College Guidance
GENERAL INFO
The Guidance Office is available for all students to use as a means of discovering talents and interests, pursuing career goals, and preparing for college entrance upon graduation from Saint Frances Academy. The College Adviser is in charge of making sure that all students have an active plan for the future before exiting SFA and entering the world of post-secondary education and work.
Seniors are welcome to utilize the Guidance Office by registering for the SAT or ACT, applying to colleges, exploring interests, careers, and college majors and developing concrete goals for the future. Students are assisted with academic counseling and understanding how their grades and standardized test scores are an integral part of their future success in college. Students receive assistance with the preparation and submission of college applications, recommendation letters, college essays, fee waivers, scholarships, and federal and state financial aid to pay for college. Juniors are advised in the Spring for college and career planning. Seniors work intensely with the College Adviser in the Fall for college application submission.
College Planning
SFA students and families have access to Peterson’s Student Edge, a resource for customized SAT test preparation, college planning and scholarship searches, career exploration, homework help, and the creation of resumes – MyStudentEdge.com. SFA’s access code is: PKTEMHDQ. This website is a must for any student who wants to plan and prepare for college.
St. Frances Academy is a testing site for both the SAT and ACT tests.
We encourage our scholars to register for the SAT at CollegeBoard.org and the ACT at ActStudent.org. In some cases, if they qualify, scholars may be eligible to receive up to two fee waivers. Scholars should speak with the College Adviser to determine eligibility.
College Visits & Senior College Round Robin
Many prestigious colleges and universities visit St. Frances throughout the year. Please take advantage of these opportunities by signing up in the Guidance Office. Parents are always welcome!
Seniors will have the opportunity to interact with four prestigious colleges on the last Friday in September. The College Round Robin will take place on that morning.
Juniors and Seniors are encouraged to take advantage of College Fairs such as the Fall National College Fair at the Baltimore Convention Center. Fairs are designed for high school students to meet admissions representatives and discover where they want to apply to college.
Financial Aid (FAFSA)
Seniors may apply for financial aid for college from January 1 through March 1. Parents may use their tax returns or W2s to apply. The FAFSA form is available online at www.fafsa.gov and should be completed online.
- Apply for a PIN for both parent and student. The PIN is a four-digit number, which allows you to electronically sign your online application. www.pin.ed.gov.
- Gather documents needed to apply, including last year’s tax return, W-2 forms and PIN.
- Go to www.fafsa.gov to begin the process. Submit the FAFSA online and print out your confirmation number. If you haven’t completed your tax return yet, you can estimate your answers and return later to make corrections. March 1 is the Maryland deadline, and financial aid is on a “first-come, first-serve basis.” Do NOT go to www.fafsa.com or you will have to pay.
- Include a Maryland college on your FAFSA, even if you don’t want to go to college in-state. If you apply for a college after submitting the FAFSA, you will need to add that college to your FAFSA.
- You will be sent a SAR or a Student Aid Report. If necessary, make changes or corrections and resubmit for processing.
- College award letters will be sent to you.
- Review award packages from your colleges and compare amounts and types of aid.
- As soon as you know which school you want to attend, call the Financial Aid office of that school. The office will assist and help you with any financial issues.
- Don’t forget – you need to re-apply for financial aid each year you are in college.
Scholarship Opportunities
- 100 Minority Scholarship Gateways
- A Better Chance Scholarships for African Americans
- Accounting Scholarships
- Advance Africa ELA Scholarship
- African American Scholarships
- AFROTC High School Scholarships
- Alexander Graham Bell Scholarship for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Scholarships
- American Architectural Foundation
- American Association of University Women
- American Chemical Society Scholarship
- American Fire Sprinkler Association
- American Legion Scholarships
- American Red Cross Summer Internship
- Americorps
- APS Minority Scholarships for Physics
- Architectural Foundation Scholarship
- Art and Writing Awards
- Asian American Journalists Association
- Astronaut Scholarships
- Awards and Scholarships
- AXA Scholarship
- Ayn Rand Institute
- Baptist Scholarships
- Black Alliance for Educational Options Scholarships
- Black College Wire – Journalism Scholarships
- Black Excel Scholarship Gateways
- Black Excel Scholarships
- Black Student Fund
- Bowling Scholarship
- Broke Scholars Scholarships
- Chicana/Latina Foundation
- Civil Air Patrol Scholarships
- Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
- College Scholarships
- College View Scholarship Search
- Colleges offering Chess Scholarships
- Collegiate Inventors Competition
- Congressional Black Caucus Foundatiojn
- Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute
- Congressional Hispanic Scholarships
- Dale Fridall Scholarship
- Datatel Scholars Foundation
- Daughters of the American Revolution
- Davis-Putter Scholarships for Peace and Justice
- Decca Scholarships
- Discover Card Tribute Award Scholarships
- Elks National Foundation – Most Valuable Student Award
- Engineering School Scholarships
- Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund – Sept. 11
- FastWEB Scholarship Search
- Federal Student Aid Portal
- FinAid: The Smart Students Guide to Financial Aid
- Free 4 U – Jewish Scholarships
- Free Scholarship Search
- Gates Millennium Scholarships
- Gateway to 10 Free Scholarship Searches
- Guaranteed Scholarships
- Historically Black College & University Scholarships
- Holocaust Remembrance Essay Contest
- Horace Mann Scholarship Program
- Horatio Alger Scholarship
- Indian Health Service Scholarships
- Intel Science Talent Search
- Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarships
- Journalism Grants
- Kansas City Writing Awards for High School Juniors
- League Foundation – Alternative Lifestyles Scholarship
- Library Scholarships
- LULAC – National Scholastic Achievement Awards
- Marine Corps Scholarships
- Maryland Higher Education Commission – State Aid
- Mensa Foundation
- Methodist Scholarships
- Michigan Community Foundation
- Microsoft Opportunity
- Minority Accounting Scholarships
- Minority Scholarships
- Morris K. Udall Foundation Scholarship
- Music Scholarships
- National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering
- National Association of Black Journalists
- National Black Nurses Association Scholarship
- National Black Police Association Scholarship
- National Federation for the Blind Scholarship
- National Institutes of Health Scholarship Program
- National Scholarships at All Levels
- National Security Agency
- National Society of Black Engineers Scholarships
- NCSA Athletic Recruiting
- New York State Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Nursing Scholarships
- Orphan Foundation of America
- Pacific Northwest Scholarship Guide
- Paralegal Scholarships
- Peterson’s Aid and Scholarship Help
- Presidential Freedom Scholarships
- Princeton Review Scholarships & Aid
- Project Excellence Scholarships
- Prudential Spirit of the Community Scholarship
- Research for Women & Minorities Underrepresented in the Sciences
- Ron Brown Scholarships
- Roothbert Fund Scholarships
- Rotary Scholarships
- Scholarship & Financial Aid Help
- Scholarships 4 Students
- Scholarships for Minority Accounting Students
- School Soup
- ScienceNet Scholarship Listing
- Siemens Foundation Competition
- Sports Scholarships and Internships (NCAA)
- State Farm Insurance Hispanic Scholarships
- Student Video Scholarships
- Study Abroad
- Super College Scholarships
- The David and Dovetta Wilson Scholarship Fund
- The Elks National Foundation Scholarships
- Third Wave Foundation Scholarships
- Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
- Tylenol Scholarships
- Undergraduate Scholarships in Health
- Union Plus Scholarships
- United Negro College Fund Scholarships
- United States National Peace Essay Contest
- US News: Scholarship Research Center
- USA Funds Scholarships
- Verizon Scholarship Program
- Walmart Scholarship
Lost your diploma? need a copy?
Request Transcript
Please fill out the form and submit it to the appropriate department for processing.
Return to the Front Office
- Transcript Request Form for Alumni & Former Students
- Diploma Request Form for SFA Alumni
Return to the College Advising Office
- Transcript Request Form for current seniors applying to college
- Transcript Request Form for Coaches seeking a transcript
- Parental Release Form for SFA to release transcripts to college coaches
If you are seeking a transcript for any other reason than the purposes listed above, please contact the front office.