Advisors are vital to ensuring that students complete the Senior Program successfully, and this role provides tremendous support that is key to the success of our students Advisors receive individualized assistance as they guide students through the college admission and financial aid processes.
Advisor Support
● A team of Crosby Scholars staff members available to guide you:
○ Ashly Wilson, Assistant Director of Financial Aid and Advising awilson@crosbyscholars org
○ Barbara Masi, Director of Advising and Strategic Integration bmasi@crosbyscholars org
○ Cindy Zimmerman, Self-Selected Advisor Specialist czimmerman@crosbyscholars org
○ Mary Allen Conforti, Junior/Senior Program Coordinator maconforti@crosbyscholars.org
○ Molly Thomas, Financial Aid Specialist mthomas@crosbyscholars org
● Destinationcollege2024: monthly program newsletters sent via email to advisors beginning in February
● Smart Money Moves: monthly financial aid newsletter sent via email mid-month to advisors beginning in August
● Monthly Zoom Calls with Cindy Zimmerman to review conference notes, admission and financial aid topics, and senior timeline
● Self-Selected Advisor Specialist who reads and answers questions to the conference notes you submit
● Monthly timelines featuring important program and admission deadlines sent via email
● Senior Academies in-person or via virtual platforms that advisors are welcome to attend with or without their advisees
● Financial Aid Appointments with Parents: the opportunity for parents to meet individually with Ashly Wilson and their scholar to complete and submit financial aid forms such as Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and CSS Profile and then to interpret student financial aid awards
● Scholarship Appointments with Parents: the opportunity for parents to meet individually with Ashly Wilson and their scholar to identify funding opportunities including applying for Crosby Scholars Program scholarships
● Finish the FAFSA Initiative with Parents: parents are given the opportunity to consent to releasing their student’s FAFSA completion and submission status to the Program so Ashly Wilson can support families selected for verification or to address any issues with successful submission.
Responsibilities
● Submit all sets of conference notes on-time
● Guide student to complete all Program requirements on-time (these are outlined on the back cover of the roadmap)
● Using the academy pathways document, assist the scholar in identifying the academies that best fit their needs
● Meet with my student individually at least monthly, or more often if necessary to complete and submit online conference notes by the published deadline
● Assist the student with meeting deadlines and communicating with colleges
● Collaborate with Crosby Scholars staff in seeking to answer students’ questions with up-to-date, accurate information
● Help student navigate the college admission and financial aid processes
● Connect the student and family with the Crosby Scholars Assistant Director of Financial Aid and Advising, as needed
● Assist the student with identifying and completing community service opportunities
● Help the Program to maintain a 100% high school graduation rate
● Encourage the student to participate in the many FREE services offered by the Senior Program; we have highlighted a few below
○ College Application labs: the opportunity to complete college applications under the guidance of Crosby Scholars Senior Program staff members
○ Essay Writing: admission/scholarship essays reviewed by trained volunteers
○ Mock Interviews: virtual sessions with trained volunteers
○ Residency Determination Service (RDS) and FAFSA labs: the opportunity to complete the RDS online interview and FAFSA under the guidance of the Financial Aid Team
○ FAFSA Academies: the opportunity to learn about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the importance of meeting priority filing deadlines
○ Individual FAFSA Appointments: submit a FAFSA under the guidance of the Crosby Scholars Assistant Director of Financial Aid and Advising
○ How to Apply for a Crosby Scholarship: learn the steps to complete the 30+ Crosby Scholarships from the Crosby Scholars Financial Aid Team and Crosby Scholars Scholarship Handbook
○ Smart Borrowing Loan Workshop: the opportunity to learn about student loans and the importance of borrowing only what you need