The Common App is *a free online application platform that allows students to apply to multiple colleges and universities with one application*. The Common App is used by more than 1 million students each year and is accepted by over 1,000 colleges worldwide. 

The Common App offers a number of benefits, including: 

*   Application process guidance

    The Common App provides information on the college admissions process and how to plan and apply to college. 

*   Financial aid and scholarship opportunities

    The Common App connects students with financial aid and scholarship resources. 

*   Application tracking

    The Common App dashboard helps students keep track of application documents and deadlines. 

*   Advice

    The Common App offers advice from counselors, advisors, and mentors. 

*   Access to student advice

    The Common App provides access to advice from students who have been through the college application process. 


What is Common App?

A scholarship is a monetary award given to a student who meets certain criteria to pay for college or post-secondary education. The criteria vary by scholarship, but is usually based on GPA, SAT/ACT test scores, community involvement, area of study, personal essays/essay prompts, and financial need.Valley High School counselors have worked hard to compile a list of scholarships. There are different types of scholarships such as; national, state, local, district, high school, and college-specific. VHS counselors are here to help you apply for scholarships! We also love to hear when you are awarded scholarship money; that way we can brag about you! Please let your counselor know about any scholarships that you are awarded! NOTE: We do not recommend that you pay for any scholarship search services.VHS Scholarship List Seniors! Scholarship time is starting. There are many scholarships that you can look at on the main page of the VHS Counseling page. These scholarships are generated by Going Merry. This is a good site to log into and add your personal information. Going Merry will compile a local and regional scholarship list based on the information you provided. Xello is also a great place to look for scholarships. The more interest inventories and information you provide to Xello the more scholarships will be recommended for you. We are also adding all local scholarships to the Xello list. Please take the time to review ALL of the supporting documents BEFORE applying for any scholarships! Reach out to your counselor if you have further questions after reviewing all the application instructions! Additional scholarships will be added as information on them is received.


Scholarships

The Daniels Scholarship Program helps make college possible for motivated and ambitious students.The Daniels Fund Committee is looking for students with great potential, strong character, big dreams, and values that align with the man behind it all, Bill Daniels. Daniels Scholars® are America’s next generation of leaders, persevering through life’s challenges and committed to making a difference in the world around them. They are independent and entrepreneurial thinkers who are proud of their country and their communities and work hard to improve them.

**What are the selection criteria for the Daniels Fund Program?**

*Bill Daniels was a cable television pioneer known for his compassion for those in need and his unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity. Bill loved America dearly. He fought in two wars to defend our country and the freedoms we enjoy today. Bill Daniels was also passionate about the free enterprise system, which he believed provided the best opportunity to help people improve their livesDaniels Scholars are selected because they embody the criteria Bill Daniels defined for the program:*   Strength of character

*   Leadership Potential

*   Academic Performance or Promise

*   Well-Rounded personality

*   Emotional Maturity and Stability

Bill Daniels would also want his scholars to uphold the values that meant so much to him. Those values include ethics and integrity, honesty, respect for people, loyalty and reliability, entrepreneurial spirit, patriotism and dedication to community, commitment to excellence, and etiquette.

**What does the Daniels fund program cover?**

The Daniels Scholarship, along with generous contributions from partner schools, covers the full cost of attendance (COA) at partner schools within Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.\* A full list of partner schools is available here. Scholars who choose to attend a school outside our 4-state region receive up to $25,000 a year for qualified educational expenses that can be used towards: Tuition and fees room and board books and supplies, and Miscellaneous educational expenses. Scholars also receive a laptop computer and support before, during, and after college\*$7,500 annually for schools within a four-state region outside of partnership agreements.

**Eligibility for Daniels Fund Program**

To be eligible for the Daniels Scholarship Program, students must meet the following requirements at the time of application: Be a graduating high school senior,  a resident of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or WyomingBe a citizen or permanent resident of the United StatesEarn a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 in high school (on an unweighted 4.0 scale). Earn a minimum SAT Math score of 490 and a minimum Evidence-Based Reading & Writing score of 490, or a minimum ACT score of 18 in each category (writing score not required). Meet financial eligibility requirements as described below. Financial Eligibility DetailsIn order to be eligible for the Daniels Scholarship Program, applicants must demonstrate financial need through Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $100,000 or less on the 2023 federal tax return on which the applicant is claimed as a dependent and review of other assets. If there are additional dependents, beyond the applicant, claimed on the 2023 tax return, we allow for $10,000 of additional income for each additional dependent.

**Where can the Daniels Fund Program be used?**

Daniels Scholars may attend any two-year or four-year, nonprofit, accredited college or university in the United States. Scholars must intend to complete a bachelor's degree, and those starting at a two-year college must be on a path to earning a bachelor's degree. Daniels Scholarships may not be used at technical or trade schools, or for participation in certificate programs.

**Why apply?**

If you attend a partner school within our four-state region (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming), the Daniels Scholarship and your university work together to cover your full cost of attendance!\* You can also choose to attend an eligible school outside our four-state region and receive $25,000 per year. Additionally, as a Daniels Scholar, you’ll receive:

*   A new laptop computer



*   Support from our dedicated team 



*   leadership development opportunities



*    Community involvement opportunities



*    career advancement opportunities



*   $7,500 annually for schools within a 4-state region outside of the partnership agreement.

**Application Process and Timeline**

Applications must be submitted online through the application website between September 16 and October 18, 2024Applicants invited to participate in the Semi-Finalist phase will be asked to submit essay question responses and letters of recommendation between October 28 and November 15, 2024During the process, applicants will be required to submit documents verifying eligibility including their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) 2023 federal tax return, ACT/SAT scores, citizenship and residency documentation, proof of college enrollment for additional claimed dependent(s) and FAFSA Submission Summary. We recommend that all students complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after it opens. All Semi-Finalists will be notified in January whether or not they have been selected as a finalist, and finalists will be invited to participate in a personal interview. Interviews are conducted in February and March by local community leaders. Daniels Scholars are announced in late March and must attend our scholarship orientation conference in June (for which all expenses are paid by the Daniels Fund).[ Daniels Fund Application](https://www.danielsscholarship.org/)

Daniels Fund Scholarship

**What is the Boettcher Scholarship?**

The Boettcher Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for Colorado high school seniors that is awarded in partnership with our state’s four-year, nonprofit institutions of higher education. At Boettcher, we define merit to mean superior scholastic ability/intellectual curiosity, leadership, service, character, and more. We care deeply about lived experience and the context in which a student has thrived as a leader, either because of or in spite of personal circumstances. The comprehensive scholarship program has two models—Cost of Attendance and Tuition & Fees—that support the Foundation’s mission to invest in the promise of Colorado and the potential of Coloradans.

**What are the eligibility requirements?**

Students are eligible to apply for a Boettcher Scholarship if they meet the following minimum criteria: 

Be a graduating Colorado high school senior who has lived in Colorado for your full junior and senior years of high school;

Apply during the fall of what is your final year of high school, even if you are considering taking a gap year after graduation;

Graduate from a Colorado high school; AND 

Be a citizen, legal permanent resident, or lawfully present (including through Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)  in the United States OR Meet the requirements and have applied or started the process of applying for citizenship, legal status, or lawful presence. (Although students can be in the application process for citizenship, legal status, or lawful presence during the Boettcher selection timeframe, in order to become a Boettcher Scholar, you must provide documentation that shows you have successfully completed the process.)

**How to access the scholarship application**

Applications can be accessed through our website on the Scholarship Application page. Applications open in early September and are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 1 of your senior year. Your high school counselor will need to fill out additional forms and submit an official transcript within a week after you submit your application, so we encourage you to be in frequent communication with your counselor to ensure that all deadlines are met. As a reminder, we are not requiring ACT or SAT scores, though if you have test scores your counselor will be able to report them on your behalf. Ensuring that all application materials are submitted by the appropriate deadline is your responsibility.

**What is the timeline for applying for the Boettcher Scholarship?**

Boettcher Scholarship applications open in early September and are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 1 of your senior year. Applications can be accessed on our Scholarship Application page. All applicants are notified of their status via email. Semifinalists will be selected in mid-December and asked to submit two letters of recommendation. Approximately 100 finalists will be notified via email in February and will be interviewed in March. Soon after the finalist interviews, the winners are notified — 42 for the class of 2021 and 50 for the classes of 2022 and beyond.


Boettcher Scholarship?

Because the scholarship targets students who have spent their junior and senior years in Colorado high schools, our application is in English. We do provide [overview materials in Spanish](https://boettcherfoundation.org/scholarships/prospective-scholars/las-becas/).

Ver el vídeo: [todo lo que debes saber de las becas](https://vimeo.com/720343242).


Scholarship iIformation and Resources in Spanish 

Going Merry Scholarships

**College Visits**

We encourage all students to visit colleges whenever possible. Getting a campus tour, attending an information session, and possibly experiencing the dorms, cafeterias, and classes is a great way to get a "feel" for a school. Here are some local Colorado colleges and information for visiting their campuses.

[University of Northern Colorado](https://www.unco.edu/visit/)

[](https://www.unco.edu/visit/)[Colorado State University](https://admissions.colostate.edu/visits-events/)

[University of Colorado- Boulder](https://www.colorado.edu/admissions/visit)

[Colorado School of Mines](https://apply.mines.edu/portal/campus-visit?tab=home)

[MESA University](https://www.coloradomesa.edu/visit/daily-campus-tours.html)

[Metro State University](https://www.msudenver.edu/visit/)

[AIMS Community College](https://www.aims.edu/prospective/campus-tour.php)

[Northeastern Junior College](https://www.njc.edu/visit-campus)

**ACT & SAT**

The ACT & SAT are required college entrance exams. They are used by college admissions offices, scholarship programs, and even sometimes by employers. Students must register for the exams on the exam website. The tests are given on Saturdays at various test center locations throughout the state. Students do NOT have to take both exams, most colleges will accept either one.

*Please see the counselors if you have questions, need help getting registered, need study guides, or need a fee waiver.*

**ACT Exam Dates & Deadlines**

[ACT Registration](https://my.act.org/account/signin?location=https://my.act.org).  The site also has general information on the ACT exam, test dates, practice tests, and financial aid.

**SAT Exam Dates & Deadlines**

[SAT Registration.](https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/registration/online-registration/registering) The College Board also provides good general information on the exam, practice tests, and financial aid.

**Financial Aid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)**

All colleges and universities require their students to fill out the FAFSA to be considered for financial aid. Filling out the FAFSA online is recommended because the processing time is so much faster than with a paper application. You can complete the application at your own pace and easily check the status of it later. Follow these instructions to get started:

*   Before completing the FAFSA online, you must obtain a PIN number at www.pin.ed.gov

*   With your PIN number  go to www.fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA website also has useful information about other financial aid programs offered by the government.

*   Financial aid is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Fill out the application as soon as possible in January. You can change and/or update the information later if necessary.

*   Men 18 years or older must register for the selective service to receive financial aid. Register online at www.sss.gov.

*   Many priority financial aid deadlines fall in February. To get the most out of your financial aid package, do not miss the college's priority date.

\*\*\*\*[**Apply for financial aid**](http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.)  **This is a free application. If a website asks you to pay money, then you are at the wrong website.**

**Types of Financial Aid**

**Grants**

Awarded based on financial need financial assistance that does not require repaymentMany colleges/universities have their own grant programs.

**Work Study**

Provides students with jobs on campus funded by federal and state governments

**Loans**

Federal loans (like Stafford loans) and private loans are available. Some schools offer loans as part of the financial aid package. If your school doesn't include loans and you have an unmet need, ask your financial aid office. You do not have to accept loans. You ARE responsible for paying back this type of aid.
