Ponderosa High School

The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a great tool for students considering college. The PSAT/NMSQT measures critical reading skills, math problem-solving skills and writing skills. Ponderosa High School recommends that students take the PSAT/NMSQT in order to receive feed back about strengths and weaknesses, enter the competition for National Merit Scholar scholarships (11th graders) and to help prepare for the SAT.

 

For students wishing to study for the PSAT, Collegeboard's official study materials are available from Khan Academy. Students can also stop by the College & Career Center and pick up their PSAT Study Guide. 

 

For the 2019 PSAT/NMSQT, students at Ponderosa High School will be registering online. This registration will take a few minutes and can be completed from any computer with internet access. PSAT test registration is open to Ponderosa High School 9th, 10th & 11th graders as well as home school students living within Ponderosa boundaries.  The cost is $20.00. Ponderosa High School desires that students be able to take the test regardless of their ability to pay. Students requiring financial assistance should see below. 

Online Exam registration will begin on Sunday, Sep 1, 2019 at 12:00 AM and end on Tuesday, Oct 1, 2019 at 11:59 PM. In order to register, students should click on the link provided on the school website or click here. To complete registration, students must answer all of the required questions. Registration is not complete until students have printed the pdf of the confirmation page that is provided at the end.

Ponderosa High School is excited to offer families the convenience of paying exam fees online at the time of registration. Please be sure to have a debit or credit card available before beginning registration. Paying online is a great way to make sure that payment has been made while avoiding mailing payment.

Here are the important dates for the registration process:

• Sun, Sep 1, 2019 at 12:00 AM - Registration Begins
• Tue, Oct 1, 2019 at 11:59 PM - Registration Ends
• Fri, Oct 4, 2019 at 11:59 PM - Registrations that have not been paid for or post-marked by this date will be canceled.
• Wed, Oct 16, 2019 at 8:00 AM - PSAT Test Date

Please contact Mrs Cammie Escobar, cescobar@eduhsd.net, if you have questions.                                                                          

In order to be eligible for a reduced fee for your PSAT exam, you must meet income-eligibility guidelines.

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is a federal form for financial aid that is accepted by most schools. The information you provide will be used to figure the amount your family can afford to contribute toward your education (also known as your EFC: estimated family contribution).

The FAFSA for college attendance beginning Fall of 2018 can be filed beginning October 1, 2017, using your 2016 tax year information. 

Fill out the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Families wanting to get a preliminary EFC before they are eligible to fill out the FAFSA can use the FAFSA4caster.

Your Cal Grant GPA will be uploaded to the California Student Aid Commission in December. This gpa is calculated differently than most gpa's you've seen, but should be close to what you normally know as your cumulative gpa. There is nothing you need to do, no paperwork to fill out.

What you DO need to do is follow up! It is important for you monitor your Cal Grant status and make sure your GPA actually made it all the way into the state's database. Remember, a missed deadline is a missed deadline, even if it wasn't your fault. After you file your FAFSA. visit webgrants4students to verify your status - you'll need to create a profile. If anything you see (or don't see) worries you, ask Mrs. Bastian or your Counselor to help you figure it out.

Stafford Loan
This is a federal student loan. With the unsubsidized loan, the interest accrues while you are in school, but you don't pay it until after you stop attending. With the subsidized loan, the government pays the interest while you are in school.

Work Study
A college might offer Work Study (on-campus employment) as a way for you to meet your cost of attendance. It is important to know that these offers can vary widely from college to college. Work Study is very similar to having an off-campus job, but with Work Study your pay in considered financial aid rather than income.

Other Loans
If you still have unmet need, the PLUS loan is a popular loan for parents of students. Some families choose to use a home equity-type loan. Shop around for best interest rates and repayment options.