College and Career Readiness

Students

College & Career Readiness

Every Phantom graduates with a plan — college, trade, or service. Testing, early college credit, financial aid, and scholarships, all in one place.

Questions? Contact our College & Career Counselor, Teresa Ly, through the front office at (520) 836-9383.

College Checklists & Guides

Grade-by-grade checklists and the Arizona senior guides.

Grade 9 Checklist Grade 10 Checklist Grade 11 Checklist Grade 12 Checklist AZ Senior Guide (English) AZ Senior Guide (Español)

Testing

Prospective colleges look for a challenging course load, a strong GPA, and solid standardized test scores. Registration and preparation booklets are available in the Counseling Department — fee waivers are available if cost is a hardship. MHP school code: 030-024.

ACT (Juniors & Seniors)

Multiple-choice tests in English, mathematics, reading, and science (optional writing test). All juniors take the ACT in the spring; fall testing is self-scheduled at act.org. Fee waivers available.

SAT (Juniors & Seniors)

College Board entrance exam used by most colleges and universities; register at collegeboard.org, where a free practice test is available. Fee waivers available.

PSAT/NMSQT (10th & 11th)

Great SAT practice, offered in October — and the qualifying test for National Merit Scholarships for juniors. Also used to identify AP potential.

AP Exams

Students in AP classes take the corresponding AP Exam in the first two weeks of May. Scored 1–5 (3 = passing); college credit depends on the college’s policy.

ACCUPLACER

Required for Central Arizona College admissions, course placement, and dual enrollment. Administered fall and spring; results help place you in courses matched to your skill level. Practice here.

ASVAB (Juniors & Seniors)

Given in winter — voluntary and free. Taking it does NOT enlist you; it provides valuable career-interest and aptitude insight.

Free prep: Khan Academy · College Board · ACT practice tests

Early College Credit — Central Arizona College

CAC’s High School Programs let academically prepared students earn transferrable college credits while still in high school — saving time and money.

To enroll, students complete the CAC Admissions Application AND the High School Programs Registration Form (requires e-signatures from the school counselor or authorized representative AND a parent/guardian). To qualify for the Early College Scholarship, students must be a Pinal County resident, attend a Pinal County high school, maintain a 2.5+ GPA, and be enrolled in 11th or 12th grade (eligibility starts the summer after completing 10th grade). Questions? Contact Hazel Rossi, Assistant Director of High School Programs: hazel.rossi@centralaz.edu or 520-483-4043.

CAC High School Programs CAC Scholarships Application

CAVIT — Career & Technical Education

Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology classes are offered to juniors and seniors to prepare them for a specific trade — free for current students, counting toward CTE and elective credits.

Programs include: Automated Industrial Technology · Aviation Technology · Barbering · Behavioral Health · Construction Technology · Cybersecurity · Dental Science · Drone Technology · Electric Vehicle · Esports · Fire Science · Hairstyling · Law Enforcement · Massage Therapy · Medical Science · Nail Technology · Patient Care · Pharmacy Science · Physical Therapy · Powersports Technology · Veterinary Science · Welding Technology.

CAVIT Website CAVIT Enrollment Application

Applying to College

Apply during the summer and first semester of senior year; ask your counselor and teachers early for recommendation letters.

AZ University Admission — meet at least one

Top 25% of graduating class · 3.00 GPA in competency courses (4.00 scale) · ACT 22+ · SAT 1120+

Core Requirements

(4) English · (4) Math (Algebra I and higher) · (3) Lab Science · (2) Social Studies · (2) Foreign Language (same language) · (1) Fine Arts/CTE

Where Phantoms Apply

ASU · NAU · UArizona · CAC · GCU · plus technical and trade schools

Financial Aid — FAFSA

The FAFSA opens October 1 each year — apply early! It’s free, takes about 30 minutes, and is a graduation requirement for all MHP students (except foreign exchange students).

Grants

Financial aid that does not need to be repaid — most commonly the Pell Grant. Qualifying for free or reduced lunch makes some Pell award highly likely.

Loans

Borrowed money repaid with interest. Subsidized loans (need-based) accrue no interest until six months after graduation; unsubsidized loans accrue immediately.

Work Study

Part-time employment on campus or at a non-profit that helps pay for school; requires demonstrated financial need at a participating college.

Each student and parent needs an FSA ID before starting. Once submitted, you’ll receive a Student Aid Report, then award letters from each college listing grants, work study, loans, and school scholarships. Need help? Text “Ask Benji,” Arizona’s FAFSA-assistance chatbot, at 602-786-8171.

Start Your FAFSA (studentaid.gov)

Scholarships

Local deadlines cluster in late fall through March — check the Senior Google Classroom for this year’s dates and applications. Never pay for a scholarship search.

Local

Elks Most Valuable Student · Cesar Chavez (Pinal) · Kiwanis · Rotary · Pinal 40 · Casa Grande Community Hospital Foundation · Valley Foundation

Statewide & National

Flinn Scholarship · Dorrance · Hispanic Scholarship Fund · GE-Reagan Foundation · College Board partners

Search Engines

Fastweb · Going Merry · Scholarships.com · RaiseMe · Scholarship America · College Success Arizona

Military