School Opening + Information
Welcome Back!
C/O 2026: School Opening & CN3 Information
ou had a restful, but wonderful summer. for choosing to be here! on will begin at noon and will be recorded.
esenters: Allen Conforti, Assistant Director of Advising & Junior + Program Wilson, Assistant Director of Financial Aid + Advising Zimmerman, Student-Selected Advisor Coordinator play your full name and plan to stay for the session. having connectivity issues please contact us at (336) or suggestions can be entered into the chat box or at the end of the session.
Crosby Scholars Staff for Assistance
czimmerman@crosbyscholars.org
maconforti@crosbyscholars.org
Communication from Advising + Junior/Senior Program
Emails for Scholar and Advisor
Advising Calendar Meeting Outlines
Smart Money Moves Newsletter
Tuesday Emails/Videos from Junior/Senio
Program
Tuesday Emails from Me
Text Messages
Junior Year-End Academic Profile
Transcript
Rank
GPA
Courses/Levels
SAT/ACT Scores
Senior Course Selections
Senior Program Requirements
Be sure to:
Review and check scholar's understanding of requirements
CrosbyConnect Dashboards
College Fair/Visit due Dec. 1
Senior Academy due Dec. 1
Community service due Jan. 31
Target List of Colleges Review
Why is this college on my target list? Am I satisfied with my list?
Am I really interested in going to this school if accepted? Does college descriptors match my “fit” college?
Balance is key: likely, target, reach Go visit colleges and do more reseach online
College Fair/Visits
Sophomore, Junior & Senior Year visits
In-person or virtual
WS/FCS College Fair- October 2nd
Upcoming academy option:
Sept. 25 “Crosby on Campus” panel
Complete CF/V form for credit; now found in CrosbyConnect on Student’s Dashboard
College Decision Plans and Timelines
Early Decision I & II (ED)
Restrictive Early Action (REA)
Early Action (EA)
Rolling Admission
Decisions are made soon after applications are received and released on a "rolling basis" and not all at once Applications are accepted until all spots are filled Can apply to as many schools as you like, even if applied ED, EA, or REA to other schools
Regular Decision
Applications are evaluated usually between January 1 and February 1
Generally, the final decision for admissions are released is April 1 Non-binding, compared to a larger pool of applicants
College Application Types
Common Application
Coalition with Scoir Application
Common Black College Application
CFNC
College Application Week: Oct. 20-26
NC College Connect (direct admissions)
College website - institutional applications
Crosby Scholar's Guide to College Application Types
Standardized Testing policy update
For students with a weighted 2.8 GPA and below, test scores will be required for UNC system schools.
Additional On-Demand Academies
E s s a y C o a c h i n g & E s s a y R e v i e w
Residency Determination Service (RDS) Interview
RDS can be completed during the summer
Students should use their College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) Account credentials to begin the RDS application. (Students typically create CFNC logins during middle or high school. Only create a new CFNC account if student does not have one.)
At completion of the RDS Interview, students will be provided their in-state or out-of-state determinations and will also be provided with their unique Residency Classification Number (RCN) that is required for any North Carolina admissions applications.
Private Institutions still need to complete RDS to establish eligibility for some state grant aid.
Undocumented students still need to complete RDS, even though they will receive out-of-state determination.
Students will need Parental information, so plan to complete RDS together. Don’t guess information!
Students and parents can watch the recording of our July 8 webinar Introduction to RDS.
Questions? Encourage students to schedule an appointment with Ashly Wilson via her Calendly link
Begin Scholarship Searches Now
Use known websites or apps, such as:
College or Universities Financial Aid / Scholarships webpage Scholarships360.org (Available now)
CFNC's Scholarship Search Engine (Available now) CFNC.org
Winston-Salem Foundation (Opens January 2026)
WSFoundation.org
QuestBridge CollegeMatch (opens Late Summer 2025)
Questbridge.org
Crosby Scholarships (Fall 2025) and Last Dollar Grant (Spring 2026)
Financial Aid Newsletter: Smart Money Moves
Smart Money Moves is the Financial Aid Team’s monthly newsletter, linked in the Advising Calendar
Monthly topics to focus on (RDS, FAFSA, CSS Profile, etc.)
Upcoming Financial Aid Team
Programming
Crosby Scholarship Opportunities and Reminders
Financial Aid Newsletter: Smart Money Moves
LIVE Webinar August 20: College
Funding 101 at 6PM via Zoom
Register to attend using link in Smart Money Moves (which is linked on your Advisor Calendar)
Recording will be available shortly afterward
Conference Note 3- Big Decisions Ahead!
Focus is fall planning , fulfilling Senior Program Requirements, navigating CrosbyConnect, finalizing balanced target list, awareness of college application types and decision plans.
August/September Meeting Outline
Complete by September 30, 2025
Conference Note 3 via CrosbyConnect
New Feature on Student Dashboard!
Task list has conference notes task added
Reminder to complete CN with you in a timely manner
CN completion factored in scholar's overall Program Progress percentage and number of tasks completed
Submission of Conference Notes
Task is done by advisor
CN form in advisor's portal
Same procedure as last year
Cindy Zimmerman
czimmerman@crosbyscholars.org
Lirisbeth Clemente-Marin Advising & Junior + Senior Program Associate lmarin@crosbyscholars.org
Mary Allen Conforti Assistant Director of Advising & Junior + Senior Program maconforti@crosbyscholars.org