Professional assistance in filling out FAFSA to be offered by Tusculum at local high schools in January

Filling out the necessary financial forms for college can be challenging, and sessions are planned in January to provide assistance to high school students and their parents with this important step in preparing for higher education.

A series of “FAFSA Frenzy” programs have been scheduled by Tusculum College to help families find answers to their questions about the financial aid process as well as receive assistance with completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) forms that are required as a first step in the process to receive financial aid, including the Tennessee Promise program. Sessions are scheduled at each of the local high schools in Greene County.

Professionals from Tusculum College’s Financial Aid staff will provide their professional assistance at each of these “FAFSA Frenzy” events as a community service. The events are open to all high school students, not only those who may be interested in attending Tusculum.

The FAFSA Frenzy events are scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 13, at South Greene High School from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, Jan. 15, at Chuckey-Doak High School from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Jan. 20, at West Greene High School from 3:30 to 6 p.m.; Thursday, Jan. 22, at North Greene High School from 4 to 6 p.m., and Monday, Jan. 27 at Greeneville High School from 5 to 7 p.m.

The events will have a “drop in” format, and students and their families are welcome to come by anytime during the scheduled period to receive assistance. In case of school closures due to inclement weather on any of these days, the events will be rescheduled.

“Filling out the FAFSA and other financial forms can be puzzling to students and parents who are not familiar with the process, and we are pleased to be able to offer our assistance to these families,” said Melissa Ripley, executive director of enrollment management operations and residential admission at the college. “Tusculum College is pleased to provide this service to our community and share our expertise with students and their parents as they prepare for this important step in their lives.”

Students and parents are asked to bring their 2014 tax returns if available to the event.  If the 2014 tax return is not available, students and parents should bring their year-end paystubs, w-2 forms, and the 2013 federal income tax return.

FAFSA forms are used to determine eligibility for federal and state funds such as Pell grants, Stafford loans, PLUS loans work-study programs and the Tennessee Promise program, and must be completed each academic year for which a student wishes to seek aid.

Students and parents are encouraged to apply for financial aid as soon as possible. The deadline for the Tennessee Student Assistance Award is Feb. 1 for 2015. Tusculum’s Financial Aid Office recommends that students apply as quickly as possible to assure that their applications will be considered for aid types that typically become limited or exhausted long before school begins in August.

For more information about FAFSA Frenzy, please contact Ripley at 636-7374 or mripley@tusculum.edu or contact one of the Financial Aid counselors at 636-7377 or financialaid@tusculum.edu.