College, Career & Military

Senior Year Checklist

• Helpful information and next steps in preparing for life after graduation. 

Naviance for College Applications - Troubleshooting Guide 

• Includes steps for:
  • Matching Naviance & Common App
  • Requesting a Transcript
  • Requesting a Letter of Recommendation
  • Scholarship Search

Each of the following resources offer a wealth of information to use as you explore career and the world of work.

• Naviance
• Career One Stop
• Explore Health Careers
• The College Board's Big Future
• Pathfinder
• Occupational Outlook Handbook
• O*NET OnLine
• My Next Move -  ¿Habla español?
• College Navigator
• Major Finder
• College Majors 101

Students, please sign up through Naviance.

1. Click on the "colleges" tab at the top
2. Then click on "college visits" 
3. And then click on "register now" for the individual visits you are interested in. 

Keep checking back, as more visits will be added as colleges/military sign up in our system.

FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid

• 2025-2026 Application is OPEN and can be found on the FAFSA Website.
• We encourage any student, regardless of income, who wants to be considered for federal, state, and school financial aid programs (including grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans), to complete the FAFSA.
• The Federal Student Aid website provides resources to help families in completing the form.

Virtual Financial Aid Webinar Sign-up 

• Students and families looking for help paying for college can attend a recording of our Virtual Financial Aid Presentation provided by MI Student Aid.

• HHS Scholarships Database
  • This is a running list of local scholarships, specific college scholarships, scholarship search engines, and more that counselors have been made aware of.  This database is also linked in Naviance.
• Local Scholarships
  • Community Foundation of Holland/Zeeland Area
  • Allegan County Community Foundation
• National Scholarship Search Engines
  • Fast Web 
  • Scholarships.com
  • Going Merry
  • Big Future

**Students - If you are interested in participating in college athletics, please let your counselor know as soon as possible so that they can help make sure the correct classes are being taken.**

NCAA Eligibility Center

• Students interested in competing in Division 1 or Division 2 college athletics must register with the NCAA.
• Doing this early helps make sure academic requirements are met.  Generally this means that students need to complete at least 16 NCAA approved core courses (English, math, science, social studies, world language) and earn at least a 2.3 core GPA.  This is not a student's cumulative GPA, it is calculated only using the core courses.

NAIA Eligibility Center

• PlayNAIA.org helps future student-athletes discover and connect with NAIA schools, coaches and athletic scholarships. PlayNAIA is also the official clearinghouse for NAIA eligibility. Every student-athlete must register with the NAIA Eligibility Center to play sports at an NAIA college or university.

There are several ways that students can earn college credit while in high school.  This may be through Dual Enrollment, Early College, Direct Credit, Articulated Credit, AP Exam Credit, etc.

Transfer Credit

• Michigan Transfer Agreement
  • Facilitates credit transfers from community colleges to baccalaureate colleges and universities. 

Branches

• Army - Conduct combat missions on the ground
  • Army National Guard
  • Army Reserve
• Air Force - Execute military operations in the air
  • Air National Guard
  • Air Force Reserve
• Marines - Support other branches in land, sea, and air combat and operations
  • USMC Reserve
• Navy - Protect waterways, provide runways for aircraft when at sea
  • Navy Reserve
• Coast Guard - Enforce laws at sea, secure waterways, lead search and rescue missions
  • Coast Guard Reserve
• US Space Force - Organize, train, and equip members to conduct global space operations

Federal law requires a secondary school to grant military recruiters, upon their request, access to secondary school students’ names, addresses, and telephone numbers, unless the student's parent/guardian, or student who is 18 years of age or older, submits a written request that the information not be released without the prior written consent of the parent/guardian or eligible student.  If you wish to exercise this option, notify (in writing) Andrea Sears in the Counseling Office - asears@hamiltonschools.us

Selective Service

Males 18-25 - Most male students must register with Selective Service to receive federal aid. If you are male, age 18-25 you can register at www.sss.gov or when filling out the FAFSA.