Class of 2024 Senior Notes

It’s your senior year! Time to start planning for life beyond high school…

Your counselors are here for you. Make an appointment at any time to assist with planning. You
can reach us by email, phone, or send us a message through google classroom.

A-C Mr. Budeski

D-G Mrs. Pace
H-L Mrs. Schoenen
M-R Mrs. Lowry
S-Z Mrs. Johnson

Please, please, please get in the habit of checking our Google Classrooms VERY regularly. We post
information about school events, scholarships, employment, etc.

Focus on passing high school classes

● Check PowerSchool to ensure you are meeting the graduation requirements
***It is your responsibility to know if you have met all the graduation requirements. If you
don’t know or are worried, see your counselor ASAP!
● Differentiated diplomas
Comprehensive: 23 credits, standard diploma
Concentration: 23 credits, 3 or more credits (in addition to the minimum) in STEM,
CTE, Arts, or Humanities (foreign language, journalism, psych, social studies
electives)
Honors: 26 credits, 3.3 GPA, 6 or more honors, dual credit or AP credits
● Differentiated Diploma deadline Feb 15

Explore options and determine if you are college or career bound.

● MCIS has interest inventories and career matching—
● https://www.montanacolleges.com/students.html has some great resources for
investigating school choice
● https://portal.mtcis.intocareers.org/ is a great website to research different career options
● ASVAB - Wednesday November 1st
Career Bound?
● Military
○ Visit with recruiters, either at school or contact them outside of school
■ Mr. Budeski can put you in touch with recruiters
○ Take ASVAB November 1st (sign up with Mr. Budeski)
○ Research benefits of each branch of service
○ ROTC—go to college while committing to a branch of the military and receive
scholarship money during college
● Apprenticeships
○ Learn on the job
○ View a list of possible apprenticeships at http://apprenticeship.mt.gov/
● Local apprenticeship program (prospective & current)
○ DA Davidson
○ Sletten
○ Dick Anderson
○ Talcott Construction
○ Central Plumbing & Heating
○ Loenbro
○ ADF
○ Johnson Electric
○ Benefis
○ Alluvion
○ Great Falls Clinic
○ GFPS
● Work
○ Make sure to update your resume
○ Explore options and research potential job fields
■ Satisfaction
■ Rate of Pay
○ Find people (teachers, counselors, coaches, etc.) to provide a reference for you
○ Contact your local Job Service
■ https://montanaworks.gov/job-service-montana/
○ Worlds of Work October September 26, 2023 1:30–3:30 @Providence and GFC-
MSU, please register https://members.greatfallschamber.org/events/details/worlds-
of-work-wow-career-exploration-179596
College Bound?
Take college entrance tests if necessary. Deadlines are important! Sign up before September
22nd for the school test on October 28th. Sign up on your own at their website.
● ACT $60 or with writing $88 act.org
● SAT $60 sat.org (offered at GFHS)

Many schools are test-optional admission. The Montana University System no longer requires
the ACT for acceptance. You may have to take a placement test through the college before you
schedule college classes.
● Dec. ACT/SAT test dates are the last test dates to qualify for certain scholarships
***The Montana University System Honor Scholarship (MUS Honor Scholarship still
requires an ACT or SAT score.)
● Practice Tests:
www.actstudent.org/sampletests/ www.march2success.com
www.testprepreview.com (has resources and strategies for general test-
taking)
● Research schools and degrees—certificates vs. associate’s degree vs.
bachelor’s degree
○ Major
○ Cost
○ Public vs. private
○ Location
○ Probability of being accepted
○ Financial Aid
○ Visit with college representatives who visit throughout the year—sign
up in the Counseling Center
○ College Fair 21st of September at University of Providence

● Admissions/Application Process
○ In-state requirements
1. College prep diploma (4 English, 3 math, 2 science, 2 concentration electives)
and
a. 2.5 GPA or
b. Rank in top half of class or
c. Score 22 on ACT composite score or 1120 on SAT
 d. Must have at least 22 on the math portion of ACT or 4 years of rigorous
high school math. Students who score between 18-21 on ACT must
pass a math course within the first 3 semesters
e. Must have at least 18 combined English/writing, or a 7 on the writing
subscore, or pass a writing course within the first 3 semesters
*ACT scores are no longer required for admission into colleges withins the
Montana University System. They are required for some scholarships, out of
state colleges, and private schools.

● Most applications available online

○ https://applymontana.mus.edu/ (fill out one application and apply to multiple
public colleges and universities). Private schools will have their own application on
their individual websites. (Carroll College, University of Providence, and Rocky
Mountain College)
● Out of state schools—apply early and deadlines are crucial
● 7th semester grades are important and schools do look at them
● Obtaining a transcript
○ Sign the transcript release form in the packet and return to Mrs. Breuer in the
Records Office, it is your responsibility to notify our records office of requests for
transcripts to be sent.

College Application Weeks—October 9-13.

We will be in the STEM Conference room on October 11th to help with applications.
This would be a great time to get your applications done! Apply for free to one or more in-
state schools using the central application. https://applymontana.mus.edu/
Montana’s tribal colleges and private universities will also offer free applications during
College Application Week. Utilize their website for applications.

● Scholarships
○ Scholarship Night is September 19 at 5:30! Postcards will be mailed home.
■ Remember, this process is competitive and there are no guarantees; however,
you will not be awarded scholarships if you do not apply for them.
○ Awarded based on talent (grades, athletics, music, leadership, drama, etc.)
○ Intended major (engineering, teaching, architecture, healthcare)
 ■ CMR-based scholarships
● Scholarship Scoop published monthly-- handouts in Advisement Center
or at http://cmrcounseling.weebly.com/scholarships.html
● Reminders sent through google classroom
● College specific based scholarships
● Research under individual college website
■ Community-based organization/affiliation scholarships
● Parents’ work, clubs, church, civic organizations
■ University/college entering freshman scholarships
■ State-scholarships
● https://www.reachhighermontana.org/(follow them on instagram and
facebook for updates and opportunities)
● 2 + 2 Scholarship Montana University System
https://mus.edu/Prepare/Pay/Scholarships/2_Plus_2_Honor_Scholarsh
ip.html

○ Be aggressive in researching and applying for available scholarships

○ Deadlines are absolute
www.fastweb.com www.cappex.com www.studentaid.gov
***See Mrs. Lowry or Ms. Kemph with questions
● ROTC
○ Apply to the school’s ROTC program
○ Grades, leadership are important considerations
○ Deadline—think Oct 1 with absolute Dec.
● NCAA/NAIA
○ Must apply through NCAA Clearinghouse for Division I and II sports
○ www.ncaaclearinghouse.org
■ $100.00 fee
■ Generally, must have 16 credits in accepted core classes. Must have 3
math for which Algebra 1 is a prerequisite
■ Must have your ACT or SAT scores sent directly to the NCAA
Clearinghouse, not from CMR (test-optional this year)
○ NAIA register at www.playnaia.org/eligibility-center
■ $80 fee
● Financial Aid
○ Financial aid vs. Scholarships (Need based vs. talent based)
■ Grants—need based, do not pay back
■ Loans—from college or bank
■ Work Study—need based, provide paid position on campus
○ Application Procedure
■ FAFSA—Free Application for Federal Student Aid--
1. Register for FAFSA Pin at https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-
account/launch
a. Student needs a pin and parent needs a pin
2. File FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
a. You will need your parents’ 2022 tax return or their information
to link electronically to the FAFSA
b. You will need parents’ social security numbers
c. As of right now-FAFSA will not open until December 31st, 2023

3. Need help? Please refer to videos on CMR counseling website or see

your counselor.

*Watch for video directions and FAFSA sessions to be offered in the

spring. We will post to your counseling google classrooms.

Important Dates to Remember

● 9/12 Senior Info during Connections ● 12/09 ACT Test @ CMR
● 9/19 5:30 pm Scholarship Info Night ● 1/1 FAFSA Opens-Deadline TBD

● 10/1 SAT @ GFH ● 1/19 End of Semester 1

● 10/3-10/7 College Application Week ● 2/17 Differentiated Diploma
Deadline
● 10/22 National ACT at CMR
● TBA Senior Notes
● 11/1 ASVAB
● 5/24 Last day for seniors
● 12/2 SAT Test @ GFH
● 5/28 Graduation
http://cmrcounseling.weebly.com/senior.html