INTRODUCTION

Financing a college education is not an easy task, particularly if a family has more than one child in college. Tuition rates are increasing yearly, up to 10% per year at some private colleges and universities. Money that was set aside many years ago for a son or daughter’s education may seem paltry now compared to the current price tag on a four-year Bachelor’s Degree program. Students are understandably more interested than ever in finding ways to help pay for school. Parents are asking important questions about scholarships, loans, and grants that may be available to their child.

Financial aid is a very complex area that is constantly changing. The availability of resources is reflected not only in the economic condition of the nation, but also the philosophy of the current political party in power. This website cannot list every available scholarship or every financial opportunity open to students, for the school can only be aware of those opportunities that are brought to our attention. It is true that there are some scholarships that go unclaimed because no one knows about them. It is also true that most of these scholarships have such specific restrictions very few people would qualify for them in the first place.

A Junior/Senior Night Workshop is offered in October by the Guidance Department. Rather than focusing solely on scholarships and financial aid, we attempt to address a broader range of information that might be helpful to juniors, seniors and their parents. Presentations are given on college applications, ACT/SAT testing, building a resume and profile, and career opportunities in technical schools and the military. There will also be visits throughout the year from college admissions officers. An area college fair, with over 250 schools represented, is held each fall at the Topeka Expocentre. Be sure to check various dates on the calendar you have received, and don’t hesitate to call the Guidance Office if you have any questions.

This section of the website is divided into different categories: an introduction, a glossary of financial aid terms, instructions on completing financial aid applications, and a definition of financial aid along with a list of all the scholarships posted on the bulletin board at WRHS. Students must check the bulletin board in the Guidance Office weekly to see if new scholarships have been posted. Current scholarships for the school year are also accessible on the website, by clicking on the ‘Active Scholarships’ link. The journey from high school senior to college freshman is exciting, challenging, and scary for both parents and students. We will do whatever we can to assist our students along this path, one that is sometimes fraught with misinformation.

We encourage students to use the many resources available to them in the Guidance Career Center. The Career Center is equipped with software and textbooks to access information on scholarships, ACT/SAT practice questions, and college searches. It is important that seniors meet with their counselor early in the school year in order to develop a clear and comprehensive plan to reach their goals after graduation. Don’t hesitate to call us if you have any questions or would just like to meet with the counselor to discuss your son/daughter’s post-secondary plans.