Staff: Diane Ahlberg and Jody Hansen February 28Th, 2017

Staff: Diane Ahlberg and Jody Hansen February 28th, 2017 (763) 569-7665 or (763) 569-7627 The CCRC newsletter is provided on a monthly or semi-monthly basis to provide information on activities and events that are helpful to Park Center students and their parents. This publication is also on Park Center’s website (www.district279.org/sec/pcsh (under Academics or under Quick Links at right of home page).

IMPORTANT!!! Attention seniors: When you are asked to indicate your school counselor on college applications note Diane Ahlberg, [email protected], as your counselor. She is the counselor for senior students who need a recommendation letter, Secondary School Report or any other college reference.

AP EXAM REGISTRATION FINAL REMINDER!! Friday, 2/24 by 2:30PM, is the final day to register for AP exams without the $20 late fee. Students may still register after 2/24, but will be charged a $20 late fee per exam (fee waiver will not cover late fee). All registrations must be finalized and payments must be made in the CCRC by 3/1/17 at 2:30PM or your exam(s) will not be ordered. No exceptions. Register at www.totalregistration.net/ap/240319. You can earn up to $3,000 on Raise.me for taking an AP course and $2,000 in micro-scholarships for doing well on the exam from over 170 partner colleges. You can sign up on raise.me using this link: https://www.raise.me/join/11524534328

Test Date Registration Deadline (Late Fee Required)

April 8, 2017 March 3, 2017 March 4-17, 2017 June 10, 2017 May 5, 2017 May 6-19, 2017

TEST FEE PER TEST OPTION:  ACT (No Writing) $42.50  Includes reports for you, your high school, and up to four college choices (if valid codes are provided when you register).

 ACT Plus Writing $58.50  Includes reports for you, your high school, and up to four college choices (if valid codes are provided when you register). The Writing Test fee is refundable, on written request.

 5th & 6th college choice fee is $12 for each school.

 Late registration fee is $27.50.  Standby testing is $51 in addition to the basic fee, if you missed registration.

 Test date change fee is $25 in addition to the basic fee.

 Test center change fee is $25 in addition to the basic fee.

 Test information release service is $20.

 International testing is $33.

Students need to register on-line at www.actstudent.org ACT Inc. announced Tuesday that it will begin offering a summer test date for the ACT college admissions exam, beginning in 2018. ACT said it will add a seventh date to its 2017-18 line-up.

Students receiving free/reduced lunch can have their test fees waived TWICE by bringing a copy of the letter they received from Food Service to the CCRC to receive a waiver. Fee waivers do not include late fees.

Students can register for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests at www.collegeboard.org

Preparing for the ACT Test booklets that include a full length practice test, including the writing test, strategies to prepare for the test and what to expect on test day are available in the CCRC.

You can take free ACT or SAT practice tests online at: www.princetonreview.com/practicetest and at www.mncis.intocareers.org. Check out the Learning Express Library. There is a test prep resource that is a free resource for Park Center students available through ELM (Electronic Libraries for Minnesota). Here, you can access practice ACT, SAT, AP, TOEFL tests, as well as others. http://www.learningexpresshub.com/productengine/LELIndex.html#/learningexpresslibrary/libraryhome

Chegg offers ACT lessons, quizzes and practice tests. https://test-prep.chegg.com/#/dashboard.

Union Test Prep Free Practice Tests for the ACT: If passing the ACT is standing in the way of getting into the college of your dreams, there is help! A free ACT practice test to help you identify in which areas you are strong and which areas could use a little more work is available at https://uniontestprep.com/act/practice-test. Study only the subjects you are weak in, or dive in and test your skills in all four subject areas - it’s up to you!

WASTEBASKET REVIEW SCHOLARSHIP: Nearly 300 employees and community members of Independent School District 279 put on an annual variety show. Teachers, custodians, principals, cooks, secretaries, educational support professionals, and administrators all participate. The purpose of the show is to raise money for scholarships awarded to graduating students of the ACHIEVE program, Maple Grove Senior High, Osseo Area Learning Center, Osseo Senior High, Osseo Secondary Transition Center or Park Center Senior High to assist in the finance of their post-secondary education. Over $1,100,000 has been raised and 802 scholarships have been awarded since 1967!

Congratulation to our Park Center Wastebasket Revue Scholarship recipients: Tiaryn Daniels Savannah Juetten Jenny Tam Samantha Miller

Park Center has two ActSix Scholars!!! ActSix is an urban leadership scholarship that prepares and empowers young people from urban communities to change their neighborhoods through education and leadership development. This program brings together a diverse, multicultural group of emerging urban leaders who want to use their college education to make a difference on campus and in their home communities. Congratulations to Yeng Her who was awarded the North Central University ActSix full scholarship and Stephany Lopez who was awarded the University of Northwestern ActSix full scholarship!

BROOKLYNK: Get Work Ready Training! Paid Summer Internships! Wednesday, February 15th 1:00PM

Work Ready Training: Learn real skills for a real summer job! The trainings will be fun, led by local professionals, and focus on topics such as: Networking, Resume Building and Professionalism. Youth between the ages of 14-21 are eligible to apply. The mission of BrookLynk is to prepare youth with essential job skills, experiential employment opportunities, and professional social networks to develop personal pathways to college and career.

Summer Internships: Youth aged 16-19 who have completed BrookLynk Get Work Ready Training can apply for paid summer internships. Internships are coordinated with local employers and provide opportunities for young people to explore career fields, regardless of previous work experience. During their internship, interns will be coached and mentored by staff on-site while receiving further support from BrookLynk Staff.

Get more information or apply online at www.brooklynk.works/apply.

University of Minnesota – Morris Thursday, March 2nd 1:00PM St. Cloud State University Friday, March 3rd 1:30PM

North Dakota State College of Science Tuesday, March 14th 9:30AM

Hennepin Technical College Friday, March 17th 1:00PM (New Dental Assistant Scholarships have been announced & their Graphic Design facility has been redone.)

Hennepin Technical College - Auto Body Collision Technology Monday, March 20th 1:00PM

Rainy River Community College Tuesday, March 21st 1:00PM

University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Thursday, April 27th 8:00AM

Community colleges require freshman students to take the ACCUPLACER if they scored lower than a 21 on the reading part of the ACT, scored lower than an 18 on the English part of the ACT, scored lower than a 22 on the Math part of the ACT, or did not take the ACT at all. It is important to score high enough to be placed in college English and college math and not a developmental class to get you to college level in each of these. If you are assigned a developmental English or math class in college you have to pay the same as any other credit, but this credit does not go toward your diploma or degree. There is a free web based practice app for the Accuplacer with sample questions in each subject. Students can use this tool to explore the format and content of the tests, and get immediate explanations for both correct and incorrect answers. Go to https://accuplacerpractice.collegeboard.org/login to download the app.

NOTE TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS: The CCRC publishes the Scholarship Bulletin and Newsletter approximately every two weeks. The Scholarship Bulletin lists all the scholarships that we have received information on, including scholarships that are offered by local organizations which are available to residents of Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center or students who attend a District 279 school. Because these programs have restricted criteria, there is less competition and better “odds” for the student to be awarded scholarship monies. The CCRC Newsletter has information on events that are occurring in the area, testing information, and special programs that are being offered at Park Center PLUS helpful “Tidbits from the CCRC Staff”. These publications are distributed to the students’ advisory classes and are published on Park Center’s web site. If students and/or parents would like to have a copy of the Scholarship Bulletin (12th grade) and/or the Newsletter (all grade levels) sent directly to their e-mail, we are asking that you send a request to Jody Hansen at [email protected] and we will add you to our distribution list.

Sign up to attend the Horizons Conference for Women in STEM! Horizons is a day- long event hosted by The Society of Women Engineers at St. Cloud State University featuring hands-on STEM workshops, a keynote address from a female professional engineer and SCSU alumnus, and a chance to explore campus and experience aspects of college life. Attendees will get complimentary breakfast, lunch, t-shirts and goody bags. The event takes place Saturday, March 18th, 2017 from 8am to 4pm. Register at https://goo.gl/forms/zV2j8gmDGZlM9Tx43 All area students and families are welcome to attend a FREE Minnesota Education Fair (Sponsored by MACAC, Minnesota Association for College Admission Counseling). Visit with representatives from over 120 regional colleges, universities, community colleges, technical colleges, military academies, and specialty schools. For a complete list of schools visit www.mn-acac.org, and sign up for a scannable barcode at www.gotocollegefairs.com. Thursday, March 16, 2017, 6:00PM-8:00PM, Wayzata High School, 4955 Peony Lane, Plymouth 55446 The University of Kansas is hosting Jayhawk Night for area high school seniors and juniors. Jayhawk Night is open to high school seniors who have been admitted to KU and their families, as well as high school juniors who are considering KU and their families. Tuesday, March 7th at 6:30PM at the DoubleTree by Hilton- Minneapolis, 1500 Park Place Blvd, St. Louis Park. Event information and registration for students can be found at www.admissions.ku.edu/jayhawknight. Join the BDPA Twin Cities 2017 High School Technology Program. Register now for the free 2017 BDPA High School Technology Program (HSTP) for students from 8th to 12th grade which will be held every Saturday, February 18th – April 29th from 10:00AM – 2:00PM at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul. The High School Technology Program (HSTP) is a weekend program that introduces high school students to computer programming and other aspects of computer science. The students are taught project management, networking skills, and hear presentations from information technology professionals. Learn about careers in web programming and development by joining students interested in learning about computers. Calling all students interested in website design, content creators, etc. come join us to learn about these activities. Visit www.bdpatc.org/youth_programs.asp to learn more about our youth programs. Hibbing Community College is hosting an open house on Thursday, April 13th from 3:30PM to 6:00PM. Faculty, staff and students representing academic programs, admissions, student services, disability services and financial aid will be available to talk about programs and career options. There will also be campus tours, prize drawings and a light dinner for prospective students and families. Visit www.hibbing.edu for more information and to schedule your visit. Dunwoody College of Technology is hosting several open house events. All open houses are held from 3:00PM – 7:00PM. Pick a date that fits your schedule: March 7th, April 18th, May 9th, June 13th, July 11th and 25th. RSVP at www.Dunwoody.edu. The University of North Dakota is hosting several student events: April 28th – Honors Student Day, March 4th – Engineering and Geology Day, March 25th – Undeclared Student Day, April 1st – Education, Art and Science Day. For details for these events and to register go to http://und.edu/admissions/undergraduate/visit/index.cfm#SATURDAY. Interested in St. Kate's University? Spring Spotlight April 22nd: Half day program for students in any grades. Students will get a campus tour, admission presentation, and hear from student and faculty members about St. Kate's. Junior Overnight Preview - April 2nd – 3rd: An overnight program for juniors. Spend the night in one of the dorms and attend classes the next day. St. Kate's Bound – April 2nd-3rd: This is an overnight program for accepted seniors only. This is an exciting weekend for seniors who are using this event to make their decision about choosing St. Kate's. Schedule your visit at https://www.stkate.edu/admissions/visit/traditional- undergraduate-campus-visit. Anoka Ramsey Community College will be hosting Latino Information Nights on Wednesdays, March 8th and April 19th from 5:00PM – 6:00PM. RSVP to Fabiola Diaz at 763-433-1303.

Energy Explorers Great River Energy participates in the Northern Star Council’s “Exploring and Learning for Life” career program. The purpose of Great River Energy’s program is to provide high school students with information and experience in a variety of career fields possible in the energy industry. Students will explore technical careers related to the design, construction, operation and maintenance of utility power systems. These include generation, transmission, telecommunications network, and information technology systems. On Tuesday, March 21st: “Cyber Security – The good, the bad, the hackers” The demand for cyber security professionals is on fire! The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects this profession to proliferate at a rate of 18 % through 2024. Learn how YOU can become a “cyber-sleuth”! The presentation runs from 6:30PM – 8:00PM at the Great River Energy headquarters, 12300 Elm Creek Blvd in Maple Grove. The first 45 minutes consist of a professional, qualified man or woman talking about their career. The second 45 minutes will include a hands-on activity for students to experience that type of career. For more information and to register go to http://greatriverenergy.com/company/careers/a-rewarding-career- choice/energy-explorers/. Augustana University is hosting Junior Visit Day on April 7th and 28th. To register for a visit event or to schedule an individual visit go to www.augie.edu/visit. Dakota County Technical 2017 Spring Open House is on April 5th from 3:00PM – 7:00PM. DCTC, the Blue Knights, are NJCAA Division II and offer athletic opportunities in men’s soccer, basketball and baseball and women's soccer, basketball and softball. Very popular programs at Dakota County Technical are: Auto Body Collision, Auto Technician, Biomedical Equipment, Brewery and Beer Steward (age 21+), Dental Assistant, Electrical Construction, Electrical Line Worker, HVAC & Refrigeration, Heavy Construction Equipment, Heavy Duty Truck, Medical Assistant, Welding. To review DCTC scholarships go to www.dctc.edu/scholarships. The University of Wisconsin - River Falls offers College Visit Days as follows: March 24th, April 7th and 28th. Schedule your visit at www.uwrf.edu/visit. Minnesota State University - Moorhead invites you to their Preview Days on March 17th & 18th, and April 4th & 22nd. Campus Preview Days include a campus tour, student panel, visit with faculty, and a complimentary lunch. Register to attend at https://www.mnstate.edu/visit/#previewday.

First Step Summer Institute at St. Catherine University - Preparing young women of color and/or Indigenous women for higher education, the First Step Summer Institute is a free and unique college immersion experience on the St. Paul campus. In this four day residential program, students gain a deeper sense of commitment to pursue higher education, a strong network of diverse, college-bound friends, a sense of support and encouragement from St. Kate’s staff, faculty and students, more perspective on college living, and ultimately, increased self-esteem about their capacity to apply to and thrive in college. Qualified alumnae of Frist Step who apply and are accepted to St. Kate’s will be considered for scholarships. First Step session dates: June 20th – 22nd, and June 26th – 29th. Apply online at http://www.emailmeform.com/builder/emf/firststep/app, or pick up an application in the CCRC. The application deadline is April 17th. Camp Explore 2017 registration is now open. Camp Explore is a STEM career exploratory camp for high school students. Students will experience a variety of interactive hands-on activities and special field trips to get them excited about careers in the industries of agriculture, energy, engineering, healthcare, IT, manufacturing, and transportation. Sessions are led by professionals and faculty from area colleges and universities. Scholarships are available. Space is LIMITED so don’t wait, register today! * Moorhead Residential/Overnight Scrubs Camp, June 25-30, 2017, Location: Minnesota State University – Moorhead Camp Fee: $480 per camper (includes $30 non-refundable fee) Register and apply for scholarships at https://mnscu.rschooltoday.com/public/costoption/class_id/17300/public/1/sp/ * Winona Residential/Overnight Scrubs Camp, July 23-28, 2017, Location: Winona State University Camp Fee: $480 per camper (includes $30 non-refundable fee) Register and apply for scholarships at https://mnscu.rschooltoday.com/public/costoption/class_id/17291/public/1/sp/ Check out the Naval Academy Summer Seminar and STEM sessions: STEM is a week of academic immersion and takes full advantage of the Naval Academy’s academic resources. Engineering is all about creating, building, and making things better! So what does it take to be an engineer? If you like math and science, you are off to a great start. If you enjoy discovering new things, solving programs and learning how things work – even better! Creativity, persistence, and the desire to make the world a better place are also important qualities. Becoming an engineer requires hard work and a good education. The summer program could be a great start to your career in science and engineering. It is open to rising freshman, sophomores and juniors. Apply at https://www.usna.edu/homepage.php MACAC Camp College! The Inclusion, Access, and Success Committee is excited to announce that applications are now live for MACAC’s third annual free Camp College! Students and mentors can apply today to be an important part of this year’s Camp College event at Bethany Lutheran College on July 10-11, 2017. Camp College is designed for current high school juniors (graduating class of 2018) from non-traditional backgrounds that would benefit from a college readiness program. The selection committee will give additional consideration to students from rural areas, first-generation college students, and students from low-income households. Students will have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Student and mentor applications are now available online at: http://mn-acac.org/CAMP-COLLEGE. Applications for both students and mentors are due on March 15th. The Carlson School of Management at the U of M - Twin Cities invites students to apply for GOPHER BUSINESS, a week long residential business program (July 22 – 29). Gopher Business participants will: engage with Carlson School faculty and learn business fundamentals, solve a real organizational challenge for a local non-profit organization, visit Fortune 500 companies and meet business leaders, live on the bustling University of Minnesota campus, gain access to a special scholarship opportunity. The program is absolutely free. Gopher Business applicants must: be high school sophomores or juniors in the 2016-17 school year, identify with a racial or ethnic group that is underrepresented in higher education, be the first in their family to attend college, be low income or have encountered other barriers to educational opportunities, have an interest in or aptitude for business, and submit an application by April 1st, 2017. Strong candidates have a minimum 3.5 GPA, have taken rigorous or advanced coursework with an emphasis in math and science, and have demonstrated leadership and involvement. Apply at http://carlsonschool.umn.edu/ . MN Business Venture - Do you have the next great business idea? Do you want to meet people who will help you learn about careers? Are you in high school? Attend Minnesota Business Venture 2016! Learn how to create your own business at BestPrep’s Minnesota Business Venture (MBV) program! MBV is a week-long, residential summer program that brings 9-12th grade students together to learn about leadership, business, financial literacy, and career options. Students spend a week on campus at St. Cloud State University – July 9 – 14, or St. John’s University – July 23 – 28, to experience college life firsthand. Resident business leaders, speakers, mock interviewers and other volunteers mentor and guide students through the week’s activities, including creating a business plan in a group, or “company.” Students pay $150 for the week which includes room and board ($200 after April 21, 2017). Applications are accepted on a "first come/first serve" basis. Financial aid is available. For more information on this program and to apply go to http://bestprep.org/programs/minnesota-business-venture/. The University of Wisconsin – Madison offers an Engineering Summer Program. ESP is a fully funded, six- week residential program for students who are currently sophomores and juniors in high school. ESP course curriculum includes mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering design, and technical communications. ESP alumni leave with a lifetime of memories, new friends, and academic skillsets needed to be successful in a first year engineering curriculum. Students also develop lifelong skills such as networking, team building, and public speaking. The ESP 2017 application is now open! The application deadline is Monday, April 3, 2017. Go to https://esp.engr.wisc.edu/esp/ for more information and to apply.

Three Rivers Park District is looking for youth, ages 12 – 18, to volunteer for their Outdoor Rec Youth Crew. It is a fun, hands-on way to gain leadership skills, experience personal growth and develop outdoor recreation skills. Program participants will serve as assistants at our summer camps, guiding young campers in a wide variety of activities. Visit ThreeRiversParks.org for more information.

HOW TO SEND YOUR TRANSCRIPT: For the second year, Osseo School District is offering FREE electronic transcripts for current students. Students needing a transcript should go to www.parchment.com, set up a personal profile using an e-mail address that is not their school apps e-mail address and then request their transcript to be sent electronically. Transcripts will be processed within two school days with the following exceptions – weekends, holidays, during processing of final transcript grades and two days before and three days after trimester end. Former students will be charged a $5.00 processing fee for this service. Note: When putting in your school, put in “Park Center” only and a drop down menu will come up and then choose “Park Center IB World”.

HENNEPIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE APPLICANTS…. IMPORTANT TRANSCRIPT INFORMATION When sending your transcript through Parchment to Hennepin Technical College you must use the following e-mail address as the recipient’s address: [email protected]

Work With Skyhawks! The Skyhawk Summer Camp Program is looking for students who are at least 17 years of age by June 1st, have varsity level experience playing and/or coaching, a minimum 3.0 GPA and reliable transportation. The Skyhawks Sports summer camps typically start when schools let out for summer break and continue up until school begins. Most Skyhawks Sports summer camps are a week long and run for three hours a day. There are a few camps that run for six hours a day, and a few locations that run back-to-back half-day camps. If you are ready for the best job you will ever have click here to apply: https://www.skyhawks.com/staff/application/

Applications for Tree Trust’s Summer Youth Employment Program are open! The application and more information can be found on the program website. Youth are encouraged to apply online but paper applications can be sent upon request. The application deadline is March 15th at 4:00PM. The Program: Tree Trust’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is an up-to-nine-week paid work experience designed to help young people learn and practice basic job skills. All jobs pay $9.50 per hour and have an average of 20 scheduled hours per week from June 19th to August 18th. Eligibility: To be eligible for the program, youth must meet all of the following requirements: • Be at least 14 years old and less than 22 years old on June 19, 2017 • Have low family income, special needs and/or other risk factors • Live in Dakota, suburban Hennepin, or Washington county Please call Tree Trust at 952-767-3884 or email Brent Eikenhorst with any additional questions. http://treetrust.org/programs/employment-programs/summer-youth-employment-program/ Boston Scientific is has immediate openings in entry level Medical Assembly in Maple Grove. They offer referral, safety and reliability bonuses! All of their opportunities are considered long term, contract to hire based on performance and attendance. If offered a permanent position with Boston Scientific you would receive a pay increase and full time health benefits! $1,000 - $1,500 sign on bonus! $100-$500 referral bonus! Starting pay is $12.50-$13.75 per hour. Full time employees have tuition reimbursement of up to $8,000 per year!!! Apply online at www.resourcemfg.com. After completing your application call 612-354-8534 to schedule an interview.

3 Types of FAFSA Deadlines You Should Pay Attention To

From Homeroom – the official blog of the U.S. Department of Education Ah deadline, the sworn enemy of students across the nation. When you’re busy with classes, extracurricular activities, and a social life in whatever time you’ve got left, it’s easy to lose track and let due dates start whooshing by. All of a sudden, your U.S. history paper is due at midnight, and you still don’t know Madison from a minuteman. We get it. Nevertheless, we’re here to point out a few critical deadlines that you really shouldn’t miss: those to do with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). By submitting your FAFSA late, you might be forfeiting big money that can help you pay for college. Luckily for you, you’ve got just three types of deadlines to stay on top of. Here are those three deadlines:

1. The College Deadline - The first type of deadline comes from colleges themselves, and—spoiler alert—it’s typically pretty early. These deadlines vary from school to school, but they usually come well before the academic year starts. If you’re applying to multiple colleges, be sure to look up each school’s FAFSA deadline and apply by the earliest one.

Many of these FAFSA due dates are priority deadlines. This means that you need to get your FAFSA in by that date to be considered for the most money. Many colleges have this date clearly marked on their financial aid pages. If you can’t find it, you can always call your school’s financial aid office.

If you’re worried about gathering information to complete the FAFSA in time to meet this deadline, don’t be. Beginning with the 2017-18 FAFSA, you’ll be able to apply as early as October 1 (instead of January 1 as you may have done in the past). This earlier submission date will give you more time to complete the FAFSA before college deadlines approach, which means more time to compare schools and more certainty. You’ll use earlier (2015) tax information, so there’s no need for estimates and most people will be able to automatically import tax information directly into the FAFSA. Didn’t think it could get any easier? The earlier launch date coincides with many college application deadlines, so go ahead and apply for schools and for federal aid at the same time. If you haven’t figured out where you’re applying yet, don’t worry! You can still submit the FAFSA now. Just add any school you’re considering, even if you’re not sure whether you’ll apply or be accepted. You can always add or remove schools later.

2. The State Deadline - The second deadline is determined by your home state. Check your state’s deadline here. Some states have suggested deadlines to make sure you get priority consideration for college money, and some just want you to get the FAFSA in as soon as you can. Several states that offer first come, first served financial aid will be changing their deadlines from “as soon as possible after January 1” to “as soon as possible after October 1” to match the application’s earlier launch. If your state’s deadline is “As soon as possible after October 1, 2016,” you should get your FAFSA submitted ASAP. Many of these states award financial aid funds only until they run out, so the sooner you apply the better your chances. 3. The Federal Deadline - This last deadline comes from us, the Department of Education, aka the FAFSA folks. This one is pretty low-pressure. Our only time constraint is that each year’s FAFSA becomes unavailable on June 30 at the end of the academic year it applies to. That means that the 2017–18 FAFSA (which launched on Oct. 1, 2016) will disappear from fafsa.gov on June 30, 2018, because that’s the end of the 2017–18 school year. That’s right; you can technically go through your entire year at college before accessing the FAFSA. However, a few federal student aid programs have limited funds, so be sure to apply as soon as you can. Also, as we said, earlier deadlines from states and colleges make waiting a bad idea.

Why so many deadlines? All these entities award their financial aid money differently and at different times. What they all have in common, though, is that they use the FAFSA to assess eligibility for their aid programs. So when a college wants to get its aid squared away before the academic year starts, it needs your FAFSA to make that happen. If you want in on that college money, you need to help the college out by getting your information in by its deadline. Same goes for state aid programs. Additionally, many outside scholarship programs need to see your FAFSA info before they will consider your application. If you’re applying for scholarships, you need to stay on top of those deadlines, too.