You are receiving this email as a Crosby Scholar or as a parent whose student is enrolled in the Crosby Scholars Program.

In This Issue:

• Scholarships
• FAFSA Completion
• UNC System FAFSA Priority Filing Dates
• Upcoming Learning Opportunities & Events
• RDS & CSS
• Finish the FAFSA Parent Agreement
• One-on-One Financial Aid Advising

CROSBY SCHOLARS SCHOLARSHIP SEASON

Move over, Spooky Season! It's Crosby Scholars Scholarship Season...

Crosby Scholars has OVER 30 SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES that are only available for Crosby Scholars Seniors!

Check out our Scholarship Handbook for the full list of scholarship opportunities, application instructions, information about the review process, important dates, frequently asked questions, and more!

In addition to scholarship opportunities specifically for Crosby Scholars, we also have an Outside Scholarship Database to help narrow down your scholarship search!

ESSAY REVIEW SERVICES

The majority of Crosby Scholars Scholarships have an essay requirement and it's important that your essay is a well-written and compelling piece of your application to set you apart from other applicants. Don't worry, though..

The Crosby Scholars Senior Program offers both virtual & in-person Essay Review Services! 

• In Person Essay Review Workshop on Wednesday, October 19th: Please visit your Crosby Scholars Student Portal to learn more and register.

THE FAFSA IS NOW OPEN! APPLY TODAY!

WHAT IS THE FAFSA?

The FAFSA is Free Application for Federal Student Aid. For many students, filling out and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is the first step towards figuring out how to pay for college. Submitting a FAFSA will let you know which types and how much financial aid you may qualify for. The 2023-24 FAFSA will be available on October 1st and will require you to use your 2021 Tax Return information.

WHY DO I NEED TO FILL OUT A FAFSA?

Colleges require a submitted FAFSA to determine a student's eligibility for financial aid, which can include a combination of scholarships, grants, federal work-study and federal student loans.

Colleges send each student who submits a FAFSA a detailed Financial Aid Award Letter outlining which types and how much financial aid the student can expect to help cover their educational costs. The only way to know exactly how much financial aid you qualify for is to submit a 23-24 FAFSA.

HOW DO I FILL OUT A FAFSA?

Submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or (FAFSA) is FREE, only takes about 25 minutes to complete, and can be submitted electronically at www.FAFSA.gov on a desktop computer, a tablet, or a mobile phone.  

If citizenship requirements impact your ability to submit the FAFSA, please reach out to Ashly Wilson at awilson@crosbyscholars.org for guidance.

FAFSA AWARENESS EMAIL SERIES

Our FAFSA Friday Email Series will continue throughout the month of October! Check your inbox and our social media weekly for quick tips on how to submit the FAFSA, what steps to take next, and how to find help if needed!

WEBINAR: HOW TO COMPLETE THE FAFSA (RECORDING)

Did you miss our How to Complete the FAFSA webinar that included a step-by-step demonstration of how to complete the FAFSA along with several frequently asked questions? You can watch the recording!

UNC SYSTEM FAFSA PRIORITY FILING DATES

In addition to the federal FAFSA deadline, many schools will also have a specific deadline by which they ask students to submit their FAFSA. Certain types of financial aid are awarded on a first come, first served basis and can run out of funding.

Make sure to check your college or university's FAFSA priority filing deadline to ensure you receive as much financial aid as you qualify for!

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES & EVENTS

CFNC: FAFSA & RDS HELP SESSIONS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13 | 6:00 - 7:00 PM | VIRTUAL

Wondering how to pay for college? FAFSA and North Carolina Residency (RDS) are essential to your financial aid solution, and these two steps have a lot in common!

This CFNC webinar helps students and families prepare for completing the FAFSA and the RDS. Come find out how to get started, how to navigate obstacles, and what financial aid steps to expect afterward.

Seniors: You can earn Academy Credit for attending this webinar! Because this webinar is not hosted by Crosby Scholars, proof of attendance is required to earn Academy Credit. Please send a copy of the confirmation email you receive from attending this event to seniorprogram@crosbyscholars.org to provide proof of your attendance.

IN-PERSON FAFSA LABS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 @ Goodwill of Northwest NC

9 - 10 AM | 10 - 11 AM | 2 - 3 PM | 3 - 4 PM

Need help completing the FAFSA? Register for an in-person FAFSA Lab! Held in the Goodwill Building located at at 2701 University Parkway, Winston-Salem, NC 27105. Our Crosby Scholars Financial Aid Coordinator will be available to assist and answer your questions. Please visit your Crosby Scholars Student Portal to register and learn more.

Seniors: You can earn Academy Credit by attending one of the FAFSA Labs.

Parents + Guardians: We encourage you to attend a FAFSA Lab with your student.

HOW NC RESIDENCY DETERMINATION IMPACTS TUITION COSTS

You may already know that you need to complete the North Carolina Residency Determination Service or RDS interview once you begin filling out your college admission applications. While this is true, you also need to complete the RDS Interview to know if qualify for In-State Tuition costs.

Under North Carolina law, in order to qualify for In-State Tuition, you will need to show that you have established your legal residence in North Carolina and have maintained that residence for a certain period of time before enrolling in college. If you forget to complete the RDS interview, you may be subject to paying Out-of-State Tuition costs, which can be significantly more expensive.

Completing your Residency Determination is quick and easy, and can be completed entirely online at www.ncresidency.org. 

THE CSS/FINANCIAL AID PROFILE®

The College Board's CSS Profile is an online application that collects information used by almost 400 colleges and scholarship programs to award financial aid from sources outside of the federal government. Check your Crosby Scholars Student Portal for a list of colleges that required the CSS Profile.

Applications can be accessed beginning on October 1st. If your school requires the CSS Profile, you should complete the Fall 2023/Spring 2024 Profile.

The CSS Profile Application is customized for the student and their family following registration. It contains questions about the student's and parent's households, income, assets, and expenses. Applicants are provided step-by-step instructions and a customized Pre-Application Worksheet.

Unlike the FAFSA, the CSS Profile is not free! It costs $25 to fill out and submit the form to one school. After that, you will pay $16 for a submission to each additional school. Make sure that your school requires the CSS Profile before you submit it!

WHAT IS IT?

Crosby Scholars Finish the FAFSA Agreement allows Crosby Scholars Financial Aid Coordinator to provide support to students and families who need help submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, during their senior year o high school. The Finish the FAFSA Agreement DOES NOT disclose any personal financial information. The Finish the FAFSA Agreement does not disclose any information on family or student income, citizenship information, social security numbers or any other personally identifiable information. The Finish the FAFSA Agreement data is not used for any purpose other than to offer students assistance with FAFSA completion. The Finish the FAFSA data will not be used to identify your student in any way.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Crosby Scholars Financial Aid Coordinator will only be able to confirm if your student has submitted and signed their FAFSA form, or if they have been selected for an additional FAFSA screening process called Verification. The Crosby Scholars Financial Aid Coordinator will then contact you or your student to offer assistance with completion.



Submitting a FAFSA is a critical step toward creating a financial plan for college. The Finish the FAFSA Agreement allows the Crosby Scholars Financial Aid Coordinator to provide one-on-one professional financial aid support to your family.

Questions about Finish the FAFSA?

Contact Ashly Wilson, Financial Aid Coordinator, at 336-582-0015 or awilson@crosbyscholars.org

QUESTIONS? CROSBY SCHOLARS IS HERE FOR YOU!

Schedule a virtual one-on-one meeting with Ashly Wilson, Financial Aid Coordinator, to have all of your financial aid questions answered.