If college has ever felt out of reach, or too expensive, we’re here to tell you: There’s a way… and it’s the Hathaway.
All over Wyoming, students like you—from homeschool to high school to HSEC (High School Equivalency Certificate)—are pursuing their passions with help from the Hathaway Scholarship.
You can go to college to become exactly what you want to be, and the Hathaway Scholarship provides free money to help you get there.
Find Your Way
No matter what grade you’re in, you can start taking steps toward earning the Hathaway Scholarship and getting free money to attend college in Wyoming.
The courses you take now can impact how much money you can get through the Hathaway Scholarship later.
To meet Hathaway Scholarship eligibility requirements, you need to complete four Hathaway Success CurriculumHathaway Success CurriculumA specific set of high school courses required for Wyoming students to qualify for the Hathaway Scholarship. Requirements differ by pathway (high school, home school, or HSEC) and by scholarship tier. Learn more about Hathaway Success Curriculum (opens in a new tab) courses in Math, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies by the time you graduate high school. To qualify for the Honors or Performance level of the scholarship, you’ll also need four years of either Fine Arts, Career and Technical Education, or World Language.
Be sure you’re taking courses that are part of the Hathaway Success Curriculum; you can check with your guidance counselor to make sure you’re on track.
Middle School
Paying for College
It’s never too early to start saving! Talk to your parents about opening a 529529 Savings PlanThese state-sponsored savings plans were established by the federal government in Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code to encourage families to save more for college. They offer unique state and federal tax benefits you can’t get from other ways to save, making them one of the best ways to save for college. Learn more about 529 Savings Plan (opens in a new tab) college savings plan to help you start saving for college now.
With a Hathaway Scholarship, you could be eligible to get as much as $2,360 per semester to pay for college, with the potential for additional funds through the need-basedNeed-BasedFinancial aid that is need-based depends on your financial situation. Most government sources of financial aid are need-based. Learn more about Need-Based (opens in a new tab) supplement.
The earlier you plan, the better position you’ll be in to get as much free money through the scholarship as you can.
Planning for College
7th grade
- Ask your counselor which Hathaway Success Curriculum courses you can take to use for your Hathaway Scholarship.
- Take advanced math and world language classes.
- Improve your reading, writing, and math skills.
- Work to earn A’s and B’s.
- Join a school club or athletic team.
- Participate in a Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) program, which helps income-eligible students prepare for college.
8th grade
- Ask your counselor which Hathaway Success Curriculum courses you can take to use for your Hathaway Scholarship.
- Take Algebra 1 or a world language class.
- Keep your grades up to prepare for high school.
- Attend a community or school workshop on how to pay for college.
- Talk to family, friends, and teachers about your college plans, and ask questions to discover what may be right for you.
Pursuing Your Passion
Do you like to be outdoors? Do you like to read and write? Would you rather build things with your hands?
Think about what you like to do, and find out if there’s a way to turn it into a career at a Wyoming college near you!
Freshman / 9th Grade
Paying for College
College can be expensive, but with help from the Hathaway Scholarship—up to $2,360 per semester, with the potential for more funds through the need-based supplement—your dreams are well within reach.
Start thinking about the Wyoming college where you’d like to use your Hathaway Scholarship, and look up the tuition cost so you have an idea of the number you need to shoot for.
If you haven’t already, talk to your parents about opening a 529 college savings plan.
Planning for College
- Make sure you’re taking classes that match the Hathaway Success Curriculum for English, math, social studies, science, and world languages; ask your guidance counselor for help if you need it!
- Make a college plan with your counselor.
- Find out more about AP (Advanced Placement), IB (International Baccalaureate), and Concurrent/Dual Enrollment classes at your high school.
- All IB, AP, and Dual/Concurrent courses are weighted for the Hathaway Scholarship, so find out which courses your high school offers and enroll.
- Maintain your GPA; colleges and scholarships make decisions based on the grades you earn from 9th–12th grades.
- Don’t forget about clubs, sports, and volunteer opportunities; colleges consider both grades and extracurricular activities when reviewing applicants.
Pursuing Your Passion
You’ll be offered classes in high school that you’ve never seen before. Take this opportunity to explore your interests and discover new ones; either could lead you to a career that’s right for you.
Sophomore / 10th Grade
Paying for College
College is just a couple of years away; have you checked in to see how much money could be coming your way from Hathaway? You could get up to $2,360 per semester, with the potential for additional funds through the need-based supplement, as a reward for all your hard work and planning!
Talk to your counselor or teacher to make sure you’re enrolled in the right classes to satisfy the Hathaway Scholarship eligibility requirements.
Planning for College
- Think about what you want from your college education and start preparing for the ACTAmerican College Test (ACT)One of the two national standardized college entrance examinations used in the US. The other is the SAT. The ACT is widely used in the West and Midwest. Most universities require either the ACT or the SAT as part of an application for admission. Learn more about American College Test (ACT) (opens in a new tab).
- Make a college plan, or adjust your existing one, with your counselor.
- Make sure you’re taking classes that match the Hathaway Success Curriculum for English, math, social studies, science, and world languages; ask your guidance counselor for help if you need it!
- Find out more about AP (Advanced Placement), IB (International Baccalaureate), and Concurrent/Dual Enrollment classes at your high school.
- All IB, AP, and Dual/Concurrent courses are weighted for the Hathaway Scholarship, so find out which courses your high school offers and enroll.
Pursuing Your Passion
Research on-demand careers and hot job fields. There are tons of options out there, and now’s the time to start planning!
Your counselor can help you find out which industries, jobs, and majors are most in demand, and which ones you can pursue right here in Wyoming.
Junior / 11th Grade
Paying for College
A neat element of the Hathaway Scholarship is what’s called the “need-based supplement,” which helps cover the gap between a college’s total cost of attendanceCost of Attendance (COA)Also known as the cost of education or “budget.” The total amount it should cost the student to go to school, including tuition and fees, room and board, allowances for books and supplies, transportation, and personal and incidental expenses. Loan fees, if applicable, may also be included in the COA. Child care and expenses for disabilities may also be included at the discretion of the financial aid administrator. Schools establish different standard budget amounts for students living on-campus and off-campus, married and unmarried students and in-state and out-of-state students. Learn more about Cost of Attendance (COA) (opens in a new tab) and the actual financial aidFinancial AidMoney provided to the student and the family to help them pay for the student’s education or which is conditioned on the student’s attendance at an educational institution. Major forms of financial aid include gift aid (grants and scholarships) and self-help aid (loans and work). Learn more about Financial Aid (opens in a new tab) you receive. To make sure you’re eligible for the scholarship—and up to $2,360 per semester—check in with eligibility requirements and ensure you’re on track.
Additionally:
- Get serious about securing the grants, scholarships, and financial aid packages you’ve decided on; talk to your counselor about what’s available nationally and in your community.
- Attend college fairs and talk to college admissions staff to learn about specific college scholarships and financial aid.
Planning for College
- Focus on grades to give yourself the best chance at your first-choice college… and earning more money through the Hathaway Scholarship!
- Make sure you’re taking classes that match the Hathaway Success Curriculum for English, math, social studies, science, and world languages; ask your guidance counselor for help if you need it!
- Are you taking AP classes? Have you considered Concurrent/Dual Enrollment classes at your high school? Make sure you and your counselor explore all the options!
- Remember, all AP, IB, and Dual/Concurrent courses are weighted on a 5.0 scale for the Hathaway Scholarship.
- Talk with your counselor to find resources that give you the best chance to score higher on the ACT
- Take the ACT; it’s free, and you need it to earn scholarships (including certain tiers of the Hathaway Scholarship) and get into college.
- Your school will provide ACT testing during your junior year; check with your counselor for dates and details.
- Talk to your parents or counselor to see if the WorkKeysWorkKeysA job skills assessment system that measures foundational skills required for success in the workplace. Certain Hathaway Provisional Opportunity pathways accept WorkKeys scores in place of or alongside ACT scores. test is best for you.
- Narrow down your favorite Wyoming colleges where you can use the Hathaway Scholarship; learn about their admission requirements and deadlines, and visit a few with your parents to find out which one is right for you.
- Start to write a resume that covers your activities and accomplishments at school and in the community.
Pursuing Your Passion
Have you figured out what you want to be yet? If not, that’s OK!
Now’s the time to explore and experiment with what interests you, what you’re good at, what career paths are most compelling, and which of the state’s schools align with them.
Talk to teachers, counselors, and family members who attended college, and find out how they made their decision about a career.
Senior / 12th Grade
Paying for College
Find out how much free money you’re on track to earn through the Hathaway Scholarship, and make plans to adjust (as needed) to get the most money possible.
You’ll also want to:
- Attend college funding workshops.
- Meet with your counselor to make sure you’re on track to wrap up all the classes you’ll need for the Hathaway Scholarship.
- Check to see if the Wyoming college you plan to attend has a Hathaway Scholarship application to complete.
- Talk to your school counselor and parents about creating a college budget; know how much money you have to pay for the college you want to attend.
Planning for College
- Work with your school counselor to make a checklist for graduation and college enrollment, with dates outlined to:
- Submit college and scholarship applications in the fall.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)The standard form students must complete to apply for federal and state need-based assistance/aid programs and, in some circumstances, campus-based assistance/aid. Learn more about Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (opens in a new tab) in January.
- Retake the ACT in the fall and/or spring to improve your score.
- The better your score, the more financial help (including free money from the Hathaway Scholarship) will be available.
- Choose your Wyoming college! Some schools, such as the University of Wyoming, require confirmation by May 1.
- Visit the college you’re interested in with your family, if you haven’t already.
- Apply for scholarships using scholarship search sites like Fastweb.
- Plan for housing and meals at school, and sign up for the plans you need.
- Attend college orientation in the summer after graduation.
Pursuing Your Passion
Look for an internship, or find a career mentor who works in the field you’re interested in pursuing.
Be open to learning and exploring your future options when you get to college!