Leigh Bell

4-year College bound 11th graders: Preparing now for college admissions applications in 2021

11th graders wishing to apply to 4-year colleges/universities during their senior year: Each year, the North Carolina Dept. of Public Instruction pays for all 11th graders in North Carolina public schools to take the ACT test, a national standardized test that can be used for college admissions.

Please mark your calendars: This year, the ACT test will be given statewide on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, for all 11th graders, including Cornerstone students in grade 11.

This is a FREE ACT testing administration and it will be administered here at Cornerstone’s campus. More information to come with details for ACT testing administration here at Cornerstone in February.

For the current Class of 2021 seniors, test scores have been an OPTIONAL part of the college application process by most colleges & universities in the U.S. All public North Carolina universities have waived test score requirements. I have encouraged students to submit their test scores to colleges IF those scores will positively enhance their application (based on that college/university’s published middle 50% ACT/SAT score range).

Class of 2022: I have not received further guidance on whether national standardized testing (the ACT or SAT test) will be required for the Class of 2022 students applying for admission in Fall 2021. As I am made aware of policy changes, I will forward those on to our 11th-grade families.

11th-grade 4-year college-bound students can start planning now for their college applications by reading over the PDF of advice for Class of 2022 emailed out to them by Mrs. Bell on Friday, Dec. 11th, 2021.  

If you have any additional questions, please reach out and ask me!

2021/2022 FAFSA

Class of 2021 and their parents/guardians: The 2021/2022 FAFSA application opened on Oct. 1, 2020.  Complete it at Federal Student Aid.

There are some great instructional financial aid videos located on the CFNC website as well as resources on CFNC for finding FREE local help on completion of the FAFSA form at colleges & universities in the Triad.

Find these financial aid help videos at this website here.

BIG MYTH: A student has to be accepted to college or finished with all of their applications before their family can apply for financial aid using the FAFSA form.

NOT TRUE!! Families need to go ahead and fill out their child’s FAFSA form as soon as possible on or after Oct. 1st and list up to 10 colleges/universities that the student is planning to apply to.

Financial Aid is given away on a first come, first-serve basis. Some colleges and universities also have their own FAFSA deadlines, so please check for those on their websites under their Financial Aid webpage.

I do also HIGHLY recommend that students simultaneously apply to colleges & universities early in order to better their chances of getting in!

CHANGES TO YOUR FAMILY’S FINANCIAL SITUATION:

Class of 2021: If your family’s financial situation has changed significantly from what is reflected on their 2019 federal income tax return (for example, if a parent/guardian has lost a job or otherwise experienced a drop in income), you may be eligible to have your financial aid adjusted. Complete the FAFSA questions as instructed on the application (including the transfer of tax return and income information), submit your FAFSA form, then contact the school you plan to attend to discuss how your current financial situation has changed. Note that the school’s decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.

Visit StudentAid.gov/coronavirus for more information.

My name is Leigh Bell and I have been in education for 27 years! I grew up in Kings Mountain, North Carolina and attended Appalachian State for my Undergraduate Degree in Biology, Secondary Education followed by my Master of Arts in School Counseling from Gardner-Webb University.  I moved to Greensboro in 2014 and have been part of the CCA family since 2015.   I am married and have two beautiful daughters who attend Cornerstone as well. I enjoy spending time with my church family each week as well as my immediate family, parents, and in-laws.  I love working with students and parents to help them find information that will help them make decisions and choices regarding post secondary education.