(NAPSA)—Schoolvacations can be an excellenttimefor high schoolseniors and their parents to get a head start on the college application process—you can focus onfinding the right college without balancing the responsibilities of school- work and extracurriculars. Fortunately, there is a new toolthat servesas a free andsimplecollege planningguide forall students, while giving them a chance to winscholarships for each step they take. The College Board Opportunity Scholarships support students and families on the path to college by laying out six steps of what to do and when to do it. The program launched in December for the class of 2020. Completing each step will earn a chance for a scholarship; completing all six will earn students a chanceto win $40,000fortheir college education. Here’s what you can do now to savetimelater: 1. Build Your College List—Get started by exploring colleges you're interested in andcreate a list of at least six schools. 2. Practice for the SAT—Use Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy to get readyfortest day. 3. Improve Your Score—Show how practice pays off by improving your SAT Students have a chance to earn a $40,000 collegescholarship by completing Tobe eligible for the $40,000 schol- arships, students in the class of 2020 must sign up for the program and complete the Build Your College List stepsby June 30. The College Board Opportunity Scholarships are about how much you grow, not how high you score. The program doesn't require an essay, application, a minimum GPA or a mini- mum SATscore. Instead, the program rewardsall students’ efforts and actions ontheir way to college. The moreeffort youputin and actions you complete,the morechancesyou haveto earn a college scholarship. ‘The College Board is investing $25 million overfive years. The class of 2020 score. You can sign up to take the SAT on August24 before schoolstarts. will earn total of 4,000 scholarships for ‘Add to yourcollege list and makesure for them in March 2020.A totalof1,025 4.Strengthen Your College List— it’s a mix of academic safety, fit, and reach schools. $5 million by the timethe program ends scholarships, amounting to $850,000, 5.Complete the FAFSA—Fill out have been given to date. Winners have come from 42states, D.C. and Puerto 6. Apply to Colleges—Apply to the Studentscan sign up at www.CB.org/ Opportunity. The program opensto the the free government form to apply for financialaid. schools you wantto attend. Rico. class of 2021 in December 2019.
