College Planning

The first step in successfully preparing for college is to ensure that you have met the requirements for graduating from high school. Become familiar with the courses you will need to graduate according to the year you entered high school. Start evaluating your transcript to make sure that you have passed all the necessary classes and exams. Your School Counselor can help you with this process!

ACT Test:

The ACT is a national college admissions examination that consists of subject area tests in:English, Mathematics,Reading and Science. The ACT Plus Writing includes the four subject area tests plus a 30-minute Writing Test. ACT results are accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. For more information about the test, study guides and practice questions, visit http://www.actstudent.org/.

SAT Test:

The SAT is the most widely used test for college admission. It is usually recommended that students allow time to take the SAT more than once, typically during the spring semester of their junior year and again during the fall semester of their senior year. You can register to take the SAT online at http://sat.collegeboard.org/register.

College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC):

CFNC is there to help walk you through the whole process of applying for college - from the ACT, SAT, scholarships, filling out the FAFSA, and it will even save your applications and submit them online to many local universities. They have counselors available to walk you through the process via phone or internet. Check them out at http://www.cfnc.org or call 1.866.866.CFNC (2362).

Financial Aid:

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the application most colleges use to determine eligibility for federal, state, and college-sponsored financial aid, including grants, educational loans, and work-study programs. To be considered for federal financial aid, you must submit a completed FAFSA on time. For more information, check out the https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

Scholarship Search:

Scholarships provide money for college that does not need to be repaid. There are scholarships available for many different reasons, not just academics. Scholarship information can be found in the Counselor’s Office or at the following website: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search.