YOUR ROADMAP TO COLLEGE

Login to your CFNC account. If you don't have an account, make one using a personal email, not your school email. Your school email will be deactivated when you graduate, so use a personal email (no silly names).

Click the image above to see a handout of all the information you need to fill out RDS. Write down all of this information before you begin filling out RDS.

Carefully read all questions. You cannot go back to previous sections, so go slowly when you fill out each section and use the document you filled out in the last step.

After filling out RDS, you will be given a number, your RCN. Write down this number because you will need it for college applications.

Use CFNC to explore colleges in North Carolina. If you're interested in college out-of-state, check out College Board's Big Future search tool.

Make a copy of this Google Document by clicking File > Make a Copy. Add your colleges, information about them, and their deadlines.

Some colleges require a personal statement or other essays. I recommend brainstorming your essay by writing 250-300 words about a person, place, or event that is important to you. Click the heart to look at some of the best college essays, according to Johns Hopkins.

You can apply to most North Carolina colleges at CFNC.org. Some colleges are on the Common Application, so you can also create a CommonApp account and apply there. Let me know if you need help!

Login to CFNC to request your transcript for every North Carolina college or university. Click Apply to College > Application Hub > Request my High School Transcript > Type in all colleges or universities > Submit your request

If you are applying to a college outside of North Carolina, email your counselor (Mr. Brown or Mrs. Miller), and ask them to send your transcript to each college that you have applied to out-of-state. You have to list every out-of-state college in your email to your counselor.

If you have already graduated from ER, you'll need to use the Alumni page of Scriborder to request your transcript from Randolph County Schools. You will have to pay a small fee. Click the lightbulb to go to the Alumni request page.

If you are applying to RCC, you will need to request your transcript through the Current Students page of Scriborder. While you're a student, you can request transcripts for free, so click the key and request before you graduate.

Before you can fill out your FAFSA, you must make an FSA ID. If your guardian has filled out FAFSA before, they must use the same FSA ID they did before. They can recover their old FSA ID here.

This document from Going Merry shows all the information that you will need to complete the FAFSA. You can print it out or refer to it online.

We recommend using Going Merry to complete FAFSA because they make the questions simpler. Have your student check their school email for an invitation from Going Merry, and create an account there. If you have questions, check out this FAFSA FAQ Sheet or email me.

About 30% of students who complete their FAFSA are randomly selected for verification. Make sure you look out for emails from colleges about verification, and check with Ms. Cook if you have questions!

Due to COVID-19, many colleges (including all UNC System schools) are allowing students to submit applications without an SAT or ACT score for this year.

Talk to Ms. Cook if you're deciding whether or not to take the tests.

If you're on free or reduced lunch, you do not have to pay to take the SAT or ACT. Just let me, Mrs. Miller, or Mr. Brown know, and we will give you a waiver! Scroll up to the homepage for SAT and ACT links!

There are lots of free resources to study for the SAT and ACT. We can make a study plan together! If you want to start right now, click the picture above for Khan Academy SAT prep. You can also enter in a CBOS scholarship for studying for the SAT!

Click above for the SAT Test Day Checklist, and reach out to me if you need help making your ACT or SAT tickets. Make sure your photo follows their guidelines, and bring extra pencils!