There are many ways to learn more about the colleges that interest you. These include college rep visits to RMHS, College Fairs, and campus visits.

As you learn more about the schools, it helps to take notes and compare each school.

• CLICK HERE for a College Comparison Chart.

Post-Secondary Support Center
College admission representatives visit Rolling Meadows High School throughout the school year. This is a way for you to demonstrate interest in the school and get to know more information about your colleges of interest.

Visits are listed in Schoolinks, on the announcements and posted in the PSC Newsletters. You can sign up for the visits in your Schoolinks account.

College Fairs
The college counselors of District 214 host a College Fair each April with representatives from more than 200 campuses across the United States. Attending a fair is a great way to begin your search, learn more about each school of interest, and show the admissions representatives that you are interested in their school.

• CLICK HERE for a guide to attending a college fair.

College Campus Visits
To schedule a campus visit, see the admissions section of the college website. Find out what types of tours, sessions and activities may be available. Many now offer virtual visits.

During your visit…

• Try to meet with someone from the admissions office or attend an information session.
• Ask if they can arrange for you to meet with a professor or representative from the department in which you are interested.
• Take a tour of the campus, talk to students, have a meal in the cafeteria, and pick up copies of the student newspaper. Some colleges also can arrange for you to sit in on a class or stay overnight in a residence hall. 

• CLICK HERE for a checklist on the campus visit process.
• CLICK HERE for information on making the most of a campus visit.

Students may be excused from school if a parent calls the Attendance Office to report the absence and the student returns a completed absence form. 

• CLICK HERE for the College/University Visit Absence Form

On this page, you will find information on the following: financial aid, FAFSA, and scholarships.

SENIORS: It is a state graduation requirement to complete the FAFSA, Alternative Application or waiver. See the FAFSA section below for resources and links.

Financial Aid Information

• How to Pay for College
• Net Price Calculator
• Financial Aid Booklet
• Financial Aid Questions to Ask
• Understanding your Financial Aid Letter
• IRS Data Retrieval
• Guide to Federal Student Aid 

FAFSA

An important step in paying for college is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Typically, the form can be submitted beginning on October 1 of your senior year. Students are encouraged to submit their completed FAFSA by mid-November in order to be considered for all financial aid for which you are eligible.

• Fill Out Your FAFSA
  • How To Create an FSA ID
  • Checklist of What You Need to Fill Out a FAFSA
  • Step-by-step Videos to Complete the FAFSA

• Alternative Application
• FAFSA Waiver

How to Find Scholarships

All About Scholarships

College Websites
Find the financial aid and scholarships webpage of each college you’ve applied to. There, check for scholarships for which you qualify.

Local and Non-Local Scholarships
View scholarships listed here. Check back regularly as new opportunities
are added regularly throughout the year.

• Local and Non-Local Scholarship Opportunities
• Scholarship Search Websites:
  • Big Future Website
  • College Greenlight
  • Fast Web
  • FinAid

NAIA
The NAIA, or the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, founded in 1937, includes nearly 300 smaller colleges. Over 90% of NAIA colleges offer athletic scholarships.

NCAA
The NCAA, or National Collegiate Athletic Association, was established in 1906 and serves as the athletics governing body for more than 1,280 colleges, universities, conferences and organizations.  NCAA membership schools are divided into three divisions. Division I and II members may offer athletics scholarships, while Division III schools may not. To see a list of RMHS courses approved by the NCAA, click here and enter Rolling Meadows' CEEB Code, 143736.

Helpful Resources:

• Preparing to be a Student Athlete 
• D214 Student Athlete Handbook
• NCAA Student Athlete Guide 2024-25
• NCAA Eligibility Center
  
  

Student Checklist

• Get involved
• Attend & Participate in D214 Career Nights
• Attend D214 Post Secondary Options Panel
• Explore post-high school options 
• Practice self-advocacy skills
  • Ask your teachers for help if you are struggling.
  • Take advantage of resources at RMHS
    • Freshman Foundations
    • Attend before and after school tutoring
    • When necessary, meet with your School Psychologist, School Social Worker, Case Manager or Counselor
  • Set Goals for Yourself

Freshman Counseling Programs

• Four-year course plan meeting
• Learning style & study skills session
• Create an Activities Resume on Schoolinks
• Support Groups (when applicable)
• Next year's course selection- utilize career pathways

Parents

• Review the Freshman/Sophomore Night Presentation information

Student Checklist

• Stay involved (clubs, activities, sports, etc.)
• Update Activities Resume in Schoolinks
• Attend & Participate in Special Programs
• • D214 Career Nights
  • D214 Post-Secondary Options Panel
  • Attend a Career Trek
  • Meet with Kara Fisher in the PSC or your counselor for career assessments and/or career exploration help.
• Explore Schoolinks
• Become familiar with the college application process timeline
• Consider participating in a District 214 summer internship or a college sponsored summer program. Please note: some of these may require students to pay additional fees.

Sophomore Counseling Programs

• Meetings to determine Junior Year Courses
• Career Exploration Lessons
• Support Groups (if applicable)

Parents

• Freshman/Sophomore Night Presentation

Click here for a comprehensive guide to college planning.
 

Summer Before Junior Year

• Explore college options
• Visit 3 schools

Student Checklist

• Checklist for RMHS Juniors
• Stay involved (clubs, activities, sports, etc.)
  • Update Activities Resume on Schoolinks
• Teacher Recommendations (if needed for college applications)
  • In May, give teachers and counselors a heads up that you will be asking them for one at the beginning of next year
• Explore Schoolinks
• Attend Special Programs
  • D214 Career Nights
  • D214 Athletic Night (if applicable)
  • D214 Ask the College Night
  • D214 Junior Financial Aid Night
  • D214 College Night
• Attend a Career Trek
• Meet with Kara Fisher or your counselor
• Consider taking a District 214 SAT or ACT Prep Class
• Plan College Visits or Career Observations
• Meet with College Representatives in the Post-Secondary Support Center
• Consider completing a District 214 summer internship or college-sponsored summer program. *Note: some of these require students to pay additional fees.
• Finalize your list of schools BEFORE taking the SAT or ACT.
  • College Score Card is a resource to compare schools based on value (cost, graduation rate, average student loan amount, etc.)

Junior Counseling Programs

• Junior Fall & Spring Counseling Lessons
• Meetings to determine Senior Year Courses
• Support Groups (if applicable)

RMHS COLLEGE APPLICATION GUIDE 

Student Checklist

• Apply to colleges by November 1st 
• ​Use this application tracker to keep everything organized
• Steps to Apply (interactive handout)
• Link to Parchment (electronically send transcripts)
• Send Test Scores Through College Board (SAT) or ACT
  • Click here for a list of schools that allow self-reported test scores
• Complete FAFSA by mid-November
• Search and apply for scholarships (see link above on this page)
• Attend Special Programs
  • D214 Career Nights
  • Attend a Career Trek
  • Meet with Kara Fisher or your counselor
  • Visit college admissions representatives in the PSC

Senior Counseling Programs

• Senior College Lesson: The Application Process
• Senior Transcript Review
• Support Groups (if applicable)

We recommend that students with special needs start navigating their post-high school plans as early as possible. The District 214 Transition Workbook can help you through each step of the process.   The Directions College & Career Fair provides information and opportunities for support for sophomores through seniors and their parents.

Admissions and Financial Aid Timeline

• Write a personal statement and possibly self-disclose the disability
• Release current psychoeducational testing (as needed)
• Release documentation of other health-related disabilities
• Be sure that documentation includes a description of the disability and recommendations
• Be sure to get copies of your entire special education file, including accommodations, testing assessments, IEP summaries and summary of performances to have in your own personal file after graduation.

Directions College & Career Fair Webpage

Helpful Websites

• College Advising Guide for Undocumented Students
• Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) - Student Guide
• United We Dream
• My (un)Documented Life
• Information on Consideration of Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
• Resources for Undocumented Students from the College Board

Scholarships for Undocumented Students

• Scholarships and Resources
• Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC)
• The Dream U.S.
• List of Scholarships Open to Undocumented Students
• Dreamers Road Map
   

For additional help, please see Ms. Fisher in the PSC or send her an e-mail.

• Información universitaria para padres
• FAFSA
• U.S. Department of Education (Recursos en español)
• ISAC
• IES > NCES
• College Board
• Mapping Your Future

DESCARGAR

• Lista De Preparacion
• Guia Para Padres