DestinationCollege2023
Crosby Scholars Senior Program Newsletter - September 2022
On the Scholarship Hunt
Many of you are thinking to yourselves, “If only I could get a scholarship to pay for college…” Well, you can, but you should be prepared to work for it. Scholarships are earned, not won.
Scholarships are one of four forms of financial aid for students, the others being grants, loans, and work-study. The beauty of scholarships is that you don’t pay them back. They are free money for school that you earn through your achievements.
In this issue, we’ll tell you where you can find scholarships and what to avoid. We’ll also share resources for writing your scholarship essays. With a plan and some effort, a scholarship can be in your financial aid portfolio.
Also In This Issue:
- Information about the Crosby Fundraiser
- Details about upcoming Academy Options - for students & parents
- Upcoming College Fairs
- How to get help with your Essay
- Reminder of Advisor Requirements
Crosby Scholars Fundraiser
Texting Platform
- Update Student Cell Number in your profile
- Add 704-253-8612 as Crosby Senior Program to your phone contacts
- Continue to check your emails
In this crazy time, everything seems to change at a moment's notice and text is a great way to get a message to you fast.
Scholarship Myths
Before we talk about how to find a scholarship, let’s first dispel a few scholarship myths.
Myth #1: So much scholarship money goes unclaimed.
Google “scholarships” and many of the hits are for articles exclaiming that millions of dollars in scholarship money go unclaimed. That’s just not true. There might be a few scholarships offered by local organizations or individuals that don't draw as many applicants. There is competition for most scholarships, so you will need to put effort into your applications to have a chance at earning one. The more local the scholarship, the fewer people will apply.
Myth #2: I’m just not qualified for any scholarships.
It’s a common misconception that there’s no way to earn a scholarship unless a student is at the top of their class and has stellar SAT or ACT scores or they’re an amazing athlete. Yes, there are plenty of scholarships that have these requirements, but there are just as many that are looking for other qualities in applicants. You just need to look.
Myth #3: Applying for a scholarship is so not worth it!
Some students believe that the effort to apply for scholarships is just not worth the reward. Let’s put this in perspective with an example. You’ve identified 10 $5000 scholarships that you qualify for and spend a total of 50 hours completing the applications and essays. Several months later, you learn that you’ve been awarded one of them. You’ve just been paid $100 an hour for that 50 hours of work. Not bad!
Scholarship Scams: A Note of Caution
Also, there are many “sweepstake” scholarships that claim to give away money for free. In fact, you are likely providing businesses with data about you and your preferences which is worth a lot of money to them. If you choose to enter these scholarship drawings, do so knowing what you’re giving away for a chance to win.
Institutional Scholarships
What’s the easiest way to apply for a scholarship? At many schools, the answer is to simply apply for admission. Colleges often consider every student for institutional merit aid, which is awarded directly by the school. Some schools require you to apply for admission by an earlier deadline to be considered for this aid, or they may have additional requirements such as forms, essays, or interviews. So, it’s important that you do your research about institutional scholarships at the schools you’re applying to.
This year IT IS really important that you understand their SAT/ACT testing policy. Many schools are test optional due to COVID. Some will still require scores for merit scholarships while others will not. YOU HAVE TO RESEARCH to make sure you understand each school's policy.
Click here for links to North Carolina College Financial Aid/Scholarship web pages so you can research college-specific scholarships offered by schools in our area. (TIP: Many college websites list external scholarship opportunities as well.) Schools outside of North Carolina have similar information on the financial aid sections of their websites.
Top Merit Scholarships in NC
Are you near the top of your class? Are you applying to UNC Chapel Hill, NC State, UNC Charlotte, or Davidson College? If you answered "YES!" to these questions, then check out some of the most prestigious and competitive merit scholarships available in North Carolina below to see if you qualify. Deadlines are approaching quickly, and you may need to seek a nomination from your school counselor or complete a pre-application, so act now!
- UNC Chapel Hill: Morehead-Cain
- UNC Chapel Hill: Thomas Wolfe (English/Creative Writing)
- NC State: Park
- UNC Charlotte: Levine
- Davidson: Belk
- Davidson: Bryan (Scholar/Athlete)
Crosby Scholars Iredell County Scholarships
Grandparent's Day Scholarship - Lessons from the past impacting your future!
In honor of Gradparents Day, celebrated in September on the first Sunday after Labor Day, we want to offer a scholarship in honor and memory of grandparents who have taught us all so much. This scholarship is being donated in memory of Jean & Jack Rhudy, Al & Flo Reeve, Pat Weber and Marvin Jamison. Each of these individuals have a unique story for how they achieved their education and made sure their children and grandchildren had every opportunity in the future. The act of living and sharing their love, struggles and joys have and will continue to impact generations to come.
This scholarship is for $1,000. Submissions Due October 31, 2022.
What have you learned from your grandparents? How is your life changed because of your grandparents? How have these lessons impacted your future goals? Not every grandparent is a saint but all did have a part in who you are today. Think about the lessons you have learned from the past and how you will move forward to impact your life, community and world in the future.
To apply for this scholarship you will need to submit a short essay detailing a lesson from the past that you have learned and how your future has or will be impacted. Max 400 words.
How to Find Other Scholarships
Look for local scholarships through school guidance department websites at your school and other schools in your area. Also, there are a number of scholarship search sites on the web that are worth looking into. Try some of these:
Featured Senior Academy...
Understanding the Financial Aid Process
Financial Aid seems like a high-stakes maze teeming with acronyms, deadlines, and detailed requirements. Jenniffer Jamison and guest speakers from financial aid departments of several schools, teaches you the ins and outs of the financial aid process so you can avoid expensive mistakes and maximize your financial aid dollars.
October 8, 2022 10 am.
Open to Parents and students.
Mitchell Community College, 500 Broad Street, Statesville, NC 28677
In-Person Sessions Available on 10/8/22 for Juniors, Seniors & Parents
Upcoming Senior Academies
Register in your portal for the Senior Academies that best match your needs and schedule. All Seniors need to attend 2 Academies prior to January 31, 2023 unless they attended extra academies during their junior year. Check the Crosby Scholars Student portal to see how many you still need.
IN-PERSON Academy Event - October 8, 2022
Four different Academy topics will be offered to Juniors & Seniors at this In-Person Event. Parents are welcome to attend the Financial Aid and Scholarship Sessions.
Students, If you choose TEST PREP - you need to register for the 10/8 session on the Crosby Student portal. Space is limited for this session.
If you are not attending Test Prep - then you can choose to come to one or all of the sessions. Register on the Crosby Student Portal for the general Academy Option. You can decide on your session when you arrive. If you would like you can attend one session and also get in a few hours of community service, or you can attend all 3 of the other academies. NOT TEST PREP.
Other Academy Options
College Admissions Counselor Zooms
September 20 - College Admissions Zoom (Colleges TBA)
November 3 - Cabarrus College Health Science - Pathways to Medical Profession
Athletic Recruiting Webinar
September 29, 2022 7pm - Open to all students, parents, coaches, counselors. Register on this google form to attend. Share with your friends. Do not need to be a Crosby Scholar to participate. bit.ly/Crosbysports
Self-Paced Options - Register on the Crosby Student Portal to get directions on how to complete.
Common App Video Walk thru
Aptitude Evaluation - YouScience
Financial Literacy - CFNC
Essays - Need Help?
College Visit/College Fair Deadline: August 31, 2022
I will accept Virtual College Visits - Complete the form with the names of the schools and the date and time of the virtual visit. Need help finding a virtual visit. Here are some ideas:
- Visit the College Website and search for Virtual Campus Tour or Virtual Open House
- Go to YouVisit.com to see a large number of different schools
- Attend Virtual/Zoom Opportunities at your School. Check with your Guidance Counselor to see if they are hosting any College Visits Virtually.
- Check your school's guidance page. Many schools visit your high school and can set up a time to talk.
You can also attend the NACAC College Fair coming to Mooresville on October 19, 2022.
West Iredell HS College Fair - October 19, 2022 8:30 am - 9:30am
Statesville HS College Fair - October 19, 2022 10:15 am - 11:15am
North Iredell HS College Fair - October 19, 2022 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Mooresville Consolidated College Fair - October 19, 2022 6:30 - 8pm**
**Mooresville Consolidated College Fair will be held at Mooresville High School in the Gym, 659 East Center Ave., Mooresville, NC 28115
This Consolidated College Fair is open to Lake Norman High School, Langtree Charter Academy, Mooresville High School, Pine Lake Preparatory & South Iredell High School.
Crosby Scholars Advisor Meeting Requirement
- Initial Spring Meeting Due June 30, 2022
- Summer Meeting - Due August 31, 2022
- Fall Advisor Check In - Due by Dec 30, 2022
- Spring Advisor Check In - Due by March 30, 2023
You can meet with your advisor as many times as you need. This is a basic minimum requirement. Because there has been some confusion on this I have EXTENDED the Summer Meeting requirement until September 30, 2022. If you do not meet with your advisor and have notes in our system, I will have to dismiss you from the program. If you have any questions, please contact me directly. Jen Jamison - jjamison@crosbyscholarsiredell.org
Still don't have your senior T-Shirt? Contact Jen Jamison jjamison@crosbyscholarsiredell.org
Iredell County Crosby Scholars Senior Program
Email: jjamison@crosbyscholarsiredell.org
Website: crosbyscholarsiredell.org
Location: 124 4th Crescent Place, Statesville, NC, United States
Phone: (704) 873-5005
Facebook: facebook.com/crosbyscholarsiredell
Twitter: @iredellcrosby