FAFSA TIPS AND STEP BY STEP GUIDE

How to fill out the CSS Profile:
https://www.khanacademy.org/college-careers-more/college-admissions/paying-for-college/financial-aid-process/a/css-profile-walkthrough

ACT Ultimate Guide to Applying for College- Having a college application that stands out! 

February 13 Open House "Registration 101" presentation
​
Residency Determination Service 
(All students MUST register with RDS and get a RDN (Residency Determination Number)
​
Info about RDS & FAFSA

All About the College Admissions Process presentation (Open House Sept. 2017)

Seniors:  Remember to send your transcripts electronically through cfnc.org.  

Private College Admissions

Public College Admissions

NC College Admissions Deadlines and Open House Information 2018-2019

You need an account at cfnc.org.  If you do not have one, you should make one!

HOW TO CREATE AN ACCOUNT IN CFNC.org.
There are three steps for creating an account for a High School Student: 
  1. Enter your date of birth. 
  2. Choose your high school.
  3. Enter your name and other information the way it prints on your report card. When you create your Account Name, check to make sure it is available by clicking on the button below the Account Name box. When you choose your Password, make sure you save it. 

At cfnc.org students can take a career interest inventory and become aware of career paths that are suited for their interest areas. 
https://www1.cfnc.org/Plan/For_A_Career/Learn_About_Yourself/_default.aspx

At this link students can see average tuition prices per year from cfnc for NC schools.
https://www1.cfnc.org/Home/Article.aspx?articleId=2wK96puHgDTA9NOve1vpMwXAP3DPAXXAP3DPAX&level=3XAP2FPAX6J7I3kztATGuYyXAP2BPAXDahIQXAP3DPAXXAP3DPAX

Tips for succeeding in high school:
https://www1.cfnc.org/Plan/For_High_School/Succeeding_in_High_School/Succeeding_in_High_School.aspx

Find out more about the College and Career Promise Program:
https://www1.cfnc.org/Plan/For_High_School/Career___College_Promise/Career___College_Promise.aspx

Are your students asking questions about the college admissions and the FAFSA
processes? Encourage them and their parents to participate in two special
online events this fall. These two webinars, "An Inside Look at the College
Admissions Process" and "A Step-by-Step Guide to Completing the FAFSA" are
designed with students, parents, and educators in mind! Here is a flyer with
more info that you can share with your students and their parents:

https://cfnc.box.com/WebinarsforStudentsandParents

College Planning

9th Grade
  • Be at school and on time every day!  Attendance is critical!!
  • Ask questions often!!  Teachers and other school staff are here to help you.
  • Get involved!  There are lots of clubs, activities, and sports to help enhance your high school experience.  Additionally, extracurricular activities are not limited to Carson High School.  We live in a wonderful community with endless options!
  • Begin to explore colleges and universities you may be interested in.  Check out their admissions requirements and be sure that you have a competitive GPA.  Take rigorous classes!  Remember, the minimum requirements are just that...minimum!
  • Your school counselors are here to help you reach your highest potential.  We will support you, advocate for you, and talk to you anytime!

10th Grade
  •  Be at school and on time every day!  Attendance is critical!!
  • Ask your teacher for help if needed in a class!
  • If you haven't already done so, get involved!  We have numerous clubs, activities, and sports to help enhance your high school experience. 
  • Continue to explore post-secondary options and take interest inventories to discover what you like and your areas of interest.  
            https://www1.cfnc.org/Plan/For_A_Career/Learn_About_Yourself/Learn_About_Yourself.aspx!!
  • Challenge yourself by taking rigorous courses.
  • Meet with your school counselor if you have questions about what classes to take or specific college entrance requirements.
  • Take the PSAT in the fall of sophomore year. The PSAT is great practice for taking the SAT. 
  • Every student will take the Pre-ACT in the fall of sophomore year.  This will help students understand what the ACT will be like junior year.
  • Study for standardized tests.  You can find test prep online at http://carsonguidance.weebly.com/satact.html.  as well as many other websites online.  
  • Continue to explore colleges and universities you may be interested in.  Check out their admission requirements to ensure that you register for the courses needed and maintain a competitive GPA.  Remember, the minimum requirements are just that, minimum.
  • Register for rigorous courses for your junior year. Rigor looks different for everyone, talk to your teachers and school counselor to ensure you are on the right track.
  • Your school counselors want to help you reach your highest potential!!

 11th Grade
  • Register and pay to take the PSAT.
  • Research colleges of your choice and attend a college fair. 
  • Continue taking rigorous courses (i.e., honors, advanced placement)
  • Refine your list of possible college options
  • Visit the websites of the colleges that interest you and then schedule an official tour during a teacher workday, spring break, or summer vacation.
  • Work on ACT/SAT prep.  You can find many websites online that can help you http://carsonguidance.weebly.com/satact.html
  • Register to take the SAT or ACT, if appropriate, to meet your post secondary goals.
  • Consider volunteer experience in your area of interest.  Internships are great for learning about the field you wish to study in college.  
  • Register for a CFNC.org account to apply online if you don’t already have one.  You can keep track of your accomplishments and community service by developing a resume at CFNC.org.
  • Conduct scholarship research over the summer. You want to start applying for scholarships at the beginning of your senior year!  You can spend as much or as little time on scholarships as you would like.  You will receive updates from Mrs. Trexler beginning in the fall of senior year about new scholarships through Gaggle email, Twitter (@CarsonGuidance) and parent emails, however,  you should conduct many other searches on your own as well. 
  • ATHLETES! If you intend to participate in college athletics at a Division I or II school, start your NCAA Clearinghouse application at the END of the Junior Year. 
​​ Summer
  • Prioritize college choices
  • Determine deadlines for colleges and scholarships and make college campus visits
  • Create/update your resume
  • Register for SAT/ACT if needed
  • Be aware of timelines for competitive scholarships
  • Make sure senior course selections meet college expectations
  • Athletes, check NCAA requirements  
Early Fall
  • Meet with your school counselor to explore options
  • Use CFNC to apply to NC colleges and send transcripts
  • Begin applying to college by completing applications and essays
  • Be sure to give teachers, counselors or community members plenty of time for letters of recommendation
  • Start applying for scholarships - watch for deadlines!!
Midyear
  • Verify that your application process is complete
  • Complete financial aid process and FAFSA (can begin October 1)
  • Continue applying for scholarships
Spring
  • Make your final college decision and let Guidance know so you can fill out a "cougar paw"
  • Continue to work hard. Despite admittance to college, your grades still count and colleges will receive your final second semester grades
  • A lot of scholarships will be released midyear and during the spring so be prepared to spend a considerable amount of time filling out applications
  • Request final transcript (automatically sent if you have account with CFNC and entered you school choice) Send Transcript

Helpful Websites for College Planning:
/uploads/4/0/5/4/40549109/helpful_websites_for_college_planning3.docxes for College Planning
 
College Testing Information Financial Aid  www.fafsa.ed.gov
Financial aid can be a difficult part of the college process. Don't worry! We have all the information you need!
North Carolina and the Federal Government provide many financial aid programs.

North Carolina Provides:
  • The Education Lottery Scholarship.
  • The NC Community College Grant, which is only for Community Colleges.
  • The University of North Carolina Need-Based Grant - only for UNC System schools.
  • NC Need-Based Scholarship - for students attending private institutions.
  • NC Forgivable Educational Loans for Service - only if you are planning on nursing, medicine, allied health or teaching.
  • NC Reach - Child welfare postsecondary support program for students who live in foster care.

Federal Government Provides:
  • Federal Pell Grant - need based.
  • Federal Work Study - opportunity to work on campus.
  • Federal Perkins Loan - Low interest loans, plus the opportunity for loan forgiveness if you teach in a low income school. Click here for more information.
  • William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans - this includes the subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford Loan, parent loan, and gradplus.
  • TEACH Grant - Turns into an unsubsidized loan if you do not meet the service requirements.



Please use the link below to help you with understanding the different types of aid offered by the Federal Government. It will also tell you about who gets aid, applying for aid, and managing loans.
StudentAid.ed.gov

Many colleges will not consider you for their school based scholarships if you do not fill out the FAFSA. This is the most critical piece of the puzzle when you look at how much money the college/university is willing to award you. You MUST fill out the FAFSA!

Free Application for Federal Student Aid
The first step to finding out what financial aid you are eligible for is filling out the FAFSA. This is VERY important to begin the process of seeing what financial aid you are eligible for.
 

Common Financial Aid Questions:
Financial Aid Informational Links:
Warning Signs:
- Many Students are unaware of free informational resources
- Often student pays for help or for "guaranteed" aid before asking a knowledgeable adult for advice
- Please use this link to make sure you are not being scammed! Don't Get Hooked

Common Fraud Complaints:
- Paying for guaranteed aid and not receiving anything
- Paying for help to find aid
- Paying to file the FAFSA

Websites to help you!
Internet Sites Focused on College Exploration:

COLLEGE INFORMATION
CSO College Center: www.CSOCollegeCenter.org 
The College Board: www.collegeboard.com 
KnowHow2Go: www.knowhow2go.org
Hobson’s CollegeView: www.collegeview.com 
Peterson’s: www.petersons.com
The Common Application Online: www.commonapp.org 
Colleges That Change Lives: www.ctcl.org 

FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
Federal Student Aid: http://studentaid.ed.gov
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): www.fafsa.gov 
FAFSA4caster: www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov
CSS/PROFILE: https://profileonline.collegeboard.com
The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid: www.finaid.org 
FastWeb: www.fastweb.com
FindTuition: www.findtuition.com
Sallie Mae: www.salliemae.com

TESTING
ACT: www.act.org
ACT Fee Waiver Instructions: www.actstudent.org/faq/answers/feewaiver.html
SAT: The College Board: www.collegeboard.com
SAT Fee Waiver Instructions: www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/calenfees/feewaivers.html Preliminary SAT (PSAT): www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html
Free Test Prep from Number2.com: www.number2.com
The Princeton Review: www.princetonreview.com
Kaplan’s Test Prep: www.kaptest.com

ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS AND RESEARCH/POLICY
National Association for College Admission Counseling: www.nacacnet.org 
MemberPortal/United Negro College Fund (UNCF): www.uncf.org
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities: www.hacu.net/hacu/Default_EN.asp 
National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education: www.nafeo.org
First In The Family: www.firstinthefamily.org

ATHLETICS
The Official NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse Web site: http://eligibilitycenter.org Campus Champs: www.campuschamps.org
Athletic Aid: www.athleticaid.com

CAREERS
The Occupational Outlook Handbook: www.bls.gov/oco

Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) 1-800-4-FED-AID

Tax information for students.



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