As senior year comes to a close, students should be aware of what resources are available to them.

Rebecca Kooser, the college adviser located in the counselor’s office, is here to provide the necessary support and guidance to seniors.

“I am here to make your transition after graduation as smooth and easy as possible. It is a crazy and

exciting step to take, and you can never take too much advice and resources,” Kooser said.

The FAFSA is now open — an application for students who can use federal student aid to help pay for college or career school.

“With the FAFSA, take advantage of the opportunity that it provides you. It is a great resource to have in your back pocket; some schools will even require that you have an

account, so be sure to make one now,” Kooser said.

To create a FAFSA account, visit studentaid.gov and follow the step-by-step instructions. If you encounter any issues, don’t hesitate to reach out for help.

“I am a great resource to communicate with, but (you) could (communicate with) parents or siblings who have filled it out before,” Kooser said. “The FAQs page on the (studentaid.gov) is an amazing resource and really doesn’t miss the broad questions. I would check there first and email me with a follow-up.”

As for scholarships, deadlines are approaching.

“With scholarships, you can never fill out too many; my biggest piece of advice is start applying to them now,” Kooser said. “Start with a couple a week or one every now and then; this will prevent you from cramming a lot last minute and getting burn out quickly.”

When applying for a scholarship, keep in mind that you can fill out more than one application.

“Scholarships are stackable; you can be awarded so many to where your education will be free, take advantage of that; all you need is a little self-discipline and patience,” Kooser said.