Helpful Tips about the Application Process

College and Financial Aid Season is Upon Us! Here are some helpful tips: 

Applications:

Deadlines: Try to have all of your college applications finished by the end of October. This way you’ll be able to meet all the deadlines for scholarships within those universities. You technically still have time after that, but this is a good deadline to try to meet.

To apply: Create an application on ApplyTexas (Texas schools) https://www.applytexas.org/  or Common App (out-of-state schools) https://www.commonapp.org/  . Be sure to include all extracurricular activities and volunteer work since 9^th grade. Remember the first application takes the longest. Once you finish one application, you can copy it to other applications. Have an adult you trust look over your application before you submit it to check for mistakes. Some good adult choices are Mrs. Stanley, Ms. W, office staff, teachers, parents, or older siblings who’ve gone to college. If there’s an essay, always take it seriously and do your best. This can determine admission or scholarships. Mrs. Stanley or one of your teachers can help you with essays if you are having trouble. Not all schools require them, but most of the fancy ones do. After you submit your application, you will probably receive an email from the university with further instructions. ALWAYS READ THESE EMAILS. Check your emails regularly during this time.

After you submit your application, you need to send three things TO EACH SCHOOL in order to complete your application:

-SAT scores- This is done completely by you. Log in to the College Board website. Click on My Sat and view scores. Then, click on send scores to colleges. If you have a fee waiver in the system, sending your scores is free. If not, you have to pay $12 per send. Be sure to read carefully and choose the correct schools.

-application fee or fee waiver (depending on how much money your parents make, you may qualify for a fee waiver) Mrs. Stanley has this information, if you don’t already know. If you don’t qualify for a fee waiver, you will have to pay the fee for each school. Many of you have four free fee waivers from College Board. After you send your SAT scores, you will see a button that says, “View and Print your application fee waivers." Print those out, fill them out, and mail or upload to the universities you applied to. Almost every university accepts this type of fee waiver. Check each college’s website to see the way they want to receive fee waivers and what forms are required. If you have used all your College Board fee waivers and need one from Mrs. Stanley, check the type the school wants and print out a copy for Mrs. Stanley to sign. Come by her office. She does not have time to look up each individual school’s waiver type, so please come to her prepared.

-official transcript- This is done by Dr. Beronque only. To request a transcript, go to the Eastwood website and look towards the bottom right. Click on “Request transcript.” Be sure to include what school you need it for. Many schools can receive the transcripts electronically, which saves time.

Financial Aid:

FAFSA application opens October 1^st. This is the application you will fill out to receive financial aid if you are a U.S. citizen. All students should apply for financial aid even if you don’t think you will get anything. This is a requirement for most scholarships, even academic ones that aren’t based on income.

We will be having a financial aid workshop on October 8^th. Your parents are welcome to attend. You will be called out of the same class you were for the application workshop and can come during other classes (if teacher allows) or during off-campus.

If you are a citizen, you need to create an FSA ID https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm This is designed as a way to prove you are who you say you are so that you can sign your FAFSA electronically. You will need to know your social security number. If your parents are citizens, one of them must also create an FSA ID. Be sure to create these before October 8^th, if possible. It usually takes a few days for the FSA ID to be activated. If your parent is not a citizen, they won’t be able to create a FSA ID. You will have to print a signature page for them to sign and then mail that in to the FAFSA office.

In order to complete the FAFSA, you will need information from your parents. Try to get a copy of their 1090 form and ask them about any savings or retirement money. You need to be as honest as possible when completing the FAFSA so that you aren’t disqualified. You need to complete the FAFSA as things are today, not necessarily what they were like when you completed your taxes. Example: You have to include all who live with you. If your parent recently married and you have a step-father, you must include him on FAFSA.

Do not submit the FAFSA without talking with your parents and making sure everything is correct. Mrs. Stanley and Ms. W can help you make sure you filled it out correctly. When the FAFSA is completed properly, both you and one parent will sign the FAFSA with your FSA ID (electronic signature) or a paper signature page. A good deadline for FAFSA would be by the end of November.

Some of the fancy schools require a CSS profile. If you google it, you will find a lot of information on how to complete this. Mrs. Stanley is here to help. 

If you are not a citizen, you will complete a paper application called the TASFA. http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/reports/PDF/9963.PDF You will send copies of this to all universities you apply to. You will need the same information as needed for the FAFSA above, with the exception of social security number. There will be help for TASFA students at the workshop, as well.

Hope this helps. Feel free to email Mrs. Stanley or come by her office as needed.