1. All About the College Applications Process…

2. Scope of this Workshop Colleges & Universities (Public/Private)
Testing
Admissions
Financial Aid
CFNC.org

3. Finding the Right School…
Admissions
Location
Size
Public / Private
Major
Visit
Don’t base on Cost Right Now…that decision can come later. 3 3

4. University of NC System
16 Member institutions
Minimum Admissions Requirements
(MAR)
4 Units of English (1,2,3,4)
4 Units of Math(MathI / MathII / Math III / Math Beyond )
2 Units of the same foreign language
SAT / ACT Score
Min. GPA / SAT R&M / ACT
2.5  800  17
RSSS graduation requirements already meet these requirements with the addition of the foreign language.

5. Financial Aid Presentation NCASFAA/ NCSEAA
NC Private Schools
36 Private Institutions In NC
Each has it own standards for admission (Range from Duke to St. Augustine)
Biggest Duke (14,750) Smallest Bennett (766)
SAT/ACT
Financial Aid Presentation NCASFAA/ NCSEAA 5

6. NC Community Colleges 58 schools in the community college system
College Transfer / Diploma Program
Open Admission
Accuplacer Test & Computer Skills (exempt from testing if 2.6 unweighted GPA & higher level math) 6

7. Testing ACT (ACT.org) More like a teacher made test.
SAT I (collegeboard.org) More how you process things.
Must take the writing
Accuplacer and Computer Skills
Admissions test for RCCC
ACT is broken down into more subject areas (5 sub-tests), every senior that was here last spring has an ACT score.
Some students may place out of Accuplacer test depending on scores.

8. College Application Week
November 14-18, CFNC.org
Focus on students who have not yet applied.
Many private schools will waive application fee but most UNC System schools will not waive their fees.
Beware - This date may be after the private schools scholarship deadlines.
Catawba Presidential Scholarship’s deadline is usually before College App Week. 8

9. CFNC.org

10. CFNC Home Page
Students should have an account….plan, apply and pay links.

11. CFNC

12. Applying for Admissions
Meet deadline of colleges in which you are interested
Complete all questions accurately and completely
Give time for people to write letter of recommendation
Be Neat / Spell Check
Keep a photocopy of all documents for your records

13. Extra Curricular Demonstrated leadership Length of participation
Accomplishments
Something different and unique…

14. Recommendations / Essays
Speak about you as an individual… what interests and/or excites you!
How are you unique?? (What are you doing that others are not)
Follow directions
Do not simply list accomplishments (Your brag sheet should do that or it will be included on the application) 14 14

15. Admissions Decisions GPA Rigor SAT / ACT Scores Extra Curricular
Recommendations
Essay 15 15

16. CFNC Financial Aid

17. Types of Student Financial Aid
Gifts
Scholarships
Grants
Self Help
Loans
Employment
Gifts are given to you and you do not pay back…self help you do.. 17

18. Student Financial Aid Merit-based Need-based academics talent athletic
others
Need-based
financial considerations based on FAFSA 18

19. Student Financial Aid Need-based aid …
Family is responsible for costs to the extent of its ability to pay college costs
Provides access and choice
Annual determination of eligibility (Must complete FAFSA each year in school)
FAFSA determines need based help. It is looked at yearly and is an attempt to give all students access and choice and to level the playing field a bit. 19

20. Applying for Federal Financial Aid
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
FAFSA day-October 29, 2016
Required for all types of federal aid
Complete on the Web at after October 1, preceding the academic year…Not
Results sent electronically to institutions listed by student on FAFSA and to the student (if you provide your address)
FAFSA day is at Catawba College and State Empl Credit union if you are a member there. You must go online to cfnc.org to register for fafsa day. There will be people available at these locations to assist you on this day.
Worksheets: can download worksheet with a list on it telling you all the information you need to have when you go online to complete form. Both the student and parent will need their own pin # and you can get that before you actually fill out the form.
Financial Aid Presentation NCASFAA/ NCSEAA 20

21. Applying for State Financial Aid
The FAFSA is the application for most major state programs.
Other state programs may require additional forms or the College Scholarship Service PROFILE. See CFNC.org for details by program.(WF, UNC, Davidson, Elon, Duke) 21

22. Offers may be: Legitimate offers of information and assistance
Example: CFNC.org and FAFSA Day
Misleading offers from individuals or companies trying to make money off of unsuspecting parents and students 22 22

23. Potential “Scams” “The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back.”
No one can guarantee your scholarship before it is awarded.
“Come to our free seminar and we’ll show you how to get more financial aid.”
This is a sales pitch. Don’t pay for information that you can get elsewhere for free. 23 23

24. Other Misleading Offers
“The scholarship requires a small fee.” Never pay a fee to get a scholarship.
“You are a finalist” for an award you never applied for.
If you did not apply, it is not a
legitimate offer.
“You can’t get this information anywhere else.”
Everyone has access to the same information. 24 24

25. Where can you find truly free information about financial aid?
Contact College Foundation of North Carolina at CFNC.org or toll free at CFNC
Service of the State of North Carolina
The Student Guide
Published by US Department of Education
Ask your high school counselor
Talk to financial aid administrators at the college of your choice.
Apply for federal financial aid at FAFSA.gov
(notice it is not FAFSA.com!)
Financial Aid Presentation NCASFAA/ NCSEAA 25 25

26. FAFSA on the Web’s Homepage
Fill out ASAP after January 1.

27. https://youtu.be/NK6tERE_6ew
Financial Aid Presentation NCASFAA/ NCSEAA

28. Senior Year
Narrow list of schools down and send in applications in the Fall
Complete FAFSA beginning October 1st
Apply for scholarships
Senior Schoology page, parent s, individual searches, Twitter, CarsonGuidance.weebly.com
Stay active in school and do not let your grades drop
Send out scholarship information through Schoology and I will parents as well if they leave their address with us tonight. Will also use twitter and my Carson webpage . 28 28

29. Senior Scholarships Scholarships Statewide organizations
Local organizations
Churches
Civic Groups
Parents’ employers
Carsonguidance.weebly.com/scholarships.html 29 29

30. Resources Websites Counselors
CFNC.org FAFSA.ed.gov
Finaid.com Petersons.com
Fastweb.com Scholarships.com
Counselors
College admissions & financial aid offices

31. Questions 31