BEC Senior Newsletter : simplebooklet.com

Message Vol. I. 8. 2025Bertie Early College High SchoolNewsletterSenior10 Most Common Senior Year MistakesAccording to Campus Explorer, these are the mostcommon mistakes students make during their senioryear. Stay focused and do not make them.Welcome Back!It’s senior year! Can you believe it? Wehave lots of work to do this year. Makesure you have a planner so you canmanage your time and responsibilities.Your focus this fall should be on yourcollege applications. My email isehuff@bertie.k12.nc.us. Please donot hesitate to contact me if you havequestions or need something. I am lookingforward to a great year!1. Skipping classes2. Thinking second-semester grades don’t count3. Falling for “Senioritis”4. Getting too overwhelmed5. Confusing your priorities6. Forgetting to study7. Mismanaging your time8. Daydreaming about your future too much9. Blowing off “less important” work10. Failing to use available resourcesMrs. E. Huff, Counselor at BECHS

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US News & WorldReportAccording to US News & World Report, here aresome suggestions for how to choose the rightcollege for you:1. Develop your short list2. Rank your priorities3. Don’t procrastinate4. Revisit your school5. Focus on your endgame6. Delve into departments7. Investigate job connections8. Compare financial aid awards9. Compromise10. Move on if you get rejected Time management Good study habits The ability to set attainable goals Concentration Good note-taking Completion of assignments Review of daily notes Organizational skills Motivation CommitmentBe aware of deadlines. Put thought in youressays. See me for official transcripts.Do not wait until the last minute to ask fortranscripts or recommendations. Make sureyour spelling is correct. I will be happy toproof.College ApplicationsAccording to Family Education,these are the top 10 skills for highschool students:

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ScholarshipsThis newsletter will list the available scholarships. There are other resources that list national scholarships that areavailable. I have included a list of resources for scholarships that are located online in this newsletter. You cannot winor receive a scholarship unless you apply. I am happy to assist you with scholarships, essays, and interview tips.Listed below are the current scholarships that are available, the requirements, and deadlines.1. The Gates Scholarship – This is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship foroutstanding high school seniors from low-income households. Selected recipients willreceive funding for the full cost of attendance to earn a bachelor’s degree that is notcovered by other financial aid. To be eligible, you must be a high school senior, Pell-grant eligible, a US citizen or permanent resident, and in good academic standing witha minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale. Additionally, a student mustplan to enroll full-time in a four-year degree program at a US-accredited not-for-profit,private, or public college or university. An ideal candidate will be in the top 10% ofhis/her graduating class, demonstrate leadership ability, and exceptional personalsuccess skills. Go to www.thegatesscholarship.org to apply. Deadline: September 15, 20252. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation - This program awards achievement-based scholarships tostudents in their senior year of high school. Students are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve,as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities. 150 Coca-Cola Scholars will be selected to receive this $20,000 scholarship. Applicants must be currently enrolledhigh school students in one of the 50 US states, DC, Puerto Rico, or select DoD schools who willgraduate high school during the 2025-2026 academic school year, be US citizens, US nationals, USpermanent residents, refugees, asylees, Cuban-Haitian entrants, or humanitarian parolees based onguidelines utilized by the US Department of Education for Federal Financial Aid Eligibility, are expectedto receive a high school diploma during the current academic year, be planning to pursue a degree at anaccredited US post-secondary institution, and be able to verify a minimum overall B/3.0 GPA in highschool coursework. Go to www.coca colascholarsfoundation.org/apply/ to apply. Deadline: September 30, 2025

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Scholarships3. The Morehead-Cain – UNC-Chapel Hill’s premier scholarship program andthe first merit scholarship program established in the United States. Theselection criteria include leadership, scholarship, moral force of character, andphysical vigor. Students may self-nominate for this scholarship. It is highlycompetitive. Go to www.moreheadcain.org to apply. Deadline: October 1, 20254. The Park Scholarship – NCSU - $120,000. The Park ScholarshipsProgram provides a four-year scholarship to NCSU. It is awarded on the basis of outstandingaccomplishments and potential in scholarship, leadership, service, and character. You musthave a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.8, be a US citizen, permanent resident of the US, orgraduating from a high school located in the US, regardless of citizenship status, and apply forfall, first-year admission into a baccalaureate program at NCSU. Other information and theapplication are available online. Go to parkscholars@ncsu.edu to apply. Deadline: November 1, 2025

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Scholarships5. The Robertson Scholars Program – UNC or Duke - $248,000. The Robertson Scholars Program is a merit- based scholarship at UNC-CH orDuke. Robertson Scholars are intellectual,purposeful, ethical, and collaborative.Financial need, state residency, and citizenship are not considered in theselection process. Students must either apply to Duke or UNC-CH by theirdeadlines. Applications will be online in September. Go to:www.robertsonscholars.org to apply.Deadline: November 15, 20256. North Carolina Teaching Fellows – This program allow you to study at one of the tenselect educator preparation programs in the state. Recipients receive up to $5,000 persemester in financial aid and be supported by the New Teacher Support Program.Applicants must have the following eligibility criteria: Be accepted to enroll in an approvededucator preparation program at one of the ten Teaching Fellows partner institutions, be a NChigh school senior, have a minimum unweighted high school GPA of 3.0, and be willing toteach in a STEM, special education, or elementary (K-6) education licensure area in a NCpublic school, traditional or charter. Teaching Fellows awards are forgivable loans. Applicationswill open in October 2025

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Scholarships7. The Cooke College ScholarshipProgram – This is an undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achievinghigh school seniors with financial need who seek to attend and graduate from thenation’s best four-year colleges and universities. As much as $55,000 is provided peryear. To be eligible, you must complete four years of high school in the US and plan tograduate in spring 2026, intend to enroll in an accredited four-year college beginning fall2026, earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.75 or above, submit standardized testscore(s) from either the SAT, ACT, AP, or IB exam, and demonstrate unmet financial need(the foundation will consider applicants with family annual gross income up to $95,000).Applications are now open. Go to www.jkcf.org to apply. Deadline: November 12, 20258. Ron Brown Scholar Program –Each year, up to twenty-five students will be designated Ron Brown Scholars and will receive$10,000 annually for four years for a total of $40,000. To be eligible, applicants must be U.S.citizens or permanent residents, be Black/African American, and be current high schoolseniors at the time of their application. Applicants should demonstrate academic achievement,exhibit leadership ability, participate in community service activities, and demonstrate financialneed. Applications should open in September. Go to www.ronbrown.org to apply. Deadline: December 1, 2025

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Tip For WritingEssaysBertie Early CollegeAccording to the Princeton Review, hereare some tips for writing a stellar collegeapplication essay –1. Write about something that isimportant to you.2. Don’t just recount, reflect!3. Being funny is tough, so becareful.4. Start early and write severaldrafts.5. No repeats. Do not list yourawards or discuss your grades ortest scores here.6. Answer the question being asked.7. Have at least one other personedit your essay.1. Improve your note-taking skills2. Exercise critical reading skills3. Practice reading difficult books andchaptersStudy Tips for SeniorsFAFSA1. Create an account and get a Federal Student Aid(FSA) ID. You can use this ID right away to submityour first FAFSA form, but to use your FSA ID foranything else, you will have to wait up to threedays for your information to be verified by theSocial Security Administration.2. Fill out the FAFSA.3. Once you submit your FAFSA, you can check itsstatus to make sure it has been processed.4. You will receive a report with a summary of theinformation you entered on your FAFSA form.Review it and make any corrections by the duedate.5. Go to www.usa.gov/fafsa to begin.6. The deadline for submitting the 2025-26 FAFSAis June 30, 2026.7. Let me know if you need help.Military: Army: www.goarmy.com Navy: www.navy.com>Joining AF: www.airforce.com>HowtojoinColleges and Community Colleges:www.cfnc.orgScholarships:www.cfnc.orgwww.collegeboard.orgwww.fastweb.comFinancial Aid:www.cfnc.orghttps://studentaid.govContact Mrs. Huff:ehuff@bertie.k12.nc.usSENIOR RESOURCESSave The DateOctober 20 – 26CollegeApplicationWeekGO FALCONS!

BEC Senior Newsletter