OtterBot
What is OtterBot? 
OtterBot is a free texting service to support Washington high school seniors and juniors who have signed up for the College Bound Scholarship. OtterBot sends financial aid and college navigation info and reminders to students. Students can access OtterBot via text message 24 hours a day, seven days a week by texting "Hi Otter" to 360-928-7281.
How does OtterBot work?
After a student signs up for OtterBot, they will receive 4-12 messages per month with need-to-know financial aid and college planning information, resources, suggestions, and deadlines. When a student gets a text from OtterBot, they may follow up with questions by replying directly to the message.
Students can also text OtterBot at any time for help; it will provide them with answers or direct them to helpful resources. If OtterBot receives a question it cannot answer, it will send the message to a financial aid expert from the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC).
Students can text #pause to suspend receiving messages for two weeks or text #stop to opt out of the service. Students can resume support during a pause period or opt back into the service by texting #start.
WSAC takes student privacy seriously. The information students provide us with will only be used to send them resources and reminders they are interested in. WSAC doesn’t charge students but message and data rates may apply depending on their text plan.
OtterBot was created in 2019 to support students who have signed up for the College Bound Scholarship, and is managed by MainStay (formally AdmitHub) and WSAC. Our combined partnership ensures Washington students have access to helpful financial aid resources any time they need support.
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 Scholarship. OtterBot will send texts with the following info:
- All about FAFSA and WASFA.
- Applying for college.
- All about the College Bound Scholarship.
- 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 Scholarship 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 |
|
Winter |
Search for Scholarships & Learn about Financial Aid |
|
Spring |
Make a Decision |
|
Summer |
Transition to College & Next Steps |
|
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 the College Bound Scholarship.
- 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 Scholarship 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" |
|
Winter |
High School and Beyond Plan & Resumes; Financial Aid & Scholarships Info |
|
Spring |
Campus Visits; College Planning; and Test Preparation (Optional) |
|
Summer |
What to do Over Summer |
|