College Resources

Mrs. Jill Goldsmith
College Counselor 
Bourgade Catholic High School stresses the importance of higher education. Upon graduation, students will possess the academic and life skills necessary to succeed at the academic institution of their choice. With the help of our tremendous College Guidance Department, the past three graduating classes have earned over $30 million in merit scholarship dollars while averaging a 99% college/university attendance rate. The 1% of our graduates that do not attend college immediately following high school, are proudly serving our country in the military. The College Counseling Department at Bourgade Catholic High School enables students to reach their full potential academically and personally by providing guidance and counseling in the areas of education, social skills, and life planning.

Testing

College entrance exams are standardized aptitude tests used to evaluate students for college admissions purposes. There are two major tests, the ACT and the SAT. Arizona students tend to take the SAT although colleges and universities typically accept either test. Students should be planning to take their first test in the Spring of their junior year. 
SAT 
The SAT is a product of the College Board and has three sections: Reading, Writing and Language; Math; and an optional essay section. Each section is scored from 200-800, meaning students can score anywhere from 400-1600 on the whole test (the optional essay is scored separately).
ACT
The ACT is a multiple choice exam that has sections in English, Math, Reading, and Science. Like the SAT, there is an optional Writing section. Check to see if the colleges and universities on your list require the writing section as well – as a majority of universities will require it. Each section is scored on from 1-36, and the final score is generated as the average of all four subject areas. Students who opt to take the Writing Test will receive a Subject-Level Wring Score and an ELA score, which is the average of the scores received from English, reading, and writing).

College Resources

College Readiness
College readiness refers to the set of skills, knowledge, and behaviors a high school student should have upon graduation and entering their freshman year of college. We are here to help facilitate the journey toward college readiness and encourage discovery of finding the right fit college and being successful while studying at an institute of higher learning.
​Naviance 
Naviance Family Connection is a comprehensive college, career and life readiness solution that helps districts and schools align student strengths and interests to postsecondary goals, improving student outcomes and connecting learning to life. This is how BCHS students are able to find and research colleges, manage the student application process, and counselors can send documents like transcripts and letters of recommendation to postsecondary institutions. 
Out of State Colleges
Maybe a student would like to broaden their horizons more and journey out of state to further their studies. This could be the opportunity to find independence, have new cultural experiences, and explore away from home. If your student is looking for options outside of Arizona, here are tools to use for research:
​In-State Colleges/Universities
General Admissions Requirements: 16 core courses, 3.0 GPA, 1120 SAT/ 22 ACT
​Local Community Colleges 
There are 10 Maricopa Community Colleges:
  • Chandler-Gilbert Community College
  • Estrella Mountain Community College
  • GateWay Community College
  • Glendale Community College
  • Mesa Community College
  • Paradise Valley Community College
  • Phoenix College
  • Rio Salado Community College
  • Scottsdale Community College
  • South Mountain Community College
Incoming freshmen may be eligible for a merit scholarship offered by Maricopa CCs that cover their tuition. - President Honors(3.25 Cumulative GPA)
College Fairs
 During this time of Coronavirus, there have been a few virtual college “fairs” that students can sign up to attend. The latest are the Strive Virtual College Exploration Week recently extended Apr 20-May 8, and NAVIGATE 2020 May 4-6. Click the links to register.
College Visits
Students may be stuck at home right now but there are various tools to go on campus “tours” or college “visits” virtually. Use the links below to discover your perfect fit. 
Military 
For some students, the military may be a good option. There are various routes a student can take such as an ROTC program, military academy, or enlisting upon graduation. ROTC Programs are offered at the schools listed below. 
Military Academies 
Military Academies are educational institutions, which prepare candidates for service in the military as an officer. These highly selective institutions combine a military and educational environment. Applications should be started junior year as they are long and require many steps like endorsement from a state legislator.

College Guide for Low-Income Students

The team at Study.com recently developed a College Guide for Low-Income Students. Our goal is to inform students about critical information regarding their college education and share different resources that will help set them up for success. The new COVID-19 stimulus bill included several notable changes relating to FAFSA and financial aid, and we have updated our College Guide for Low-Income Students to include the most important information. Our College Guide for Low-Income Students offers in depth information in several areas, including:
  • Housing, nutrition, academic, and health resources for low-income students
  • Tips for finding financial aid and filling out the FASFA
  • Specific grants and scholarships for low-income students
  • A list of colleges that offer free or reduced tuition for low-income students
  • Organizations that help low-income students apply to and succeed in college

Student Aid - HBCU Resource Guide​

Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) provide a nurturing environment for learners most at risk of the college achievement gap. Additionally, these institutions serve as a safe space for educating minority students living amidst the unstable racial climate of America. 

As Bourgade Catholic High School celebrates Black History Month, our team at TheBestSchools.org wants to provide your team with a supplemental resource overviewing the history and importance of prestigious HBCU institutions. By sharing this resource with Phoenix's students, your organization can promote both education and tradition. 

Check out our guide here:

HBCU Considerations - https://thebestschools.org/magazine/past-present-future-importance-of-hbcus/

Consider adding our resource to your toolbox as we continue celebrating Black excellence together. Share a link to the guide above on your site here - or another page you see that best fits: https://www.bourgadecatholic.org/college-resources.html

Financial Aid

​ This is money to help pay for college or career school. Various types of financial aid are grants, work-study, loans, and scholarships, which help make college or career school affordable. To learn more about how financial aid (FAFSA, etc.) works, check out this presentation created by Raise.me.
​FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form you need to fill out to get any financial aid from the federal government to help pay for college. Lots of states and colleges also use the FAFSA to determine which students get financial aid—and how much they'll get.
Those that are eligible for free and reduced lunch or other government aid programs could be eligible to receive a pell grant after filing their FAFSA. The FAFSA should be filled out beginning October 1 of the student’s senior year. 
Scholarship Websites          
Resources 
The College Depot is a free, full-service college access center provided by the Phoenix Public Library system. Other resources similar are the AZ Foundation and JLV Counseling.
Raise.me 
Raise.me lets you keep track of your achievements and the money you earn in the form of micro-scholarships. By earning micro-scholarships on Raise.me you’re learning about what you can do to earn even more at many colleges and universities. Let’s get started by having you earn your first micro- scholarship... Watch this video to get started! 
Scholarship Search Engines
These are scholarship specific search engines, like Google, that allow students to search and find ways to tap into the billions of dollars in scholarship money awarded each year.
Highly Selective Scholarships
Typically, these are scholarships that are highly competitive and have strict eligibility requirements to apply. The scholarship is usually much larger in award amount. 
Bourgade Catholic High School   •   4602 N. 31st Ave.   ·   Phoenix, AZ 85017  
(602) 973-4000   •   Fax (602) 973-5854   •   info@bourgadecatholic.org