College Planning and Financing

How to Get the Most Out of  College Planning Using Your EDP

Choosing and planning for a career is one of the most important things Comets can do during their time in high school.

At GLHS we use Xello to keep our Educational Development Plans (EDP) up to date.

All Comets in grades 7-12 have a Xello account that houses their EDP.

Students use this account to:

  • conduct learning styles, interest, and skills assessments
  • explore and save favorite career options
  • explore and save post-secondary training plans
  • explore the annual college planning timeline
  • build resume/portfolio content by documenting their hobbies, interest, skills, abilities, volunteer work, extracurricular and work experience, and awards

To access your EDP (Educational Development Plan): Log into PowerSchool Student Account and click the arrow hyperlink in the upper right hand corner, then click “Sign into Xello”.

Students and parents are welcome to access this account anytime. Students will update information annually at school, but are encouraged to actively use this account throughout the school year and summer to update their resume and portfolio content.

A Complete Guide to the College Admissions Process 

Big Future (college search) 

College Navigator (college search and college data) 

College Bound Michigan Resource Hub

College Virtual Tours

College Comparison Worksheet

Capital Area College Access Network

Dr. Bernier's College Planning Help: This free, expanded, online resource contains information and strategies for all eight college planning steps.

Get MI Degree

Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (MACRAO) 

Michigan State University Transfer Course Equivalency Search 

*Not all college credits transfer to all other colleges. For information on transferring college credit, explore the website and contact the admissions office of the college you are interested in transferring to.

Michigan Transfer Agreement

 

Division I Public Schools

University of Michigan - Go Blue Guarantee

  • Are eligible for in-state tuition
  • Are eligible to apply for financial aid
  • Have family incomes of $65,000 or less and assets below $50,000 (as well as Tuition support for some families earning more)
  • Are pursuing their first bachelor’s degree

Michigan State University - Spartan Advantage Program

  • Complete FAFSA
  • Dependent Michigan Student
  • Eligible for Maximum Federal Pell Grant
  • Be from an economically disadvantaged background as indicated by total assets and total income from current and prior years. This means that your family income has been and will continue to be at or below the federally established poverty guidelines and your total family assets are low enough that the family cannot use the income from them to rise above the poverty threshold.
  • Be an entering freshmen with no prior college experience or a continuing student who received the award in the prior year. Transfer students are not eligible for this award.
  • Be enrolled for and carry to the end of each semester a minimum of 12 credits in a program leading to your first undergraduate degree. While students must be enrolled for at least 12 credits to receive this particular award, all recipients are highly encouraged to enroll for at least 15 credits each semester to stay on pace to graduate in four years.

Western Michigan University - Bronco Promise

  • First-year student for fall entry in the year of admittance.
  • Michigan resident, as defined by WMU's Residency Policy.
  • Have a family household AGI of $50,000 or less and net assets under $50,000.

Eastern Michigan University - Education First Opportunity Scholarship

  • Minimum cumulative 3.0 high school GPA
  • Pell Grant Eligible

Oakland University - Golden Grizzlies Tuition Guarantee

  • Apply to OU
  • Complete FAFSA
  • Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of less than $8,000

Division II Public Schools

Grand Valley State University - Grand Valley Pledge

  • Must be admitted Fall 2022 as an undergraduate degree-seeking freshman or transfer student*
  • Live in the state of Michigan
  • Family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $0 - $50,000, as reported on the FAFSA
  • Family Assets of $50,000 or less, as reported on the FAFSA
  • Must be enrolled full-time

Saginaw Valley State University - Cardinal Commitment

  • Michigan Resident
  • Family’s Annual Income is $50,000 (AGI) or below and total assets must be less than $50,000 as reported on the FAFSA
  • Complete FAFSA

Ferris State University - Ferris Launch

  • Apply to Ferris 
  • Complete FAFSA (have an EFC of 0)
  • First time attending college, seeking associate or bachelor’s degree
  • Enroll Full Time (minimum of 12 credit hours per semester)
  • Minimum cumulative 3.0 high school GPA

Division III Private School

Albion College - Promise

  • Exclusive to graduating high school seniors and transfer students from Michigan
  • Michigan Families making under $65,000
  • Qualified for the Michigan Tuition and Federal Pell Grants

 

Before you can complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) you will need to create a New FSA ID. An FSA ID gives you access to Federal Student Aid's online systems  and can serve as your legal signature

Complete your (FAFSA) in October of your Senior Year.

7 Easy Steps to the FAFSA

Complete the College Scholarship Services Profile CSS/ Financial Aid Profile only if your college requires it

Graduating Without Debt

College Savings Plans

College Planning Help with Frank Bernier

Financial Aid 101

MI Student Aid Tuition Incentive Program

MI Student Aid

Click here for Scholarships

Learn more information about financing for schools here: Money for College: A guide to Scholarships and Financial Aid

If you are planning on playing sports in college please create an account with NCAA/NAIA. 

eligibility website below then Enter NCAA College-Bound Student-Athletes and go to  Resources - Us Students

National Collegiate Athletic Association - NCAA

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes - NAIA   

National Christian College Athletic Association - NCCAA

National Junior College Athletic Association - NCJAA

Michigan Community College Athletic Association - MCCAA

 

  • What activities and services are available to help students transition during their first year?
  • What are the student and teacher ratios in the classroom?
  • What is the cost of attending this college?
  • What is the percentage of students that will receive financial aid?
  • What type of grants and scholarships are offered through the college and how do I apply and qualify?
  • Are you automatically assigned to an academic advisor?
  • What is the process of course registrations?
  • How easy is it to switch majors?
  • What type of study abroad programs is offered within the college?
  • Are internships available through the college?
  • What is the retention rate for Freshmen moving to Sophomores?
  • Is it required to live on campus during your first year?
  • How are the residence halls set up and assigned? Co-ed, athletics, majors, honors, etc.?
  • Can we take a tour of the dormitories?
  • Are students required to have a meal plan?
  • Can freshmen bring cars to campus?
  • How is parking set up? Are there restricted areas where students can and have to park? What are the costs of parking? 
  • For lectures, are they taught by professors or teacher assistants?
  • How accessible are professors to meet with outside of classroom time?
  • What is available on campus to assure safety for students?
  • Does the school offer free public transportation locally?
  • What is there to do on the weekends on campus and locally? Do most students stay or leave campus on weekends?
  • What are perks of attending the university? (eg, free access to games, gym, partnerships with local companies for discounts)

College Board for SAT and PSAT

Create a College Board Account

College Board SAT 2020-21 Student Guide

How to Create a Study Schedule for the SAT or ACT

PSAT NMSQT Study Guide

Understanding PSAT/NMSQT Scores 

Getting PSAT/NMSQT Scores

PSAT 8/9 Fast Facts for Parents & Guardians

4 Ways to Make the Most of Your PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 Scores

Free Test Prep Materials

Grand Ledge Area District Library

Khan Academy

Michigan E Library 

SAT Information

RETAKE the SAT

LANSING, MI KAPLAN SAT® PREP COURSES

Benefit from Kaplan's admissions expertise by attending a free event! They will help you raise your PSAT, SAT, ACT score and help you navigate the admissions process.  Our free full-length practice tests, admissions seminars and other events are designed to give you a competitive edge in the college admissions process.  

ZAPS SAT Test-Prep Seminar Doorway to College 

ACT Information

ACT Test Prep

It includes general preparation, strategies for taking the test, and sample questions. 

ACT Registration

ACT Test Preparation Workshops by Dr. Frank Bernier.

For schedule and registration form call Dr. Bernier at 517-349-6899. Cost: $60.

Learning Express

Sylvan Learning Center Test Prep

ACT Question of the Day

Rise and Shine Tutoring 

Peterson's ACT Test Prep

ZAPS ACT Test-Prep Seminar Doorway to College 

In the virtual tour videos, it is a playlist consisted of variety of college virtual tours. If you want to select a certain school, there is a playlist button, on the right side of the video. It will say 1/46 or 1/95 or 1/11. If you click on that button, it will show you the list of different schools. Select the school you would like to view virtually.

Virtual Michigan College Tours

 


 

Virtual Historical Black College and University College Tours

 


 

Virtual Federal Service Academy Tours

 


 

When you're deciding on a college to apply to, there are key factors you need to do first.

  1. Figure out where you see yourself in the future, your career (it's okay to have multiple in mind). Things to think about:
    • What are you interested in?
    • What are your hobbies?
    • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
    • What kind of changes or difference do you want to do?
    • What do you want to make an impact in?
  2. What major(s) fit the career(s) you see yourself in (you don't have to pick just one major, it's good to see if the college offers multiple majors you're interested in)
  3. You need to research the different schools that are there, a couple of resources:
    • USNEWS
    • Niche
    • Princeton Review
    • Social Media (Key Hashtags: ADayInTheLife(College Name), VirtualTours(College Name), DormsTour(College Name), FreshmanYearAt(College Name), CollegeLifeAt(College Name)

Now that you have retrieved your acceptance letters, it's time decide which school you should go to.

Deciding Factors:

  • Tuition Cost
  • Scholarship Offers
  • Financial Aid Offers
  • Faculty to Student Ratio
  • Student Population
  • Student Life (Activities, Events, Clubs, and Organizations)
  • Athletics
  • Dormitory
  • Major/Minor Opportunities
  • Internship Opportunities
  • Work Study Opportunities