Federal student aid is federal assistance through the U.S. Department of Education that’s available if a student is enrolled in an eligible program as a regular student at a school participating in federal student aid programs.

A student can’t apply for financial aid until January 2 of their senior year in high school. The Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) is completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov or a paper one can be filled out and mailed. The student will then receive a Student Aid Report (SAR), which will state the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC). This information also is sent to the college/s that the student indicated on the FAFSA. The college then will send the student an award letter stating what the student qualifies for—grants, need based and talent based scholarships, federally subsidized loans, unsubsidized federal loans, parent loans, or private lender loans.

A grant is gift money that is awarded to a student based on their family financial situation. Colleges award grants to students based on the financial information that is received from the Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA).

There are many types of scholarships. Many are based on a student’s grade point average (GPA) and/or ACT score. The Michigan Competitive Scholarship is based on the ACT score (must at least have a 90 or 23 composite) and financial need (based on EFC). The Michigan Promise is based on the student’s Michigan Merit Exam (MME) scores. Also there are many other types of scholarships. For example there are athletic, music, writing (essay), drama, and art scholarships. There are separate applications for many scholarships. Some college scholarships are awarded automatically if a student’s GPA and ACT score meet their criteria. There are also separate applications that are found online or in the guidance office scholarship folder.

Most loans go through the college financial aid office. There are federal subsidized and unsubsidized. The difference is with the subsidized loans is the federal government pays the interest until the student finishes school and with the unsubsidized, the interest accumulates until the loan/s are paid back. There are also parent loans that generally are applied for at the college financial aid office.

A student is not considered “independent” until they are 24 years old or can say yes to any of the following: are married, have a dependent, are a veteran, an orphan, or a dependent/ward of the court. There may be circumstances where a student doesn’t live with their parents and still qualify for independent status. Each case is evaluated on an individual basis by the financial aid office.

Advanced Placement (AP) is a designation for courses that are taught at the college level.

• Biology (11-12th grade)
• Calculus (10th-12th grade)
• United States History (10-12th grade)
• English Literature and Composition (12th grade)

The AP courses are taught over three consecutive terms in one school year.

The AP exams are given the first two weeks in May.

Yes. The fee for the 2008 exams was $76.

Yes. If a student qualifies for free or reduced lunch, is homeless, or has an extenuating circumstance, the fee may be waived. The AP coordinator for the district will work with the student to find out if he or she can qualify for a fee waiver.

A student receiving a 3, 4, or 5 on the AP exam will receive 3, 4, or 5 college credits.

To find out how many credits the college of your choice gives for each AP exam, go to http://www.collegeboard.com/student and click on AP Credit Policy Info.

When a student is taking an AP exam, they are asked to bubble in the college code of their choice.

During your child’s junior and senior year they will have several opportunities to speak with a college representative. During the fall several colleges visit the high school to give students information on their college. Students are also allowed to take a college visit during their junior and senior year.

To visit a representative at school the student must sign-up in the guidance office. Students are allowed three in-house and three on-campus visits each year (junior and senior). To make an on-campus visit a student must first speak to their guidance counselor and follow the following guidelines:

• Need to give at least a two-week notice to the guidance office.
• Call the college or visit their web sight to schedule a visit.
• Parents need to call the attendance secretary at 794-4979 the day of the visit to excuse the absence.
• Return a signed letter on university/college stationary as proof of the visit.
• Students are responsible for the classroom work the day of their absence.

Students can utilize the Internet to locate information on colleges as well as careers. The guidance counselor can help guide your child through these web sites so they can gather information. During your child’s junior and senior year they have an opportunity to visit with colleges. The procedures for these visits are outlined in this section. Seniors should start applying to college in September of their senior year. Applications can be in the guidance office or on the colleges’ web sight. Applications or the counselor page of the application should be turned into the guidance counselor so an official transcript can be sent in.

Students will need to apply for financial aid by filling out their Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is filled out after January 1st of your child’s senior year. Belding hosts a financial aid meeting every December for parents. A list of scholarships that seniors can apply for is located in the guidance office and on the web site.

Your student’s counselor should be contacted if you feel your child is falling behind in credits. The sooner this issue can be addressed the better. Students may be eligible to attend night school or work on Nova Net classes after school. Nova Net is a computer based curriculum that can be used to do credit recovery.

Summer school provides another option for earning credit. Every year summer school programs change so you need to contact the guidance office starting in April to determine which schools will be offering classes.

Students who fall too far behind in credits may need to return for one or more trimesters. This decision needs to be made with a guidance counselor and administrator.

Juniors and seniors who meet our dual enrollment requirements have the opportunity to take classes at college. Dual enrollment gives students the opportunity to earn college credit while in college. See Dual Enrollment Guidelines under academics.

Any student that is looking at playing a Division 1 or Division 2 sport needs to register with the NCAA Clearinghouse. Registration needs to take place by the end of the student’s junior year. Information about the Clearinghouse can be found at http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.

Depression is a mood disorder that affects the whole person body and mind. Depression can lead to:

• Withdrawal from people and activities.
• Loss of pleasure and enjoyment of life.
• Feeling of sadness, disappointment or loss.
• Physical discomfort, aches, pains, fatigue, poor digestion, sleep disturbances.

Most people feel down or “blue” now and then, but when these feelings are severe or prolonged the individual needs to get help. Parents can help their children help by contacting the guidance office, their insurance company or Community Mental Health at (616) 794-6592 or in case of emergency call (616) 527-1790.

Young people face many issues in life that can cause them to become confused and frustrated. Young people look for answers to their issues in a variety of ways. Some of these ways are healthy and some are self-destructive. Suicide for some young people is seen as an answer to their seemingly invisible problems. Suicide is not usually the result of one event but the result of a series of extremely frustrating events.

Some causes of suicide maybe:

• Substance-abuse
• The break-up of the family
• Depression
• Feelings of insecurity
• Illness or recent loss of a loved one
• Broken love affair
• Economic issue at home

Some behavioral clues that your child may display are:

• Eating problems
• Sleeping problems
• Social withdrawal
• Decrease in self care
• Emotional behavior (sudden ups and downs)
• Getting personal things in orders
• Giving away personal belongings

These are just a few of the warning signs that your child might display if they are suicidal. Do not hesitate to get involved in your child’s life. A good listener is sometimes the best parenting skill. Don’t try to be an amateur psychologist and solve the problem. Get your child help. If you don’t know where to turn call Community Mental Health at (616) 794-6592 or (616) 527-1790 (emergency phone number).

Often people believe that physical abuse is the only form of domestic violence and only occurs in adult relationships. Domestic violence involves many different types of abuse and age groups. Teen relationships are not immune from domestic violence (dating violence). Domestic violence can come in the form of threats, isolation, financial control and coercion. Any time a person is in a relationship that centers on these issues they need to get out. Students may need help in dealing with dating violence. Help can be found through RAVE by calling (616) 527-3351 or by contacting the guidance office.

During the course of a lifetime teens experience many forms of loss. When a teen has a significant loss in their life they will deal with different levels of grief. People often think of grief as an emotional experience. Grief however can also be a physical, intellectual, social and spiritual experience. It will not only affect how a person feels, it will affect behavior. Here are some common ways people react during grief:

Physical Reactions

• Deep Sighing
• Neglect of Self
• Difficulty Sleeping
• Weight and Appetite Change
• Rapid Heartbeat
• Weakness and Fatigue
• Resistance to Illness
• Muscular Tension

Behavioral Reactions

• Searching for What Was Lost
• Disoriented to Time and Place
• Blameful of Others
• Crying
• Seeking and providing forgiveness
• Finishing “Unfinished Business”
• Seeking Solitude
• Preoccupied
• Unable to Concentrate
• Detaching from Surroundings

Emotional Reactions

• Numbness
• Sadness
• Hopelessness
• Bitterness
• Peacefulness
• Confusion
• Yearning
• Helplessness
• Anger
• Despair
• Euphoria

These reactions are normal and helpful in the grieving process. Parents need to monitor their child’s reactions and duration of the reactions. When a child cannot get back on track or starts to give up all together they need assistance. As parents we need to observe, listen and communicate with our child. We cannot take away the pain but we can help our children work through the pain and uncertainty of the loss. Young people need to understand that life goes on and that may be accompanied by pain. Students need to get back on task as soon as possible and work through the issues. You can find more information on grief and loss at http://www.cyh.com/Healthtopics and look under Loss and Grief.

Young people are bombarded every day with incorrect information and mixed messages about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. The reality is that these substances are all linked with health problems, violence, vehicle crashes, unwanted and unsafe sex and other social problems.

Some warning signs that your child is involved with drugs and alcohol are:

• Drop in grades
• Switching friends
• Emotional highs and lows
• Defiance to rules and regulations
• Becoming more secretive
• Loss of initiative
• Withdrawing from family functions
• Suspicion of money and/or alcohol missing
• Change in weight or hygiene

The above warning signs are just a few warning signs of possible drug and alcohol problems. Parents need to communicate with their teens. If you recognize or are uncomfortable with the changes you see in your child, talk to them.