School Counselor FAQs

School Counselor FAQs

To make navigation of the resources found within our American College Foundation website more convenient for school counselors, we have listed below some of the most frequently asked questions that we receive.

If you should have additional questions, please feel free to complete our Contact Us form at the bottom of this page.  We are happy to answer questions and welcome your comments, suggestions, and feedback.  Your input helps us deliver a better and better message to students and families and helps our foundation continue to grow.

American-College-Foundation-School-Counselors-Students-FAQs

School Counselor FAQs

To make navigation of the resources found within our American College Foundation website more convenient for school counselors, we have listed below some of the most frequently asked questions that we receive.

If you should have additional questions, please feel free to complete our Contact Us form at the bottom of this page.  We are happy to answer questions and welcome your comments, suggestions, and feedback.  Your input helps us deliver a better and better message to students and families and helps our foundation continue to grow.

ACF Visionary Scholarship FAQs

Is it free for students to apply?

Yes, there is absolutely no cost to apply for the American College Foundation Visionary Scholarship.

What grade levels are eligible?

All students currently enrolled in high school grades 9 – 12 are eligible to apply for the ACF Visionary Scholarship.

Is financial need considered?

No, financial need is not considered and does not need to be demonstrated by the student.  All income levels may apply.

How many awards are given each year?

Our Visionary Scholarship is a bi-annual award.  There are five (5) awards given with each bi-annual deadline – with a total of ten (10) college scholarships awarded for each school year.  Awards range from $1,000 to $2,500 each.

How do students apply?

Each eligible student may visit our Registration page to begin the application process.  After completing the free Registration Form, the student will receive an Application Packet via Email within two (2) weeks.  The Application Packet will include full details on the completion and submission requirements of our Visionary Scholarship program.

What makes up the application packet?

All applications for the American College Foundation’s Visionary Scholarship Program will consist of:

  • Completed ACF Visionary Scholarship Application
  • Student’s most recent unofficial high school transcript
  • 500-word essay on “Why College is Important to Me”

All components of the application must be received completely at the time of submission.  Applicant will NOT be notified of a partial and/or incomplete application.  Applications are judged on the ability to follow guidelines (25%), grammar and punctuation (25%), and both the originality and overall merit of the written essay (50%).

How do I promote / make available to our students?

Please visit our Scholarship Resources for School Counselors page for more information on the promotion of our ACF Visionary Scholarship to your students and their parents.

Where can I find complete details?

Please visit our ACF Visionary Scholarship Details page for more information on deadline and selection dates, application submission, application status, and complete award specifics.

American College Foundation FAQs

Is the ACF a college-based organization?

The American College Foundation (“ACF”) is a family-based organization.  The ACF serves as an advocate for the family and delivers all college planning information, procedures, and strategies from the perspective of the student and their parents.

What is the mission of the ACF?

Established exclusively with high school students and their parents in mind, the ACF provides vital process-driven college planning details and procedures to help ensure the student receives the best college education at the most competitive price.

Can high schools use the ACF resources?

Absolutely – in fact we encourage high schools and their career and college counselors to reference processes and procedures contained within our site to help assist students and their parents with the numerous steps involved in the overall college planning process.  Please visit our School Counselors page to learn more about how the ACF can serve as a resource for your school.

How many high schools participate?

There are currently over 10,000 high schools that actively promote the scholarship resources and overall mission of the ACF.

How does the ACF compliment my services?

Given the complexity of the overall college planning process, there are simply just not enough hours in the day for the school counselor to address each and every aspect that students and their families will face when preparing and paying for college.

The American College Foundation serves as a trusted cornerstone resource for school counselors to both reference and incorporate into their structure when speaking with students (and parents) regarding college planning procedures that may be outside their training, scope, and immediate focus.

How do students and families benefit?

College is certainly essential and expensive, but what is commonly overlooked by most families is that college is ultimately a business, and therefore, ran like a business.  Colleges incorporate sophisticated formulas when deciding who is admitted, and probably more importantly, who receives the most lucrative funding.

Unfortunately because of the way it is commonly portrayed as free and easy, most families don’t fully understand the true inner-workings of the college planning process.  These uninformed families will oftentimes pay more for college than necessary and sacrifice other family assets to meet the ever-rising costs of higher education.

On the other hand, families with an advocate on their side delivering answers from their perspective will be able to better navigate the college planning process and in many cases pay less by having a better overall understanding of the “business” of college.  The American College Foundation is proud to serve as that advocate.

Questions?