In the News: Save the Date for NC Countdown to College!

It’s back-to-school season, and college may seem far away for high school seniors, but college application deadlines are just around the corner! To help students get started on their path to higher education, College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) is urging students and parents to mark their calendars for NC Countdown to College, CFNC’s annual college-access event, in October.

CFNC is busy working with colleges, high schools, and volunteers around North Carolina to develop a month-long series of virtual and in-person events to help seniors with financial aid, residency, and college applications.

Mark Your Calendars for FREE College Applications

The highlight of NC Countdown to College is College Application Week (October 18 – 22), when dozens of North Carolina colleges and universities will waive application fees for applications that are started on CFNC.org. A list of schools waiving fees will be available in October!

Before October rolls around, students and parents should check a few items off their college to-do list.

• Create a CFNC Account– Students can save college searches, applications, and more.
• Complete Residency Determination Service (RDS) – Students will use their CFNC account to log in and complete RDS to qualify for in-state tuition and state financial aid.
• Get Your FSA ID – The FSA ID is the fastest way to electronically sign the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) The student and one parent will each need an FSA ID. The FAFSA opens on October 1, and state financial aid does run out, so get the FSA ID to complete the process as soon as possible.
• Research Colleges – Use the CFNC College Search to find schools based on majors, size, cost, housing, and more. Most students will apply to five to seven schools.
• Get Started on College Essays – Review college essay tips, test prep, and other college application resources at CFNC.org.

Avoid Application Frustration

Back-to-school is a busy time for families, and it can be challenging to motivate teens to sit down and complete college applications tasks. Here are some steps to avoid application frustration:

• Create a College Planning Calendar – Parents and teens should sit down and make a list of tasks they want to accomplish for college applications, including early application deadlines. Set realistic due dates, so it’s easy for the student to complete each task on time. Create your own checklist or use the CFNC College Application Checklist.
• Schedule a Weekly Check-In Meeting – Take some time to go out to lunch or grab coffee, so your “meeting” starts off on a positive note. Check on deadlines, brainstorm solutions if they’re stuck on an essay or task, and make sure teens are staying on track.
• Focus on Essays – Especially at schools where standardized tests will be optional this fall, the college essay is a student’s opportunity to speak to their unique experiences and qualities. Parents can help students come up with a list of ideas for their essay and then narrow it down to the one topic that really represents them as a student and future student body contributor.
• Create a Support Network – Talk to parents at school or others in your neighborhood who have older students. What words of wisdom can they pass on about their college application experience?

In the News: CFNC Regional Representative Timeka Ruffin Appears on WBTV-Charlotte

To spread the word about saving the date for NC Countdown to College and College Application Week, CFNC’s team of regional representatives spoke with local media outlets around North Carolina.

CFNC Regional Representative Timeka Ruffin spoke with WBTV-Charlotte. She encouraged high school seniors to cross a few items off their college to-do lists, so they’re ready for college application season this fall.

Click here to watch the full interview.
Click here to watch the interview on the WBTV website.

In the News: CFNC Regional Representative Sarita Broadway Appears on WRAZ-Raleigh

CFNC Regional Representative Sarita Broadway spoke with WRAZ-Raleigh. She encouraged students to create their free CFNC Account to research colleges so they’re ready when college application season gets underway. Click here to watch the full interview.

Visit the CFNC website to learn more about NC Countdown to College and College Application Week, when many North Carolina colleges and universities will waive college application fees.