DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT SERVICES

Log in to your Canvas and accept the “Senior Information” course.

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Please use your Chromebook to complete the Senior Survey

http://bit.ly/3JXAOtH

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Use your CFNC username and password to log in to CFNC.org

**Please make sure your CFNC account has the correct graduation year (2026) and that your account is connected to LHS

Finding the right fit for you:

Enroll in a College

Enlist in the Military

Employment

College Updates: UNC System Requirements

College Updates: College Fairs

College Updates: NC Countdown to College 2025

https://www.cfnc.org/apply-to-college/nc-countdown-to-college/for-students/

College Application Process

Step 1: Visit College campuses and begin thinking about which colleges you would like to apply to!

• Visit before applying! There is a fee to apply.
• The best time to visit is when school is in session. Juniors and seniors are allowed two days per year for college visits. These days are waivable days and do NOT count toward exam exemptions.
• Know yourself:
• Why are we going to school?
• Major
• Location
• Size
• Job/graduate school placement
• Get a feel for student life and see if this college is a place you will succeed.

College Application Process

STEP 2: RESIDENCY DETERMINATION SERVICES (RDS)

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RDS determines if a student will pay In-State Tuition at NC public colleges and universities. You may access the online RDS application at cfnc.org. If you do not have an account make one. If you are unsure please ask someone in Student Services. Do NOT make another account.

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Additional Resources: https://www.cfnc.org/apply-to-college/residency-determination/

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College Application Process

STEP 3: NARROW YOUR COLLEGE CHOICES AND BEGIN APPLYING

College applications are available at:

• CFNC.org
• N.C. College Connect: NC College Connect is a program that offers North Carolina public high school students with a weighted GPA of 2.8 and above who meet NC College Connect requirements direct admission to select colleges and universities participating in the NC College Connect program. Eligible students will see a tailored list of colleges and universities in their portal, and this list will reflect the specific institutions for which they meet the GPA requirements and any other specific admission criteria. Note, while the minimum weighted GPA for eligibility is 2.8, some participating institutions require a higher GPA for direct admission. This means that meeting the 2.8 GPA minimum does not guarantee direct admission to all NC College Connect institutions. https://www.cfnc.org/nc-college-connect/
• commonapp.org
• Choose NC Program: Allows students who are not admitted to UNC Chapel Hill and NC State to automatically apply to other University of North Carolina System schools through the Common Application. Participating schools include Elizabeth City State University, UNC Asheville, UNC Greensboro, UNC Pembroke, Winston Salem State University, and Western Carolina.
• Send Transcripts (see page 9 for more information)
• Send transcripts through CFNC.org for North Carolina Colleges/Universities or Student Services
• If applying using Common App counselors will submit transcripts with the student’s school report

· Send ACT/SAT scores if applicable (see page 9 for more information)

• Teacher Recommendations (see page 11 for more information)
• Some schools require the submission of a letter of recommendation from teachers or counselors. Please complete your “BRAG SHEET” and turn it in to Student Services for teachers to complete.

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Tips on completing your college application: Be cautious of how you represent yourself on social media and even in your email address. Your email address should be professional and formal. Complete your own applications-colleges will know if your parents completed your application

Additional Resources: https://www.cfnc.org/apply-to-college/college-application-resources/

College Application Process

APPLICATION OPTIONS

Early Decision - A plan under which you may submit your credentials early to one college usually around October 15 of your senior year. You are notified of your status by December 1. As part of an early decision plan, you are required to sign a statement agreeing to accept the college’s offer of admission. You must also withdraw your application from other colleges if accepted under Early Decision .

Early Action - An admission procedure to notify students of early admissions to the college. Students do NOT need to accept the college’s offer of admissions. They may apply to other colleges/universities.

*****Points to remember are that early action and early decision candidates can be rejected. Financial awards are made in April, and candidates must have superior records because the process is highly selective.

Regular Admission - Candidates submit their application during November to February depending on the individual and college. Check the deadline for each individual school.

Rolling Admission - Candidates submit their application at their convenience up to a certain date. They typically receive an offer of acceptance or rejection within 4-6 weeks (used by Community Colleges).

DECISIONS

Offer of Conditional Admittance - An acceptance to a college provided you maintain your academic performance throughout the year. A college can withdraw its offer if your grades fall significantly, if your course rigor changes after admission, or if you are involved in activity that results in disciplinary action by the school or law enforcement.

Denial - A final decision by the college to not offer admission. Students who are denied can apply again after completing at least one semester of college coursework elsewhere.

Deferment - A delay of admissions decision until a later time. Many competitive schools will defer fall applications to the spring in order to receive additional grades and other information.

Waitlisted - Occurs after the regular admissions process is complete. There is no guarantee a college will go to the waitlist or where an applicant will rank on the waitlist. Students on a waitlist for one college should plan to attend another college and then reconsider if later offered admission.

College Application Process

STEP 4: CREATE FSA ID

In order to complete FAFSA, you and your parent will need to create an FSA ID at https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch. The FSA ID (username and password) allows individuals to access Federal Student Aid websites and complete the FAFSA form online. Students and contributors (parents or spouses) are required to have an FSA ID to complete and sign the online FAFSA form.

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College Application Process

STEP 5: FAFSA FORM

Complete the FAFSA form online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. FAFSA will be available for students on October 1, 2025. All students applying for federal financial aid must file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form. The FAFSA is the only application students must complete to be considered for all federal financial aid (pell grants, supplemental education opportunities, stafford loans, perkins loans, work study, grants, other federal financial aid programs).

• To complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, you will need:
• An FSA ID
• Your Social Security number
• Your federal income tax returns (2024), W-2’s, and other records of money earned. (Note: You may be able to transfer your federal tex return information into your FAFSA using the Direct Data Exchange).
• Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
• Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
• Student Aid Index: SAI is an eligibility index number that your college’s or career school’s financial aid office uses to determine how much federal student aid you would receive if you attend the school. This number results from the information that you (and other contributors, if required) provide on your FAFSA. It ranges from –1500 to 999999. A negative SAI indicates the student has a higher financial need. Your SAI is not a dollar amount of aid you’ll receive,what your family is expected to provide, or your final financial aid offer.
• Determining Financial Aid Eligibility:
• Parent Contribution (FAFSA) + Student Contribution (FAFSA) = Student Aid Index (SAI)
• Cost of Attendance (COA) - Student Aid Index (SAI) = Financial Need

· CFNC FAFSA:https://www.cfnc.org/pay-for-college/

https://www.cfnc.org/pay-for-college/fafsa-101/

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Parts of a Financial Aid Package

• Grants
• Work Study
• Loans
• Scholarships: LHS Scholarship Newsletter

NCAA Guidelines for Participating

in Division 1 and 2 Athletics

• Apply after speaking with Mrs. Cecil
• There is a fee to apply $70.00
• This does not assist in the recruiting process. This only assists with eligibility.
• NCAA Clearinghouse address: https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/
• NCAA Clearing house Initial Eligibility Standards: http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/eligibility_center/Student_Resources/IE_Brochure.pdf

Seniors:

What is your next step?

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Enroll * Enlist * Employ

Community College Information

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Admissions:

• Open Door Policy- If you have a high school diploma, you can be admitted to a community college. You need at least a 2.8 GPA in order to avoid remedial or transitional courses. Please note that some programs require separate admissions. Examples, are Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Surgical Technology, Basic Law Enforcement and Zoo and Aquarium Science.
• Community Colleges offer a range of educational opportunities to students. A student can pursue a technical degree or certification in as little as a year or less! Students can also earn a 2 year associate's degree. These classes may transfer to a 4 year college or university if you make a C or better in courses.

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Transfer Information and Cost

There are 58 community colleges in NC. There are 7 in our area (Davidson County and surrounding counties). These are DDCC (Davidson), FTCC (Forsyth), GTCC (Guildford), RCC (Randolph), RCCC (Rowan), SCC (Stanley), and MCC (Montgomery).

Tuition at a community college is considerably cheaper than colleges and universities. For example, if 1 year at DDCC is around $2,500 and Tuition at ASU is going to be around $7,500. That is a savings of around $10,000 just by going to the community college for the first 2 years. AND the best part...If you attend community college for 2 years, then transfer, your diploma will have the same school name on it as someone who went to that university all 4 years!

NC Promise: Reduced tuition cost to $500. (Western Carolina, Fayetteville State, Elizabeth City State, Pembroke) NC Promise Link

Please visit the NC Community College transfer website for information about transferring from a community college to a college or university. https://www.northcarolina.edu/students/transfer/ncccs/

Apprenticeships and Trade Schools

Apprenticeship- on the job training in a technical area. This is a way to starting working after high school, get paid for on-the-job training while taking classes that further your knowledge of that particular job skill.

You can visit Apprenticeship NC for additional information.

The Davidson and Davie Apprenticeship Consortium (DDAC) is a program in Davidson County where you can earn money, a degree and a career in a high-tech manufacturing facility with little to no debt when you finish!

Advanced Manufacturing Day: October 7, 2025

Depending on your interest and skill set, a trade school might be an option for you as well. This an institution designed to train students for a specific job in a skilled trade career. Most importantly, a trade school offers hands on training to prepare students for actual work in their chosen field.

Career and Technical Education (CTE)

& Additional Information

• CTE Career Academies: To make sure you have completed the requirements to receive a CTE Career Academy Cord, obtain this information outside Student Services (red folders hanging on wall).
• Articulated Credit: If you have taken a CTE course that articulates to college credit, made a B or higher in the course and an A or higher on the final exam, you have 2 years from the time you graduate to obtain community college credit. To access DDCC’s articulated credit application, click HERE. You can turn this application in to DDCC or Mrs. Scott.
• Career Development Plan: Use the NC Careers website or resources in the Virtual Career Center to find additional resources or reach out to me- lscott@davidson.k12.nc.us

Don’t forget-continue to check the personal email address you put on your senior survey after you graduate as I will be sending out a graduate survey.

Military

Military options:

• Army
• Navy
• Marine Corp
• Air Force
• Coast Guard

Military is a great way to serve your country while earning a degree (debt-free) or training in a particular career field. Visit Today's Military, Military.com or US Dept. of Defense for additional information. You can also reach out to Mrs. Scott or a counselor who can get you in contact with the correct recruiter for the military branch you are interested in.