College Prep Resources

Senior year is exciting. It is also when everything after graduation gets real - whether that is college, a career, the military, or something else entirely. Every path counts.

This page is here to help you stay on track. Not to overwhelm you. Just the key dates, the important steps, and a few resources that actually help.

After Graduation - All Paths

Not every senior is headed to a four-year university, and that is completely fine. AFHS supports students exploring all options:

• Enrollment - College Fair, FAFSA, Financial Aid Advisor, Essay Writing Support
• Employment - Annual Job Fairs, Mock Interviews
• Enlistment - Military recruiters, ASVAB testing, Military Academies

Summer Tasks - Start Now

The school recommends these tasks over the summer:

• Narrow down your list of colleges
• Know the admissions requirements for each school
• Understand the college application process
• Start preparing application materials:
• Create your list of activities / "Brag Sheet"
• Draft your personal statement
• Consider who you want to ask for letters of recommendation

NC College Application Dates - 2026-2027

These are the dates that matter most for AFHS families. Most of your student's list probably includes NC schools - here are the deadlines you need to know.

Planning dates only. Application and financial-aid dates can change. Confirm every deadline directly with the college or program before submitting.

Key Application Dates

UNC System Schools

Most AFHS families apply to at least one UNC system school. Here are the key ones.

Current published deadlines. Verify again when applications open.

NC Private Schools

Current published deadlines. Verify again when applications open.

SAT & ACT - Fall Retake Dates

If your student wants to retake the SAT or ACT, these are the fall options. Register early - local test centers fill up.

SAT 2026-2027:

NC-Specific Financial Aid

North Carolina Programs Families Should Know About

North Carolina has several programs that can make applying to college easier and significantly less expensive. You do not need to memorize every detail now, but these are worth recognizing before application and financial aid season begins.

NC College Application Week

Many participating colleges waive their application fees for North Carolina seniors during this week. Start through the CFNC Application Hub to make sure the waiver is applied. A waiver is not always guaranteed if the student applies through Common App or directly on a college's website. The official list of participating colleges is expected October 1.

What parents should know: Do not wait until that week to start essays or gather information. Students can prepare ahead of time and submit participating applications during the free week. Schools that do not participate may still accept SAT, ACT, NACAC, or other application fee waivers through the school counselor.

NC College Connect

NC College Connect gives eligible NC public high school seniors a personalized list of colleges where they qualify for direct admission, based largely on GPA and completion of graduation and course requirements. Students do not have to submit a traditional full application to claim one of these offers, although a school may require a short form or program-specific information. The portal is expected to open in mid-September 2026.

Participating institutions include many UNC System universities, all 58 North Carolina community colleges, and many private NC colleges. A College Connect list does not limit where a student may apply. Students may still apply traditionally to any other college.

What parents should know: Watch for an admission letter and check your student's CFNC account in September. Claiming admission does not replace separate deadlines for scholarships, honors programs, housing, financial aid, or competitive majors.

NC Promise

NC Promise reduces tuition so that North Carolina resident undergraduates pay only $500 per semester at:

• Elizabeth City State University
• Fayetteville State University
• UNC Pembroke
• Western Carolina University

What parents should know: Do not confuse tuition with the full cost of attendance. Compare each school's complete financial aid offer, housing costs, fees, and available majors.

Next NC Scholarship

The Next NC Scholarship helps eligible North Carolina residents from households earning $80,000 or less attend a North Carolina public college or university. It can cover tuition and fees at a community college, and a substantial portion, sometimes all, of tuition and fees at a public university. Students are considered by completing the FAFSA. There is no separate application.

What parents should know: Do not assume you earn too much for assistance. Complete the FAFSA as early as possible and list the North Carolina colleges your student is considering.

NC Need-Based Scholarship for Private College Students

North Carolina residents attending an eligible private nonprofit college in the state may qualify for this need-based scholarship. Eligibility is based on FAFSA information, and consideration is generally automatic when the student files the FAFSA and lists an eligible private NC college. Funding is limited, so meet the college's priority financial aid deadline.

What parents should know: A private college may cost much less than its advertised price once institutional aid and this state scholarship are included. Compare actual financial aid offers rather than sticker prices alone.

NC Residency Determination Service (RDS)

Students must complete RDS to be considered for:

• In-state tuition at North Carolina public colleges
• North Carolina grants and scholarships
• Certain forms of state financial aid

What parents should know: Living in North Carolina and attending an NC high school do not automatically complete this process. Complete RDS early, ideally before submitting North Carolina college applications.

CFNC Applications and Free Transcript Delivery

CFNC is North Carolina's free college planning and application platform. Students can use it to complete RDS, explore colleges, submit applications to many NC institutions, search for scholarships, and send an official North Carolina high school transcript to many NC colleges at no charge.

What parents should know: Create or check the CFNC account before October, and make sure the name and identifying information match school records exactly.

North Carolina Community College Transfer Pathways

North Carolina community colleges offer structured transfer pathways into UNC System universities and participating private colleges. Students who complete an eligible associate degree and meet program requirements may transfer with substantial general education credit already completed.

What parents should know: Community college can be an intentional, affordable route to a bachelor's degree, not merely a fallback. Work with an adviser from the beginning and follow an approved transfer pathway, because not every course transfers the same way.

Forgivable Education Loans for Service (FELS)

FELS provides funding for eligible North Carolina students preparing for certain high-need professions. Awards run up to $7,000 a year for a certificate, associate, or bachelor's degree. The award is technically a loan, but it can be forgiven when the graduate works in an approved shortage profession in North Carolina, generally one year of forgiveness for each year of funding. If the service requirement is not completed, the funding must be repaid with 7% interest. Eligible programs and occupations change, and awards are limited.

What parents should know: This may be worth exploring for students considering designated health care, education, or other shortage fields, but understand the employment commitment before accepting it.

The Three Steps Every NC Senior Should Complete

1. Complete RDS to establish eligibility for in-state tuition and state aid.
2. Complete the FAFSA to be considered for federal, state, and college financial aid.
3. Use CFNC in October to review NC College Connect offers and participating fee-waiver applications.

What NC Families Need to Know - The Steps That Are Easy to Miss

These are NC-specific steps that families often do not learn about until it is almost too late.

1. Complete NC Residency Determination (RDS)

Living in NC and attending an NC high school do not complete this for you. It determines in-state tuition and state aid eligibility, and gives your student an RCN that colleges may ask for. Complete it early at ncresidency.org. Full details are in the NC programs section above.

2. Set Up a CFNC Account

Create it before October. For residency, remember that colleges need the RCN from RDS, not just a CFNC account. Full details are in the NC programs section above.

3. Know How AFHS Handles Transcripts

This is AFHS-specific and important:

• Senior transcripts are usually available after fall senior rank is complete - around the third week of September
• AFHS asks students not to send transcripts before that because the transcript will not include the most current class rank and senior schedule
• How your student sends transcripts depends on how they apply:

• Final transcripts are separate. All students must send their final transcript after graduation.
• In-state college (2-year or 4-year): request through CFNC - even if you originally applied through Common App
• Out-of-state college: request through ScribOrder

4. High Schools Do Not Send SAT/ACT Scores

If a college requires official SAT or ACT scores, your student sends them directly through their College Board (SAT) or ACT account. AFHS does not send those scores.

5. FAFSA Matters More Than You Think

For rising seniors entering college Fall 2027, the 2027-28 FAFSA is expected to open October 1, 2026. Filing early is smart because it can affect:

• Federal aid
• NC state aid (including the Next NC Scholarship)
• Institutional aid at individual colleges

6. UNC Chapel Hill Requires Both FAFSA and CSS Profile

If your student is applying to UNC Chapel Hill and wants to be considered for need-based institutional aid, plan for both the FAFSA and CSS Profile. NC State and most other UNC System schools generally use FAFSA only.

7. Check Competitive Scholarship Deadlines Separately

Competitive scholarships like NC State's Park Scholarships have their own process and deadline. Check scholarship pages early - not after submitting applications.

Senior Year Timeline

Summer (Now)

• Complete NC Residency Determination (RDS) and get your RCN
• Register on CFNC.org if you have not already
• Finalize your college list - reach, target, safety
• Start Common App account (opens Aug 1)
• Begin brainstorming essay topics
• Visit campuses if you can
• Request letters of recommendation (give teachers plenty of lead time)
• Create your activities list / "Brag Sheet"
• Draft your personal statement
• Check competitive scholarship deadlines (Park Scholars, Morehead-Cain, etc.)

September - October

• Mid-September: AFHS transcripts become available - do not request before fall rank is complete
• Finalize college essay drafts
• Complete Common App activities section
• Oct 1: FAFSA and CSS Profile open - file early
• Oct 15: UNC Chapel Hill EA deadline
• Take the SAT or ACT if retaking
• Request transcripts (method depends on how you apply - see above)
• Send SAT/ACT scores directly through College Board or ACT - AFHS does not send them

November

• Nov 1: NC State EA, UNC Charlotte EA, App State EA, Elon EA, Duke ED, Wake Forest ED - big deadline month
• Continue working on Regular Decision essays
• Submit FAFSA if you have not already

December

• Early Decision / Early Action results arrive
• Continue submitting Regular Decision applications
• SAT and ACT retake opportunities

January - February

• Jan 1-2: Wake Forest RD, Duke RD
• Jan 15: UNC Chapel Hill RD, NC State RD, Davidson RD
• Feb 1: UNC Wilmington RD, Elon RD
• Check financial aid portals for missing documents
• Start scholarship applications

March - April

• Regular Decision results arrive
• Compare financial aid packages - do not just look at sticker price
• Visit admitted student events
• Apr 16: Prom (tentative)
• Make your decision

May 1

• National College Decision Day - commit to your school
• Submit enrollment deposit
• Notify schools you are not attending

May - June

• Send final transcript
• Complete orientation registration
• Apply for housing
• Celebrate at Senior Sunset

Key Resources

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

• Opens: October 1 each year
• Who should consider it: Most families should consider completing the FAFSA, even if they do not expect to qualify for federal need-based aid, because some colleges and scholarship programs use it when awarding other aid. Check each school's requirements.
• Where: studentaid.gov
• Tip: File as early as possible. Some aid is first-come, first-served.

Common App

• What: The application platform used by 1,000+ colleges
• Where: commonapp.org
• Tip: Create your account early. Fill in the activities section before school gets busy.

Letters of Recommendation

• Ask teachers who know you well, not just teachers who gave you an A
• Ask early - before school starts if possible
• Give each teacher a resume or list of activities so they have context
• Follow up politely if needed. Teachers are busy.

Scholarships

• Most scholarship deadlines fall between October and March
• Check with your school counselor for local scholarships
• National databases: Fastweb, Scholarships.com, Going Merry
• AFHS maintains a scholarship list - (2026-2027 list TBD, check with Student Services)
• (Patriot Scholarship details for Class of 2027 TBD - check back here)

What If Your Student Feels Behind?

It is normal. Most families feel like they started too late, missed something, or do not know the right steps. You are not behind. You are in the middle of it, and that is where everyone is.

Start with one thing today:

• Make a college list (even a rough one)
• Check one deadline
• Ask your student what they are most worried about

Questions about college prep? Email [email protected] or reach out to your school counselor. | collegehound.com/community/afhs/seniors