Career & College Information

College Planning Night: Tuesday, September 29th at 7pm in the PAC

You are invited to attend College Planning Night on, September 29th at 7pm in the Performing Arts Center. A guest panel of speakers representing Private Colleges, the U of M system, the UW system, NDSU, Community Colleges and the MN State College and University systems will give general information about the different types of colleges. Students will gain knowledge about what type of college might be the best fit for them. All parents and students are welcome to join us for this event.

The 2026 National College Fair at the Minneapolis Convention Center will be taking place this fall on October 5th from 9am-12pm and 5:30pm-7pm, and October 6th from 9am-12pm.

Visit National College Fair website for more information.

https://www.nacacattend.org/fairs

Apply to UW Stout and receive your admissions decision on TBD in the West Learning Commons Computer Lab. In addition, one, $1,000 UW Stout Scholarships will be awarded to a CHS seniors who participate. Check Schoology or stop by to see Ms. Guyer for more information.

Financial Aid Night: Monday, October 26th in the PAC from 7-8:30pm

Learn how to access financial aid including federal and state grants, scholarships, loans and work study. Learn about the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), what it means and how to fill out the form. A Financial Aid Officer from Bethel University, will present information on the financial aid process, explain the FAFSA, how to apply, etc. This session is open to all parents and students who want to learn more about financial aid.

During conferences on Tuesday, November 10^th, parents, and students are invited to attend a Scholarship Information Session in the Career Center. We will discuss the different types of scholarships and where to look for scholarships. The sessions are scheduled for 5:30pm and 6:30pm in the Career Center (W411) and will last about 30 minutes. Parents and students of all grades are welcome.

Centennial High School will host a FAFSA Completion Night on Tuesday, January 26th from 5-7pm in the West Learning Commons Computer Lab. Financial Aid professionals will be there to assist students and parents filling out the FAFSA form. This is a free event and open to all seniors and their families. Registration is not required.

Please have these items with you:

-Social Security Number (both student and parents)

-Driver's License Number (if you have one)

-2025 Tax Returns for student and parent

-Information on savings, investments, and business and farm assets for student and parents

-Records of untaxed income

Centennial High School will host a Spring College Fair on Tuesday, February 23rd from 5:30pm-7pm in the West Gym. Visit with representatives from regional colleges, universities, community colleges, and technical colleges.

During conferences on Tuesday, April 13th, parents and students are invited to attend a Post-High School Planning for Juniors Session. These sessions will be focused on current juniors and what they can do to prepare for senior year and what options they have after graduation. 

• Determine which schools you would like to apply and apply online.
• Consider applying to more than one school representing various levels of selectivity (I recommend narrowing it to your top 3 choices.  You can apply to as many schools as you want but you will be spending more money on application fees.
• Determine application deadline and review admission requirements.  (I recommend applying early so your application has the best opportunity to be reviewed on a timely basis – fall of senior year.)
• Complete the application online.
• Request your transcript via SchooLinks.

Scholarships:.

Complete scholarship applications before deadlines.  Visit the career center to check on available scholarship information or check SchooLinks.  Listen to announcements and apply for the local scholarship program in the Spring.  Check with the college you want to attend for scholarship options.

Some schools will require letters of recommendation.  Make sure you make a request for a letter of recommendation at least 3 weeks before the deadline (teacher/counselor/other).  Most colleges do not require letters of recommendation unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Write, re-write, and proofread an essay if one is required.

Check with the college to be sure your application is complete.

Complete the Federal Application for Financial Student Aid (FAFSA)

Apply for student housing early-some schools you need to do this early!

Detail your accomplishments and community involvement including your volunteer and employment activities.

Good luck and set up an appointment with your School Counselor if you need help!

Visit the Career Center located in the West Building, room W411, for additional information and resources for Post-Secondary Planning.

Steps for filling out the FAFSA:

1. Create an FSA ID – student and parent must create their own FSA ID by logging on and following the instructions:
   https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch 

2. Fill out the FAFSA form using your 2025 tax information:
   https://fafsa.gov

Check out the FAFSA YouTube Channel for a step-by-step video on creating an FSA ID and filling out the form: https://www.youtube.com/user/FederalStudentAidOffice of Higher Education offers a variety of financial aid resources online at http://www.ohe.state.mn.us/

Free Application for Federal Student Aid:

• www.fafsa..gov
• https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/fsaid 

• Applying for Financial Aid Overview (14 minutes) – discusses the FAFSA and the MN Dream Act application and who should apply for each, what is needed to complete both apps, dependency status, answers to some FAQs.

• Financial Aid Presentation Video (53 minutes) – very detailed explanation of financial aid, the FAFSA application process, how EFC is determined (with Minnesota West as an example), some helpful FAFSA tips and what happens after the FAFSA.

• Does the college/university use ACT scores for scholarship, specific majors, or honors consideration?

• Are you a good standardized test taker?

• Is your ACT score a good reflection of your academic ability and potential?

If the answer is yes to any of those questions, you may want to submit an ACT score regardless of test optional admissions.  Register to take the ACT at www.actstudent.org 

To see if a college/university is test optional, check the individual college website or www.fairtest.org for a list of test optional colleges. 

 2026-2027 Test Dates (National)

Students with a disability may qualify for accommodations for college entrance or placement exams, such as the Accuplacer/ACT/SAT. For details, talk to your counselor or visit the following websites: www.act.org; www.collegeboards.com.

If the college you are applying to requires the SAT, visit www.collegeboard.com to see the list of test dates and registration information.

• Find resources to complete your sophomore advisory task
• Build hours for applying to NHS in the future (if interested)
• Help your community

The group offers links and postings with opportunities for volunteering at the school and in the area. There are ongoing links and new postings.

SCHOOLOGY GROUP CODE: 6FD9H-S8GST

Other Opportunities: 

• Use Volunteer Match to search for volunteer opportunities by zip code:  www.volunteermatch.org 
• College Transitions - Volunteer Opportunities for High School Students https://www.collegetransitions.com/dataverse/volunteer-opportunities
• Stop by the career center for a list of other volunteer opportunities.

Other sources of scholarships:

• College or University in which the student plans on attending
• Parent's place of employment
• Student's place of employment
• RaiseMe: Earn micro-scholarships from colleges for your achievements in high school.  Create an account an get started.  https://www.raise.me/
• Free internet scholarship search: www.fastweb.com
• https://www.studentscholarships.org/
• Institutional Scholarships for Minnesota Colleges/Universities can be found at: http://www.ohe.state.mn.us/sPages/scholarshipsAll.cfm
• American Indian College Fund website
• https://collegefund.org/student-resources/scholarships/scholarship-programs/
• Native American Scholarship: https://edubirdie.com/blog/native-american-students-scholarships

*Local Scholarship Application for Seniors will come out in early 2027-stay tuned*

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data tool shows employment and typical wages by occupation and region in Minnesota. This information can help employers benchmark wages and can help job seekers and students explore careers.

https://mn.gov/deed/data/data-tools/oes/

Check out this resource if interested in a construction trade. 

https://constructioncareers.org/