Financial Aid

• Each University/College has their own deadlines for financial aid and scholarships. Educate yourself on these dates for your schools of choice.
  
• The earlier you get your Financial Aid and Scholarship applications in, the better.
• While you are finding the deadlines for your schools, also look at their scholarship application information. Many high dollar scholarships through Universities expire before January 1st of your Senior year.
• The Texas priority deadline for the FAFSA this year is January 15
• Below are some videos with more information about the Financial Aid Process and the different Types of Federal Student Aid

Most students qualify to fill out the FAFSA

FAFSA Page to determine eligibility: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/eligibility

Information about the TASFA: https://texasoncourse.org/tools/tasfa/

• TASFA eligibility requires a different process
• For more information about the TASFA please see the website above or come by the Go Center.

You can do this before October 1st, it needs to be completed prior to submitting your FAFSA. Make sure you have one for the student and one for the parent who is also signing the FAFSA. https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/fsaid

• Determine if you are a dependent or independent student (most high school students are dependents) https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/dependency
• Gather the documentation you need before you fill out the FAFSA. https://fafsa.ed.gov/help/before003.htm
• Determine which parent or parents you will report on your FAFSA. https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/parent-info
  

For instructions to fill out the TASFA if you qualify click on this link: http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/index.cfm?ObjectID=699A998A-E7F3-1DCC-3F460F26136EEA05

If you are filling out the FAFSA https://fafsa.ed.gov/, see the video below.

New this year, you can also fill out the FAFSA from the myStudentAid App, for more information click the link: https://financialaidtoolkit.ed.gov/tk/announcement-detail.jsp?id=fafsa-mobile-options

In order for schools to receive your financial aid application, you have to list them on the FAFSA/TASFA. You can list up to 10 schools at a time. Schools will take the information and develop a financial aid package for you. You can send this before your applications are finished, it is better to send as soon as possible.

Some schools require students to fill out the CSS profile in addition to or in place of the FAFSA.

• Follow this link to see if any of your schools require the CSS Profile: https://profile.collegeboard.org/profile/ppi/participatingInstitutions.aspx
  
• For more information about the CSS Profile: https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/

• Federal Student Aid Page from the Department of Education https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/
  
• College for All Texans: http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/
  
• FSA ID Page https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm
• FAFSA Application Page https://fafsa.ed.gov/
• Go Center Page https://www.gcisd.net/cms/one.aspx?pageId=189741
• Texas OnCourse https://texasoncourse.org/students-and-families/goal-finances/

Each university or school is different when it comes to scholarships, we encourage you to educate yourself early in your fall semester about the rules for each of the schools you are applying to. Many of the larger sums of money are awarded before January 1st. There are also major-specific scholarships that can become available after you are admitted. If students need assistance finding this information, they may make an appointment with the Go Center.

Local Scholarships are posted on the district scholarship page, these are updated weekly as they are submitted by the awarding entity: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR-zhT5k01JIYKxIE8-wGRGWxHOuiRz7_2ddW7BSswY-suv49Qg4e-F2B1VPRFjtgGMvqMBZja_BKF5/pub

State and National Scholarships are on a link at the bottom of the above page, you must be logged into your district student google account to access this page.

We are here to help, for one-on-one assistance, there are a variety of options, please see below for how you can get more help with college and career planning, financial aid, and etc.

If you and your student would like to work with a financial specialist from TCC, we will have a FAFSA lab on October 30th in the Library at GHS during GCISD College and Career Night. Be sure to bring all of the documents you will need to fill out the FAFSA, or you can stop by and ask questions.

If you are the first in your family to go to college please make an appointment with the Go Center or your school counselor for help with the college and financial aid application process.

For student individual appointments with the Go Center, please click on the school-specific link below.

GHS Go Center - https://goo.gl/forms/CXgnMVVKXBe47pBt1

CHHS Go Center - https://goo.gl/forms/zQkXQmhRqbUxyHr62

For student individual appointments with a Counselor, please click on the link below for your school.

GHS Counseling - https://ghs.gcisd.net/resources/counseling/counseling_staff/

CHHS Counseling - https://chhs.gcisd.net/cms/One.aspx?portalId=100244&pageId=1202305

Collegiate Academy - Please email your counselor molly.miller@gcisd.net

Bridges Accelerated Learning Center - Please email your counselor chansi.shope@gcisd.net

The content in this newsletter is for information purposes only. Parents and Students are urged to use their judgment when revealing their personal information on the internet. GCISD does not guarantee that by following these steps, that students will receive federal aid.