GET ORGANIZED
- Decide between a 2-year or a 4-year school based on your career goals.
- Use a folder to keep all your info in one safe place. Keep up with all login info–maybe on a note on your phone–and make sure it’s in a safe location and easy to access.
- You will receive emails from TRIO and your guidance counselor throughout the year. Some emails will have deadlines and need immediate attention. Don’t miss deadlines, and check your email daily!
- Use the three resources provided to help you stay organized:
- Senior To Do List – to keep you on task
- 4-year Data Sheet – organize your accomplishments and activities from high school to give to any teacher who agrees to write a reference letter
- My Top 5 Schools – store info about your top colleges
FIND THE UNIVERSITIES THAT FIT YOU THE BEST
College ScoreCard, U.S. News Best Colleges, and CollegeSimply to find the right college fit for you. Search and compare colleges: their fields of study, costs, admissions, results, and more. Click these links to get started.
TAKE VIRTUAL COLLEGE TOURS
CampusTours and YouVisit are great resources that allow you to virtually tour a college campus from the comfort of your home. Click here to begin.
NC RESIDENCY DETERMINATION SERVICES (RDS)
Complete Residency Determination Services (RDS) to receive in-state tuition. Click here to get started! If you need some help, contact us or look at the video we have included.
FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA)
The FAFSA is Free Application for Federal Student Aid. You will need to complete this form to request student aid from the federal government. Click here to get started. Also, CCC’s financial aid expert is Molly Vogus, Financial Aid Specialist. You can email her at vogusm322@clevelandcc.edu, or you can call her 704-669-4008.
APPLY FOR COLLEGE
Applying for college can be stressful, but if you have the right tools it doesn’t have to be.
You can apply to most colleges through COMMON APP. It’s a one-stop-shop for applying to most colleges.
You can use CFNC.org to apply to most UNC schools, and they offer an event every year called FREE APPLICATION WEEK.
OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS
If you are a high school senior in our TRIO Talent Search program, we can send your official college transcripts (CCP courses you have taken through CCC) to the 4-year school(s) of your choice. Simply email Ms. Thomas at sdthomas@clevelandcountyschools.org and state that she has permission to send your transcript. Remember to send the list of colleges where you are applying! *Any CCC student who is not in TRIO TS should go to the Transcript Request link under Current Students.
If you’re sending your high school transcripts to the college of your choice, you can do it by simply logging onto CFNC.org. Click the link here to complete!
APPLY FOR INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS
An institutional scholarship is a type of scholarship that comes directly from an individual college or university. Instead of scholarships that come from organizations that you can use at any campus you want to attend, you must use these scholarships at the college that offers them. An institutional scholarship is a need or merit based type of financial aid awarded by higher education institutes.
- UNC CHAPEL HILL
- UNC GREENSBORO
- UNC WILMINGTON
- UNC PEMBROKE
- NC STATE UNIVERSITY
- UNC ASHEVILLE
- APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY
- EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
- UNC CHARLOTTE
- WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
- WINSTON SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY
- FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY
- NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY
- ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY
- NORTH CAROLINA A&T UNIVERSITY
SCHOLARSHIPS AT YOUR HIGH SCHOOL & SCHOLARSHIP WEBSITES
Scholarships are a great way to get free money that you do not have to pay back. You can apply for scholarships through your Senior Counselor’s general scholarship application. This will make you eligible for local scholarships offered to your particular school.
The colleges you’re applying to offer institutional scholarships. Be sure to check the website of the schools you’re applying to in order to find deadlines and qualifications. You can use websites, like FASTWEB, that have you create a profile to find specific scholarships for which you are eligible. Also, we provide a TRIO database of scholarships listed by deadline.