ICAN Advisors are Here to Help You Plan

Spring is almost here. The weather in Iowa goes from 50 degree highs one week to 30 degree highs the next (and back up to 50 degrees again the next week, we hope). Spring is an exciting and busy time of year for high school students and parents, with lots of athletic practices, playoffs and events, spring plays, dances, ICAN evening presentations (financial aid and college planning), and of course, academics. Everyone’s schedule can get pretty busy, especially during the student’s junior and senior years.

With all of these activities going on, time can really fly by, and before you know it, the end of the school year is upon us. There can be a lot deadlines involved with the college admissions and financial aid process and it is important that families stay on top of everything that is involved with it.

ICAN help! (pardon the pun..)

At all of our ICAN locations (my locations are at the UNI Center for Urban Education and also Hawkeye Community College , both in Waterloo), we offer many options for one-on-one appointments.

For all high school students, regardless of grade level, we offer assistance in career exploration, choosing a college and campus visits. In addition, for juniors, we offer more specific guidance on paying for college and financial aid. And, for seniors, we offer FAFSA and CSS Profile assistance, Award Letter Review, and Alternative Funding Options for College. I can walk you through the steps of your decisions, help you understand your options and even help you outline a budget based on your future career training. Sometimes just talking things out can make a big difference in how you’re feeling and the decisions you make.

We can help with all of these topics and if one appointment is not enough, feel free to schedule another one to come back for more information. You can visit our website to get a full overview of our personal advising options- www.icansucceed.org/advising

It tells you which grade level the information applies to, what to expect in the appointment, and how long the appointment might take. You can also schedule an appointment directly by clicking here.

I urge all high school students and their parents to take advantage of ICAN’s free services. Whether it is a 30 minute or a 2 hour appointment, we are willing to take the time to help you through each step of the process.

Go to www.icansucceed.org/apt for an appointment. Or, if you have any questions about our services or would like to schedule over the phone, call our toll free number, 877-272-4692, or my direct line, 319-423-7703. I look forward to helping you in the Waterloo area!

John Holland - ICAN Waterloo Center