College Planning
Welcome to the College Planning page! Access various college planning resources below:
- Preparing for College
- Resources for Choosing a College
- Direct Applications: Institutional applications completed for individual colleges/universities.
- Financial Aid
- Scholarships
Preparing for College
Preparing for College
Need a step by step guide for applying to colleges? Check out Mounds View's "Application Cheat Sheet" and make sure you have all of your boxes checked!
Preparing for college begins in middle school and continues all the way to high school graduation. Talk with your teachers, dean and family about what courses are best for you, where you might want to attend, and what you want to do as a career.
Check out this helpful resource:
Check out this useful platform for all things college planning! This site has unlimited free resources for writing a college essay, college application assistance, college search tools, free online course videos, and more! There are numerous tips and tricks for how to make the college application process as easy and less stressful as possible:
Want to learn how to write a college essay directly from a college admissions representative? Then check out the power point here on some great tips and tricks!
Junior Post Secondary Prep power point
Check out this slideshow that covers important information for upcoming seniors! From how to research colleges, to how to discover your career interest, and specific college application steps, stay informed and let Mrs. Hendrickson know if you have any questions!
Resources for Choosing a College
Free Application Opportunities at Minnesota Colleges & Universities
Identify What You Want in a School
Choosing a College - 2023-2024 College Programs & Profiles
U.S News College Ranking Search
Naviance SuperMatch College Search
- Click on 'Student'
- Click on 'Continue with Single Sign-On' (be sure you are logged into your school google account)
- Click on 'Colleges' at the top of the page
- Click on 'SuperMatch College Search' under 'Find Your Fit'
Direct Applications: Institutional applications completed for individual colleges/universities.
Common App
The Common Application is a single online college application form used by over 900 colleges and universities. Instead of filling out the same general information—like your address, GPA, and extracurriculars— a dozen times, you only have to do it once.
Refer to this Application Guide for step-by-step instructions on how to complete your application.
Information you will need to complete your Common App:
Irondale High School
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Mounds View High School
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Questbridge
Questbridge is a powerful platform that connects the nation's brightest students from low-income backgrounds with leading institutions of higher education and further opportunities.
Financial Aid
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
Before each year of college, apply for federal grants, work-study, and loans with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Your college uses your FAFSA data to determine your federal aid eligibility. Many states and colleges use FAFSA data to award their own aid. After submission, you'll receive your Student Aid Report (SAR)
Free financial aid events are available to Minnesota students and families via Zoom! The series, running four Tuesday evenings in January, will cover details on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the Minnesota Dream Act for undocumented students, how to search for scholarships, and understanding aid offers.
All sessions are at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday nights and will last approximately 45-60 minutes. Participants can ask
questions in the chat. Participants can attend any number of sessions (choose dates during registration). Suggested
audience is 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students and their parent(s)/guardian(s).
• January 7: Apply for Financial Aid: FAFSA | 12th grade students who are U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens
• January 14: Apply for Financial Aid: MN Dream Act | 12th grade students who are undocumented
• January 21: Scholarship Search | 10-12th grade students
• January 28: Understand Your Aid Offer | 12th grade students
All sessions will be on Zoom, but space is limited. Students and families can register at the following link:
bit.ly/RSFAFSA. Session materials and recordings will be posted on the same page after each event.
Federal and State Grants
Federal and state governments provide grants for students attending college or career school. Most types of grants, unlike loans, are sources of free money that generally do not have to be repaid.
Paying for College and Financial Aid Resources
Federal Student Aid - An Office of the U.S. Department of Education
Minnesota Office of Higher Education - A cabinet-level state agency providing students with financial aid programs and information to help them gain access to post-secondary education.
Scholarships
Application opens: Friday, November 22, 2024
Application closes: Friday, January 10, 2025
Mounds View Public Schools has established a long-standing tradition of working with community businesses and organizations to provide local scholarships to graduating seniors. The scholarship program is aimed at reinforcing the District's Equity Promise of supporting all students in achieving their post-secondary goals, whether at a two-year college or a four-year college or university.
Wallin Scholarship Application NOW OPEN:
This scholarship is for any student who will be attending a 4-year school in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin or any HBC school. The scholarship is worth up to $16,000 over 4 years of college. There are requirements to be eligible for scholarships so take a look if you qualify. Apply by Friday (1/31). If you have questions, see your dean.
PMA Educational Foundation Scholarship
The mission of HBCU Week has been to uplift high school students, guiding them towards opportunities at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through scholarships and vital networking events. Check out some of the scholarships that are available to high school seniors applying to HBCU schools!
Minnesota Masonic Charities Scholarships
Minnesota Masonic Charities is a nonprofit organization that provides important services and contributes to many charitable causes in the name of Minnesota Masonry. They have numerous scholarship opportunities for high school students.
The PMAEF (The Precision Metalforming Association Educational Foundation), is offering scholarships/tooling awards of $1,000 or more to individuals seeking a career in the metalforming industry. Each award is for one year and will be granted based on academic merit.
Anoka Ramsey Community College & Anoka Technical College Scholarship: If you are attending either ARCC or ATC this fall, then you are eligable to complete this scholarship! Apply by April 30th!
Scholarship Search Engines
Minnesota Institutional Scholarships
Local Scholarships
Minnesota Scholarship Directory - a list of 100+ vetted scholarships for students across the state, broken down by month.
PFUND Foundation Scholarship - PFund’s scholarship fund is used to provide scholarships to LGBTQ+ learners from the upper Midwest at all stages of their educations
Scholarship Essay Contest: Are you a senior with a strong interest in social studies, civics, debate, political science, public speaking, teaching, and/or the law and plan to pursue a post-secondary education? If so, then this scholarship is for you! Scholarships range from $1,000-$2,000 and applications are due MARCH 1st. Apply today!
Trade School Scholarships: NARI Cares Minnesota is pleased to announce that $1,000 scholarships will be offered to three 2025 graduates from area MN High Schools. The scholarships will be awarded in $500 increments renewable for two semesters. Students must be pursuing a post-secondary education at either a 2 year or 4 year institution, studying a program in the trades. Deadline is March 30th.
University of Minnesota Scholarship: Students admitted to the Carlson School at the University of Minnesota for Fall 2025 are encouraged to apply for Alpha Kappa Psi scholarships! Deadline is March 3
Linden Scholarship: The Salvation Army's way of removing barriers to higher education for people who lack adequate financial resources. Qualified individuals will receive up to $1,500 per year for attending a two-year college or $3,000 per year for a four-year college. Deadline is April 18th
Women in Public Finance Minnesota Chapter Scholarship: For women attending their undergraduate and graduate studies in the fall of 2025. These scholarships are awarded to those who identify as a woman, display strong academic performance and leadership skills, commitment to community, and a passion for entering the field of public/municipal finance or other financial services sectors. While MnWPF typically awards at least $5,000 to deserving students each year, the total amount allocated for 2025 and the amount of individual awards may vary. Applications are due June 1, 2025