Guidance Office

The Hillcrest Guidance Office strives to equip students for a life of eternal significance, guiding them in their gifts, talents, and interests to influence their lives positively. The school counselor can assist students in many areas, including academic, social, emotional, postsecondary planning, and scholarships. Students are encouraged to reach out if they need assistance.

Angela Paulson
Licensed School Counselor • Academic Accommodations • SAT/PSAT Coordinator • NHS Advisor
218-739-3371
apaulson@ffhillcrest.org

What’s New

Minnesota Promise Program

Minnesota families making less than $80,000 gross adjusted income may be eligible to send their children to any college in the Minnesota State University system tuition free. This new opportunity is called Minnesota Promise. Other colleges in Minnesota and neighboring states are trying to offer comptetitve tuition rates to keep up with this program. To learn more, check out these links:

 

 
 
 

FAFSA

The FAFSA has been revamped. The hope is that the new FAFSA platform will ease the time required to complete the FAFSA and streamline the process for families each year.

 

SAT & ACT Testing

The ACT and SAT are both college entrance exams. It is recommended students plan to take one of the tests prior to November 1st of the senior year. Often juniors take the test in the spring to become acquainted with the testing layout and decide if further study would be helpful. It is not usually necessary for students to take both tests. Some colleges no longer require a college entrance exam, although scholarships are often awarded based on a student’s test score.

The Hillcrest Lutheran Academy School Code is required for registering for the SAT and ACT test and is located on the bulletin board across from the counselor’s office.

FAQs on College Entrance Exams

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  • Most colleges have moved away from this requirement. You may not need to take a standardized test if your GPA is strong. However, colleges may better understand your abilities when you submit the test scores to your college. Check with colleges you plan to attend to see if they recommend or need SAT or ACT test scores for admission.

  • Scholarships and predictors for college success are both possibilities when students submit their standardized test scores to colleges.

  • Typically, colleges will accept either one, but in the Midwest, students typically take the ACT. The SAT test provides just over 20% more time to answer the questions than the ACT.

  • Research indicates that scores improve when students prepare. SAT recently announced a 115-point improvement for those students who prepared 20 hours.

  • Open an account with act.org (for the ACT test) or collegeboard.org (for the SAT test). Both sites will direct you to free study opportunities. Practice tests are very helpful. SAT partners with Khan Academy to help you merge your account to develop a personal online study plan and quickly provides practice results.

  • Many YouTube videos provide direct tutoring and instruction tips for the SAT and ACT. Your local library may also have the latest practice manuals with tips and strategies. The Hillcrest library and the school counselor’s office also provide some resources.

  • The late spring of your junior year or early fall of your senior year provides the best measure of your ability. College applications should be completed for most colleges before December 15, so plan to have your scores sent directly to the colleges you’re applying to.

  • Yes, plan ahead. Registering early takes the pressure off of last-minute registration challenges. Please do not wait until the last day to register.

 

SAT Test

The SAT test is offered once in the fall and once in the spring at Hillcrest. Students must register several weeks in advance at: College Board

To find a test location near you, search for these cities: Fergus Falls, Moorhead, Detroit Lakes, Alexandria, Breckenridge, Whapeton, N.D. or Fargo, N.D.

Reminder: You must register through your own SAT or ACT account. If you need assistance, please see Mrs. Paulson several days prior to the registration deadline.

 

ACT Test

The ACT test is offered several times each year. Register at: ACT Registration

The ACT test is offered in various locations. Plan ahead for a convenient test location.

To find a test location near you, search for these cities: Fergus Falls, Moorhead, Detroit Lakes, Alexandria, Breckenridge, Whapeton, N.D. or Fargo, N.D.

Reminder: You must register through your own SAT or ACT account. If you need assistance, please see Mrs. Paulson several days prior to the registration deadline.

 

 

FAFSA

Fill out the FAFSA for financial aid. We recommend seniors and their families complete the FAFSA early. Many colleges award more financial aid and scholarship opportunities to students who have completed the FAFSA before December 1st, although filling it out later is also a good strategy to help fund college.

For assistance completing the revamped application, CLICK HERE>>

Another resource to guide you through financial aid considerations is the Dave Ramsey video Borrowed Future>>

 
 

 

Scholarship Resources

Current Scholarships: Watch the bulletin board across from the Counselor’s office for new scholarship postings.

 

 

International College Student Guide

Did you know:

  • Graduates from a Minnesota high school can qualify for Minnesota tuition rates.

  • Graduates from a Minnesota high school may qualify for reciprocity to North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, or Iowa. This means the tuition is the same for a Minnesota resident applying to a college in one of these states.

  • International students applying to all two-year colleges in Minnesota will pay in-state tuition fees.

  • Many International students working to obtain their master's degree may receive most of their college at reduced or no tuition cost if the University offers research assistantships, etc.

About STEM college majors:

  • Many two-year colleges have Articulation Agreements with four-year universities.

  • Articulation Agreements allow students to apply to four-year college programs for continued study in programs like engineering.

  • For example, M-State in Moorhead, Minnesota, has an Articulation Agreement with North Dakota State University. If a student is “calculus ready” and obtains a GPA of 3.5 or higher in the pre-engineering program, they will be eligible for a $2,000 scholarship per year; with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, students may qualify for a $1,000 scholarship per year.

Questions to ask your prospective colleges:

  • Do you honor Minnesota's reciprocity to your college?

  • What scholarships, grants, or work studies would I be eligible for?

  • Do you have Articulation Agreements with any two-year colleges? For which majors?

  • What would the tuition cost for me as a graduate of a Minnesota high school? Is that the best college package you can offer?

  • What forms or tests do you require for the international student application? Where do I find them? (Many colleges will direct you to the information on their websites. Please be prepared to provide copies of your English Language Proficiency score, Passport, I-94, I-20, Visa, Financial Information Forms, and/or Immigration Forms)

 
 
 
 

 

The Common Application

The Common App is an online application that can be submitted to many colleges. Be sure to “waive your rights” so that we can release your transcript and letters of recommendation through the Parchment platform.

 

Common Questions

  • Yes, student schedules are always available to view on the FACTS system.  You may need to advance the school year to indicate the next grade level of study for your student.  

  • You can find courses here>>

  • The CLT helps our students and teachers track their progress from grades 7-11.  Some colleges are also accepting the CLT in place of the SAT or ACT.  

 

 

Partner Colleges

Two colleges have partnered with Hillcrest Academy as scholarship partners for our students attending Hillcrest with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Grand Canyon University:

Grand Canyon University (GCU) in Phoenix, Arizona, offers Hillcrest students a substantial scholarship of $4,000 annually throughout their GCU college education. Other scholarships at GCU are awarded for GPA accomplishments and an excellent standardized exam score (ACT or SAT). For more information, talk to the counselor at Hillcrest or an admissions counselor at GCU. Our admissions counselor is Morgan Ricks, and she can be reached at morgan.rick@gcu.edu.

University of Northwestern

The University of Northwestern (UNWSP) in St. Paul, Minnesota, also offers Hillcrest students a very good scholarship of $2500 per year of attendance at UNWSP. Additionally, UNWSP also considers the GPA and standardized tests to determine a student’s financial aid package. Currently, our admissions counselor is Scott Groeneweg and he can be reached at sggroeneweg@unwsp.edu.

 

Minnesota Career Information System

The MCIS platform provides many helpful assessments to begin planning a career path.  Part of this journey includes identifying the gifts and strengths God has given you. Watch for upcoming information or begin exploring this site by searching the website: MCIS

Our school’s login information is available on the bulletin board across from the counselor’s office and will be sent out in the Principal Update.  Remember to login under portfolio to save your assessments and inventories. Reminder: Always keep your login information for future reference.