SENIOR PLANNER
WELCOME TO YOUR SENIOR YEAR
HOW TO USE THIS MONTHLY PLANNER
Welcome to the Crosby Scholars Senior Program! This planner serves as a month-to-month guide through your Senior year.
CROSBY SCHOLARS PROFILE PAGE
Name: Home Address: __________________________________________
Cell Phone:
Email:
High School: _____________________________________________
Address: Phone:
School Code (CEEB): _____________________________________
Guidance Counselor:
Email: Crosby Scholar Senior Advisor: Email: Phone: __________________________________________________
CROSBY SCHOLARS ACCOUNT INFORMATION
CFNC (cfnc.org)
Login: __________________ Password: ___________________
Common App (commonapp.org)
Login: Password: CrosbyConnect Account (portal.crosbyscholars.org)
Login Email: FSA ID (fafsa.gov)
Login: __________________ Password: ___________________
Residency Determination Service (RDS) (ncresidency.org)
- Login to RDS using your CFNC username and password
Residency Certification Number (RCN): *Keep Secure*
CROSBY SCHOLARS
NOTES
SENIOR YEAR REQUIREMENTS
ACADEMIES & LABS
Attend Senior Orientation and one more Crosby Scholars Academy or Lab.
SENIOR 1:1 MEETINGS
Meeting 1 - Summer Meeting 3 - Winter
Meeting 2 - Fall Meeting 4 - Spring
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Complete and submit two or more hours using the online form in CrosbyConnect.
Due January 31
COLLEGE FAIR & TOURS
Attend one college fair or four college tours (Inperson or Virtual) at any time during grades 9-12. Submit the online form in CrosbyConnect.
Due January 31
Senior Program Benefits Senior Program Benefits
Seniors who complete the program will receive a t-shirt, honor cord, invitation to the Senior Celebration, and access to apply for Crosby Scholarships and our Last Dollar Grant!
SENIOR CHECKLIST
June/July
Schedule ACT/SAT Testing
NCAA Eligibility
Start Community Service
Early
October
Apply to Colleges
Schedule Senior Advisor Meeting 2- Fall File FAFSA
March
Apply for Crosby Scholarships
Compare Offer Letters
Complete Senior Advisor Meeting 3- Winter
August
Complete RDS FAFSA Estimator
Schedule Senior Advisor Meeting 1- Summer
September
Create FSA ID
Nov./Dec.
Complete Academy Requirement
Submit Two Hours of Community Service
Complete Senior Advisor Meeting 2- Fall
April
Finalize Financial Aid
Deposit Time
Final Senior Advisor Meeting 4- Spring
Finalize College List
Complete Senior Advisor Meeting 1- Summer
Jan./Feb.
Apply for Scholarships
Decision Letters Arrive
Schedule Senior Advisor Meeting 3- Winter
May
Attend Senior Celebration
Apply for Last Dollar Grant
Register for College Orientation
CROSBY SCHOLARS
SENIOR MEETINGS
SENIOR MEETING 1
What did we talk about?
Next steps?
SENIOR MEETING 2
What did we talk about?
Next steps?
CROSBY SCHOLARS
SENIOR MEETINGS
SENIOR MEETING 3
What did we talk about?
Next steps?
SENIOR MEETING 4
What did we talk about?
Next steps?
TO-DO LIST
Schedule ACT/SAT Testing
Register if you didn’t take the college entrance exam as a junior or want to take one again. Note: Some schools are test optional for admissions, but may use test scores when awarding merit scholarships
NCAA Eligibility
If you are planning to participate in college sports, register with the NCAA Eligibility Center Online.
Start Community Service Early
Not only do volunteer hours look great on college applications, but they are also great resume builders! It’s never too early to start your community service hours for the year.
TO-DO LIST
Complete RDS
The Residency Determination Service is required for all students seeking admission and in-state tuition to a North Carolina public college or university.
FAFSA Estimator
Determine your eligibility for financial aid at www.studentaid.gov/aid-estimator/
Schedule Senior Advisor
Meeting 1 - Summer
Schedule a Summer Meeting with your Senior Advisor.
TO-DO LIST
Create FSA ID
November 2025
Do it on your own or attend the optional Crosby Lab for help!
Finalize College List
Finalize your college list by including a variety of schools that fit your goals and interests. Review deadlines, requirements, and explore your college options with your Senior Advisor.
Complete Senior Advisor
Meeting 1 - Summer
Attend Meeting 1 - Summer with your Senior Advisor.
TO-DO LIST
Apply to Colleges
Submit your early applications for admissions. Attend the optional Crosby Lab for help.
File FAFSA
October 2025
File your FAFSA when it opens!
Schedule Senior Advisor
Meeting 2 - Fall
Schedule a Fall Meeting with your Senior Advisor.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
TO-DO LIST
Complete Crosby Academy Requirement
It is a requirement to attend one Crosby Scholars Academy or Lab.
Due January 31
Submit Two Hours of Community Service
It is a requirement to submit two or more hours using the online form in CrosbyConnect.
Due January 31
Complete Senior Advisor
Meeting 2 - Fall
Attend Meeting 2 - Fall with your Senior Advisor.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY
TO-DO LIST
Apply for Scholarships
Apply for Crosby Scholarships and ask your guidance department about local scholarships
Decision Letters Arrive
Read over each of your Admission Decision Letters with your Senior Advisor.
Schedule Senior Advisor Meeting 3 - Winter
Schedule a Winter Meeting with your Senior Advisor.
MARCH
TO-DO LIST
Apply for Crosby Scholarships
Crosby Scholarships are due this month!
Compare Offer Letters
Read over your Financial Aid Offer Letters with your Senior Advisor.
Complete Senior Advisor Meeting 3 - Winter
Attend Meeting 3 - Winter with your Senior Advisor.
APRIL
TO-DO LIST
Finalize Financial Aid
If you have been offered aid, loans, or grants, follow your school's directions and finalize.
Deposit Time
May 1st is Decision Day! It is time to choose which college you are going to attend. Send your deposit before May 1st. Decline all other offers.
Final Senior Advisor Meeting 4 - Spring
Wrap up your senior year at the Spring Meeting to reflect and thank your Senior Advisor.
TO-DO LIST
Attend Senior Celebration
Come to celebrate with fellow Crosby Scholars at the Senior Celebration!
Apply for Last Dollar Grant
The Last Dollar Grant (LDG) application opens soon. You will need to update us with your personal information and a non-RSS email address.
Register for Orientation
Register for your school's orientation, secure housing, roommate selection, etc.,
TERMS TO KNOW
ACT/SAT
College entrance exams used by most colleges and universities to determine college readiness and admissions.
Early Action (EA)
An option to submit your college application before the regular deadlines.
FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a form completed by current and prospective college students in the United States to determine their eligibility for student financial aid.
Early Decision (ED)
Associate's Degree
An academic degree awarded by a college after completion of two years of study.
Bachelor's Degree
An academic degree awarded by a college or university after completion of 4+ years of study.
Common Application
An undergraduate college admission application that students may use to apply to more than 900 member institutions.
Deferred Admission
An opportunity for a student who has been admitted to delay or defer enrollment for a year or a semester.
An option to submit an application to your firstchoice college before the regular deadline. ED plans are binding You agree to enroll in that college if admitted and offered financial aid that meets your needs.
CFNC
The College For North Carolina is a free, comprehensive online resource designed to help all NC students and families plan, apply, and pay for college.
Countdown to College
North Carolina's annual campaign to support college access during the month of October, including Free College Application Week.
Financial Aid
Money that is given or loaned to you to help pay for college. Financial aid can include grants, scholarships, work study, and loans.
First-Generation College Students
Students whose parent(s) did not complete a fouryear college degree.
Priority Date or Deadline
The date by which your application - whether it's for college admission, student housing, or financial aidmust be received to be given the strongest consideration.
Transcript
The official record of your coursework at a school or college. Your high school transcript is required for college admission.
RDS
The Residency
Determination Service is a centralized residency service for all students seeking admission and instate tuition to a North Carolina public college or university.
NCAA
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the governing body of college athletics and is responsible for regulating studentathletes.
HBCU
Historically Black Colleges or Universities are institutions that were originally founded to educate students of African American descent.
FSA ID
The Federal Student Aid Identification is an electronic signature used to sign the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and federal education loan promissory notes. The FSA ID consists of a username and password.
Grant
A form of financial aid that usually does not have to be repaid.
Scholarship
A financial award that is given to a student that does not have to be repaid.
RCN
Residency Certification Number is a unique identifier that RDS assigns to you when you begin the RDS Interview. It may be requested by NC Colleges when applying.
Room and Board
The cost of having a place to sleep (room) and food to eat (board) while at school.
FAFSA Submission Summary
A document that gives basic estimates about the student’s eligibility for federal student aid.
Tuition and Fees
The quarterly or semester charges imposed to attend an institution of higher education and required as a condition of enrollment.
SAI
The Student Aid Index is an index number colleges use to determine how much financial aid the family is eligible to receive.
CSS Profile
Work Study
A job that is used as a supplement to your financial aid; usually a job on campus.
Loan
Borrowed money that is used to pay for college, which must be repaid and includes interest and fees.
College List
A list of researched colleges that is broken into three categories (Likely, Target, Reach).
The College Scholarship Service Profile is an online application created by College Board that allows college students to apply for non-federal financial aid.
Common Black College Application
An undergraduate college admission application that students may use to apply to over 60 Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
TERMS TO KNOW
CROSBY SCHOLARS
Crosby College Tour Form
Click Here to access the form in CrosbyConnect
Crosby Community Service Form
Click Here to access the form in CrosbyConnect
CROSBY SCHOLARS SCHOLARSHIPS & LDG
CROSBY SCHOLARSHIPS
Crosby Scholars Impact Scholarship
$1,000 renewable - up to 4 years of college ($4,000 max)
7 Scholars who can share how Crosby Scholars made a positive impact on his/her life & college journey
Goodwill Willpower Scholarship
$1,000 non-renewable
A Scholar who has overcome adversity while pursuing his/her educational goals
Antonio and Victoria Munoz Scholarship
$1,000 non-renewable
A Spanish-speaking Scholar with at least one parent from a Latin American country who overcame barriers.
Joyce Kohfeldt Memorial Scholarship
$1,000 non-renewable
A Scholar who has overcome adversity and emerged with a remarkable story of determination while pursuing his/her educational goals.
Paul Fisher Memorial Scholarship
$1,000 non-renewable
An involved first-generation Scholar who plans to attend a 2 or 4-year college.
Sue P. Fisher Community Service Scholarship
$1,000 non-renewable
A first-generation Scholar who has demonstrated the willingness and value of serving others.
John A. Carter Memorial Scholarship
$1,000 non-renewable
A Scholar from a middle-income family with financial need who plans to attend a 2 or 4-year college
John O. Reynolds Memorial Scholarship
$1,000 non-renewable
A Scholar from a low-income family with financial need who plans to attend a 2 or 4-year college
David Post Public Service Scholarship
$1,000 non-renewable
A Scholar who demonstrates academic ability and strong community involvement.
Mona Lovett Scholarship
$1,000 non-renewable
A Scholar who has demonstrated consistent involvement with the Crosby Scholars program.
Bob Casmus: Medical/Health Care Scholarship
$500 non-renewable
A Scholar who is pursuing a degree in the allied healthcare field of study at a 2 or 4-year college.
“For Life” Scholarship
$500 non-renewable
A Scholar who may be entering the workforce upon High School graduation or taking a continuing education course for entry into workforce.
LAST DOLLAR GRANT
When you complete the Crosby Scholars program, you become a member of our alumni, which means you can apply for a need-based Last Dollar Grant each year of college for up to four years of eligibility LDG is needbased financial assistance of $1,200 per year.
