Scholarship & Financial Aid

Welcome Students and Parents! 

Weekly Updates

1. Senior Scoop - Publication sent to Seniors weekly, helpful information for parents and juniors too.

2. College Visits - UNC Pembroke, September 29th, noon - 2 PM in the courtyard.  UNC P is a North Carolina Promise participant.  https://www.northcarolina.edu/impact/affordability-efficiency/nc-promise/

3. Help Your Teen Find Their College Fit Webinar hosted by Big Future - September 29th, 8 PM.  Register 

4. Scholarship Inventory - Publication sent to Seniors weekly, helpful information for parents too.  

5. CACRAO College Fair  - List of schools that will be visiting Pinecrest on October 7th.    

• Register for the college fair at https://app.strivescan.com/registration.

6.  FREE ACT Test Prep - Use Pinecrest HS school license code: PC-345293

7.  Navy ROTC Scholarship - visit on OCT 29th, in the Media Center from noon-2 PM.  

8. Collge Search guides for students and parents - Big Future  

Reminders

1. Be very suspicious of scholarship offers that seem “too good to be true,” or that promise guaranteed money if you come to a meeting or pay a fee. When in doubt, feel free to contact Mr. Tom Neff.

2. Please be mindful of due dates and required information for scholarship applications.

3. If you need a letter of recommendation, please choose a staff member who is familiar enough with you to provide a thoughtful recommendation and give at least two weeks’ notice for the staff member to complete the recommendation.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a free application that determines if you qualify for federal aid for college or career school. The form for the 2027-28 school year (2027 Grads) is scheduled for release on October 1st.  

https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

FAFSA results are also used to determine eligibility for some state funds and as criteria for some scholarships. Submit your FAFSA® form and any additional financial aid applications required by your chosen schools. Be sure to complete and submit your FAFSA by the earliest financial aid deadline for the schools you’re applying to, typically by early February. 

After submitting your FAFSA form, you will receive your Submission Summary (previously called the Student Aid Report, or SAR) within one to three days. This document provides a summary of your responses and includes basic information about your financial aid eligibility. Review it carefully, make any necessary corrections promptly, and resubmit the updated information to the FAFSA processor. 

FAFSA HELP

Military Service Academy Overview

The U.S. military service academies are tuition-free, four-year degree-granting institutions operated by the military departments.  The military service academies include: 

U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY, https://www.westpoint.edu/.  

U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD, https://www.usna.edu/homepage.php.

U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO, https://www.usafa.edu/.

There are two other federal service academies, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, in New London, Connecticut, (https://uscga.edu) under the Department of Homeland Security; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, New York, (https://www.usmma.edu) under the Department of Transportation. While graduates of these service academies may also receive an officer commission upon graduation, they differ from the military service academies in many respects (e.g., statutory authorities, application, and acceptance processes).

https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF11788