Professional assistance in filling out FAFSA to be offered by Tusculum College in sessions at local high schools in October

Filling out the necessary financial forms for college can be challenging, and sessions are planned this month 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.

In past years the FAFSA dates have been in January, however, this year the FAFSA may be completed beginning October 1. According to the Federal Student Aid website the reason for the change was to align application and college decision cycles with federal aid. This is to allow students and parents to have more time to evaluate colleges, explore options and apply for all potential financial aid before the national decision deadline of May 1. 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.

Sessions will be held at all five high schools in Greene County:  Monday, Oct. 17 at Chuckey-Doak High School from 3-6 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 18 at North Greene High School from 3-6 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 24 at West Greene High School from 3-6 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 25 at South Greene High School from 3-6 p.m.; and Thursday, Oct. 27 at Greeneville High School from 5-7 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.

“Students and parents who are not familiar with the process can find the FAFSA and other financial forms puzzling, and we are looking forward to offering our assistance to these families,” said Melissa Ripley, executive director of enrollment management operations and traditional admission at the college. “Tusculum College is pleased to be able 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 no matter what school they choose to attend”.

Students and parents are asked to bring their 2015 tax returns if available to the event.

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 March 1 for 2017. 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.