Class of 2027 FCP Conference Notes 3 - due on or before September 30, 2026 Advisors, during this meeting review the August/September meeting outline and read the questions and statements to your scholar and record their responses in the spaces provided. It is important to read each section's brief introduction. The conference notes are designed to be completed by the advisor with active input from the scholar. Scholars are not to complete conference notes by themselves. The goal of meeting three is to finalize the scholar's college application strategy, including a wellbalanced college list and identify appropriate application type and decision timeline for each. Scholars who are pursuing a degree from a 2- and/or 4-year college should complete this form along with the Crosby Advisor. Scholars who are not pursuing a college degree, should complete the For Life Pathway conference notes instead. As this is a paper copy, it does not have the skip logic of the form in CrosbyConnect.
Senior Advisor’s Full Name: _____________________ Scholar’s Full Name: _______________________
Scholar’s High School:_____________ Date of Meeting: ___ /___ /___
We need to know the email that this scholar checks and uses most often. If they are using their school email address or an email with a nickname, it's time to consider creating a new, professional email to use. Do not list their high school-issued student email address below if they have another active account. At this time, advisors do not have access to update student contact information in CrosbyConnect (CC). If the email address displayed in CC is incorrect, please provide the correct personal email address below and a Crosby staff member will update CC. If the email address displayed in CC is correct, please skip this question. __________________________________________________________ Confirm the scholar has agreed to receive text messages as we find this is the most efficient way for them to remain connected with the Program. If the cell phone number displayed in CC is incorrect, please provide the scholar's correct cell phone number below. Otherwise, you are confirming that both the cell phone number and text message agreement status displayed in CC are current. __________________________________________________
Advisor Checklist + Senior Program Requirements Refer to the back cover of the Senior Program Roadmap or log in to CrosbyConnect to review the list of Senior Program requirements and expectations noting the December 1st deadline.
As the advisor, I confirm that I am actively tracking this scholar’s Program progress and assisting them with fulfilling all Program requirements including Community Service, College Fair/College Visit and Senior Academy. __ Yes Has the scholar completed their College Fair/College Visit form in CrosbyConnect? __Yes __ No If No, what has a scholar done that could be considered credit for CF/V? Please share collegespecific details here so our team can assist in submitting the CF/V if needed. The dates of each visit or fair are not as critical as the actual event. -list all college fairs attended (in-person or virtual) -list all campuses visited (in-person or virtual) -list all Open Houses at college campuses attended -list all visits with college reps at their high school or at a community event -other? _______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ As the advisor, I have reviewed the FREE essay coaching and review services provided by the Senior Program AND discussed the benefits of both services. (You may ask the scholar the following questions to start this conversation...Have you brainstormed your personal statement or essay topics? Is there a story or moment that really shows who you are? Do you know how to start your essay? Would you like help reviewing or editing your essays?) __ Yes As the advisor, I confirm that I have thoroughly reviewed all topics presented in the CN 3 meeting outline with the scholar, including the to-do lists, and have shared the full range of resources linked within the outline. __ Yes
Senior Academy Information Capturing details about a scholar's plans to complete Senior Academy completion
How do you plan to fulfill the Senior Academy requirement? __ I have already completed Senior Academy __ Plan to attend an Admissions Senior Academy __ Plan to attend a Financial Aid Senior Academy __ Utilize Essay Writing Services (either Essay Coaching and/or Essay Review) __ Utilize Career Exploration + Personal Growth Senior Academy option __ Plan to take the ASVAB __ I need more options
Post-Secondary Pathway **Remind scholars that "post-secondary' just refers to any education and training after they graduate from high school. If the scholar is considering an option not listed below, the scholar may wish to follow the Crosby For Life Pathway. The FLP has a separate conference notes form that focuses on tasks and resources that support military service, direct to workforce, gap or service year, and Career + Technical Ed or CTE. If your scholar needs to change from For College to For Life, you will need to follow the paper guide For Life CN3 and record all of your responses. We are working on a fix in our system so (soon) advisors will be able to change a scholar's pathway and instantly gain access to the correct form. Until that fix is functional, we will rely on your recorded responses to this paper CN guide. We will keep you posted as this process improves.
As of today, which answer best describes your current plans for after you graduate from high school? __ College: Bachelor's Degree __ College: Associate Degree (Go to College: Associate Degree) __ College: Bachelor or Associate Degree (considering both options)
NC Residency Determination Status (RDS) Online Form All NC students who apply to any North Carolina public, private, or community college are required to complete the NC Residency Determination Service (RDS) form. This status is especially important for a NC resident who is applying to a NC public college/university. The process involves answering a few questions and is only required once. The scholar will need to use their College For North Carolina (CFNC) account to access the RDS application. Students usually create this account with their class at their high school during Senior year. However, some may not have an account. If the scholar already has an account, do not create an additional account. If the scholar does not have a CFNC account, please instruct them to create one.
Has this scholar completed the NC RDS online form? __ Yes (Go to First-Choice College/University) __ No
Completing a NC RDS Online Form Visit NC Residency Determination Service (cfnc.org) or contact Nancy Trejo (ntrejo@crosbyscholars.org) or use this link https://calendly.com/crosbyfinaid to schedule an appointment - in person or virtual - to receive assistance with completing the RDS form or understanding this process. Scholars may also watch the RDS Overview webinar on-demand to learn about RDS. The link to the recording is posted in CrosbyConnect. Scholars who view the recording and complete the survey at the end of the presentation may receive academy credit. The scholar will need to use their College For North Carolina (CFNC) account to access the RDS application. Students usually create this account with their class at their high school during Senior year.
However, some may not have an account. If the scholar already has an account, do not create an additional account. If the scholar does not have a CFNC account, please instruct them to create one. For more information, view the Intro to NC RDS academy.
First-Choice College/University List the scholar’s first-choice college or university. During the CN 4 meeting, scholars will identify the application deadline, decision plan, and application type for each school on their college list. Use this meeting to review those options and ensure the scholar understands the differences. If a scholar plans to apply Early Decision (ED), confirm that the college offers an ED option. If you are unsure, review the college’s admissions website with the scholar or do a quick online search together. Scholars planning to apply Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA) should be actively working on those applications now to meet upcoming deadlines.
Do your ACT and/or SAT scores reflect the results you were hoping to achieve? __ Yes If not, when will you be retesting? _______________________________
__ No
What part of the college admission process feels most exciting or overwhelming? _________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Is there anything you’re worried about or unsure about how to approach? ________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ What college or university is currently your first-choice?: _______________________________ Are you being recruited for a special talent by this college/university? __ Yes
__ No
If yes, for what talent are you being recruited? ________________________________________ Are you considering applying Early Decision to this first-choice school? __ Yes __No (Go to Direct Admissions section)
Early Decision I + II Please review the following statements regarding Early Decision (ED) 1. The scholar confirmed ED is a decision plan offered at this first-choice college/university.
2. ED is a binding process which means the scholar makes a commitment they definitely will enroll (and withdraw all other applications) if admitted, and the financial aid package is considered adequate. 3. The scholar may only submit one ED application. 4. The scholar has identified if applying ED at this college offers them an advantage in the admission process over applying Early Action or Regular Decision. 5. The scholar has compared the ED acceptance rate at this college to the regular decision acceptance rate. 6. The scholar has identified the percentage of this college's freshman class that is admitted through ED. 7. The scholar is the most competitive applicant they can be at the time of the ED deadline and does not need first semester grades or additional test scores to be competitive at this college/university. Colleges/Universities treat the ED process seriously, and both the scholar and parent/guardian thoroughly understand the commitment involved - including the potential financial obligation- when choosing to apply through ED.
As a potential Early Decision candidate, have you read, and do you fully understand the statements above? __ Yes, I have read and understand each statement above.
Direct Admissions Direct admissions can be a game-changer for scholars—it’s designed to simplify the process and reward them for the work they've already done. Review which UNC institutions offer Direct Admission via NC College Connect!
Have you heard about direct admissions programs? What do you know about them? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Do any of your target schools offer direct admission? __ Yes __ No __ I am unsure at this time Assuming the school is a good fit for you, would you consider accepting a direct admission offer to a college not on your current college list if it meant skipping the traditional application process? __ Yes __ No __ I am unsure at this time
College List
In addition, list up to four additional colleges or universities in the scholar's preferred order of enrollment. Even if the scholar's level of interest in each school changes later, still ask them to try to identify their preferred order as of today. (This helps the scholar as they gauge interest and can also spark good conversation. They are not bound by their preference list in any way.) During the CN 4 meeting, the scholar will be asked to indicate the decision plan, application deadline, and application type for each school on their college list. To prepare for that step, review the relevant decision plans and application types together.
Name of College/University: ______________________________________________________ Name of College/University: ______________________________________________________ Name of College/University: ______________________________________________________ Name of College/University: ______________________________________________________ As of today, in total how many college applications have you submitted? If none have been submitted, enter 0. (Enter numbers only) ______________________ (Go to Paying for College)
College: Associate Degree List the scholar's first-choice community college. If the scholar is considering additional community colleges, please list the names of those community colleges as well.
Community College 1 Name: ____________________________________________________ Community College 2 Name: ____________________________________________________ Community College 3 Name: ____________________________________________________ Potential major or area of interest ________________________________________________ Have you researched the community college admission application process? __ Yes
__ No
As of today, in total, how many community college applications have you submitted? If none have been submitted, enter 0. (Enter numbers only) ________________ What are your next steps in your plan to enroll at a 2-year community college? _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
NC Residency Determination Status (RDS) Online Form All NC students who apply to any North Carolina public, private, or community college are required to complete the NC Residency Determination Service (RDS) form. This status is especially important for a NC resident who is applying to a NC public college/university. The process involves answering a few questions and is only required once. The scholar will need to use their College For North Carolina (CFNC) account to access the RDS application. Students usually create this account with their class at their high school during Senior year. However, some may not have an account. If the scholar already has an account, do not create an additional account. If the scholar does not have a CFNC account, please instruct them to create one.
Has this scholar completed the NC RDS online form? __ Yes (Go to Paying for College) __ No
Completing a NC RDS Online Form Visit NC Residency Determination Service (cfnc.org) or contact Nancy Trejo (ntrejo@crosbyscholars.org) or use this link https://calendly.com/crosbyfinaid to schedule an appointment - in person or virtual - to receive assistance with completing the RDS form or understanding this process. Scholars may also watch the RDS Overview webinar on-demand to learn about RDS. The link to the recording is posted in CrosbyConnect. Scholars who view the recording and complete the survey at the end of the presentation may receive academy credit. The scholar will need to use their College For North Carolina (CFNC) account to access the RDS application. Students usually create this account with their class at their high school during Senior year. However, some may not have an account. If the scholar already has an account, do not create an additional account. If the scholar does not have a CFNC account, please instruct them to create one. For more information, view the Intro to NC RDS academy.
Paying for College College costs vary widely, and the sticker price at some schools discourages students from applying because they are convinced they cannot afford to attend. Colleges display net price calculators on their websites which can help a family estimate the price it will pay based on the personal information it provides and the college's financial aid policies. The best way to discover the true cost is to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which is scheduled to open on October 1, 2026 and review the school's financial aid offer upon receipt. To understand more about the various factors impacting the overall cost of college, view the College Funding 101 academy.
Has this scholar spoken to their parent/guardian regarding their plan to pay for college? __ Yes (Go to Student Financial Aid) __ No
Have the Paying for College Conversation Now It is important for scholars to talk to their parents/guardians now about paying for college including applying for scholarships. The first step to applying for financial aid is to create your StudentAid.gov account. Then complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which is completed each year by high school seniors and college students seeking assistance with paying for college. The FAFSA is scheduled to open on October 1, 2026, so you and your parents should create accounts now at StudentAid.gov. There are several FAFSA priority deadlines that you need to be aware of (the deadline for your state, a federal deadline, and an institutional deadline.) Your best practice to meet all of these deadlines is to complete the FAFSA form as soon as possible after October 1, 2026. The Crosby Scholars Program has a financial aid team to assist families with understanding and navigating the student financial aid process. Contact them at finaid@crosbyscholars.org if you have a question or if you want to schedule an appointment use this link https://calendly.com/crosbyfinaid. Beginning in the Fall, Crosby Scholars seniors can apply for over 30 Scholarship opportunities through CrosbyConnect.
Student Financial Aid Each year, more than 18 million people submit a FAFSA. Student financial aid includes scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans offered by the federal government, state governments, colleges/universities, and other sources. Send an email to finaid@crosbyscholars.org or use this link https://calendly.com/crosbyfinaid to schedule an appointment with the Crosby Scholars Financial Aid team to discuss this student's financial needs. Visit CrosbyConnect to review the list of financial aid events scheduled for this fall.
Does this scholar intend to apply for student financial aid? __ Yes __ No __ Unsure
Scholarships Although a scholarship is a type of financial aid, it does not have to be repaid by the scholar or family. There are thousands of them, offered by schools, employers, individuals, private companies, nonprofits, communities, religious groups, and professional and social organizations. Learn about scholarship opportunities through the Crosby Scholars website, the scholarships coordinator at your high school, and by visiting the Winston-Salem Foundation's website. Remember, beginning in the Fall, Crosby Scholars seniors can apply for over 30 Scholarship opportunities through CrosbyConnect.
Does this scholar plan to apply for scholarships to assist with paying for college? __ Yes __ No
Meeting Summary In total, how long was this advisor meeting? (please enter # of minutes) __________ Meeting 3 Summary Guidance: Using the Meeting 3 outline, provide a brief summary of your conversation with the scholar. Include updates on any challenges or concerns noted in previous conference notes and describe the scholar’s current college application strategy. Your notes should provide enough context for another Crosby staff member to understand the scholar’s progress and how their plans have evolved since the last conference. Detailed application information will be documented in Conference Note 4 (October/November). Refer to the CN Summary Samples if you need further guidance on these summaries. If a Student Selected Advisor has questions, email them to czimmerman@crosbyscholars.org or include them in your summary. Any additional questions from the scholar should be sent to seniorprogram@crosbyscholars.org. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________