Student-Selected advisors are vital to ensuring that students complete the Senior Program successfully, and this volunteer role provides tremendous support that is key to the success of our students. Advisors receive individualized assistance as they guide students through the college admission and financial aid processes.
Student-Selected Advisor Support
● A team of Crosby Scholars staff members available to guide you:
○ Cindy Zimmerman, Student-Selected Advisor Coordinator czimmerman@crosbyscholars.org
○ Liris Clemente-Marin, Advising & Junior + Senior Program Associate lmarin@crosbyscholars.org
○ Mary Allen Conforti, Assistant Director of Advising & Junior + Senior Program maconforti@crosbyscholars.org
○ Ashly Wilson, Assistant Director of Financial Aid + Advising awilson@crosbyscholars.org
○ Jess Hancock, Junior + Senior Program Coordinator jhancock@crosbyscholars.org
○ Molly Thomas, Financial Aid Specialist II mthomas@crosbyscholars.org
○ Barbara Masi, Director of Advising bmasi@crosbyscholars.org
● Welcome Packet sent via USPS
● Class of 2027 Newsletter: monthly program newsletters emailed to advisors beginning in January
● Smart Money Moves: monthly financial aid newsletter emailed mid-month to advisors beginning this summer
● Bi-Monthly Training Sessions with Cindy Zimmerman to review conference notes, admission and financial aid topics, and senior timeline
● Bi-Monthly Outlines of meeting content with linked resources
● Interactive Team Calendar
● Student-Selected Advisor Coordinator who reads and answers questions to the conference notes you submit and serves as a resource for advisors
● Weekly emails highlighting Program services and resources
● Monthly timelines featuring important program and admission deadlines sent via email
● Senior Academies in-person or via virtual platforms that advisors are welcome to attend with or without their advisees
● Financial Aid Appointments with Parents: the opportunity for parents to meet individually with Ashly Wilson and their scholar to complete and submit financial aid forms such as Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and CSS Profile and then to interpret student financial aid awards
● Scholarship appointments with parents: the opportunity for parents to meet individually with Ashly Wilson and their scholar to identify funding opportunities including Crosby Scholars scholarships
● Finish the FAFSA Initiative with Parents: parents are given the opportunity to consent to releasing their student’s FAFSA completion and submission status to the Program so Ashly Wilson can support families selected for verification or to address any issues with successful submission.
Responsibilities
● Submit all six conference notes forms on-time for May grads + four notes for Dec grads
● Guide student to complete all Program requirements on-time (these are outlined on the back cover of the roadmap that will be mailed separately)
● Using the academy pathways document, assist the scholar in identifying the academies that best fit their needs
● Meet with my student individually at least monthly, or more often if necessary to complete and submit online conference notes by the published deadline
● Assist the student with meeting deadlines and communicating with colleges
● Collaborate with Crosby Scholars staff in seeking to answer students’ questions with upto-date, accurate information
● Help student navigate the college admission and financial aid processes
● Connect the student and family with the Crosby Scholars Assistant Director of Financial Aid and Advising, as needed
● Assist the student with identifying and completing community service opportunities and scheduling college visits
● Help the Program to maintain a 100% high school graduation rate
● Encourage the student to participate in the many FREE services offered by the Senior Program; we have highlighted a few below.
○ College Application labs: the opportunity to complete college applications under the guidance of Crosby Scholars Senior Program staff members
○ Essay Coaching + Writing: admission/scholarship essays reviewed by trained volunteers
○ Mock Interviews: virtual sessions with trained volunteers
○ Residency Determination Service (RDS), FAFSA ID, and FAFSA labs: the opportunity to complete the RDS online interview and the FSA ID and FAFSA under the guidance of the Financial Aid Team
○ FAFSA Academies: the opportunity to learn about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the importance of meeting priority filing deadlines
○ Individual FAFSA Appointments: submit a FAFSA under the guidance of the Crosby Scholars Assistant Director of Financial Aid and Advising
○ How to Apply for a Crosby Scholarship: learn the steps to complete the 30+ Crosby Scholarships from the Crosby Scholars Financial Aid Team and Crosby Scholars Scholarship Handbook
○ Smart Borrowing Loan Workshop: the opportunity to learn about student loans and the importance of borrowing only what you need