Post-Secondary Planning

Outline for Counselor/Student Interaction:

Discovering your PATH TO A SUCCESSFUL CAREER​​

A four-year degree isn't the only path to a successful career. Consider the "middle skills" option mentioned in this Colorado Public Radio Article.

You can and should continue your education beyond a high school diploma. Indeed, 97% of jobs on Colorado’s "Tier 1" job list typically demand some form of education beyond high school, whether that's an apprenticeship, a certificate, or a two- or four-year degree.​ Get more information at College Admissions Tool for Colorado. 

And, if you choose to attend a technical or community college, you can explore that pathway as well with the help of the Build Options Wizard at CollegeInColorado.org. 

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship has valuable benefits and can be a great way to determine your interest in a field of study. More information can be found on the following websites:

• Apprenticeship Programs in Colorado 
• My Colorado Journey
• U.S. Department of Labor: Apprenticeship.gov
• Colorado Department of Labor and Employment: Jobs & Training

Students are responsible for scheduling their senior meeting. We are happy to schedule these at a time when parents and students can attend together. During the senior meeting, the student’s progress toward graduation is reviewed, and future plans and goals are discussed. Additional post-secondary planning is available and various resources—such as Naviance, visits by college admissions representatives, and college fairs—are offered to students. Whether a student decides to join the workforce or to seek additional educational training after high school graduation, it is to the student’s advantage to make use of the counseling services offered at Boulder High School. 

If you plan on playing Division I or Division II sports in college, register online with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Visit our NCAA Info for BHS Athletes Website for more information on course requirements and eligibility.

Determining how to pay for college is a challenge for most families and often involves pulling from a variety of sources—from financial aid and loans to scholarships and savings.

• Need-based aid depends on financial need and includes grants, subsidized student loans, scholarships, and work study. Eligibility is based on FAFSA. Some schools also require the CSS Profile.
• Merit-based aid, such as merit awards or merit scholarships, is awarded in recognition of student achievements (e.g., academic, athletic, artistic, etc.). Unlike need-based financial aid, merit-based financial aid does not consider the financial need of the student or family.

The sections below provide information on how you can calculate the cost of college as well as some of the many options to pay for college.

How Much Aid Will I Get?

How much aid you receive will depend on the cost of attendance, your family's financial situation, and how much funding is available. Financial aid can be complicated, but the steps you need to take to apply for financial aid are simple. File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and, if necessary, the CSS Profile (College Scholarship Service Profile). Also, search and apply for scholarships. The only way to get financial aid is to apply.

Finding Scholarships

The more scholarship money you earn, the less you will have to borrow by way of student loans (or pay out of pocket); it's free money. Therefore, it’s totally worth taking the time to find and apply for scholarships. The counselors at Boulder High have compiled a list of annual scholarships that students can sift through and apply to. This list can be a good place to start your scholarship journey: 

BHS Scholarship List

Two Main Sources for Merit Scholarships

1. Private local and national scholarships

• Awarded by private organizations, foundations, individuals, etc.
• See the list of scholarship search engines below. 

2. College-based scholarships

• Awarded by colleges for use at that college only. 
• Students are automatically considered for some scholarship programs upon application submission. Other scholarships you'll need to apply for. See "Merit Scholarships from Universities and Colleges" below.
• Search on the college's website.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a government-funded student assistance program. These programs provide grants, loans, and work-study funds to students attending college or career school. Some colleges use the FAFSA to determine if an applicant is eligible for more need-based financial aid. Students and parents can apply in December 2023. 

How to Apply

• You will need an FSA ID, which you can get at fsaid.ed.gov, to electronically sign the FAFSA.
• Then, file the FAFSA online at fafsa.ed.gov. Gather your information beforehand: social security number, tax information (income and assets, taxed/untaxed), and school information.
• The FAFSA is a free form. You do not need to pay anybody to file the FAFSA.

In addition to completing the FAFSA, some schools may also require the CSS Profile (College Scholarship Service Profile). The CSS Profile is an online application to determine eligibility for non-federal financial aid, and it is administered by the College Board. For an overview, check out the College Board presentation or start with the CSS Profile Application Page. To determine eligibility for need-based financial aid, the CSS Profile goes into more detail than the FAFSA. You will need the following documents: your most recently completed tax returns, W-2 forms and other records of current-year income, records of untaxed income and benefits, assets, and bank statements.

The CSS Profile can be filed starting October 1 and should be completed as soon as possible to take advantage of aid that is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. All schools have their own deadlines in place for the CSS, but many require students to file the profile two weeks before the college's priority admission application deadline.

CSS profile Tutorial

Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF): The COF is a fund created by the Colorado Legislature to provide a way of distributing Colorado tax dollars to the colleges in Colorado, by creating a stipend for each resident undergraduate student who attends a participating college or university. There is no income qualification, and the students can be part-time or full-time. It is recommended that all students pre-register for this stipend, even before knowing if they will be attending a college in Colorado. The stipend is paid on a per credit hour basis for up to 145 credit hours. If you are a Colorado resident at least 13 years old, register for the Colorado College Opportunity Fund (COF).

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE): WUE enables students from one of 16 WICHE states and territories in the Western U.S. to enroll as nonresidents in 160+ participating public colleges and universities and pay 150 percent (or less) of the enrolling school’s resident tuition—which annually saves students an average of $9,610 each on the cost of nonresident tuition.

Student Loans: Click here to visit the Federal Student Aid site for information on Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Parent PLUS Loans, and Private Loans .

In September 2020, the Colorado Department of Higher Education announced a new online application that allows Colorado students who have historically not qualified for federal aid to complete an application for state financial aid. The Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA) opens in December and is available here. More information on the CASFA can be found here: https://highered.colorado.gov/casfa.

Transcript Request: Current Student

Official transcripts must go from Boulder High School directly to the institution requesting a high school transcript. ​

Current Seniors (Grade 12)

Seniors should go to the BHS College Application Process Website for information on how to request transcripts for college/university applications and request letters of recommendation using Naviance. Note that all transcript requests for college applications must be made using your Naviance account. Contact your counselor or theresa.vanzante@bvsd.org with any questions.

Current Students Grades 9-11

For an unofficial transcript, students and parents can print or download a copy from Infinite Campus. Go to Infinite Campus > Documents > Portal Transcript.

To request an official transcript be sent to an institution, please complete the Transcript Request Form found on the BHS Counseling Forms Website.​ ​ 

Official transcripts are $2.00 each (pay by credit card)​.​ Transcripts will not be sent until proof of payment is received.

When requesting a transcript, please include all the following information:

• Your name as it appears in Infinite Campus
• Your date of birth 
• A phone number where you can be reached 
• Current grade at Boulder High School
• A complete address and email address where the transcript must be sent 
• A parent signature for students who are under 18 years old.

Payment can be made by credit card for the appropriate amount. To pay online by credit card:

1. Go to the Boulder High Web Store (RevTrak).  
2. Select "Additional Boulder High Opportunities" tile (or click here)
3. In the left-hand column at the bottom, select "Transcripts" and follow the online instructions.​ Be sure to include your first/last names.

If you are paying via credit card, you must fill out the Transcript Request Form and either (1) email both the form and receipt of payment directly to the email address on the form (maria.valdez@bvsd.org) or (2) mail both the form and receipt to the physical school address: 

Questions can be directed to Maria Valdez at BHS Main Office: maria.valdez@bvsd.org or 720-561-5318.

TRANSCRIPT REQUEST: ALUMNI AND FORMER STUDENTS

Please email the Transcript Request Form along with a copy of your online payment receipt to maria.valdez@bvsd.org.

If you are a BHS alumni and starting the college application process, click here for information on letters of recommendation and test scores for your college applications. Follow the instructions for the Transcript Request Form below to send your transcripts.

Step 1: The Transcript Request Form

Please complete the Transcript Request Form found on the BHS Counseling Forms Website.​ ​This form must be emailed to maria.valdez@bvsd.org along with a copy of your online payment receipt.

When requesting a transcript, please include all the following information:

• The complete name you used when you attended Boulder High School 
• Your date of birth 
• A phone number where you can be reached 
• The year you graduated or last attended Boulder High School 
• A complete address and email address where the transcript must be sent 

If the student has graduated, all records requests must be made in writing and signed by the student. Persons over the age of 18 must make the request for themselves.

Step 2: Pay for Your Transcript Request

All payments must be made online using RevTrak. Please email the Transcript Request Form along with a copy of your online payment receipt to maria.valdez@bvsd.org.

Official transcripts are $2.00 each and must go from Boulder High School directly to the institution requesting a high school transcript. Unofficial transcripts are $1.00 each and are clearly marked "unofficial." They can be sent directly to the former student requesting the transcript.

To pay online by credit card:

1. Go to the Boulder High Web Store (RevTrak).  
2. Select "Additional Boulder High Opportunities" tile (or click here)
3. In the left-hand column at the bottom, select "Transcripts" and follow the online instructions.​ Be sure to include your first/last names and dates you attended Boulder High School.

Step 3: Email Your Transcript Request Form and Payment Receipt

Email the Transcript Request Form along with a copy of your online payment receipt to maria.valdez@bvsd.org. If necessary, you may FAX your request and proof of payment to Boulder High at 720-561-5317. Or you can mail the request form along with a check or proof of payment to:

Questions can be directed to Maria Valdez at BHS Main Office: maria.valdez@bvsd.org or 720-561-5318.

If you are a business requesting proof of high school graduation, please fax that request to 720-561-5317 or email maria.valdez@bvsd.org. Attention: Student Records. Please include the following information:

• A signed written release of the person you are inquiring about        
• A birth date,​ including the year
• The complete name used when the person attended Boulder High School     
• ​A year of graduation (if known)​​​