The COVID-19 outbreak is leaving many feeling anxious, angry, sad, scared, or some combination of these feelings.  Visit this link for tips from the Center for Disease Control on managing anxiety and stress during this outbreak: https://tinyurl.com/wvkszdg
This includes a resource for parents helping their children cope with the stress of current events.

If you or a loved one find themselves needing to talk or in a moment of crisis, you/they can call, text, or chat with the Georgia Crisis & Access Line, by calling 1-800-715-4225 or finding the myGCAL app in the App Store or Google Play.  GCAL is a free service offering help 24/7, and dispatching mobile crisis assessors when needed.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness also offers a mental health helpline.  Call the NAMI Helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or if in a crisis, you can also text NAMI to 741741.

Visit our College Financial Aid page (under College and Career Planning menu) to download the Local Scholarship Application.  While you're there, don't forget to review the rest of the page for more about securing free money for college!

This article features a Dalton State College nursing student who refused to let her learning disability hold her back from achieving her goals.  Through positive working relationships with Dalton State classmates and instructors, learning strategies tailored to her learning disability, and grit, she found success in Dalton State's challenging nursing program and is thriving in the workforce!

We encourage all students to read this inspiring story about a student with a growth mindset!
​‘Hard but Rewarding:’ Nursing Graduate Pushes Through Disability to Succeed (Dalton State College)

This might be a good time to ask:  Did you know that Exceptional Student Services (ESS; also known as special education) does not have to stop in high school?  In earlier levels of education, ESS is often initiated by educators or parents who notice students who may have special needs that impact their education.  After high school, a student can still arrange for such accommodations.  If you have received ESS accommodations in grade school and/or high school and are interested in securing accommodations in college, you must reach out to your college's disability services department.  The approval process does not automatically begin for you just because you had an IEP or 504 Plan in high school.  The exact name of the department providing disability services may vary from college to college, but it's usually a title like disability services, student success services, etc.

If you think you aren't worthy of scholarships, think again!  From scholarships for your height to scholarships for best duct tape prom dress, there are a variety of scholarships that don't necessarily require financial need and/or academic prowess.

Follow the link to see CNBC's 7 of the Strangest College Scholarships
As always, you can also visit the NMHS Counseling Office's own College Financial Aid page for more information about state and federal aid, aid based on financial need and merit, and searching for scholarships.

In this article by the "College Corner" columnist for Davis Enterprise, Jennifer Borenstein answers a common question she receives:  "What are my chances of getting into (highly competitive college)?"  Using her know-how as an independent college advisor, Borenstein offers practical pointers for making your application stand out.

Read Borenstein's article here:  For Selective Schools, Here’s How You Stand Out (Davis Enterprise)