High School Student & Family Presentations
🎓Planning. Deciding. Taking Action.
High school is a critical time for students to explore options, make informed decisions, and take meaningful steps toward their future. ICAN’s high school presentations support students and families through every stage of the career and college planning process—from exploring pathways and building a plan to understanding financial aid and completing the FAFSA.
These sessions are engaging, informative, and designed to help students confidently navigate important decisions throughout high school and beyond.
All ICAN high school presentations align with Iowa’s District Career and Academic Plan (DCAP) standards and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Mindsets & Behaviors framework, supporting key milestones in career, college, and financial aid planning.
ICAN Core Programs
🧭 Freshman Transitions
For 8th & 9th grade families | 45–60 minutes
This session focuses on helping students understand high school requirements, create an intentional 4-year plan, and explore how choices now affect future options.
✔️ DCAP Alignment: Academic planning, high school course awareness (See ICAN DCAP template)
✔️ ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors: Self-management, goal-setting, future orientation
Click here to read a full program description |Learn about Scheduling
🎓 Life After High School
For 10th & 11th grade families | 45–60 minutes
Introduces career pathways, postsecondary options, and decision-making tools to help students identify their interests and long-term goals.
✔️ DCAP Alignment: Career exploration, postsecondary planning (See ICAN DCAP template)
✔️ ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors: Career awareness, decision-making, self-advocacy
Click here to read a full program description | Learn about Scheduling
💸 How to Pay for College
For juniors & seniors | 60–75 minutes
Demystifies the cost of college, explains the financial aid process, and walks through scholarships, FAFSA, and budgeting strategies.
✔️ DCAP Alignment: Financial aid literacy, cost planning (See ICAN DCAP template)
✔️ ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors: Financial decision-making, access to postsecondary education
✔️ Iowa Requirement for FAFSA Advising (SF2383): Meets requirement for schools to provide advising to students on how to successfully complete the FAFSA form. (Learn more)
Click here to read a full program description | Learn about Scheduling
📝 FAFSA Ready Iowa
For seniors | October through January
Hands-on support to help students and families complete the FAFSA with confidence. Events are staffed by ICAN experts and ICAN certified professionals, and ensure accurate, on-time submissions.
✔️ DCAP Alignment: FAFSA completion, college readiness (See ICAN DCAP template)
✔️ ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors: College application skills, self-advocacy, perseverance
✔️ Iowa Requirement for FAFSA Advising (SF2383): Meets requirement for schools to provide advising to students on how to successfully complete the FAFSA form. (Learn more)
Click here to read a full program description | Learn about Scheduling
📚 Additional High School Topics
In addition to ICAN’s core high school presentations, schools can request specialized sessions and workshops to meet students’ unique needs. These sessions can be offered individually, combined, or scheduled as part of a bundle to provide comprehensive support for students and families.
Academic Planning & College Prep
- Academic Planning
- How to Apply
Financial Aid & Scholarships
- Covering College Costs – Comparing Financial Aid Offers
- Comparing Financial Aid Offers Workshop
- FSA ID Workshop
- Scholarship Process
- Scholarship Process Workshop
Career Exploration & Pathways
- Exploring Careers
- Exploring Careers in Building Trades
- Exploring Careers in the Military
Each topic is designed to support DCAP standards, the ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors framework, and help students make informed decisions throughout high school.
ICAN Presentation Descriptions
Freshman Transitions: A Guide to Beginning High School
Starting high school is an exciting new chapter—one that sets the stage for future opportunities. The decisions you make in your freshman year, from course selection to extracurricular involvement, play a key role in shaping your path after graduation. This session helps students and families navigate the transition, make informed choices, and start planning for life beyond high school.
Topics:
- Career Exploration & Goal Setting
- Choosing the Right Courses for Your Future
- Exploring Pathways: Apprenticeships, Military, College & More
- Understanding Education Costs & Saving for the Future
- Money Management Basics for High School Students
- A Parent's Role in Academic & Career Planning
Audience: 8th and 9th grade students + parents
Best Time to Schedule: Spring (8th); August/September (9th)
Length: 45–60 minutes
Materials Provided:
Life After High School: Career & College Planning
With so many post-high school options available, how do you choose the right path? This session helps students and parents explore career opportunities, education and training programs, and financial planning—all while considering current employment trends and industry growth. Gain valuable insights to create a solid plan for both college and career success.
Topics:
- Career Exploration & Goal Setting
- Employment Trends & Industry Outlook
- Academic & Admission Requirements
- Choosing the Right College or Training Program
- Campus Visits & Application Process
- Understanding Costs & Financial Aid
- Scholarships & Job Training Opportunities
- Strategies for a Successful Transition
Audience: Sophomores, juniors + parents
Best Time to Schedule: Aug–Sept OR Feb–May
Length: 45–60 minutes
Materials Provided:
- Career & College Planning Guide
- Freshman/Sophomore Countdown to Your Future Calendar
- Junior/Senior Countdown to Your Future Calendar
How to Pay for College: Understanding Financial Aid
Figuring out how to pay for college can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone! This session breaks down the financial aid process, from completing the FAFSA to understanding aid offers and comparing college costs. Learn about scholarships, grants, and other funding options to help you create a smart financial plan for your education.
Topics:
- How to Complete the FAFSA & What Happens Next
- Understanding Financial Aid Offers & College Costs
- Exploring Scholarships, Grants, Loans & Other Aid Options
- Comparing College Costs & Making Informed Decisions
- Where to Find Help & Resources
Audience: Juniors (Feb–May), Seniors (Aug–Sept) + parents
Length: 60–75 minutes
Materials Provided:
ℹ️ Note: The FAFSA becomes available in October. Juniors should attend this seminar in spring; seniors early in the school year.
FAFSA Ready Iowa: FAFSA Completion Events
FAFSA Ready Iowa provides in-depth, hands-on support to help families complete the FAFSA and access financial aid. School-hosted events use FAFSA completion data to strategically plan outreach and achieve 60%+ completion rates.
Event Formats:
- School-Based FAFSA Events – $350 fee (grant/sponsorship opportunities available)
- Community-Based Events – Walk-in/by-appointment events hosted in partnership with community organizations, colleges, and universities.
- Statewide Virtual Events – Live, guided FAFSA Step-by-Step completion events
- One-on-One Assistance – Available via ICAN’s Student Success Centers or Zoom
Audience: Seniors + parents
Time of Year: The FAFSA opens October 1. ICAN's FAFSA assistance season is October - January. When scheduling events, it's important to consider college priority dates. If you have a lot of students considering a regent university, schedule your event earlier in the FAFSA season. Review priority dates.
For more info or to schedule, contact your ICAN Advisor.
Iowa Requirement for FAFSA Advising (SF2383)
Iowa code requires that prior to high school graduation each district provide advising to students on how to successfully complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA.) Schools can work with ICAN to satisfy this requirement by:
- Scheduling a financial aid presentation
- Scheduling a FAFA completion event
- Sharing the schedule for virtual financial aid and FAFSA Step-by-Step events
- Sharing a virtual recording of a financial aid or FAFSA event
- Sharing the schedule for virtual financial aid and FAFSA Step-by-Step events
- Promoting local FAFSA completion events in or near your community
- Sharing the Why File the FAFSA & What to Bring fliers to supplement above activities and help families prepare.
Academic Planning - Making Your Four-Year Plan Work for You
Students should make the most of their four years in high school by planning their academics with the future in mind. This session helps students map out a class schedule that goes beyond graduation requirements, aligns with career goals, and supports multiple pathways after high school—including college, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and apprenticeships. Students will also learn about earning college credit in high school, how credits transfer, potential impacts on financial aid, and what to expect from college-level coursework.
✔️ DCAP Alignment: Academic planning, postsecondary pathway alignment, college and career readiness
✔️ ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors: Goal setting, self-management, future planning, decision-making
Audience: All Students (classroom or evening)
Time of Year: Year round
Length: 45 –60 minutes
How to Apply
Applying after high school doesn’t have to be stressful. This session walks students through the application process for multiple pathways—including college, employment, military, and apprenticeships. Students will learn about applications, essays, recommendations, deadlines, and strategies to stay organized and stand out, helping them confidently take the next step toward their future.
✔️ DCAP Alignment: Postsecondary planning, application completion, career readiness
✔️ ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors: Self-advocacy, organization, perseverance, goal setting
Audience: Juniors & Seniors (classroom)
Time of Year: Fall
Length: 45 - 60 minutes
Covering College Costs – Comparing Financial Aid Offers
Completing the FAFSA is just the beginning. In this session, an ICAN advisor explains the components of a financial aid offer, how packages are created, and how to compare them effectively. Students will also learn about financial aid comparison tools and the importance of building a college budget to make informed decisions.
✔️ DCAP Alignment: FAFSA completion, financial aid literacy, college affordability
✔️ ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors: Critical thinking, decision-making, financial literacy
Audience: Seniors (classroom)
Time of Year: Spring
Length: 45 - 60 minutes
Comparing Financial Aid Offers Workshop
Making sense of financial aid offers can be confusing. In this hands-on workshop, an ICAN advisor guides students and families step by step through their offers, helping them compare options and understand costs. Participants will also create a college budget to determine the best financial fit.
✔️ DCAP Alignment: Financial aid application and evaluation, college affordability planning
✔️ ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors: Decision-making, self-advocacy, responsible behavior
Audience: Seniors
Time of Year: Spring
Length: 60 minute sessions
FSA ID Workshop
The FSA ID is the key to accessing and completing the FAFSA. In this hands-on workshop, an ICAN advisor helps students create their FSA ID, explains its role in the financial aid process, and answers questions to ensure students are prepared to move forward with confidence.
✔️ DCAP Alignment: FAFSA readiness, financial aid access
✔️ ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors: Self-management, responsibility, help-seeking
Audience: Seniors (classroom)
Time of Year: Fall
Length: 60 minute group sessions
Scholarship Process
Scholarships can significantly reduce the cost of education. In this session, students will learn how to search for scholarships, understand application requirements, write strong essays, and stay organized throughout the process. A step-by-step timeline and practical strategies will help students stay on track and maximize opportunities.
✔️ DCAP Alignment: Financial aid awareness, scholarship application planning
✔️ ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors: Perseverance, goal setting, self-motivation
Audience: Juniors & Seniors (classroom)
Time of Year: Fall
Length: 45 - 60 minutes
Scholarship Process Workshop
Students don’t have to navigate scholarships alone. In this interactive workshop, an ICAN advisor provides step-by-step support with searching for scholarships, completing applications, and strengthening essays. Students leave with tools, resources, and confidence to take action.
✔️ DCAP Alignment: Scholarship application completion, financial aid planning
✔️ ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors: Self-advocacy, persistence, organization
Audience: Seniors
Time of Year: Fall
Length: 60 minute sessions
Exploring Careers: Finding the Right Fit for Your Future
Students will explore how their interests and strengths connect to real career opportunities while learning strategies to gain experience and make informed decisions. This session highlights how career planning connects to postsecondary pathways—including college, training, and employment—and emphasizes key employability skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and professionalism.
✔️ DCAP Alignment: Career exploration, career readiness, pathway planning
✔️ ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors: Self-awareness, career readiness, interpersonal skills
Audience: All Students (classroom)
Time of Year: Year round
Length: 45 - 60 minutes
Exploring Careers in Building Trades
Not all careers require a four-year degree. This session introduces students to opportunities in the building trades, including registered apprenticeships. Students will learn how these pathways provide hands-on training, strong earning potential, and a direct route into high-demand careers—often without student loan debt.
✔️ DCAP Alignment: Career exploration, work-based learning, apprenticeship pathways
✔️ ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors: Career readiness, goal setting, informed decision-making
Audience: All Students
Time of Year: Year round
Length: 45 - 60 minutes
Exploring Careers in the Military
This session helps students explore military career pathways and how they align with future goals. Students will learn about different branches, the enlistment process, training expectations, education benefits (including tuition assistance and the GI Bill), and long-term career opportunities. The session also covers how to prepare during high school for a successful transition into military service.
✔️ DCAP Alignment: Career exploration, postsecondary pathway planning, financial aid awareness
✔️ ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors: Responsibility, self-discipline, goal setting, future planning
Audience: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors
Time of Year: Year round
Length: 45–60 minutes
