Raleigh, NC – Finding the right college is an important decision for high school seniors, and the average student will apply to six to eight schools during the application process. Application fees for two-year and four-year colleges can range from $40 to $75 per application. The costs add up quickly!

Here’s the good news for students — they can apply to many popular North Carolina schools for FREE during College Application Week, October 21 – 25. One of the most sought-after colleges that’s new to the list of schools waving fees this year is East Carolina University. Go Pirates!

College Application Week is also about helping students put their best foot forward on college applications. College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) is working with hundreds of qualified volunteers, education counselors, and admission professionals at local high schools across the state to answer frequently asked questions and help students apply to college.

School counselors recommend students apply to:

Three to Four Target Schools – Good possibility of acceptance. The student’s academic record and test scores are in line with the schools’ acceptance criteria.

One to Two Reach Schools – Low possibility of acceptance. Schools where a student’s grades and test scores are below the average, but there’s still a chance they could be accepted.

Two to Three Safety Schools – High possibility of acceptance. The student is more than qualified to attend.

CFNC representatives are available to help your audience take advantage of important admissions tips and money-saving resources.

College Application Essay Tips – Improve their chances of being accepted with a top-notch personal essay.

College Search – Explore schools to find out application deadlines, standardized test requirements, and cost of attendance.

Senior Year Checklist – Planning timeline helps students complete important college planning steps from now until they head off to school next fall.

The week-long event is part of the state’s annual campaign, “NC Countdown to College” (https://nccountdowntocollege.org/).

A list of North Carolina schools waiving fees is available online. Also during College Application Week, hundreds of qualified volunteers, education counselors, and admission professionals will be at high schools across the state to help students apply to college. Schools that are not waiving fees during College Application Week will accept College Board or ACT fee waivers for students who qualify for financial assistance.

NC Countdown to College Checklist:

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa – Qualifies students for federal and state financial aid to pay for college.

FAFSA Day (www.cfnc.org/pay/fafsa_day.jsp)– Meet with college financial aid officers on Saturday, October 26, during events at local North Carolina college campuses. Students and parents will receive free help to complete their FAFSA.

Residency Determination Service (RDS) – (https://ncresidency.cfnc.org/residencyInfo/) – Establishes North Carolina residency for in-state tuition and state grants.

Students who are interested in participating in College Application Week and NC Countdown to College should first create a profile on CFNC.org. CFNC assists students and families as they plan, apply, and pay for college. For additional information and resources, visit CFNC.org.