College & Career Center
The College and Career Center's mission is to Engage, Equip, and Empower every student by helping them:
- Build a Competitive Student Profile
- Navigate the College Selection + Application Process
- Brainstorm + Edit College Essays
- Educate and Explore Military Options
- Identify and Utilize School-to-Career Paths
- Apply for Scholarships
- Providing Learning Opportunitites for Post Secondary Options
The College + Career Center is located in Student Services, 100 Building, Room 232.
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Best practices
- Apply Early and Often!
- Embrace a "self starter" mentality! Applying for scholarships takes self-directed energy and focus!
- Create a professional, separate email for scholarship applications.
- Create a spreadsheet to track scholarships, deadlines, application links, login credentials, awarded money, etc.
- Think of applying to scholarships as a JOB! Show up, do the work, get paid!
- Aim to apply to a minimum of 2-5 scholarships WEEKLY.
How to get started
- Scholarships are updated in Xello regularly! Check weekly!
- Visit the financial aid website of the colleges you are applying to for information on additional scholarships.
- Use a scholarship search website.
- Use Google and search for specific scholarships based on gender, ethnicity, interests, major, etc.
- All grade levels can apply for scholarships!
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The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) determines eligibility for federal aid: grants, work study, loans
- Must be submitted every year the student needs federal financial aid
- Both student AND parent will need a FSA ID account to complete the FAFSA.
- 2027 Seniors-Complete the 2027-2028 FAFSA starting October 1st.
- If you are starting college in the summer, you will also need to complete the 2026-2027 FAFSA.
- Link to official FAFSA website.
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The Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) is one application that helps students apply for numerous grants & scholarships in the state of Florida including the Bright Futures Scholarship.
- Students who earn the Bright Futures Scholarship while in high school can use the funding at a Florida university, state/community college, or technical/vocational school.
- This scholarship can even be used at most Florida Private Universities (pays smaller amount of tuition cost).
- Colonial High School offers students the opportunity to earn the AICE Diploma and/or the AP Capstone Diploma. Students may receive the Bright Futures Academic Scholarship by earning either diploma AND completing 100 hours of community service/work.
- Link to Bright Futures Eligibility Handbook.
