The Common Application is Mobile!

 

Common App is excited to share our new mobile application – Common App for mobile. Aspiring college students can now search for Common App member colleges, request recommendations, write essays, and submit their applications through the mobile app.   Over the last five years, we’ve seen a nearly 40% increase in mobile device use for the application, with more than 400,000 applications submitted on mobile devices last year. Common App for mobile furthers our commitment to access and equity in the college admission process by providing students with an additional access point to apply to college using their Android or iOS devices.

Learn more

How to Correct or Change Your FAFSA

 

Kat Tretina - Forbes Advisor

Each year, approximately 19 million people complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the application you have to fill out to access most forms of financial aid, including grants and federal student loans.

With so many people completing the FAFSA—many of them teenagers applying on their own—mistakes happen. Whether you made an error or your information changed since you submitted your application, it’s important to update the FAFSA as soon as you learn of a mistake. Otherwise, you might not get all of the aid you deserve.

Below, learn about the FAFSA corrections process and update deadlines.

Continue reading HERE

Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship

 

The Jackie Robinson Foundation scholarship application is now available!

The Jackie Robinson Foundation provides four-year scholarships of $30,000 and extensive support services, including career guidance and internship placement, to highly motivated African American students who have maintained a 98% college graduation rate. 

We appreciate your support by sharing this opportunity with students. The application closes at 5:00 pm ET on February 1, 2021.

 

Thank you,
Damian Travier
Vice President, Core Programs

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION 

2021-2022 Aubrey Lee Brooks Scholarship Program Announcement

 The 2021-22 school year A.L. Brooks Scholarship application will be activated on December 7, 2020.  The student’s full application packet must be electronically completed and submitted with all required information/documentation via the application system by January 31, 2021 to receive consideration.

 

The website that houses information about the Program and that will have the link to the application can be accessed via the “Program Information” tab below.

 

Select HERE For more information

Eligibility

• Graduating high school senior
• Permanently reside and attend high school in one of the following counties:
  • Alamance, Bertie, Caswell, Durham, Forsyth, Granville, Guilford, Orange, Person, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Warren
• Plan to enroll as a full-time student in a degree-granting program at one of the following:
  • N.C. State University
  • UNC-Chapel Hill
  • UNC-Greensboro

Description

Established in 1955 by a Trust endowed by the late Aubrey Lee Brooks, these scholarships are available to graduating high school seniors from a 14-county area of North Carolina. The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority provides central administration for the Brooks Foundation.

Application Requirements

• Complete an Aubrey Lee Brooks Scholarship Application
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and demonstrate financial need as determined by the application process

Other Information

Of the 17 scholarships, one is awarded to a student from the areas of Greensboro and High Point and to a senior at the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics who is from an eligible county. Additional criteria include merit, leadership, character, and the desire of the recipient to prepare for a career as a useful and informed citizen.

Best Colleges in North Carolina

 Colleges and Universities have a wide variety of locations, settings, social styles, and academic offerings. They have rankings that try to provide a picture of the school as a helpful guide to students and their families engaged in the selection process. There are many ways to consider a school and rankings are a familiar way.

When using rankings and ratings, students should remember they are not based on the same criteria nor do they have the same weight for common factors. For example, some rankings place a high rating, as much as 25%, on the success rate of graduates. Other rankings may value the on-time graduation rate as a chief factor. Students should take a glance at the rating factors when using college rankings.

Check out more below at:

University HQ

Take honors level and AP STEM & humanities courses online, via NCSSM!

 

The Distance Education and Extended Programs division of NCSSM invites you to join us for an upcoming webinar about our Open Enrollment Program!    NCSSM’s Open Enrollment program allows NC public high school students to take tuition-free, honors-level and AP NCSSM courses via interactive video conferencing. These courses make it possible for students to take advanced courses in STEM and humanities subjects while remaining at their home schools. Open Enrollment courses are live, synchronous courses taught by NCSSM faculty to students in their home schools during the school day. During class, teachers use group activities and cutting-edge instructional technology to facilitate active participation, with project-based learning and cross-site collaboration among peers around the state.    Registration for Spring 2021 courses is now open! Registration must be requested and facilitated by a school official, usually the school counselor. Students cannot register for the Open Enrollment courses on their own.    How is the NCSSM Open Enrollment Program different from the other NCSSM programs? Click here to learn more.

Going Merry Scholarship Platform

Going Merry has thousands of active scholarships on our website, at any given time. 

What is Going Merry?

We are a free scholarship and financial aid platform.

Learn More HERE

Personalized matching. Thousands of scholarships.

More local scholarships
Less competitive, easier to win.

Auto-filled forms
Never type the same thing twice.

Bundled scholarships
Apply for multiple scholarships, at once.

Multi-platform
Mobile app or Desktop, we've got you covered

MATCH ME TO SCHOLARSHIPS

Check out just ten of the December offerings here:

1	Stephen J. Brady Stop Hunger ScholarshipsProvider: Stop Hunger Foundation Amount: $5,000 # of winners: 25
2	Rockefeller Foundation Food System Vision PrizeProvider: The Rockefeller Foundation Amount: $200,000 # of winners: 10
3	Make the U / Haz La U Hispanic Scholarship FundProvider: The Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Colgate-Palmolive Amount: $1,000 # of winners: 100
4	Burger King James W. McLamore Whopper Scholarship AwardProvider: BURGER KING℠ McLamore Foundation Amount: $50,000 # of winners: 18
5	AQHF Youth ScholarshipProvider: American Quarter Horse Foundation Amount: $50,000 # of winners: Varies
6	Dell Scholars ProgramProvider: Equitable Amount: $20,000 # of winners: 500
7	Teen Changemakers Essay ContestProvider: International Bipolar Foundation Amount: $1,000 # of winners: 3
8	Hispanic Heritage Youth AwardsProvider: Hispanic Heritage Foundation Amount: $3,500 # of winners: Varies
9	The NHS ScholarshipProvider: National Honor Society Amount: $25,000 # of winners: 600
10	Be The Change Minority Nursing Scholarship (2020)Provider: Family & Friends of Lauren Douglass Amount: $1,000 # of winners: 5

College Board Updates

 

PSAT-Related Assessments

Scores for the PSAT™ 8/9 and the October administrations of the PSAT/NMSQT will be available online to counselors on November 30 and to students starting December 7. Visit our score resources page to help your students understand their scores.

Weekend SAT

The December 5 SAT administration is scheduled to proceed as planned. Students can register until November 24. Our recent press release gives you more information about test center safety requirements and closures. COLLEGE BOARD OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS Seniors can earn College Board Opportunity Scholarship entries by completing the FAFSA® and applying to colleges. Current juniors can begin participating in the program in December by signing up at cb.org/opportunity. BIG FUTURE: COLLEGE PLANNING SUPPORT Step-by-Step Guide for College Search Sophomores and juniors can use search tools on BigFuture™ to explore colleges without the pressure of application deadlines and have time to enjoy the discovery process. Students are encouraged to spend 20–30 minutes checking out our College Search Step-by-Step tool and adding a few recommended colleges to their list. Help Students Get Discovered by Colleges and Scholarships College Board's Student Search Service® helps students connect with more than 1,500 colleges and over $300 million in scholarships. Your students can now join this program online at any time to start hearing from participating organizations.

Scholarship applications for 2020-2021 are open!

 

Deadline for all applications is March 1, 2021 Achievement Scholarship for Refugees & Immigrants of Wake County, Up to $16,000  First-generation U.S. citizens, refugees, or immigrants, residents of Wake County, North Carolina who have completed at least one academic year at a high school in Wake County. High school seniors at the time of the application with a GPA of 2.5 or greater, planning to pursue a degree as a full-time student at an accredited public, private, or technical college or university in NC, and able to demonstrate family financial need.  Benjamin F. Ward Scholarship, $10,000  Graduating high school seniors in Wake, Durham, Orange, or Chatham counties planning to attend a 4-year public or private college or university in North Carolina. Must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale with demonstrated commitment to community service and family financial need. Elizabeth Marie Roberts Scholarship, $8,000 Graduating seniors from Northern High School, Riverside High School, Voyager Academy, or Durham School of the Arts. Must be accepted into any public state university or college in NC, Watts School of Nursing, or Durham Technical Community College and have a minimum grade of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale with demonstrated family financial need.  Felicia Brewer Opportunity Scholarship, Up to $80,000 This scholarship's purpose is to create a life-transforming opportunity for immigrant or first-generation students who have overcome significant adversity, giving them the opportunity to pursue their dreams and improve their lives through education or training. It will be awarded to students who have attended a Chapel Hill –Carrboro City Schools district high school.  GSK Opportunity Scholarship, Up to $20,000 Be a U.S. Citizen for a minimum of one year; reside in Chatham, Durham, Orange, or Wake counties for a minimum of one year; be eligible to receive NC resident tuition costs; attend a public state university or community college in NC and demonstrate the potential to succeed despite adversity as well as an exceptional desire to improve himself or herself through further education or training. Jason and Jessica Evans Memorial Scholarship, $4,000 Be graduating high school seniors at Orange High School in Hillsborough, NC, plan to pursue a 4-year degree as a full-time student at any accredited public or private college or university with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher and demonstrated family financial need. Jay Spence Memorial Scholarship, $8,000 Be graduating high school seniors or alumni of Jordan-Matthews High School or Chatham Charter High School in Siler City, NC, and plan to continue an undergraduate or graduate education at an accredited public, private, or community college. Exhibit strong character through a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and commitment to making a difference in the lives of others through service. Be a Christian, demonstrate family financial need and demonstrate the potential to succeed despite adversity. Joseph Nystrom Working Student Scholarship, Up to $16,000 Students in Orange, Wake, Durham, Chatham or Alamance counties who are working at least part-time while in school and have demonstrated financial need. Juanita McNeil West End Scholarship, $2,000 Be a graduating high school senior in Durham County with a GPA of at least 2.5 and demonstrated financial need. Residents of the West End Community (zip codes 27701 and 27707) are encouraged to apply and will be given preference. NC American Indian Fund Scholarship, $1,000 Be enrolled in a state- or federally-recognized tribe (with documentation), demonstrate sustained involvement in the American Indian Community and commitment to American Indian concerns and initiatives, have family residency in the state. Be currently enrolled or planning to enroll in a post-secondary institution in NC, maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA and plan to pursue a 2-year or 4-year undergraduate degree as a full-time student at an accredited public, private, or technical college or university. Richard Whitted Scholarship, $1,000 Graduating seniors at Cedar Ridge High School, Orange High School, Carrboro High School, Chapel Hill High School or East Chapel Hill High School planning to enroll full-time at a 4-year college or university. Must demonstrate commitment to community service and academic excellence.   Triangle Scholarship Fund, $10,000 One high school senior and one adult learner in Chatham, Durham, Orange, or Wake counties planning to attend a public or private college or university in North Carolina. Must have a 2.5 GPA and demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to improving their community through volunteer work, work experience, and/or future aspirations and plans. Umesh and Usha Gulati Scholarship, $2,500 Seniors at one of the following high schools in Durham, NC: Hillside High School, Northern High School, Riverside High School, Southern High School, Jordan High School, Durham School of the Arts, or City of Medicine Academy. Graduating with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA and planning to attend a 2- or 4-year technical school, college, or university. Able to demonstrate financial need. Van and Luella Thomas Family Scholarship, $1,000 Graduating high school senior from Jordan Matthews High School, Siler City, NC who have motivation for educational success but are not receiving financial aid from other sources. William L. Wall Family Scholarship, $4,000 Graduating high school seniors or alumni from Jordan-Matthews High School or Sage Academy in Siler City, NC who will be first-time college students at a public college or university in North Carolina in the coming fall.   These scholarships are part of our universal online application, meaning you will complete one main form with your basic eligibility, academic, and financial information and the system will present you with all the scholarships you are eligible for and their application questions. You must submit both the universal application AND the individual scholarship questions to be considered. Please reach out to us if you have questions PRIOR to March 1!

Apply Here!

NC A&T Dowdy Outreach Program

Gabrielle Washington, is a senior biology student at North Carolina A&T and co-founder of a program called the Dowdy Outreach Program.

The outreach program is offering tutoring and college prep to high school students looking to pursue a higher education.  Saturday Blitz sessions are available for students to participate in free SAT/ACT prep, college prep, advice on how to get scholarships, and insight on life as a student at North Carolina A&T. Their next session will be November 21st at 10 am, students can register through their website or on their Eventbrite, both links will be attached below.

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/thedowdytestprepinitiative/home
Eventbrite page: https://dowdyop.eventbrite.com

Durham Technical CC Information Sessions

 

VAHS is proud to partner with Adam Desantis the Durham Tech. Liaison to offer Voyager seniors  two opportunities to meet and and learn about the programs and possibilities available at Durham Tech. for the fall of 2021.

                                            FIRST CHOICE STUDENT EVENT

                  THIS EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT 4PM ON DECEMBER 2ND.

 THIS MEETING IS FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE ALREADY DECIDED TO GO TO DURHAM TECH AFTER GRADUATION.

                            DURHAM TECH GENERAL INTEREST MEETING

                 THIS EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT 4PM ON DECEMBER 16TH.

THIS MEETING IS FOR ANY STUDENTS CONSIDERING APPLYING TO DTCC AFTER GRADUATION.

                  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE EMAIL MR. DESANTIS AT

      DESANTISA@DURHAMTECH.EDU FOR THE LINKS TO THESE EVENTS.

NCSSM Open Enrollment Program

The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) would like you to know they also have available courses and programs. The NCSSM Open Enrollment Program allows North Carolina public high school students to take tuition-free, honors-level and AP NCSSM courses via interactive video conferencing. These courses make it possible for students to take advanced courses in STEM and humanities subjects while remaining at their regular schools. 

For more information, please visit NCSSM Open Enrollment

Extra Help: College Admissions: Understand a Parent's Role in the College Admissions Process

 

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Be a Partner, Not a Pusher

Applying to college is often a family affair with parents helping their teens navigate the admissions process. But how much help is too much? And what kind of boundaries should be in place when parents are helping their children decide on where they will head off to college?

Experts urge parents not to micromanage the college application process, to recognize when their students need help and when to back away, and to let their teens handle admissions on their own.

This is a bonus edition of Extra Help, one of several that U.S. News will be sending out this year. Feel free to share your thoughts and feedback with us at edunewsletters@usnews.com.

FIND YOUR SCHOOL

Try the My Fit Custom College Ranking

Enter your preferences and profile information here, and we'll show you a personalized ranking of which schools are the best fit for you. You can also sign in to your free U.S. News account to see how you stack up against applicants across the country with our new College Admissions Calculator.