Crosby Scholar Scholarship Opportunities

Crosby Scholars offers over 20 Scholarship opportunities for seniors to apply for during the spring of their senior year.  As Scholarship applications are available, they are posted in the Crosby Scholars Student Portal.  Students may apply for as many open Crosby Scholarships that they are eligible for.  Find the complete 2019 Crosby Scholars Scholarship Opportunities for Seniors here. (List of Scholarship Opportunities for Seniors will be released January 7, 2019.)

Please read each Scholarship description carefully for instructions on how to apply and which required documents to upload.

Looking for guidance on how to apply for Crosby Scholars Scholarships? Check out our Crosby Scholarship Application “How To” Video!

Outside or Institutional Scholarships

Need ideas on how to find information on outside Scholarships?  2018-19 Scholarship Database 

Institutional Scholarships are those offered by a specific college or university.  Typically, these scholarship opportunities are listed on the schools Financial Aid webpage.  Students can begin by researching institutional scholarships offered at the colleges where they plan to apply. The financial aid web page of every college lists scholarships unique to their school and the qualifications necessary for consideration. Students applying to schools in other states can easily locate this information on their web pages.

Every high school in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools System has a school counselor designated to serve as the scholarship coordinator.  Seniors should make sure they know who is in charge of scholarships and how to access their high school’s scholarship newsletter.  High schools provide information on local scholarships, such as those awarded by the Winston-Salem Foundation, as well as opportunities on a national scale, such as the Ron Brown Scholar Program and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship Program.

Last Dollar Grant

The Crosby Scholars Last Dollar Grant is need-based grant opportunity that seniors may apply for during the late spring of their senior year.  The Last Dollar Grant is not automatic; scholars must meet all criteria and apply using their Crosby Scholars Student Portal.   Scholars must demonstrate not only financial need but also remaining need after the school of choice has awarded aid.  For more information, follow the link to the Last Dollar Grant page.

Financial Aid

The first step to applying for financial aid is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA.  The FAFSA opens for applications beginning on Oct 1. There are several FAFSA priority deadlines that you need to be aware of (the deadline for your state, a federal deadline, and an institutional deadline — see below for more info on school specific deadlines.) North Carolina’s state priority deadline for Financial Aid is as soon as possible after Oct 1.

2018-19 UNC School System 2019-20 FAFSA Priority Filing Deadlines

Review these Helpful Financial Aid Hints to better understand what to expect during your senior year. 

College costs vary widely, and the sticker price at some schools discourages students from applying, because they are convinced they cannot afford to attend. However, the only way to discover the true cost of attendance is to submit the FAFSA and review the school’s financial aid package upon receipt. Private colleges with large price tags frequently provide merit aid that makes their overall cost comparable to, or in some instances, more affordable than, public universities.

Outside scholarships can further reduce the cost, depending on how they are factored into the aid package. Students should ALWAYS check with the financial aid office to determine how private scholarship funds will affect other aid they were offered. Ultimately, students and families are best served by waiting until they compare all financial aid packages before deciding which college is the best choice financially.

CSS Profile

While all colleges require the FAFSA, some schools also require the CSS PROFILE. Unlike the FAFSA, the CSS PROFILE costs $25 for the first application and $16 for each additional application submitted. Make sure that your school requires the CSS Profile before filling it out. 

2019-20 CSS/Finanical Aid PROFILE College and Program List

List of participating institutions and programs

For more information on how to complete the CSS / Financial Aid Profile, including a list of colleges, visit: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/financial-aid-101/how-to-complete-the-css-financial-aid-profile

Helpful Links

• Things You Need Before You Fill Out The 2019-20 FAFSA Form
• How to Create Your FSA ID
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid
• When completing the FAFSA online, use the “live help” button or the online chat feature
• Call the FAFSA hotline at 800-433-3243 or 800-730-8913
• 3 Types of FAFSA Deadlines That You Should Pay Attention To
• CSS/PROFILE
• UNC Schools FAFSA Priority Filing Deadline Dates
•  Understanding Education Loans
• CFNC: Choosing the Right Loan Worksheet
• CFNC: Borrowing Wisely Worksheet
• Understanding your Responsibility when Borrowing Student Loans
• Differences between Federal v.s. Private Student Loans
• Need help comparing your Financial Aid Award Letters? Check out this Compare your Aid Award tool from College Board & Big Future.

Have Financial Aid Questions? Contact Ashly Wilson, Crosby Scholars Financial Aid Coordinator at 336-725-5371 or awilson@crosbyscholars.org