Christopher Columbus High School
A Catholic School for Young Men in the Marist Tradition since 1958
College & Career Guidance
Helping Explorers Prepare for the Next Step
The Pat Call & Irene Culmo Center for College & Career Guidance at Christopher Columbus High School is comprehensive and student-centered. Choosing one's college is not a singular event but rather the culmination of a process of reflection and self-exploration. As such, our mission is to educate, empower, and support our students and families throughout the college search and admissions process. We are committed to serving as a resource to our students and families in their journey to achieve their post-secondary goals.
Over the course of their Christopher Columbus careers, students and their families receive information through grade-specific publications and comprehensive programs such as college nights, college fair, college representative visits, college application bootcamp, financial aid presentations, and workshops designed to maximize the student’s Columbus experience.
College & Career Guidance Resources
MAIA LEARNING
Christopher Columbus utilizes MaiaLearning, a comprehensive web-based counseling software that supports students and their families throughout the early career exploration, college search, and application process. Students can access their MaiaLearning accounts by visiting www.maialearning.com and using their CCHS credentials.
STANDARDIZED COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS
Standardized testing is an important factor in college admissions, especially at most of the highly selective institutions. Some colleges are 'Test Optional,' but students should plan to prepare for the SAT or ACT as needed. You can visit fairtest.org for a complete and most up-to-date list of 'Test Optional' schools.
In preparation for the SAT, Columbus requires all students to take the PSAT 8/9 their freshman year and the PSAT/NMSQT in both sophomore and junior years. The PSAT usually takes place in October of every year.
- You can find information on the SAT exam, including upcoming exam dates, registering for an official exam date, preparing for the exam, and accessing your scores here.
For the ACT, students take the PreACT in freshman and sophomore years, while all juniors are required to take the ACT during school on a special exam day as part of their graduation requirement. The Pre-ACT and official ACT usually take place in March of every year.
- You can find information on the ACT exam, including upcoming exam dates, registering for an official exam date, preparing for the exam, and accessing your scores here.
The School Counseling Department administers and monitors a series of testing tools to prepare Explorers. Test results and their interpretations are made available to students and their parents/guardians through individualized and group presentations.
STUDENT-ATHLETE RECRUITMENT
The College & Career Guidance Department has an NCAA Coordinator, who advises prospective student-athletes through college recruiting and selection, offering insights, accountability, and resources to help Explorers confidently navigate their college recruiting landscape
FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS
- FLORIDA BRIGHT FUTURES
- The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is funded by the state of Florida, and it provides scholarships based on high school academic achievement, each with its own eligibility criteria and award amounts: For more information, check out the Initial Eligibility and the Scholarship Information pages.
- FAFSA
- Colleges use the FAFSA form to determine how much financial aid families are eligible to receive, which could include grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans. States, colleges, and some private aid providers also use FAFSA information to determine eligibility for their aid. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid website.
- CSS PROFILE
- The CSS Profile is an online application used by colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid. For more information, visit the CSS Profile website.
SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES
There are many scholarship search engines that students can utilize to search for scholarships based on their unique profile. Below are some of the search engines we recommend:
- raise.me – is a platform that allows students to earn micro-scholarships as early as 9th grade and discover your path to the best college for you.
- BigFuture – is a scholarship search tool via the College Board where you’ll find a comprehensive scholarship database.
- fastweb – is a free scholarship search platform that connects students to scholarships and financial aid tools.
STUDENT RESOURCES
- SAT/ACT Fee Waiver Request Form
- Transcript Requests
- Current Students – will request transcripts via MaiaLearning
- Alumni – will request transcripts via Parchment
COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES
Downloadable Files
Christopher Columbus High School | 3000 SW 87 Avenue | Miami, FL 33165 | (305) 223-5650
Brotherhood, Faith, and Scholarship define the Marist Brothers Catholic education at Christopher Columbus High School. By making Jesus Christ known and loved and creating an inspiring academic and extracurricular environment, we prepare young men for higher learning and a life-long commitment to leadership and service through Gospel and Marist values.
Columbus is fully accredited by Cognia and is a member of the Marist Association of Secondary schools, the National Catholic Education Association and the Independent Schools of South Florida.
