September 14, 2015

College Financial Aid Planning and TN Promise Announcement:

Seniors: You are eligible for the Tennessee Promise scholarship, which provides two years of tuition-free education at a community college or college of applied technology. Tennessee Promise is a last-dollar scholarship, which means it will cover all costs of tuition and mandatory fees after all gift aid (Pell, TELS, and TSAA) has been applied. As a Tennessee Promise student, you will also be paired with a partnering organization and a mentor who will support you during the college application process. Students must participate with the partnering organization to access Tennessee Promise dollars.

All interested students must apply for Tennessee Promise by November 2 at www.TNPromise.gov. Here is a table outlining important dates. College Planning & TN Promise Important Dates for DeKalb County High School Students

Early Fall 2014 Seniors need to apply to colleges by each college’s scholarship and admission deadlines. Please visit the web pages of the colleges of your choice for deadlines and application procedures. Some deadlines are as early as November 1 and some applications are lengthy and require essays. Please do not procrastinate. If you need help, please sign up to attend one of our College App Week events. Seniors are also encouraged to visit college campuses. Fall Break would be a great time to do this. Most colleges host daily campus tours and information sessions and many host Saturday events. Please visit the admission office websites of colleges you are interested in to register.

Throughout the school year Students need to regularly visit the DCHS Counseling Department website at http://dchs.dekalbschools.net/? PageName='Guidance Information on scholarships and other opportunities will be posted here.

Justin Potter Library TN Promise Scholars’ Computer Time TN Promise Registration Please contact Justin Potter Library at 615-597-4359 at least one day in advance to reserve a computer for TN Promise sign-up.

Fall semester for seniors and Juniors and seniors are encouraged to take the ACT and/or the SAT more than one time in order to achieve throughout the school year for other their best score. Juniors will take the ACT for free one time during the school year in the spring of their junior students year. Juniors and seniors demon starting economic need can take the ACT and SAT for free two times. Please see Mrs. Myrick for the fee waiver forms. Students can register for the ACT at actstudent.org and for the SAT at sat.org/register.

Practice tests and registration flyers are available in the counseling office.

Saturday, September 26 Motlow State Community College McMinnville, Moore Co., Smyrna, and Fayetteville Campuses -TN Promise 10:00AM - 2:00 PM and Motlow Community College application workshop. Students who attend this event will receive assistance Motlow TN Promise Scholarship with completing their TN Promise and Motlow applications. Please bring your social security card if you have Saturday it to ensure that you enter the correct number and name as it appears on your card. This is sometimes an issue and creates delays in financial aid awards. Pizza provided.

Saturday, September 26 The Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) in McMinnville is also hosting TN Promise Saturday on 9:00AM-1:00PM Sept. 26. TCAT McMinnville TN Promise Scholarship Saturday Students can learn about and receive assistance completing applications to TCAT and TN Promise. Pizza Provided.

September 28 Mrs. Myrick with DCHS, Sam Mullins with TSAC, Jim Gray with TTU, Mike Garrison and Tammy Love with TCAT McMinnville, and Jonathan Graham with MSCC will host the annual DCHS College Planning and Financial Aid Night. We encourage all students regardless of grade level to attend this event with parents. We will discuss 5:30PM college application, financial aid, scholarships, TN Lottery Scholarship, TN Promise Scholarship, and other types of state and federal financial aid. Students in lower grades need to attend this event in order to avoid DCHS Cafeteria being overwhelmed at the beginning of the senior year.

Thursday, October 1 – Scholarship / Any senior who is not enrolled in Mrs. Parker’s English classes this semester who would like to sit in on this College Essay Lab – Mrs. Walteen lesson is welcome to sign up to attend during 1st or 5th blocks. Mrs. Parker and Mrs. Myrick will co-teach a Parker’s Classroom – 1st and 5th lesson on how to write a well-written scholarship essay. A well written essay greatly increases your chances Blocks of winning a scholarship. Please take advantage of this assistance. Please sign up in the counseling office.

Friday - October 2 – College / TN The counselors along with Sam Mullins from TSAC and Jonathan Graham from MSCC will set up a Promise Application Lab - Library college/technical college applications lab in the library. Students may come to the lab during the school day 1-5th Blocks for assistance with college applications. In order to provide better service to students and gage how many volunteers we need, we are asking that you come to the counseling office and sign up for a time-slot. If anyone needs assistance with the TN Promise Application, we can also help you at this time. We will have computers available for student use, but feel free to bring your own computer.

October 6- 3:00-6:00 PM Free college application assistance. DCHS counselors and Jim Gray from TTU will be in the library during the DCHS Library parent-teacher conference for students who need help with college and/or TN Promise applications. Please sign up in the counseling office.

October 20 The Upper Cumberland College Fair is going to be held on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 from 8:30AM-12:30PM Upper Cumberland College Fair at the TTU Hyder-Burks Agricultural Pavilion in Cookeville. Students may attend this free event. This is an 8:30AM-12:30PM opportunity for students to meet with college and military representatives. If you need directions, please visit the counseling office or you can look them up online. The address is, 2390 Gainesboro Grade, Cookeville, TN TTU Hyder-Burks Agricultural Pavilion 38501-7748. Students need to register online for this event and print their ticket. To register please visit Cookeville www.gotocollegefairs.com November 2 TN Promise Application Deadline. Students need to apply at www.TNPromise.gov

November 19 2:00PM -DCHS Ann Massa with TN Achieves will meet with all seniors who applied for the TN Promise program.

January 1 2016-17 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Application opens. Students are encouraged to complete their FAFSAs as soon as possible at www.fafsa.gov Some types of aid such as the Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA) are on a first- come/first-serve basis for eligible students. Students and parents can estimate 2015 income in order to complete the application early. Once parents and students if applicable complete their 2015 Federal Income Tax Returns, they must go back into their FAFSAs and update the income information.

January 1 Students can start their 8 hours of community service for TN Promise.

TN Promise Volunteer Opportunities Justin Potter Library (101 S. 1st Street, Smithville TN) welcomes TN Promise volunteers year round to assist at Justin Potter Library with library operations and special events. Please stop by or contact the library at 615-597-4359 at least one week in advance to schedule your volunteer hours.

January 5 MANNDATORY TN Promise Student Team Meeting. All students who signed up for the TN Promise program 5:30PM are REQUIRED to attend this meeting in order to remain TN Promise eligible. DCHS Cafeteria

January 11 5:30-7:30PM FAFSA Workshop. Students who have not completed their FAFSAs because they need assistance are invited DCHS Cafeteria to attend this workshop.

February 15, 2016 Must have FAFSA Completed by this date.

March 15 5:30PM MANDATORY TN Promise Student Team Meeting. All students who signed up for the TN Promise program are DCHS Cafeteria REQUIRED to attend this meeting in order to remain TN Promise eligible.