idaho, etc.) 

• Great article on Big Money, Hard Choices  from Cardinal Newman Society.  

• Hispanic Fund Scholarshp

• First Generation Scholarships

• WIAA Smart Choices Scholarship:   This is based in WA state and on participation and leadership in school activities.  Due April 1, 2022.  

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Scholarship Search Engines and Info for Non-Seniors!

Lux Family Scholarshp Essay Contest:  Open to all current DeSales High School Students returning next year, deadline March 17.  Please download this form or pick one up at school..  $500

Duane Tompkins and Roger McDowell Memorial Scholarship Essay Contest: Please download this form or get a hard copy from the office.  Open only to current juiniors, $800.  

2022 Seed Scholars Program, for women of color in junior year, 3.0 min GPA, provides access to Yale U summer program and support toward earning other scholarships.

Catholic Daughters of the Americas Scholarship for 2022 Freshmen.  Due April 1.  
College Board's Big Future Scholarship for the Class of 2023:  It's so easy to qualify for their monthly drawings!  Go here and follow the easy instructions. Side benefit: It will get you studying for your SATs and learning about colleges.  

Horatio Alger Scholarship:  The format for  changed for the class of 2023, so it is now a scholarship open only to juniors.  Check it out here. 

These search engines allow students to create profiles, browse, learn more about national and statewide options.  Check them out:

• fastweb.com

• scholarships.com

• Washboard.org This one is WWCS School Counseling's favorite; it is run by WA state and inlcudes local, state, national awards by emailing students after they complete a profile.  For any student, any year, any time, a worthwhile exercise.  

• Scholarship Guidance:  The link here is specific for this region and time period (November through January) and worth a look.

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General or Interest Specific Scholarships and Awards

Pointe Pest: This one is unique!  All online with uploads required, $750 one-time award for paying good deeds forward.  Due in April 2022; check it out HERE

For P1FCU Credit Union Members:  It's possible and simple to join, so no need to see that as a barrier.  Scholarship applications here, due March 31, 2022

College Board Opportunity Scholarships
College Board Opportunity Scholarships 

Elks Scholarships and Legacy Awards, Watch for them Coming Soon!

• For children and grandchildren of Elks only, application due February, 2022.  Click here to apply. 

• Elks Vocational Grants: This is a local and WA state scholarship only, available to US Citizens planning on a 2 year terminal degree.  Applications are online and due to the local lodge by March , 2022.  Visit this site and be sure to roll your mouse over "What we do" and then click "Scholarships."  

• Elks Dave Nicholas Memorial is a LOCAL grant available to ALL students with a GPA of 2.2 to 3.2.  Application is due annually the third Friday of March, or March 19, 2021, paper only, available from the counselor.  

The Seattle Foundation STEM Scholarships
Just updated!  The Seattle Foundation is a source for STEM scholarships of all types. Check it out! 

Kiwanis Service/Merit: Annual, Will be Updated
This local award goes to someone who demonstrates need, a plan for the future, and a background of service.  Go for it!  Apply here online and get it in by April 14. 

Unique Scholarships
Someone may pay you for doing good deeds!  Check out this unique $750 scholarship from Pointe Pest Control, 

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College and University Specific Scholarships/Awards
Applied to EWU?
Go here to apply, and submit by their recommended date of January 15, although final deadline has been extended.  

U of Montana
Consider the options here.

 U of Idaho
Read this, but no separate application required.