Written by University of Utah student and StepUp Federal Work-Study Employee Marcella Sweet – updated 5/28/19 College is a whirlwind of change and new experiences that in some ways you cannot anticipate or fully understand until you are standing on the other side looking back. I would do many things differently in my first year of college if I knew what I do now. Maybe knowing a bit about my experience will help give you some tips to make your first year as great of an experience as possible. Research transportation options   I wish I had taken the time to learn about the transportation sys ..read more

You’re getting closer to going to college. You are only in high school for a few short years. You’re also probably excited to relax over summer break which is almost here! If you want to make sure you’re on the right track for college this summer, make sure you fit in a few things that will help you prepare for college too: Visit a college campus: Visiting a college campus this summer is the perfect time. Colleges love when you come to visit their campus and they have students whose job it is to give you a campus tour and tell you all about their college. The easiest way to schedule a college ..read more

Whether you’re about to graduate or just looking forward to summer break, it’s a great time to consider how your interests, needs, and opportunities for education and career are aligned. UtahFutures.org has plenty of tools to help you do just that: Discover careers that match your interests. Explore Careers with Sokanu on UtahFutures.org to discover jobs that match what you like to do and how you like to do it. Visualize your financial goals. Explore your lifestyle goals with Reality Check on UtahFutures. Heading to college? Find scholarships and apply for financial aid. Make a well-informed d ..read more

This is the transcript for Season 2, Episode 14 (April 25th, 2019) of the “Title IV + More Podcast for Utah Counselors and Educators” from Katie Wornek, Jacob Newman, and Bryan Lee at StepUp to Higher Education Utah. Listen to the “Title IV + More Podcast for Counselors and Educators” on iTunes Listen to the “Title IV + More Podcast for Counselors and Educators” on SoundCloud Listen to the “Title IV + More Podcast for Counselors and Educators” on Google Play Please be advised that the FAFSA and federal student aid are subject to change. While we ensure all the information we share in each epis ..read more

By Katie Wornek, Outreach Officer and Financial Aid Expert – Updated April 24, 2019 In part 1 of this blog, we explored summer camps offered at Utah’s colleges and universities (and had some fun with Will Smith lyrics). There are even more Utah summer camps and activities available if you’re interested in attending a camp off-campus. Here are a few examples and some suggestions for beginning your search for the perfect summer camp… Start Local: School Districts and Local Governments Many cities, counties, and school districts host summer camps for students. The focus of these camps can ran ..read more

By Katie Wornek, Outreach Officer and Financial Aid Expert – Updated April 24, 2019 Summer, summer, summertime – time to go to camp and unwind! I’d like to start today’s blog by taking us back to the good old days when Will Smith (probably better known to some of today’s students as “Jaden Smith’s dad”) wasn’t starring in blockbuster movies – he was a goofy, teenage rapper who called himself The Fresh Prince and he rolled out hit after hit with his pal, DJ Jazzy Jeff. These two gave us the timeless (and Grammy winning) lyric, “Summer, summer, summertime – time to sit back and unwind.” Sure, u ..read more

May 4, 2018 was the greatest day of my life because that was the day I graduated from college. I started college in 2014 and, although I was happy to be pursuing my dream, I faced many financial obstacles. When I started college, I did not have any financial support, but I learned how to ask for help, and I was able to graduate with a bachelor’s in accounting with no debt. I want to share how I was able to accomplish this and how scholarships helped me finish school. What are scholarships and where can I find them? Scholarships are free money designed to support students, and they are usually ..read more

By Jacob Newman, Outreach Officer and Financial Aid Expert National College Decision Day is coming up on May 1 and the entire month of May is National College Decision Month. Colleges and universities across the nation are asking students to let them know where they plan to attend by May 1. Remember: it’s not too late to declare where you are going even after May 1. Making a big decision like where to go to school can be difficult. Here’s some advice on making your college decision from Utah students who were once in your shoes… Robbie studied theater at UVU and now works and lives in Los A ..read more

By Sara Dorsey – Outreach Coordinator at Lt. Governor’s Commission on Service & Volunteerism Happy Earth Day! In celebration, here are some reasons you should volunteer, either for the environment or in other ways! Also find volunteer opportunities at userve.utah.gov. 1. Scholarship Opportunities Scholarships are available specifically to those who volunteer and give back to their communities. By volunteering, you can find new ways to pay for college. 2. Gain Work Experience Now is the perfect time to start building your resume! By volunteering, you can develop skills you will need in ..read more

This is the transcript for Season 2, Episode 13 (APril 10th, 2019) of the “Title IV + More Podcast for Utah Counselors and Educators” from Katie Wornek, Jacob Newman, and Bryan Lee at StepUp to Higher Education Utah. Listen to the “Title IV + More Podcast for Counselors and Educators” on iTunes Listen to the “Title IV + More Podcast for Counselors and Educators” on SoundCloud Listen to the “Title IV + More Podcast for Counselors and Educators” on Google Play Please be advised that the FAFSA and federal student aid are subject to change. While we ensure all the information we share in each epis ..read more