With so many education and training options available after high school, it is important to start thinking about, deciding, and preparing as early as possible. Fortunately there are many resources available to help students, and families, find and prepare for the best post-secondary option for them. The Boys & Girls Club of Portage County – YouthForce can help too!

Below are resources that can be very informative and helpful on your journey through and after high school:

SPASH Career Center and School Counselors – are great resources available to all Stevens Point students. The helpful staff are experts in local career opportunities, college admission requirements, financial aid resources, apprenticeships, and much more. Stop by the Career Center or Counseling Office to let them know what you are interested in and find out how they can help you.

ACT Test – All high school Juniors are required to take the ACT test. It occurs in spring each year (normally March). Although the ACT is not as widely used to determine college admission acceptance as it used to be, there are still many colleges that use it as a determining factor. To make sure you score as well as possible on the ACT, students should consider making use of the many free preparation tools and resources available through the Free ACT Test Prep website, SPASH Career Center, and elsewhere.

Common App – Common App is a non-profit organization representing more than 1,000 colleges/institutions that use the same application for students to apply for admission. In addition to the application, Common App also has resources for exploring colleges, preparation to start in high school, financial aid options, and more.

Federal Student Aid & FAFSA – regardless of what post-secondary education option you choose, you will almost certainly be required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as the FAFSA. This is a critical step so don’t wait to learn about the FAFSA and how to complete it. The application process opens October 1st and is used to determine what and how much financial aid (of all types) you may qualify for.

College Goal Wisconsin – is a non-profit organization focused on helping students and families complete the FAFSA to help make attending college and post-secondary education institutions easier for everyone. They offer many in-person and virtual events where students/families can get individual assistance for completing the FAFSA.