Skip to main content

College/FAFSA

College Application Process

  • Complete the Apply Texas baseline application and send it to the college/colleges of your choice.   Students should consider sending one to Hill College (or other junior college) and one to each college they want to attend.
  • Students need to request their transcript be sent to the college/colleges they have applied to.  Once they have applied AND  have sent their transcript, they will wait to receive acceptance letters or emails from the college/colleges indicating they have been accepted. Otherwise, they will receive letters or emails telling them why they do not meet the college's admission criteria. Each college has its own timeline for this.  Check the college website for these dates.
  • Get a meningitis vaccine and send a copy of the shot record to the school.
  • Take the SAT if they will attend a 4-year college and send the scores to the college.
  • All male students must register for Selective Service after their 18th birthday.  
  • All students will need to take the TSI at the college they will attend unless they are exempt because of SAT scores (or other exemptions).

 

SAT

SAT test dates look at https://sat.collegeboard.org/register/sat-us-dates

 

TSI Study Guide

The Texas Success Initiative Assessment, better known as the TSI test, is a program which determines the appropriate level of college coursework for an incoming student. 

A student may purchase this to study.
https://store.collegeboard.org(opens external link in new window)

-Click on Accuplacer

-Then TSI web based study App-Texas version
-Select store

-Cost is $4.50 or no cost and it can be downloaded

 

*This information is from Hill College.
**TSI Texas Version study books can be purchased at bookstores and online bookstores.

 

FAFSA

COMPLETING THE FAFSA

In January of each year the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) became available.  Completing the FAFSA is critical to getting access to more than $134 billion in grants, loans, and work-study funds.  Moreover, it is free, quick (on average, taking about 20 minutes!), and easy.

To make sure that students do not leave money on the table, the Department has prepared a number of blog posts:

·         5 Reasons You Should Complete the FAFSA

·         7 Things You Need Before You Fill Out the FAFSA

·         6 Steps to Filling Out the FAFSA

·         Parents: Tips to Help Your Child Complete the FAFSA

·         7 Common FAFSA Mistakes

·         7 Common Myths about Financial Aid

 

 

Top 5 Questions about FAFSA

  • If you or your family has unusual circumstances (such as loss of employment, loss of benefits, death, or divorce), complete the FAFSA to the extent that you can and submit it as instructed. Then talk to the financial aid administrator (FAA) at the school you plan to attend. If your family’s circumstances have changed from the tax year 2012, the FAA may decide on a case-by-case basis to adjust data elements used to calculate your EFC. Any adjustment the FAA makes must relate only to your individual circumstances and not to any conditions that exist for a whole class of students. The FAA’s decision is final and cannot be appealed to the ED

  • You must answer Question 46 based on your marital status on the day you complete and sign your FAFSA. Answer “Yes” if you are married on the day you complete and sign your FAFSA, otherwise, answer “No.” When you apply in a subsequent year and remain married, you will file as a married student at that time. Before completing the FAFSA, contact your financial aid office, they may have some additional guidance.

  • Report the information of the parent with whom you lived the most during the 12 months preceding the date you completed the FAFSA. It does not make a difference which parent claims you as a dependent for tax purposes. If you did not live with either parent or lived equally with each parent, the parental information must be provided for the parent from whom you received the most financial support during the preceding 12 months or the parent from whom you received the most support the last time support was given.

  • Don’t wait until April. Many schools award aid on a first-come, first-served basis. Also, you may not be eligible for state aid if you wait until April to submit your FAFSA. Many state aid deadlines are early in the calendar year.