Seniors interested in attending a Community College after leaving West Stokes should take some time in planning for their future
academic career. Below please find an overview of considerations that should be addressed. The designated dates for any events described below will be announced on either the Guidance Department page OR the Senior Class Homepage.
MAKING APPLICATION: In order to attend a community college in North Carolina, students will be required to submit applications for admission. The application process can vary dramatically from school to school and so it is in your child’s best interest to learn early on the specific procedure for each intended school. Further, the application deadlines will also vary, and so learning these dates will ensure that students submit applications in time for consideration
OPEN ENROLLMENT: Anyone with a high school diploma can apply to a community college and will be accepted, but students must apply. There is no application fee for community colleges. Prospective students however are advised to apply well in advance of deadlines so as to avoid limited course selections. The SAT is not required for community college, however, if it is taken, students may use these scores for placement in classes in place of taking the ASSET. Applications to most, if not all, community colleges in North Carolina can be completed easily and sent from the CFNC.org website. Transcripts can be submitted electronically from this site, and final transcripts can be pulled by the colleges after applicants have graduated. Application fees can be paid on-line via credit card or mailed in after the application is sent electronically. Colleges will require an official transcript with the application; students may request this from the Guidance Office or have it sent electronically through cfnc.org
ASSET / COMMUNITY COLLEGE PLACEMENT TEST: Students intending to go to a community college in North Carolina must take the ASSET or other placement test. This test will be administered twice at West Stokes. Students graduating early are scheduled to take the test before Christmas. Students graduating in the spring will take the test in March or April. Please contact Guidance for further information.
SCHOLARSHIPS: Money for school can be obtained from a variety of sources. West Stokes offers several scholarships, as do the State of North Carolina, individual colleges, and private foundations. The qualification criteria vary dramatically, and may not be based solely on academic success or financial need. Speak to a Guidance Counselor about scholarships and application strategies early in the year. See a partial list of scholarships on the Guidance Department Page of the WSHS website.
FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a program that may benefit your child when it comes to financing college. All students are encouraged to fill out this application in January or early February. Grants and loans for college can be obtained by students depending on the financial situation of the family. The FAFSA will require information from parents’ IRS Income Tax Return. Some family situations may allow students to obtain a college education solely through grants, while others may qualify for a combination of grants and loans. Please do not overlook this important resource. Students and parents can go to the FAFSA website early to obtain a PIN number so that they will be able to fill out the form online when the time comes in January. Direct difficult FAFSA questions to Ms Bowen. For more information, go to fafsa.ed.gov .
FAFSA DAY: This event is usually held on the 2nd Saturday in February, and financial aid professionals are on hand to help fill out the FAFSA. The Guidance Department will advertise this opportunity when the exact date has been established.
FEE WAIVERS: Students who are on free or reduced lunch may obtain a fee waiver from the Guidance Office to register to take the SAT for free (two times), ACT for free (twice), and any Advanced Placement Exams for free. Once a student has registered for the SAT using a fee waiver, that student may then obtain a fee waiver for most college application fees. This must be done before the student applies to a college. College application fees are non-refundable.
REFERENCE LETTERS: In many cases, students will need Teacher Reference Letters to support college and/or scholarship applications. Students are advised strongly to plan for this eventuality by knowing due dates for letters. Further, students should provide to willing teachers at least 1 week’s advance notice to prepare reference letters. Be sure to ask politely for your reference letters, and be willing to provide transcripts, Senior Activity Sheet, and any other supporting documents teachers may need to craft a strong letter.
academic career. Below please find an overview of considerations that should be addressed. The designated dates for any events described below will be announced on either the Guidance Department page OR the Senior Class Homepage.
MAKING APPLICATION: In order to attend a community college in North Carolina, students will be required to submit applications for admission. The application process can vary dramatically from school to school and so it is in your child’s best interest to learn early on the specific procedure for each intended school. Further, the application deadlines will also vary, and so learning these dates will ensure that students submit applications in time for consideration
OPEN ENROLLMENT: Anyone with a high school diploma can apply to a community college and will be accepted, but students must apply. There is no application fee for community colleges. Prospective students however are advised to apply well in advance of deadlines so as to avoid limited course selections. The SAT is not required for community college, however, if it is taken, students may use these scores for placement in classes in place of taking the ASSET. Applications to most, if not all, community colleges in North Carolina can be completed easily and sent from the CFNC.org website. Transcripts can be submitted electronically from this site, and final transcripts can be pulled by the colleges after applicants have graduated. Application fees can be paid on-line via credit card or mailed in after the application is sent electronically. Colleges will require an official transcript with the application; students may request this from the Guidance Office or have it sent electronically through cfnc.org
ASSET / COMMUNITY COLLEGE PLACEMENT TEST: Students intending to go to a community college in North Carolina must take the ASSET or other placement test. This test will be administered twice at West Stokes. Students graduating early are scheduled to take the test before Christmas. Students graduating in the spring will take the test in March or April. Please contact Guidance for further information.
SCHOLARSHIPS: Money for school can be obtained from a variety of sources. West Stokes offers several scholarships, as do the State of North Carolina, individual colleges, and private foundations. The qualification criteria vary dramatically, and may not be based solely on academic success or financial need. Speak to a Guidance Counselor about scholarships and application strategies early in the year. See a partial list of scholarships on the Guidance Department Page of the WSHS website.
FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a program that may benefit your child when it comes to financing college. All students are encouraged to fill out this application in January or early February. Grants and loans for college can be obtained by students depending on the financial situation of the family. The FAFSA will require information from parents’ IRS Income Tax Return. Some family situations may allow students to obtain a college education solely through grants, while others may qualify for a combination of grants and loans. Please do not overlook this important resource. Students and parents can go to the FAFSA website early to obtain a PIN number so that they will be able to fill out the form online when the time comes in January. Direct difficult FAFSA questions to Ms Bowen. For more information, go to fafsa.ed.gov .
FAFSA DAY: This event is usually held on the 2nd Saturday in February, and financial aid professionals are on hand to help fill out the FAFSA. The Guidance Department will advertise this opportunity when the exact date has been established.
FEE WAIVERS: Students who are on free or reduced lunch may obtain a fee waiver from the Guidance Office to register to take the SAT for free (two times), ACT for free (twice), and any Advanced Placement Exams for free. Once a student has registered for the SAT using a fee waiver, that student may then obtain a fee waiver for most college application fees. This must be done before the student applies to a college. College application fees are non-refundable.
REFERENCE LETTERS: In many cases, students will need Teacher Reference Letters to support college and/or scholarship applications. Students are advised strongly to plan for this eventuality by knowing due dates for letters. Further, students should provide to willing teachers at least 1 week’s advance notice to prepare reference letters. Be sure to ask politely for your reference letters, and be willing to provide transcripts, Senior Activity Sheet, and any other supporting documents teachers may need to craft a strong letter.