NICHOLE CAVADA
STAFF WRITER
Seniors are now in their last year of high school and colleges are opening their doors to everyone interested in enrolling. Financial Aid Planning Night is a night when both seniors and their parents gather to learn about how they can get the best financial aid deals and fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). “The FAFSA is a free application for federal student aid. It makes you eligible for student loans and grants if you qualify. It is also very important because most schools will not give you a financial aid package, unless if you have completed the FAFSA. Some scholarships require you to fill out the FAFSA to be eligible. It’s honestly a good thing to do to anybody who’s considering college,” Rebecca Himuro, College & Career Counselor, explained. According to Himuro, taking four years of all core courses is highly recommended in order to meet the colleges’ admission requirements. “I think that the best way to prepare for college is to take challenging courses all throughout high school,” Himuro said. It is also important for seniors to finish taking their SAT and ACT standardized tests during their senior year, so that they can be sent to the colleges they plan to apply to.
More often than not, many students are unsure of what major they want to pursue in college. However, according to College and Career Counselor Alyson Nakagawa, high school is the time for students to explore their interests. “You may not know what your major will be, but you might be able to find a field you’re interested in. Come and see me and Ms. Nakagawa [in the College and Career Center], and let us know what your interests are. We can help you prepare for college,” Himuro said. Internships are also a viable option for students to gain experience and learn about professional opportunities. For example, if one wishes to pursue a degree in the STEM field, Microsoft’s internship program encourages students to learn about the world of computer science and programming.
Overall, early college preparation puts students at an advantage. They tend to be less stressed and more confident when they enter their senior year of high school. It is important to keep in mind that colleges receive thousands of applications every year. When students send their college applications early in the early round, their chances of being accepted into that university are higher than those who did not. Mapping an academic plan can help you a lot. Once you know what your goals are, you can then think of ways how you will achieve them as a student here at Moanalua High School.