College Guidance

Porter Ridge's counseling office provides reference materials, SAT preparation guides, and support and guidance for PRHS students. The college counseling website will be updated when necessary to reflect the most current information, so please visit this site often!

Senior Nigh Presentation - Click this link for an in-depth presentation on the college application process, including how to use Scoir and Common App!

Guidelines for College Visits

Juniors and Seniors, you must follow specific procedures for a college visit. In your junior and senior years, you may attend up to two college visits/scholarship interviews per academic year that will not be counted as an absence.

On your visit to the college, you must get a form or note from the college that you were there for a visit and then turn that into the Attendance Office.

If you have any questions, please check with the attendance office or see a counselor.

Additional College Information

Why College?

Whether you are uncertain about going to college or you just need some reassurance you're on the right track, here are a few reasons to go to college:

Every bit of education you get after high school increases the chances you'll earn good pay. Most college graduates earn a lot more money during their working years than people who stop their education at high school.
The more education you get the more likely it is you will always have a job. According to one estimate, by the year 2028 there will be 19 million more jobs for educated workers than there are qualified people to fill them.
Continuing education after high school is much more important for your generation than it was for your parents' generation. Today most good jobs require more than a high school diploma. Businesses want to hire people who know how to think and solve problems.
Education beyond high school gives you a lot of other benefits, including meeting new people, taking part in new opportunities to explore your interests, and experiencing success.

Expected Lifetime Earnings

Professsional Degree: $4.4 million
Doctoral Degree: $3.4 million
Master's Degree: $2.5 million
Bachelor's Degree: $2.1 million
Associate's Degree: $1.6 million
Some college: $1.5 million
High school graduate: $1.2 million
Non-high school graduate: $1 million

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Applying to College

Applying to College

Use your Personal Email (not your school email) when creating accounts or communicating with colleges.

College Advising

College Application Essay

Steps in Applying to College

How to Apply to College

NC Residency Determination at NCresidency.org must be completed if applying to any North Carolina Colleges.
- Use your CFNC.org login when signing in. Do not create a new account if you have a CFNC.org account.
Activate your SCOIR account on your student start-up page.
Make sure the colleges you are applying to are listed in your SCOIR account. This is how counselors will know to send your transcript.
Request letters of recommendation through SCOIR.
- Counselors and teachers require at least two weeks' notice for college/scholarship recommendations!
Request ACT and/or SAT test scores be sent if required by the testing agency. Test scores are not on your high school transcript.
Submit applications by deadline dates with application fee.
Online application at the College's Website
CFNC - can apply to North Carolina Colleges
Common App - allows you to apply to colleges around the country with one application
- Quick Step Guide to Using Common App & Scoir
- Using Scoir with Common App
Coalition for College Access is used by some colleges for their application
- Students will have to pay the application fee for each college they are applying to.
- Recommendations from teachers should be requested through SCOIR, not common application or coalition application.
NC College Connect is a program that provides a simpler and faster way to get admitted to college in North Carolina. (Must meet certain requirements. (Please click the link for more information).

Financial Aid

What is Financial Aid?

Financial aid is money to help pay for college or career school.

Please click the link below to view our FAFSA night (25-26) presentation.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qIRxapZ4NZLAInE0SInjH7eTWT3_X8ZK/view

Types of Financial Aid

Grants (Links to an external site.) - Money that does not have to be repaid. Can come from a variety of sources such as the college, state or federal government.
Work-Study (Links to an external site.) - Program that allows you to pay for school while working part-time.
Loans (Links to an external site.) - Money borrowed to pay for college that must be repaid.
Scholarships (Links to an external site.) - Colleges and many nonprofit and private organizations offer scholarships to help students pay for college or career school. Scholarships may be based on academic merit, talent or program of student.

When to Apply - https://studentaid.gov/

The FSA ID is the first step to completing the FAFSA. Your FSA ID enables both you and your parent/guardian to sign your FAFSA electronically.
Seniors can apply for financial aid beginning on October 1st for the next school year. The application used is the FAFSA-Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is available online at (https://studentaid.gov/). Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible after October 1st. Make sure you check with the colleges you are applying to for their deadlines. You may print a pre-application worksheet for Web filers from the website.
You and your parent/guardian can also prepare by applying for a US Department of Education FSA ID at (https://studentaid.gov/). Your FSA ID enables both you and your parent/guardian to sign your FAFSA electronically. There is also information about federal student aid on this site. If you prefer to file a paper copy, you can download a form from the website or request a paper copy by calling 1-800-433-3242. This is a free application. Be sure to go through the official website. Watch for websites wanting to charge you!

CSS Profile

Certain Colleges require the PROFILE to be filed along with the FAFSA. The North Carolina schools that require it are Davidson College, Duke University, Elon University, Lenior-Rhyne University, NC A&T State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Wake Forest University. There are also specific scholarships that require the PROFILE. Registrations for PROFILE are accepted beginning October 1st. Application can be found at www.collegeboard.org (Links to an external site.). You cannot actually file the PROFILE until after October 1 of the senior year.

Assessing Colleges

(taken from Collegeboard’s College Counseling Sourcebook)

As you develop a list of colleges that interest you, be sure you can answer these questions about them.

The Basics

Where is the college? Can you locate it on a map? Is it too close to home? Is it too far? Is it too cold or too hot there?
Have you taken the course work the college requires for admission?
What size is the college? How many students are undergraduates?
What is the college’s selectivity ratio (what proportion of applicants were admitted last year)?
Does the college offer majors that interest you?
Is the college coed or single sex?
What percentage of students live off campus?
How many of the students graduate in 4 years? 5 years? 6 years?
How many first-year students return for their sophomore year?
How much does the program cost? What is the total per-year expense?
What type of financial aid is available?

Where would you fit in?

What are the college scores for the SAT or ACT? Where does that place you?
What were the high school GPAs of most of the freshmen last year?
Are freshman guaranteed on-campus housing? If not, where do they live?
Are there extracurricular activities that interest you?

Visit the colleges’ Web sites, read the guidebooks, and look at their literature

What are their strong academic programs? (Ask a college representative, students, graduates, and teachers.)
What courses are required for graduation?
Are the courses you need/want available each semester? At convenient times?
Are there special programs that interest you (study abroad, internships, etc.)?
What is the social life like? What percentage of students join fraternities or sororities?
Do the pictures and language the college uses to describe itself attract you?
What is your general impression of the college?
Is the school accredited?
If professional certification is required for employment in the field that interests you, how many students enrolled in the school’s program pass the certification exam?

Admissions Process

When are applications due?
Does the college accept the Common Application? If so, does it require supplemental forms?
What does the application contain? Are essays required?
Is an interview suggested or required? Is an interview available form staff or alumni?
When may you visit the college? What is its policy regarding campus visits?
What are the financial aid deadlines? What financial aid forms are required?

Now answer these questions

Am I a strong candidate for admission to this college?
If I am not a strong candidate, what are my chances?
Do I want to visit this college?
What additional information do I need?

Career and College Resources

Get into the real world fast and begin your adventure to a rewarding career. Check out the various websites to help you find career and college information. Your Future Is Waiting!!!

AmeriCorps www.americorps.org/
- AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connects more than 70,000 people each year in service to meet our country’s critical needs from disaster relief to tutoring. Find out how you can join this group.
America's Job Bank www.ajb.dni.us/
- This site allows employers to list current vacancies as well as for applicants to file resumes. Also, it gives information about employment trends and job seeking strategies.
Art Institutes www.artschools.com
- Search and compare art and design schools, colleges, programs and workshops.
ASVAB Career Exploration Program www.asvabprogram.com/
- After a student takes the ASVAB Assessment, this site will help interpret the results and enable the student to evaluate his/her skills, estimate performance in academic and career endeavors, and identify potentially satisfying careers.
Bureau of Labor Statistics www.nclabor.com
- Data from the NC Department of Labor about the laws and programs that affect every worker can be found here. This is helpful information for students planning their majors and careers.
Career Builder www.careerbuilder.com/
- CareerBuilder.com is a recruitment and career-advancement source for employers, recruiters and job seekers. It has employment tips, links to career oriented websites, and career and College Planning Resources www.khake.com/page51.html
- Excellent site which provides links for students, parents and counselors for resources to self assessments, career planning, career development and college planning. A complete list of career and technical education resources for each state is included.
Career One Stop www.careeronestop.org
- CareerOneStop is an integrated suite of national web sites that helps businesses, job seekers, students, and workforce professionals find employment and career resources.
College Board www.collegeboard.com
- Check here for the latest information about programs and services in college admissions, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning.
College Foundation of North Carolina www.cfnc.org
- CFNC is a nonprofit partnership which provides a broad expertise in helping students to prepare successfully for college and to fine the best financial aid alternatives. This site is a complete and comprehensive source of information – and real solutions – for students and their families.
Cover Letters & Resumes http://jobsearch.about.com/od/resumes/a/resumecenter.htm
- A great site to help you with your resume, cover letter writing tips, thank you letters, references, job applications and job search correspondence help and advice.
Health Career Information www.nchealthcareers.com
- This resource is designed to guide you through the process of determining if a health career is right for you; investigating which careers most closely match your interests and abilities; and helping you prepare for becoming a health professional.
Job Corps http://jobcorps.doleta.gov/
- Job Corps is residential job training and education program for at-risk young women and men, ages 16 to 24, and prepares them for successful careers. It provides a career development training approach which teaches them the skills they need to become employable and independent, and places them in meaningful jobs or further education.
Job Smart (Career Guides) http://www.jobsmart.org/tools/career/spec-car.htm
- This site is packed with information about planning your career. What kind of training or education is required? What can you earn? What kind of environment will you work in? What's hot? What's not?
Mapping Your Future http://mapping-your-future.org/
- This web site provides college, career and financial aid information and services for schools, students, and families.
Mathematical Sciences Career Information http://www.ams.org/careers/
- This resource is dedicated to providing career information and services to those students interested in a career in the field of mathematics.
Obtaining a Youth Workers Permit https://www.labor.nc.gov/workplace-rights/youth-employment-rules/apply-youth-employment-certificate
- Download and print a copy of the NC Youth Employment Certificate (worker’s permit) and find out all of the necessary information and requirements.
Occupational Outlook Handbook https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
- The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a nationally recognized source of career information, designed to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about their future work lives. Revised every two years, the Handbook describes what workers do on the job, working conditions, the training and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects in a wide range of occupations.
Personality Inventory http://www.advisorteam.com/temperament_sorter/register.asp?partid=1
- The Keirsey Temperament Sorter is a powerful 70-question personality instrument that helps individuals discovers their personality type. It will also help you gain more insight into yourself and the people around you. Thus, this insight is useful when selecting a career or choosing a work environment.
The Career Key www.careerkey.org
- Click on this website for an online assessment which measures your skills, abilities, values, and interest – the six Holland personality types. Use the test results at the website to help with career choices – career changes, career planning, job skills, and choosing a college major or educational program.
The Princeton Review www.princetonreview.com
- This website provides timely advice about college admissions, grad school admissions, and the financial aid process and offers links to online tools and resources. It offers relevant information for parents as well.
U.S. Department of Labor www.dol.gov/
- Data from the US Department of Labor about the economy, including projections and regional information can be researched here.
What can I do with this major? www.careers.siue.edu/majors/majors/default.html
- Here is a website that will help you connect majors with careers. For each major that interests you, you will be able to find an outline of common career areas, typical employers, and strategies designed to maximize career opportunities. Also, there are links to find a list of websites that provide information about listed majors and related careers.
17 Universities in the UNC System https://www.northcarolina.edu/content/our-17-campuses
- Explore this site to learn about the academic programs and their campuses included in the 17 universities in the UNC System.

North Carolina Colleges and Universities

South Carolina Colleges and Universities

College Virtual Tours and Search Tools

Tours to the 17 Public North Carolina Universities - https://www.northcarolina.edu/our-17-campuses/virtual-reality-campus-tours

Appalachian State University- https://admissions.appstate.edu/visit

Campbell University- https://campustours.com/college/198136/Campbell-University/

Duke University- https://www.youvisit.com/tour/duke

East Carolina University- https://admissions.ecu.edu/virtualtour/

Elon University- https://www.elon.edu/u/admissions/undergraduate/meet-us/video-tours/

Elizabeth City State University- https://campustours.com/college/198507/Elizabeth-City-State-University/

Fayetteville State University- https://www.youvisit.com/tour/uncfsu

Gardner- Webb University-https://campustours.com/college/198561/Gardner-Webb-University/

High Point University- https://campustours.com/college/198695/High-Point-University/

Johnson and Whales University- https://campustours.com/college/445708/Johnson-and-Wales-University-Charlotte/

N.C. A&T University- https://www.youvisit.com/tour/62521/118339?pl=f

NC State University- https://admissions.ncsu.edu/visit/

North Carolina Central University- https://legacy.nccu.edu/virtualtour/index.cfm

UNC Asheville-https://www.unca.edu/admission/visit/virtual-experiences/

UNC Chapel Hill- https://www.youvisit.com/tour/unc/80242

UNC Charlotte- https://admissions.uncc.edu/about-unc-charlotte/visit-campus/virtual-campus-tour

UNC Greensboro- https://admissions.uncg.edu/visit/virtual-visit-options/

UNC Pembroke- https://www.youvisit.com/tour/uncp/130666?tourid=tour1_10_27_17_32730

UNC Wilmington- https://www.youvisit.com/tour/uncw

University of North Carolina school of the arts- https://www.uncsa.edu/admissions/visit-meet-connect/index.aspx

Wake Forest University- https://campustours.com/college/199847/Wake-Forest-University/

Western Carolina University- https://www.wcu.edu/apply/undergraduate-admissions/visit-wcu/virtual-tour/index.aspx

Wingate University- https://campustours.com/college/199962/Wingate-University/

Winston Salem State University- https://campustours.com/college/199999/Winston-Salem-State-University/

Paul Mitchell the school/ Charlotte- https://paulmitchell.edu/charlotte

College Search Tools

There are thousands of resources available to anyone searching for information about colleges and universities. Some are great, and some are not. The Internet provides by far the most resources. Beware, however! Not every website has the best intentions. The links below are resouces to help you find the most accurate college and university information available.

SCOIR - students can access from the UCPS student start up page
College Board's College Search - Big Future
College Foundation of North Carolina - CFNC.org
College Navigator
Cappex
College Confidentia l
Destiny Wilson's College Site

Community Colleges

(taken from Collegeboard’s College Counseling Sourcebook)

You know where you want to be but need some training to get there
You want to explore different choices before settling on a path
You need to cut the cost of a four-year college degree
You want to sharpen your study skills before enrolling at a university
You want small classes and personal attention during your first college years
You want to continue to work at your job while going to college
You want to live at home

If you checked even one box on the quiz, you many want to check out a community college. You won’t be alone- 45% of all first-year college students start at a community college.

These institutions offer two kinds of education:

If your goal is a four-year degree, you can earn a two-year (associate) degree at a community college, then transfer to a four-year college as a junior.
You can earn an occupational degree or certificate in two years or less, then start working immediately in a high-demand field.

Many community college students have jobs and family responsibilities. Scheduling classes may be a big challenge. So community colleges tend to offer courses during the day, in the evening, and on weekends. They have pioneered new teaching methods, too. Some offer courses online (distance learning), combine Internet and classroom learning, give interactive TV courses, condense semester courses into shorter time frames, and more.

www.spcc.edu

www.cpcc.edu

SCOIR

SCOIR (pronounced "score") is our new online college research and planning tool.

This new, modern online system will streamline the process of requesting, processing, sending and tracking the electronic delivery of all application-related documents. More importantly, it's much more helpful for students and parents during the college search and selection process. On Scoir, colleges come to life through pictures, videos and links that highlight active student clubs and organizations. This better enables students to identify colleges that are a good fit with their personal and academic interests, which increases college retention.

Scoir also provides parents with useful financial calculators so you can determine the likely cost of attendance at different colleges and consider the affordability when deciding where to apply. These features, along with more convenient scheduling and communication tools, will help keep everyone informed and engaged throughout the college application process. Scoir exists to help more students achieve more positive outcomes, and we're excited that our students have access to this system and the opportunities it provides.

UCPS information on SCOIR click here
SCOIR for Parents of 9th-11th grade students - presented by UCPS College Readiness
- - Presentation Slides

SCOIR for Senor Parents - presented by UCPS College Readiness

Senior Information and Scholarships

Click here to order senior packets!

Scholarship Information

A scholarship search is time-consuming and hard work. To begin a scholarship search, start with the college you are considering attending. Log on to the college's website and type in 'scholarships' on the college search engine. Or, you can find their Financial Aid Office website and browse for information there. The next step is to read the information and apply for the scholarships you meet the criteria for.

Scholarships and deadlines

Another method of searching for scholarships is to go online and Google 'scholarships'. If you know the area you plan to major in, or the career you plan to complete, you can narrow your search by entering the career. You can also narrow your search further by putting in the state. Example: 'Nursing scholarships in North Carolina'.

The final place to search for scholarships are scholarship websites. Below are scholarship websites we recommend:

Scholarship Articles

Attention parents

Be wary of any company that charges a fee to locate scholarships or requests money to give your child a scholarship or honor.

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College Guidance