1. North Buncombe High School COLLEGE 101; WHAT’S MY NEXT STEP?

2. IMPORTANT COUNSELING STAFF CONTACTS
COUNSELING SECRETARY MS. KIRA GAINES
CAREER COORDINATOR MR. RODNEY SMITH
STUDENT SUPPORT COUNSELOR MS. KAT BLOUNT
YOUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS
MS. JESSICA GRAHAM LAST NAMES A-F
MS. CYNDI LEHOSIT LAST NAMES G-0
MS. BETSY BOGGS LAST NAMES P-Z
STOP IN AND SEE US OR US AND WE CAN SET-UP A TIME TO MEET DURING YOUR LUNCHTIME OR CLASS.

3. IMPORTANT DATES
Starting Sept 21 Counselors will begin meeting with all seniors to discuss future plans September Senior parent meeting October 1 FAFSA Opens ( October 6 SAT at NBHS (CollegeBoard.org) October TBD Financial aid night October college application month Nov free fafsa HELP at any secu june Graduation

4. Decisions, decisions…
IS COLLEGE EVEN FOR ME? IF NOT, WHAT SHOULD I DO? IF SO, WHERE DO I APPY?

5. Factors to Consider WHEN CHOOSING A CAREER
What skills do I have and enjoy using?
Of the courses I have taken in high school, which have I enjoyed?
What courses have given me difficulty?
What type of career appears interesting and challenging to me?
Do I like to work with people, data, or ideas?
IF YOU CHOOSE A CAREER BASED ON YOUR NATURAL INTERSTS AND TALENTS, YOU ARE MORE LIKLEY TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

6. THINGS TO THINK OF WHEN CHOOSING A COLLEGE CAMPUS
Do I want to stay close to home or go far away?
Do I prefer a small ( ), medium ( ), or large (7100-and above) school?
Do I want a small town or large city environment?
Do I want to live on campus?
Do I want to play intercollegiate sports?
Will I be eligible for an academic scholarship?
How important is cost?
Am I interested in a trade?
Do I want to alternate work with classes?

7. Now that I have chosen schools to apply to, what is next?

8. What do colleges use to decide admission?
HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCIPT (COURSE RIGOR AND GPA)
SAT OR ACT
YOUR RESUME (EXTRACURRICULAR/LEADERSHIP POSITONS)
DON’T FORGET- HOLDING A JOB WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL IS ALSO IMPRESSIVE!
TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS (IF APPLICABLE)
COLLEGE ESSAY (IF APPLICABLE)
NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO BE HUMBLE! IT IS THE TIME TO BRAG!
Check each college website for admission information

9. College Application Process
You can do your application online at each individual school, through Common App or by using your CFNC account.
THE DIFFERENCES
1. Individual Online Application- Each school has a portal where you can apply using their online system. Make sure to create an account and SAVE as you go (Example: WCU)
2. Common App ( – an online portal that offers a “common application” for over 700 schools (Example: UNC)
3. CFNC.org (College Foundation of NC) – an online application system that can be used to apply for most public schools in NC. Transcripts are sent automatically through CFNC.
College applications can be difficult and lengthy. If you need help, come and see us! No One is an expert.

10. Steps to Apply Apply- Simply complete (and submit) the application.
FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS!
Fee- pay the application fee with a credit/debit card when submitting your application (Fee Waivers are available in Counseling Office)
Transcript- Sign up with Mrs. Gaines in Counseling ($3.00 fee) if you need a transcript sent in the mail. Electronic transcripts can be sent through your Counselor, at no charge. Make sure you know your Counselor’s address.
Test Scores- Order your ACT/SAT scores.
for SAT Scores
for ACT Scores
THIS DOES TAKE TIME, so do not procrastinate! Colleges do not look down on you for taking these tests more than once.
FAFSA- After October 1st go online to and complete application for financial aid.
Complete Scholarship Applications- Most scholarships will be available 2nd semester. Ms. Lehosit will be advertising these, so listen to the announcements. Each college awards their own scholarships as well, so be sure to contact each school’s Financial Aid office for internal scholarships, and/or other financial opportunities.

11. Before (and after) you apply, make sure to VISIT each campus
Contact the admissions office (or an admission advisor) to schedule a visit.
Make sure to ask LOTS of questions during your visit
Arrive on time! This is the first impression you will make with your College Admissions Advisor- let’s make it a good one!
Obtain a College Visitation form from the counseling office, and have a parent/guardian and all of your teachers sign the form prior to your visitation. On the day you visit the college, get verification from the college of the visit, and then return this form to your Counselor, so the days can be waived. Seniors are granted 2 days for College Visitations, so let’s use them!
You wouldn’t purchase a car without test driving it, would you?

12. what ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COLLEGE ADMISSIONS?

13. ACT/SAT To Register for the ACT: www.act.org
To Register for the SAT:
To Register for the ACT:
North Buncombe High School’s Code Number =
Counselors CANNOT send scores for you!
There are fee waivers for students on Free/Reduced lunch- See Mrs. Graham for fee waivers.
SOME COLLEGES REQUIRE AN ACT/SAT SCORE FOR ADMISSION. It is not the only thing they consider so do not stress!

14. Interested in playing sports at the college level?
You must register with the NCAA to be eligible to play college sports. There is NO fee to register with the NCAA! Once you have registered, your transcripts will automatically be sent via the NCAA Clearinghouse.

15. RDS (www.ncresidency.org) Residency determination service
US CITIZENS
Go to CFNC.org and create an account OR use the UN/PSWD retrieval tool to access your UN/PSWD. You were given this in the 8th grade, if you were a NC student. You will use this UN and password to compete the RDS.
You will need to know the following info:
SS# for you and parent(s)
NC Tac Info for parent(s); not federal
Drivers License or NC ID for parent
Car Registration Information, if you have one.
Non-US Citizens 1. Same process as US Citizens, except in place of a SS# you will be asked your immigration status and the other unique identifier (USCIS, ARN,ITIN,etc); be prepared to upload a copy of your visa or other documents.

16. Let’s talk money!
FINANCIAL AID 101

17. Financial Aid
4 TYPES
GRANTS – FREE MONEY THAT IS GIVEN TO YOU BASED ON NEED (FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE)
SCHOLARSHIPS – MONEY THAT IS AWARDED (FREE) BECAUSE OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, OUTSTANDING TALENT OR SKILL, AND/OR FINANCIAL NEED.
COLLEGE WORK-STUDY- MONEY YOU EARN BY WORKING AT A CAMPUS JOB HOURS A WEEK.
LOANS- BORROWED MONEY. MUST BE REPAID, WITH INTEREST.

18. Register for the FAFSA After October 1, 2017
This is a FREE Application for Federal Aid!! Everyone needs to apply!!!
YOU WILL NEED:
TAXES RETURNS FROM 2017
FSA ID NUMBER (FAFSA.GOV) FOR YOU AND A PARENT (IF APPLICABLE)
LIST OF SCHOOLS YOU ARE APPLYING TO
TO REGISTER:
DON’T FORGET THE NBHS FINANCIAL AID NIGHT in OCTOBER!

19. Scholarships
YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO DO THE HOMEWORK! FREE MONEY! SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION WILL BE SENT TO YOU VIA AND WIL BE POSTED ON THE NBHS WEBSITE. MOST LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS WILL COME AVAILABLE IN SECOND SEMESTER. CHECK OUT . YOU CAN CREATE AN ACCOUNT, SEARCH FOR NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS AND REQUEST THAT SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION BE SENT TO YOU. CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR PARENTS’ EMPLOYERS OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS. MANY ORGANIZATIONS GIVE SCHOLARSHIP THAT GO UNAWARDED EVERY YEAR. DON’T FORGET YOUR EMPLOYER TOO!

20. NO QUESTION IS SILLY! NO ONE IS AN EXPERT.
WHO’S GOT QUESTIONS?
NO QUESTION IS SILLY! NO ONE IS AN EXPERT.