Planning Tools for the Class of 2015
Fall SemesterAction Steps
Research your education and career options. Explore how who you are matches up with majors and careers by using one of the career assessments in the Career Planning section of CFNC’s web site.
Explore colleges and majors through the Planning for College section of CFNC. Examine admissions requirements, cost, size, location, extracurricular activities, and other factors of interest to you.
Review your current academic status in relation to the admissions requirements of the program(s) to which you are interested in applying.
Assessyour dreams and requirements. Do you envision yourself at a large college or a smaller school? Do you thrive on distractions or lose your way? Do you want to be in your own backyard or someone else’s?
Develop a short list of “suitable” colleges and programs.
Continueto increase your knowledge base. Continue to expand your resume. Continue to enhance your transcript. Continue to mature as a student. Continue to grow as an individual.
Vocabulary review
Associate's Degrees are typically two-year degrees, often from community or junior colleges. (See also AA & AAS degrees)
ACTor SAT are entrance exams that measure math, reading, & writing skills and are required for admission to four-year colleges.
Bachelor's Degrees are typically four-year degrees
Class rank is your academic position in the junior class based on your cumulativeQPA. The highest QPA is ranked number 1.
College Foundation of North Carolina or CFNC is a collaborative that provides information on North Carolina’s colleges and universities, careers, majors, financial aid, and scholarships.
Community Colleges are two-year colleges. Students can earn certificates, diplomas or associate degrees or they can transfer to a four-year school to earn a Bachelor’s degree.
Extracurricular Activities are any activities that you are involved in outside of the classroom, including; clubs, athletics, community and church involvement, etc.
Financial Aidare funds available to help pay for college, and include; scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs.
QPA orQuality Point Average is calculated based on all of the final grades you obtained in all of your classes.
A Majoris the field of study a student focuses on for a degree.
NCAA: The National Collegiate Athletic Association regulates and governs college and university athletic programs.
PLAN is a pre-ACT test that also includes an interest inventory to help students identify potential careers and majors.
PSAT is usually taken to prepare for the SAT and to determine eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Residents are students who reside in the same state as the college that they are applying to or attending.
A Resume is a record of the extracurricular activities you have been involved in, awards you have earned, and offices you have held.
Transcriptis a record of the classes you have taken, your grades in those classes, your GPA, and your class rank.
SAT/ACT planning
Juniors planning to enroll in a four year college or university immediately after graduation need to takethe SAT or ACT this year. Some considerations:
- Test twice during your junior year
- Select test dates that work for you. January and June are prime dates as they coincide with our exam window. (Use your preparation for exams as a springboard into the SAT/ACT.)
- Visit for details onSAT test dates, registration deadlines, and all things SAT.
- Visit for details on ACT test dates and registration deadlines.
- The ACT will be administered to all juniors at SCHS on Tuesday, March 4th.
- The SCHS school code for testing is #344096.
- Enter college codes to send official scores to schools in which you are interested.
QPA & Class Rank
- Class rank & QPA for college admissions purposes will be calculated at the close of this school year.
- This year’s marks account for one third of this rank & GPA.
- Class rank for marshals will be calculated at the end of the 5th marking period. (Marshals are the top ten percent of the junior class, based on weighted QPA.)
Planning ahead
CACRAO College Fair
The College Fair is scheduled at the Pitt-Greenville Convention Center on Wednesday, October 23rd. The fair will be open to all students & parents during the evening from 6:30-8:00.
Financial Aid
Visit orstudentaid.ed.gov to begin investigating the types of aid available and the process and timelines to take advantage of that aid.
2013-2014 Teen Leadership Institute
Want to step out of the class room and into real world situations? Want to get involved with students from all of the high schools in Pitt County? Want to meet professionals who are focused on the needs of the community? Current 10th & 11th grade students can apply to the Teen Leadership Institute to have the opportunity to participate in five days focused on leadership, communication, government, interview skills, and college and career exploration.
Applications for the TLI are available through the Pitt-Greenville Chamber of Commerce website and are due on Oct 4th. Five students will be selected from each high school.
Teen Court
Serve your peers as a member of the Teen Court where you will help determine the consequences, restitution, or other appropriate sanctions for first time offenders. See your SRO.
PSAT
The PSAT (determines eligibility for National Merit scholarships & provides a warm up for the SAT) will be administered on October 16th during 1st & 2nd periods. Limited slots will be available for juniors. Students must register with Mrs. Bullock in student services by Oct. 1st. The cost is $13.00 payable by check or exact change.
Project Uplift
UNC Chapel Hill hosts a special program that allows rising seniors to experience life on the Carolinacampus. Juniors from underserved populations who are in the top 25%of their class and are university eligible can be nominated. Visit for more information.
Distinguished Woman of Pitt Co. Scholarship Program
(Pitt County Junior Miss)
An informational meeting for 11th grade women who would like to participate in this program will be held at 3:40 on Weds, Sept. 25th in Student Services.
The Discover Scholarship Program
awards up to 10 $30,000 scholarships annually. Visit for more information.
Spirit of the Community Award
If you've made a difference by volunteering in your community over the past year, you could win local, state, or national recognition and $1,000 by applying for a Prudential Spirit of Community Award. Applications will be available at The website also offers a wealth of information in its volunteering tips section.
Military Academy Day
Sponsored in September by Sen. Hagan’s office & the five service academies. Contact for more information.
Governor’s School
Nominations for the Governor’s School of North Carolina, the oldest statewide summer residential program for gifted high school students in the nation will open in September.
Boys’ State & Girls’ State
Learn about government & politics in North Carolina, applications available in early spring.
Summer Ventures
Is a cost-free enrichment program for academically motivated high school students careers in science or mathematics. Applications are due in January
NCSU Design & Engineering Camps
Applications will be available in February.
Visions
Career development & scholarship program through PCC, applications available in February.
Scholarship Information:
To get a heads up with the latest information, visit:
- , South Central’s homepage
- , College Foundation’s web site
- , the world’s largest free scholarship search engine
- for information on athletic eligibility at NCAA division I and II schools.
College Admissions & Open House Dates
Admissions and Open House dates for North Carolina colleges (2 year, four year, public, & private) will be available on the CFNC website later this month. This is a great planning tool.