Welcome Students and Parents! 
Please see me, Mrs. Filosa ([email protected]), in the Scholarship Office if you need help with any information on this page.
Mrs. Filosa’s Office Hours:
Tuesdays & Wednesdays (8:00am – 4:15pm)
Thursdays (8:00am – 3:30pm)
Scholarship Information  (Where to find scholarships)
  • It is up to each individual student/family to use these resources to apply to college and to seek out scholarships.
  • Be very suspicious of scholarships or offers that seem “too good to be true,” or that promise guaranteed money if you come to a meeting or pay a fee. When in doubt about anything, feel free to contact your school counselor

​College Planning Information
  1. BigFuture College Search (www.collegeboard.org/) - Information on how to find colleges
  2. College Foundation of North Carolina (www.cfnc.org): You can research colleges and careers as well as find financial aid info, including scholarships. Students may also apply to colleges in NC from this site and send transcripts for free from this site to any school in NC. 
  3. Common Application (https://www.commonapp.org/): Many colleges use this application now. 
  4. Verify NC Residency (Residency Determination): Document you’re a NC resident to determine your eligibility for in-state tuition and state grants.
  5. Deadlines for college applications can be found on individual school’s website or Common App once you create an account. 
  6. Applying in the fall will enable you to know where you’ve been accepted well in advance of timing for making a final decision. Also, colleges usually use fall application deadlines for making decisions on their college based scholarships.
  7. Community Colleges - many use a 'rolling applications' approach but check the community college's website. You can apply through individual websites or through www.cfnc.org for schools in NC. 
  8. Transcripts can be requested several ways –
    1. If applying to NC colleges or universities, transcripts can be sent directly through the CFNC site - https://www.cfnc.org/apply-to-college/ 
    2. For schools outside of North Carolina and scholarships, stop by your counselor’s office or send them an email. 
    3. If you apply to your college through CommonApp, sendedu, or CFNC, your final transcripts will be submitted through that platform once they are finalized.
  9. Please know that recommenders and school counselor(s) need at least one week, ideally two, to complete their portion of your application. In some cases their deadline is a bit extended from the student’s.
  10. College Entrance Testing Information (visit the senior page for more information)
    1. ACT - https://www.act.org/ 
    2. SAT - https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat
    3. Practice sites:
      1. Khan Academy - https://www.khanacademy.org/
      2. CFNC: https://www.cfnc.org/pay-for-college/
      3. ACT and SAT websites

Financial Aid
You are HIGHLY encouraged to begin filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) upon its release.  This form is required for financial aid for all colleges & universities. Often colleges begin scholarships analysis, whether merit or need-based scholarships and grants, with the FAFSA. The application and processing of the application is FREE at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  Check your college’s deadline for receiving the FAFSA. The earlier you file, the more money that will potentially be available to you if you qualify. 

The CSS/Financial Aid Profile is an additional application for some scholarship programs and specific colleges in North Carolina and other states who desire family financial information to award institutional aid. This program is administered through College Board at https://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile. You should file the PROFILE no later than two weeks before the EARLIEST priority filing date specified by your colleges or scholarship programs. Some of the in-state colleges which require this are Davidson, Duke, Elon, UNC-CH, and Wake Forest. Make certain you check the website of the college of your interest to see if the Profile is required!

Reminder: As you receive scholarships, grants, merit scholarships, military appointments, and other money for your post-secondary experience, please let Mrs. Filosa know so she can keep track of your successes and consolidate reporting for Pinecrest High School! Go Patriots!
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