College, Financial Aid & Academic Resources
College planning doesn't happen all at once. Use this page to find reliable resources for college planning, financial aid, scholarships, admissions testing, studying, and academic support.
Deadlines and requirements can change. The timeframes below are typical planning windows. Always check the linked official source for current requirements and exact dates.
College Planning: What to Do and When
9th & 10th Grade | Explore and Build
Focus on building a strong academic foundation and start exploring what you may want to do after high school.
- Keep your grades as strong as possible.
- Take challenging courses appropriate for you.
- Explore careers, majors, colleges, technical programs, and other postsecondary options.
- Begin a list of activities, awards, volunteer work, employment, and accomplishments.
- Learn how GPA, course selection, and financial aid affect your options.
- Start exploring college costs and scholarship opportunities.
Start here: BigFuture offers college, career, and scholarship exploration tools.
11th Grade | Research and Prepare
Fall
- Take the PSAT when your school offers it.
- Begin identifying colleges, majors, and career pathways that interest you.
- Review admission requirements for programs you may want to enter.
- Begin preparing for the SAT and/or ACT.
Winter and Spring
- Take your first SAT or ACT early enough to leave time for another attempt.
- Visit colleges when possible.
- Compare admission requirements, costs, majors, housing, and financial aid.
- Begin building a scholarship list.
- Ask potential teachers, counselors, or mentors whether they would be willing to provide recommendations later.
Summer Before Senior Year
- Narrow your college list.
- Begin working on application essays and your activities résumé.
- Review scholarship requirements.
- Create your StudentAid.gov account before FAFSA season.
- Check application opening dates and priority deadlines for the schools on your list.
12th Grade | Apply and Decide
August–October
College applications often open in late summer and early fall.
- Finalize your college list.
- Review each college's admission and financial aid deadlines.
- Request transcripts and recommendations early.
- Complete applications rather than waiting for the final deadline.
- Continue applying for scholarships.
- Retake the SAT or ACT if another score could improve admission, scholarship, or program eligibility.
October–March | Financial Aid Season
The FAFSA normally becomes available around October 1 for the following academic year. Complete it as early as practical because colleges and states may have priority deadlines and some aid is limited.
Students and required parent contributors should create their own StudentAid.gov accounts.
West Virginia students should pay particular attention to these recurring deadlines:
- October: FAFSA and the West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship application typically become available.
- March 1: PROMISE Scholarship application and FAFSA deadline for PROMISE eligibility.
- April 15: FAFSA deadline for the West Virginia Higher Education Grant.
- April 15: Priority deadline for the WV Invests Grant.
- Spring: Review financial aid offers from colleges before making your final decision.
Do not assume your family earns too much to complete the FAFSA. Colleges, states, and scholarship programs may use FAFSA information in addition to the federal government.
Spring of Senior Year
- Compare admission and financial aid offers.
- Look at the net cost of attendance, not just the advertised tuition or scholarship amount.
- Review grants and scholarships first, followed by work-study and loans.
- Complete housing, orientation, placement, and enrollment requirements for your chosen school.
- Notify Upward Bound when you decide on a college and provide the requested acceptance, scholarship, and enrollment information.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the primary application for federal student aid and is also used by states and colleges to determine eligibility for many grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities, and loans.
Complete the FAFSA and Access Federal Student Aid Resources
Typical window: Opens around October 1. Complete it as early as possible and before your earliest college, state, or scholarship deadline.
PROMISE Scholarship
PROMISE is West Virginia's merit-based scholarship program for eligible students attending participating institutions.
PROMISE Scholarship Requirements and Current Deadlines
Typical milestones: Application opens around October 1 of senior year. The PROMISE application and FAFSA are generally due March 1.
West Virginia Higher Education Grant
This need-based state grant helps eligible West Virginia residents pay for postsecondary education.
West Virginia Higher Education Grant
Typical deadline: Complete the FAFSA by April 15 each year.
WV Invests Grant
WV Invests can help eligible students pay tuition for qualifying certificate and associate-degree programs at West Virginia community and technical colleges.
Typical priority deadline: April 15.
Scholarship Searches
- BigFuture Scholarship Search
- Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation Scholarships
- Fastweb Scholarship Search
SAT & ACT
College testing requirements vary by institution and program. Even when a college is test-optional for general admission, SAT or ACT scores may still matter for scholarships, placement, honors programs, or admission to particular academic programs.
A good planning target is to take your first SAT or ACT during junior year, leaving time to retest before senior-year application and scholarship deadlines.
SAT
- SAT Registration
- SAT Test Dates and Registration Deadlines
- Free Official Digital SAT Practice through Khan Academy
ACT
Upward Bound participants: Ask UB staff about test preparation, registration assistance, and whether you may qualify for an SAT or ACT fee waiver.
Study, Tutoring & Academic Resources
Khan Academy
Free lessons, practice, and instructional videos in math, science, computing, economics, and other subjects.
Quizlet
Create and use flashcards, practice questions, and other study tools for vocabulary and course review.
FreeRice
Practice vocabulary and other subjects through educational quizzes while supporting the United Nations World Food Program.
ProWritingAid
Writing and grammar tools that can help students review drafts and identify possible areas for revision.
Remember: Digital tools can help you practice, revise, and understand difficult material, but they should support your own work rather than replace it. Follow your teacher's rules for AI, writing assistants, calculators, and other academic tools.
Need Help?
College planning can involve many moving pieces. Upward Bound participants do not have to navigate the process alone.
Contact your Upward Bound staff when you need help with:
- College and career exploration
- College applications
- FAFSA and financial aid
- Scholarships
- SAT or ACT preparation and registration
- Essays and application materials
- Understanding admission requirements
- Comparing college costs and financial aid offers
- Academic support and tutoring