Junior Night

Class of 2026

April 15, 2025

6:30 pm

Tonight’s topics

• Summer prep
• ACT/SAT
• FAFSA/Scholarships
• College Applications
• Scoir
• Internships
• PTSO senior packages and senior picture information.

Summer prep

The beginning of senior year is exciting but also very busy. Getting things done over the summer will help you feel less overwhelmed.

College visits: Tour the schools you want to apply to. You’ll spend 4 years there; make sure it’s a good fit.

Resume: Start or update your resume so it’s ready when you apply for college and scholarships

Letters of recommendation: Think about which teachers you want to write you a letter. Some schools have criteria about what letters they will accept.

Common App essay: Essay prompts are available now. Review the prompts and plan your response or even finish your essay(s) over the summer.

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Things to Know

Resumes

• Don’t over complicate it
• Include education, work experience, extracurricular activities, and community service
• Be concise
• Counselors can review your resume if you want feedback
• Templates can easily be found on Google

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Letters of Recommendation

• It is courtesy to ask the teacher in person at least two weeks before the letter is needed. You will also request your letter in Scoir (we’ll go over this later)
• Some schools have a limit on how many letters you can send
• Teachers can say no

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Essays

• Check your essay for grammar and spelling errors. Counselors and English teachers are happy to review essays.
• Keep essays handy; you can reuse them for scholarship applications
• This is your chance to show them who you are!

ACT/SAT

We recommend taking each test once. All juniors took the ACT for free earlier this semester.

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Choose which test you liked better and retake it for a higher score.

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Some schools are still test-optional for admission. However, they may ask for it to determine scholarship money.

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A good rule of thumb: If your score(s) will enhance your application then submit them; if it won’t then consider not submitting them.

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Remaining test dates for this school year:

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ACT: June 14 (May 9 registration deadline); July 14 (June 6 registration deadline)

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SAT: May 3 (April 18 registration deadline); June 7 (May 22 registration deadline)

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The SAT is now digital and shorter than previous years. It features an adaptive module, meaning the second module questions are more or less difficult based on how the student answered the questions in the first module.

FAFSA and Scholarships

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required for any student/family wanting financial aid for college.

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This year the FAFSA was revamped to be much shorter and simpler to complete. It also has a reformatted Student Aid Index (formerly called Expected Family Contribution) to better indicate the level of need for each family.

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This past year the FAFSA opening was extended, but we anticipate that the open date will return to October 1 for this upcoming school year.

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We will hold a FAFSA night in the fall. Our rep from CFNC will discuss everything you need to know about financial aid options and important information about the FAFSA

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Scholarships are posted on the Counseling webpage under the scholarships tab. Scholarships.com, College Board, and Going Merry all have great scholarship search tools.

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Never pay for scholarship information or applications!

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College Applications

Most college applications open on August 1.

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Application websites include: Common App, Coalition, SENDedu, CFNC, and the school’s website.

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*Remember: Essays in Common App can be completed over the summer before the applications open.

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A good rule of thumb: Apply to at least three reaches, two matches, and one safety school to keep your options open. College Board and Scoir have great college matching tools.

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Scoir

Scoir is our way of sending important documents to the colleges you’re applying to.

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Students will list the schools they’re applying to and counselors will send:

Transcripts

Letters of recommendation

Fee waivers

School report

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Scoir has an application feature that allows students to apply to a select amount of schools.

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College Searching

Creating Your College List

Over the summer you can make a list of schools you want to apply to in the “Following” column.

When you’re ready to apply, simply drag it to the “Applying” column.

After you submit an application, drag it to the “Applied” column.

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Scoir - Predictive Chances

Scoir - Predictive Chances

Click “Preview” next to the school’s name to use the Admission Intelligence feature.

Scoir - Predictive Chances

Click “Open” to use the profile simulator that lets you adjust GPA and test scores to see how your acceptance rate changes.

Career Information/Internships

• Internships are available to CATA students during the fall, spring or summer semesters and are recommended for seniors.
• Internships provide students with an opportunity to earn high school elective credit and gain work experience in a career field of interest.
• Application is done through MajorClarity under the Work-based Learning Link
• Deadlines March 1st for summer, May 1st for fall semester and October 1st for a spring semester internship

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Internship Grades are based on required assignments, attendance at scheduled meetings and employer evaluation

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Career Information/Internships/Pre-apprenticeships

Internship Qualifications:

• Reliable transportation
• On Track for graduation
• Positive teacher references
• Can attend at least eight hours per week

Pre-apprenticeships:

• Healthcare, Electronics, Engineering
• Applying gets students certificate from state saying student is following a pathway
• Allows students to apply to continue on at SPCC through an apprenticeship program after graduation and if selected will receive a tuition waiver
• If student goes to 4 year college, can be used on resume’ - not binding to anything
• Must be 16 and have 2.5 gpa
• Complete interest form at https://ucpscte.org/work-based-learning/

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Career Exploration Resources

• CATA students interested in career exploration have access to the MajorClarity website. This site can be accessed through CLEVER in PowerSchool. The site features career videos/activities that can assist students as they begin to explore college majors & careers. It also helps students with career and learning style inventories, resume writing, scholarship searches and is where students apply for internships.
• State law implemented that students must have Career Plans beginning 24-25 school year. CDP plans are created through MajorClarity and worked on in school throughout the year.
• Please contact Ms. Elizabeth Bartell in the Counseling Office or via email elizabeth.bartell@ucps.k12.nc.us or phone 704-296-3088 ext. 7162 should you have questions regarding internships or need MajorClarity assistance

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Senior Photo

CADY is our official school photographer and every senior must have a picture taken by them to be in the yearbook. There will be a yearbook only photo shoot before the last day to be photographed to accommodate families who use their own photographer. You can find more information about the senior photo process and preparation for the senior shoot on their website - https://home.cady.com/for-seniors/.

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Senior Photo

How to book your pictures:

1. Go to cady.com/schedule to book your senior shoot through CADY (the booking window opens on May 1st)
2. Click on Schedule Now and then start typing in Central Academy to choose our school.
3. You will have to select two scenes. Scroll down and hit continue. Outdoor scenes are part of an elite package.
4. If you only want a basic session, then scroll to the bottom of the page and select Simple Session for $29.00.
5. Confirm your choice, scroll down and click on Continue.
6. You can add extras if you wish, but if you're not interested, just move past this page.
7. Your location will be the Cady Studios on Crownpoint Executive Drive or you can sign up for the school road shoot which is scheduled for Wednesday, September 17^th.
8. For families that will be using their own photographer for senior pictures, there will be a yearbook only shoot later in the fall. Information will be communicated about signing up for that at a later date.
9. The last day to be photographed to be included in the yearbook is November 3rd.
10. You will receive a portfolio of pictures in the mail and you can choose to buy some or just return the whole portfolio using the postage-paid label included in your mailing.
11. For the yearbook picture, we will accept one of the formal photos from CADY that's either in a tux, drape, or casual outfit that's black or black and white with the formal background.

If you have questions, please contact Cady at (704) 859-0737 or email Ms. Christensen at deb.christensen@ucps.k12.nc.us.

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THANK YOU for attending the CATA Virtual Junior Night!