Governor Perdue Declares November 16-20 College Application Week; Students Across the State Set to Apply to College

Governor Perdue Declares November 16-20 College Application Week; Students
Across the State Set to Apply to College

RALEIGH. N.C., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Bev Perdue has
declared November 16-20, 2009, College Application Week in North Carolina.
With assistance from College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) and the
Carolinas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, more
than 380 high schools across the state will hold programs to help their high
school seniors apply to North Carolina colleges and universities using
CFNC.org. Special focus is being placed on students who may be the first in
their family to attend college and students who may not otherwise apply to
college.

During College Application Week, students can apply to any of the more than
110 North Carolina colleges and universities on CFNC.org and receive
assistance from on-site counselors. Thirty (30) of the 36 private
post-secondary institutions in North Carolina have agreed to waive their
normal application fees for North Carolina students who submit applications
this week. In addition, all 16 public University of North Carolina campuses
and the remaining six private institutions are waiving normal application fees
for students with demonstrated financial need. Eligible students may obtain a
College Board fee waiver from their high school counselor. Students who are
eligible for SAT fee waivers are usually eligible for application fee waivers,
as well. North Carolina's 58 community colleges do not charge application
fees.

"This is a golden opportunity for the high school senior who needs that final
nudge of encouragement to apply and find out that college really is possible,"
said Steve Brooks, executive director of the N.C. State Education Assistance
Authority. "College Application Week also provides an opportunity for them to
learn that CFNC provides a one-stop shop to find out about North Carolina
colleges and universities and to learn how to pay for college. Details about
state grants and how to apply for aid are also available on the site."

"If North Carolina is to compete and win in a knowledge-based global economy,
we have to get more of our citizens better educated," added UNC President
Erskine Bowles. "That means we have to provide the encouragement, financial
resources, and other kinds of support our young people need to go to college
and succeed academically. We hope all students, whether they are in middle
school or high school, are planning for college because there is a college or
university in North Carolina to fit the need of every high school graduate."

"The direction of North Carolina's future is determined by the education of
our children," said Gov. Perdue. "That's why it's imperative that we focus on
encouraging and assisting students in their college application process - so
that they're one step closer to getting a degree and obtaining the skills they
need to succeed anywhere in the world."

College Application Week began in 2006 as a pilot program at 15 high schools.
In 2008, it expanded to 293 high schools, with more than 19,000 students
submitting 38,000 online college applications. Now that the program has
expanded statewide, as many as 30,000 students could apply to college online
this week.

According to the N.C. Commission on Workforce Development, by 2014 North
Carolina will need more than 400,000 new workers with at least a bachelor's
degree to be competitive in the global economy.

For more information about planning , applying or paying for college, visit
www.CFNC.org or call toll-free 1-866-866-CFNC. Additional information on the
College Application Week event can be found at CFNC.org/CAW. School
counselors and staff can register their high school for College Application
Week at CFNC.org by selecting "Register for CFNC Events."

About CFNC

College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) is a free service of the State of
North Carolina that helps students plan, apply, and pay for college. CFNC is a
partnership of Pathways, the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority, and
College Foundation, Inc.
-- Pathways, created by the N.C. General Assembly in 1999, is a
state-wide
initiative to increase the college-going rate of North Carolinians by
providing: comprehensive college and career planning resources;
electronic applications and transcripts accepted by all 110 North
Carolina colleges and universities; and, information on student
financial aid and college affordability. Pathways is administered by
The
University of North Carolina General Administration in collaboration
with the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, the N.C. Community
College System, and the N.C. Independent Colleges and Universities.
-- The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA),
established in 1965, is the State agency that promotes access to
higher
education by administering financial aid and savings programs,
informing
students and families about paying for college, teaching educators
about
financial aid administration, and advocating for resources to support
students.

-- College Foundation, Inc. (CFI), a nonprofit corporation serving North
Carolina students and families since 1955, administers a portfolio of
more than $4 billion, including low-interest federal education loans,
the State's college grant programs, and the tax-free "529" college
savings program on behalf of the N.C. State Education Assistance
Authority. CFI also delivers information to North Carolina students
and
families about paying for college and provides technology services for
CFNC.org.

CFNC offers resources toll-free at 1-866-866-CFNC and at CFNC.org.

SOURCE College Foundation of North Carolina

Julia Conrad, +1-919-843-5875, jeconrad@northcarolina.edu, or Ben Kittner,
+1-919-835-2336, bkittner@cfi.org, both of College Foundation of North
Carolina