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OtterBot

OtterBot banner

What is OtterBot? 

NEW: OttterBot for parents is now available! Text "Hi OtterBot" to 360-634-0354 to get started.

OtterBot for Students and Parents/Guardians is:

  • A free texting service to support all Washington high school students and their parents/guardians. It is designed for seniors and juniors who are enrolled with College Bound.
  • A great source of info about financial aid, college planning, and reminders.
  • Available 24/7. Get started TODAY!
  • Keep your contact info up to date to make sure you receive this important info.

 

OtterBot for Students

OtterBot for Parents

How do I get started?

Text "Hi OtterBot" to 360-928-7281

Text "Hi OtterBot" to 360-634-0354

How many texts will I get?

11th grade: 2 per month

12th grade: 8-12 per month

At least two per month

How can OtterBot help me?

12th grade learning objectives

11th grade learning objectives

Supporting your student(s) in the college planning process

How does OtterBot work? 

  • Users will receive regular messages every month and you can text at any time for help.
  • If OtterBot receives a question it cannot answer, it will send the message to a financial aid expert at WSAC.

Texting Guide

Texting Guide:

WSAC doesn’t charge users, but message and data rates may apply depending on their text plan. WSAC takes user privacy seriously. The info users provide us will only be used to send resources and reminders they are interested in. 

  • Pausing messages: Users can text #pause to suspend messages for two weeks.
  • Opting out: Users can text #stop to opt out of the service completely. 
  • Opting in: Users can resume support during a pause period or opt back into the service by texting #start.

College Bound & OtterBot

College Bound & OtterBot:

OtterBot was created in 2019 to support students who have signed up for College Bound and is managed by MainStay (formally AdmitHub) and WSAC. OtterBot expanded services to parents/guardians as of March 1, 2023. Our combined partnership ensures Washington students and parents/guardians have access to helpful financial aid resources any time they need support.

  • Contact info is provided by school staff members in WSAC’s online portal.
  • This step is critical and allows WSAC to communicate with students and their parents/guardians about College Bound. 

OtterBot for Students

12th Graders

OtterBot for Financial Aid & College Planning:

Want to know if you’re on track in the college application process? OtterBot shows you what you should be doing, and when. OtterBot will share resources and important deadlines and help with completing your FAFSA or WASFA—a required step for getting your College Bound funds. OtterBot will send texts with the following info:

  • All about FAFSA and WASFA.
  • Applying for college.
  • All about College Bound.
  • All about the College Bound Pledge.
  • Applying for scholarships.
  • Understanding financial aid award letters.
  • Making your college decision.
  • Transitioning to college.
  • What to expect in your first term at college.
  • College resources you need to use.
Frequency of OtterBot Texts:

College Bound students in 12th grade will receive OtterBot texts 2-3 times a week, or 8-12 a month.

Content of OtterBot Texts—OtterBot Reminders, the Year at a Glance:

Season

Objective

Topics

Fall

Get Organized
  • Apply for FAFSA or WASFA as early as October 1.
  • Prepare for your college applications.
  • Tour colleges and attend college fairs.
  • Learn about the College Bound pledge and how the program can help you pay for college.

Winter

Search for Scholarships & Learn about Financial Aid
  • Research and apply for scholarships.
  • Understand the financial aid award letter.
  • Understand FAFSA verification and errors.
  • Learn about the College Bound pledge and how the program can help you pay for college.

Spring

Make a Decision
  • Review your financial aid award letter(s).
  • Attend college orientation.
  • Determine which college is the best choice for you!
  • Prepare to get your College Bound funds.

Summer

Transition to College & Next Steps
  • Complete everything you need to enroll in the college you’ve selected.
  • Submit final high school transcript to your college.
  • Map out different college resources for a successful first year (financial aid, registration, tutoring, etc.).
  • Complete the College Bound pledge.
     

11th Graders

Financial Aid & College Planning:

Junior year marks a turning point. This is because for most students and families, it’s when college planning activities kick into high gear. Here are some things OtterBot can assist you with this year to stay on track for college:

  • Types of colleges.
  • All about apprenticeships.
  • Researching colleges.
  • All about College Bound.
  • All about the College Bound Pledge.
  • Ways to pay for college (financial aid & scholarships).
  • Parts of a college application.
  • Preparing for your senior year.
  • All about FAFSA and WASFA.
Frequency of OtterBot Texts:
  • College Bound students in 11th grade will receive OtterBot texts approximately twice a month.
Content of OtterBot Texts—OtterBot Reminders, the Year at a Glance:

Season

Objective

Topics

Fall

College Admission Requirements & College "Fit"
  • Meet with your counselor to review your post-high school plans .
  • Research your college or training options.
  • Attend a college and career fair or schedule a college visit .
  • Check with colleges directly for the latest admissions information, including testing.
  • Learn about the College Bound pledge and how the program can help you pay for college.

Winter

High School and Beyond Plan & Resumes;  Financial Aid & Scholarships Info
  • Meet with your counselor to review your post-high school plans and create a resume.
  • Understand how to pay for college using financial aid and scholarships.
  • Learn about types of scholarships and how to apply for them.
  • Learn about the College Bound pledge and how the program can help you pay for college.

Spring

Campus Visits; College Planning; and Test Preparation (Optional)
  • Connect with colleges to request information.
  • Learn what you need to do to graduate high school and be college ready.
  • Learn about the FAFSA or WASFA eligibility and how to apply to help you pay for college.
  • Learn about the different parts of the college application requirements and what you need to apply.

Summer

What to do Over Summer
  • Visit colleges.
  • Begin thinking about your college applications.
  • Start to gather documents for financial aid.
  • Create your Federal Student Aid ID or WASFA login.
  • Estimate your financial aid need by using WSAC’s financial aid calculator.

     

OtterBot for Parents/Guardians

Support for Financial Aid & College Planning

Support for Financial Aid & College Planning:

Need help supporting your student through the college application and financial aid process?
OtterBot:

  • Helps parents/guardians walk alongside their student(s) in the college planning process by explaining their role in the financial aid completion
  • Informs parents/guardians about the processes their student(s) will go through as they prepare to transition out of high school.
  • Shares resources and important deadlines and help you understand what you need to do as a parent/guardian. 
  • Provides information to help your student complete a FAFSA or WASFA application—a required step for them to get their College Bound funds. 

Parents/guardians with multiple students across different grade levels will receive information and resources for the student in the highest grade level, as the information is more immediately needed.

Frequency of OtterBot Texts:

Parents/Guardians will receive OtterBot texts at least 2 times a month. 

Stay Connected!

Stay Connected!

College Bound parents/guardians play an important role in their student’s financial aid and enrollment process. Explore the following resources to learn more ways to stay connected and support your student as they prepare for life after high school!

Explore ways for parents/guardians to stay connected:

  1. Contact info update (For parents/guardians of College Bound junior students)
  2. Sign up for our newsletter

Additional Resources:

Additional Resources for Parents/Guardians: