GRADE
College Applications
Now is time for your student to apply to the colleges they have identified they are interested in attending.
Mark application deadlines on your calendar. Plan for your student to apply by early application deadlines.
If your student has taken the SAT or ACT, review their scores and identify colleges they are applying to that may require score submission. If your student plans to retake the SAT or ACT, make sure their updated scores will be available by college application deadlines.
Encourage your student to reach out to potential recommenders at least a month prior to the application deadline to request a letter of recommendation.
Student athletes: If your student is a student athlete, ensure they register with the NCAA Clearinghouse for eligibility certification.
Finish Senior Year Strong
A final transcript will be required by the college where your student chooses to enroll. Support your student as they complete AP or IB exams.
Help your student compare colleges they are admitted to and the financial aid packages offered. Celebrate your student once they decide where they want to enroll.
After confirming their enrollment, your student will need to complete items on their new student
HELPFUL LINKS
FAFSA studentaid.gov
Common App commonapp.org
Coalition on Scoir App coalitionapp.org
In order for your student to qualify for federal student aid including federal grants, workstudy and loans, they should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Many institutions also use FAFSA data to award their own aid.
The FAFSA becomes available during the fall semester of your student’s senior year of high school at studentaid.gov
Be aware of each colleges’ priority deadlines for submitting the FAFSA. Find assistance for completing the FAFSA at cfnc.org/pay-for-college/fafsa-assistance/.
Students who apply by our Early Action deadline of November 1 will get priority consideration for scholarships.
Scholarships: Have your student identify each school’s scholarship application deadlines. Some require your student to apply for consideration while others will automatically consider your student for scholarship opportunities. Help your student look for external scholarship opportunities in your community.
checklist, make housing arrangements, and plan for orientation dates and any placement testing requirements.
Ensure your student has sent all enrollment items to their future college (i.e. official final transcripts, AP/IB test scores). Financial Aid
Find tips for completing the NC State application at go.ncsu.edu/ applicationtips
May 1 National Enrollment Confirmation Deadline
GRADE
Narrow Down A College List
Tour schools: Take time during your student’s school breaks to visit colleges they are interested in. If you aren’t able to visit campuses in person, many colleges offer virtual tours for your student to get a glimpse of what the campus is like.
Have your student attend a college fair: At a college fair, students have the opportunity to talk to admissions representatives from a variety of institutions all in one place. If a college fair is not hosted at your student’s high school, check college admissions websites to see when a rep may be in your area.
NC State might be coming to your school! Visit our Pack on the Prowl page for more info at go.ncsu.edu/ packontheprowl
Encourage your student to continue to focus on their academics: A student’s junior year is the last full year of grades available on their transcript when applying to colleges. Some schools may ask for a senior year schedule with grades before making a final decision. Your student should take an English class and a math class each year.
Did You Know?
Review options for taking the SAT or ACT with your student: Many colleges and universities who use test scores in their admission review allow your student to submit multiple exam scores and consider their highest score or “super score.” To have multiple scores to submit by fall application deadlines of their senior year, your student should take at least one exam their junior year.
NORTH CAROLINA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
Resources to Help Keep Your Student on Track
Use this Planning for College Guide to keep your student on track from the time they begin high school until they enroll at a college or university.
Searching for Colleges College Research
With over 5,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. alone, the search process can be intimidating – but it doesn’t have to be. Start by asking your student questions about what they want out of their college experience and leverage online search sites to narrow your options as a family.
Find a match: Your student can take a series of quizzes on bigfuture.collegeboard.org to help them find a best fit for career paths, colleges and scholarships.
It’s important that your student be able to picture themselves on a specific college’s campus before making a decision about where to apply. Colleges and universities offer both on-campus and virtual opportunities to help you explore academic programs and campus.
NC State’s campus and community is the heartbeat of Raleigh, North Carolina. Whether you visit us in person or from the comfort of your own home, we’re excited to show you around. Schedule a visit at go.ncsu.edu/scheduleyourvisit
College Essay Assistance
The college essay is a major part of the application process. Your student can get helpful tips on brainstorming and writing their story with assistance from Big Future’s Essay Hub at bigfuture.collegeboard.org/plan-for-college/ your-college-application/essay-hub
If you want to leverage an AI tool like ChatGPT for help writing your college essay, we encourage you to use it as a learning experience that can help brainstorm ideas and structure thoughts. In the end, we want to hear about your experience in your own unique voice.
Financing a College Degree
Finances are top of mind for students and families preparing to apply to college. When it comes to finding help, connecting with your student’s high school counselor is a great place to start. Counselors have access to funding databases and can help provide guidance on where to look for scholarships.
There are options for paying for college. Learn more about financial aid at bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college.
Aid comes in different shapes and sizes. Learn the differences between grants, loans, work-study and scholarships at studentaid.gov/ understand-aid/types