Students: College Bound

College Bound

1. Create Accounts!

   • CFNC.org  & NC Careers: CFNC promotes access to North Carolina higher education and assists students with education planning, career planning, and applying and paying for college. NCcareers.org aims to be North Carolina's central online resource for students, parents, educators, job seekers and career counselors looking for high quality job and career information. 

   • CommonApp: Common App is a non-profit college access organization that helps students apply to college every year. Common App's free college application tool is designed to make applying to college faster and easier. With Common App you only need to use one system to apply to multiple colleges and universities.

   • College Board's Big Future: BigFuture® is a free, comprehensive set of digital resources that helps all students take a productive first step after high school. With feedback from students, insights from professionals, and over 100 years of College Board expertise, the BigFuture personalized dashboard simplifies a complex process into key actions across three categories: Plan for College, Pay for College and Explore Careers.

2. Complete the NC Residency Determination Service:

   • Establishing an in-state residency is another way to help you save money on college admission expenses. In North Carolina, a person's residency status is determined by a centralized service called Residency Determination Service (RDS). An RDS status is applicable for multiple NC public colleges and universities as well as state aid programs for all NC colleges and universities (public or private, 2 or 4 year).

   • Helpful Links

     • https://www.ncresidency.org/important-before-you-begin/ 

     • https://www.ncresidency.org/media/iegipyq1/rdsbasicshs.pdf 

3. College Applications

   • Applying to college is a significant milestone in one's educational journey. It involves submitting applications, transcripts, test scores, and often a personal statement, all while meeting deadlines. The process can be both thrilling and challenging, as it opens the door to new opportunities and the pursuit of academic and personal growth. It's a time for students to showcase their achievements, aspirations, and unique qualities to prospective institutions, paving the way for a transformative college experience

     • • Step 1: Explore Colleges! CFNC and Big Future are good resources to research and learn more about different schools

       • Step 2: Explore Majors! Choosing what to study in college can be a tough choice to make, so it is helpful to research and test your interests to ensure you are studying something you actually like. CFNC & NC Careers are also good ways to explore majors and get help finding a path that aligns with your interests.

       • Step 3: Apply! Applications can be submitted a number of ways, including through CFNC, CommonApp, and universities' specific websites.

     • Helpful Links

       • https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/plan-for-college/applying-to-college 

       • https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/plan-for-college/applying-to-college/how-to-apply/applying-to-college-faqs 

       • https://www.cfnc.org/media/vinbnxpi/writing-your-admissions-essay.pdf 

4. Apply for FAFSA & Scholarships

   • Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and applying for scholarships are crucial steps in securing financial assistance for higher education. The FAFSA provides a comprehensive overview of a student's financial situation, enabling them to access federal grants, loans, and work-study programs. It's essential to provide accurate information to determine eligibility for need-based aid. Additionally, applying for scholarships widens the spectrum of funding options. Students can explore various scholarships based on academic achievements, talents, interests, and demographics. Diligently researching and submitting scholarship applications increases the chances of receiving aid that doesn't require repayment, lightening the financial burden of pursuing educational goals.

   • Scholarships can be found in a number of different places. 

     • CFNC has a scholarship search tool where students can see the information about scholarships in NC. : https://www.cfnc.org/pay-for-college/scholarship-search/ 

     • Big Future by College Board also has a scholarship search tool where you can see national scholarships. : https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search 

     • Fastweb: https://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships 

     • Going Merry: https://www.goingmerry.com/ 

     • Unigo: https://www.unigo.com/  

     • Mrs. Cobb keeps file folders with copies of scholarship applications on the table outside of our ACES campus office. She also frequently sends emails about different scholarships.