Contact college of your choice to ask about visits!

Know before you go!

• Research the college. Contact the admission office or click on prospective students on the college website for more information. Talk to alumni, if possible.
• Schedule your trip. Find out how often college tours run and if you have to sign up in advance. Get a map of the school before you go. This will save you time! If an interview is suggested, make an appointment. You might also want to meet with the financial aid advisor.
• Take a camera and notebook. You may think you'll remember everything, but you'll be surprised how colleges start to merge after you've seen a few.
• Understand what's important to you. Will you feel overwhelmed in a large lecture hall? Check out class size. Do you want to join a sorority or fraternity? See what the Greek system is like on campus. Is there a major you have your heart set on? Talk to current students or professors in that department.

What's so important about campus visits?

You can't judge a school by its brochure. To get a feel for the school, you need to walk around, sit in on a class, and visit the dorms.

Get answers to your questions.

• Are lecture halls large, or are the classes small and interactive.
• Is the food in the dining hall decent?
• Is there ample space in the dorms?
• What's the social life like?
• Does it revolve around the Greek system?
• What do the students wear?
• What's the diversity really like?
• Do I feel at home here?
• Is this what I pictured college to be?
• Does everyone go home on the weekends?

Get valuable information. Pick up any official material you see, such as brochures and financial aid forms. Get business cards so you'll have a real, live contact if you have questions about admission or financial aid. Look for student newspapers and activity calendars. Check out bulletin boards for upcoming activities.

Is this college right for you? Listen to your gut feeling. Do you feel comfortable walking around? Do you click with the students and faculty?

What if you can't visit a college campus?

• Find the college online. You can locate loads of information about colleges using collegeboard.com's College Search. Submit your preferences and you'll receive a list of matching colleges.
• Take a virtual tour. Most college Web sites have pictures and many have an interactive campus map. Others offer you simulations of their regular tour in which you're lead to different parts of the campus.
• Contact current students or alumni. Most college sites allow you to contact people who really know the school. You can find a student or alumnus through the college's e-mail directory or white pages. Some sites even have live chat rooms for prospective students to talk to current students.
• Find out academic information. Read a syllabus of the classes in which you are interested. Find the academic calendar.

• Research policies and services. Find the campus handbook online. This will contain information about academic rules and conduct. Find the student services section. This will have information about housing, career planning, counseling, and financial aid.

• Check out newspapers. Look at both the school's and the community's. You'll get a sense of issues, activities, safety, and even the local weather.

Bottom Line

You determine what experience you'll have a college. You need to evaluate who you are, places you like, the activities you enjoy, and how well you adapt to new situations 

Financial aid guide for minority students  http://www.onlineschools.org/financial-aid/minority/

SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid http://www.finaid.org/ 
This resource is an expanded and updated list of financial aid resources for minority students, and includes easy-to-navigate scholarship listings for specific minority groups:

• African American Students
• Hispanic and Latino Students
• Native American Students
• Pacific Islander Students
• Undocumented Students

TCC students that declare the first semester that they are going to UTA they can have their tuition frozen for 48 months!)

FAFSA 

• The new 2021-22 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (including the ready-to-use IRS Data Retrieval Tool) is now available.
• Even if your state and school deadlines aren't for a while, you should complete the FAFSA form as soon as possible because some states and schools run out of financial aid early and have limited funds.
• Don't wait until the last minute to apply!
• Make sure you have all the information and documents you need to submit your application. This includes Social Security numbers, income tax returns, bank statements, and more.

Colleges and universities use the FAFSA to determine if a student is eligible for grants, work-study, and loans. These are not available without filling out the FAFSA. Eligibility is based on financial need and the cost to attend college. Financial need is based on W-2's and income tax information from the previous year. It is best to fill it out as early as you can because some aid is first-come, first served.

The U. S. Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid provides: 
Grants, free money that does not have to be repaid, Loans, a real loan (like a car or home loan) that needs to be repaid with interest, and Work-Study Jobs, an opportunity to earn money to help pay your education expenses.

Pay attention to the deadlines! There are federal and state deadlines, and your colleges may also have a deadline. Check with your school to see if they have a deadline. Don't miss out on money because you were slow.

Filing Options

 Other FAFSA Filing Options - FAFSA on the Web - Federal Student Aid

You may choose any of these three methods to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):

• Login to apply online (Recommended) or
• Complete a PDF FAFSA (Note: PDF FAFSAs must be mailed for processing) or
• Request a paper FAFSA by calling us at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or 334-523-2691. If you are hearing impaired, contact the TTY line at 1-800-730-8913.

Complete a PDF FAFSA

Select the school year for which you are applying for financial aid. For example, to be considered for federal student aid for the 2021-2022 award year, you can complete a 2021-2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)between now and Midnight Central Time, June 30, 2021. Any corrections or updates must be submitted by midnight Central Time, September 11, 2021. If you plan to attend college between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, click The 2021-2022 School Year (July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022). If you are applying for a summer session, check with your college to verify which application you should complete.

The PDF FAFSA is available for you to print and fill out manually or is screen-fillable. Screen-fillable means you can enter your data on the screen before printing. If you choose this option you will not be able to save your data to your PC.

SAT I, SAT II, ACT: WHICH SHOULD I TAKE?

SAT I:

• 3.5 hour test, measures writing, verbal and math reasoning skills
• take in spring of junior year and/or fall of senior year
• penalized for wrong answers
• scores on each section range from 200-800 points
• can retake test to improve scores
• web site: www.collegeboard.com (new page)

SAT II:

• 1 hour test that assesses mastery in a particular field
• 22 tests offered in 5 subject areas
• scores based on 800 point scale
• take as soon as you finish relevant course work
• not required for all colleges; check with your college of choice
• web site: www.collegeboard.com
• SAT Dates and Deadlines. click here

ACT:

• 3 hour exam, 215 questions, measures achievement in English, math, reading, and science
• take in spring of junior year and/or fall of senior year
• not penalized for wrong answers
• scores on each section are averaged to create a composite score; 36 is perfect
• harder questions are worth same amount as easy ones; answer easy ones first
• web site: www.act.org

In Texas, either SAT or the ACT are REQUIRED to attend a four year college or university. For all other colleges, check the admission requirements. This can be done on the internet.

SAT Reasoning or ACT college entrance exams are acceptable to most colleges and may be taken more than once. Students will register on-line with a credit card at www.collegeboard.com for SAT Reasoning or at www.act.org for the ACT. Colleges require the writing portion and this is an extra charge on the ACT. The dates, times, locations, and costs are on the websites. Please see your school counselor for the CEEB or High School Code. (There are fee exemptions for these tests for students receiving free or reduced lunches. Please see your counselor.)

What is the SAT?

http://sat.collegeboard.org/about-tests/sat

 

COST of SAT $50, and must be paid when registering, there are fee waivers available through your school counselor.

The SAT is a globally recognized college admission test that lets you show colleges what you know and how well you can apply that knowledge. It tests your knowledge of reading, writing and math — subjects that are taught every day in high school classrooms. Most students take the SAT during their junior or senior year of high school, and almost all colleges and universities use the SAT to make admission decisions.

Taking the SAT is the first step in finding the right college for you — the place where you can further develop your skills and pursue your passions. But SAT scores are just one of many factors that colleges consider when making their admission decisions. High school grades are also very important. In fact, the combination of high school grades and SAT scores is the best predictor of your academic success in college. The test is offered 7 times a year in the U.S.

Register for the SAT

Get test dates, registration information and more at:

http://sat.collegeboard.org/register/

 

When to Take the SAT

Most students take the SAT during their junior or senior year of high school. At least half of all students take the SAT twice — in the spring as a junior and in the fall as a senior. Most students improve their score the second time they take the SAT. Learn more about when to take the SAT.

 

 

Register Online

The quickest and easiest way to register is online:

• Choose your test date and test center in real time.
• Receive immediate registration confirmation.
• Get 24-hour access to registration for printing or correcting your Admission Ticket.

 

Say "Yes" to Student Search Service®

Help colleges find you before you apply. When you say "yes" to Student Search Service, we'll send some of your information to colleges, giving them the opportunity to reach out to you — a potential new student. Learn more about Student Search Service.

 

 

Register by Mail

You need to register by mail if you:

• Pay by check or money order (payable to "The College Board").
• Are younger than 13 years old.
• Register for Sunday testing for the first time due to a religious observance.
• Request that we open a test center nearer to your home.
• Cannot upload a digital photo as part of the online registration process.

To register by mail, you need The Paper Registration Guide for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests, which is available from your school counselor. The Guide includes a registration form and return envelope.

When filling out the form, you may need a College Board code number for college majors, college and scholarship programs, test centers or high schools. To find these numbers, use our Code Search tool or the code list from your counselor.

 

Photo Requirements

You must submit a photo with your registration for the SAT. The photo you provide will become part of your Admission Ticket. Learn more about photo requirements.

Home-Schooled Student Registration

Home-schooled students can register online or by mail. When prompted for a high school code, enter: 970000.

Students schooled at home who do not have acceptable photo identification should download and print out a Student ID Form. Complete the form and take it to a notary public for validation. A current photo must be attached to the form, in the area indicated, before the form is notarized. This form must be dated and is good for only one year.

You will be asked to sign the Student ID Form again at the test center.

School ID Form

Your school can prepare an ID form for you. This form must include a recognizable photo, and the school seal must overlap the photo. Sign the ID form in the presence of your counselor or principal. You will be asked to sign the ID form again at the test center. This form must be dated and is good for only one year.

Photo Requirements

How to upload your registration photo

You must submit a photo with your registration for the SAT. The photo you provide will become part of your Admission Ticket. You will be asked to upload a digital photo during online registration. Your appearance in the photo must match how you will look on the day of the test or you will not be admitted to the test.

Note: You are not required to provide a photo if you are in the 8th grade or below.

Examples of acceptable photos

Examples of non-acceptable photos

Choosing an Acceptable Photo

1. Your passport-type or wallet-sized photo (sized from 2 x 2 up to 2.5 x 3 inches) must be at least 640 x 480 pixels.
2. The photo must:
   • Be properly focused
   • Not have discernible pixels or be grainy
   • Be correctly exposed (brightness and contrast)
   • Be taken in full-face view, directly facing the camera
   • Be clear enough so there is no doubt about your identity
   • Not be too dark or too light, with no shadows or glare on your face
   • Not show an outdated "look" for you (e.g., facial hair that you no longer have, a new and different hair length or color)
   • Not show other people in addition to you
3. Your appearance in the photo must match how you will look on the day of the test.
4. Do not wear a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline, unless worn daily for a religious purpose. Your full face must be visible, and any head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.
5. If you normally wear prescription glasses, a hearing device or similar articles, they may be worn for your photo.
6. Sunglasses or glare on eyeglasses is not acceptable in your photo. Glare can be avoided with a slight downward tilt of the glasses or by removing the glasses or by turning off the camera flash.
7. File format must in one of the following:
   • .jpg
   • .gif
   • .png

Registering by Paper

If you are registering by paper, attach an acceptable photo to your Registration Form in the area provided in Item 24. Do not use a laminated photo (such as on an ID card). Write your full name, date of birth and high school code on the back of your photo, and then tape all four edges of the photo to the form, using transparent tape. Take care not to obscure your face or hair on the photo, or any of the information you have filled in on the Registration Form. Do not use paper clips, staples or glue.

The Texas Legislature established the TEXAS (Towards EXcellence, Access and Success) Grant to make sure that deserving high school graduates with financial need could go to college.

The TEXAS Grant, in combination with other aid, pays tuition and fees at the state's public colleges and universities

www.collegeforalltexans.com or toll-free 1-888-311-8881.

Tarrant County College has on-site testing. No registration is required to take the TSI Placement (Accuplacer) at the TCC Northeast campus. The cost is $29 and is nonrefundable. 

There are other testing centers. You can either pick up a booklet in the school counseling center or go to http://www.thea.nesinc.com/TA_IBTtestsites.asp. You must register in advance for the written THEA Test. There are practice tests available on the THEA web site.

Some students may be exempt from taking the test. Please contact either the testing office or the advising office at the Texas college or university you currently attend or plan to attend.

Program Overview

Since 1989, the Texas Higher Education Assessment® (THEA®) has provided Texas students and institutions of higher education with a flexible, fair, and accurate testing and score-reporting system. Its purpose is to assess the reading, mathematics, and writing skills that entering freshman-level students should have if they are to perform effectively in an undergraduate certificate or degree programs in Texas public colleges or universities.

The THEA Test was approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, under Senate Bill 286, Texas Education Code, Section 51.3062: Texas Success Initiative, for use by Texas institutions of higher education as an assessment instrument to evaluate incoming students. It provides the diagnostic data required by this legislation; its content is the same as that of the former TASP Test.

The THEA Test is the only assessment developed specifically to evaluate the readiness of students for college-level coursework in Texas. It was developed by the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson through a rigorous review and approval process supported by skilled and experienced Texas educators. All THEA Test questions have been reviewed by committees of Texas educators to ensure content accuracy and to prevent potential bias.

The THEA Test is offered in the following testing formats:

• The THEA Quick Test is offered by many colleges, universities, and high schools on a schedule determined by the institution. Consult with your advisor to determine whether the THEA Quick Test is an option for you. For a list of available test sites and their contact information, select "Test Sites" under the "Registering for Quick Test" tab on the THEA Web site. An official score report for all sections will be mailed to you within one week after your answer document is received. Once you have taken the THEA Quick Test, you must wait 30 days before retaking it. See "Ovtaining Your Test Results" under the THEA Quick Test tab for more information.
• The THEA Internet-Based Test (IBT) assesses the same reading, mathematics, and writing skills as the THEA Quick Test, but it is taken on computer instead of on paper. It is offered at several designated institutions. If you are a student at one of these institutions, you may be eligible to take the THEA IBT. Clarify your eligibility prior to registering for the IBT. See "About IBT" on the THEA Web site for more information.

Test Description

The THEA Test consists of three sections: Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. Refer to the table below for descriptions of these sections. Each section of the THEA Test is designed to measure a student's academic skill against an established standard of competence. A student's score on each section of the test is based on his or her performance in relation to the skills being tested. Scores are not related to how well other students have performed on the same section.

Reading	Consists of approximately 40 multiple-choice questions matched to about seven reading selections of 300 to 750 words each. The reading selections represent a variety of subject areas and are similar to reading materials (e.g., textbooks, manuals) that students are likely to encounter during their first year of college. Students will be asked to answer several multiple-choice questions about each reading selection.
Mathematics	Consists of approximately 50 multiple-choice questions covering four general areas: fundamental mathematics, algebra, geometry, and problem-solving. The test questions focus on a student's ability to perform mathematical operations and solve problems. Appropriate formulas will be provided to help students perform some of the calculations required by the test questions. Note that for the THEA Quick Test you may use a four-function (+, –, ×, ÷) nonprogrammable calculator (with square root [√ ] and percent [%] keys). If you take the THEA Internet-Based Test, an on-screen calculator will be available for your use during the Mathematics Section.
Writing	Contains two subsections: a writing sample subsection requiring students to demonstrate their ability to communicate effectively in writing on a given topic and a multiple-choice subsection including approximately 40 questions assessing students' ability to recognize various elements of effective writing. Students are asked to prepare a multiple-paragraph writing sample of about 300–600 words on an assigned topic. Students' writing samples are scored on the basis of how effectively they communicate a whole message to a specified audience for a stated purpose. Students will be assessed on their ability to express, organize, and support opinions and ideas, rather than on the position they express.

About The College Board

The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college sucess.

College Board Newsroom

Read press releases and announcements to see what’s new at the College Board.

College Board Research

Our world-class research informs ongoing innovation in our programs.

College Board Resources

Our resource list provides very valuable information for students, parent and professionals.

Each year, several thousand undocumented students graduate from high school, many of whom have lived in the United States since childhood. Advising undocumented students can be difficult in uncertain times. This page provides resources and guidance for professionals.

RELATED CONTENT

ED's Resource Guide: Supporting Undocument Youth-This guide from the U.S. Department of Education provides information on DAC A eligibility, state college admission and tuition policies, private scholarships, education records, and more for school, counselors, educators, and others.

College Advising Guide for Undocumented Students- This web-based resource is designed to provide assistance to high school counselors and other individuals who work with undocumented student around college admission.

Federal Student Aid's Q&A: Advising Undocumented Students-This resource provides information on the financial aid process for undocumented students.

Several sites allow you to search for specific programs or schools in a certain location, get detailed information on particular institutions, and perform side-by-side comparisons.

You can request additional info from schools, and even apply online, directly from the Peterson's Web site. Peterson's Directory of Colleges and Universities

Another good source for college searches is www.collegeboard.com .

To let colleges find you visit www.cappex.com .

Have a friend in need? Not sure how to help?

 "Friends for Life" is a program where you can make an anonymous report about issues such as:

Bullying ~ Sexting ~ Family Violence ~ Dating Violence Sexual Harassment ~
Gang Activity ~ Suicidal Thoughts ~ Cyber Bullying

 Call: 817.469.TIPS (8477)
Text: "Tip117 + your message" to 274637

Online:  Friends for Life Web Site

 

"Friends for Life" Program

Campus Crime Stoppers "Friends for Life" Hotline began as a partnership with the Fort Worth ISD "It's Not Okay" campaign, which encourages students to make healthy decisions and ask for help when they or their friends are in need. The tagline of this campaign is "It's Okay to Help a Friend." The "Friends for Life" hotline focuses on behaviors and issues that can place the student and others at risk and will serve as a resource for students who want to report fellow students who are victims of bullying, cyber bullying, sexting, dating, or family violence, gang activity, sexual harassment, or has suicidal tendencies.

Topics covered by the "Friends for Life" program:

  

What is a "Friends for Life" tip?   "Friends for Life" tips include information from a third-party about a victim of bullying, cyber bullying, sexting, dating violence, family violence, gang activity, sexual harassment, or is contemplating suicide. Tips are received through: HOTLINE: Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 817-469-TIPS (8477).

• bullying
• family violence/abuse
• suicidal tendencies
• cyber bullying
• gang activity
• sexting
• dating violence/abuse
• sexual harassment on campus or by another youth 

• WEB:  Submit a tip online through the Safe City Commission Crime Stoppers website at www.469tips.com.

  TEXT:  Send an anonymous tip via text message by entering “TIP117 plus their message” and send it to CRIMES (274637). Text STOP to 274637 to cancel. Text HELP to 274637 for help. Message and data rates may apply.

  LIVE CHAT: Engage in a live web chat via the Safe City Commission Crime Stoppers website at www.469tips.com. Click on "Chat", which will open an instant messenger-type pop up box.

  MOBILE APP: Download the "Tip Submit" mobile app for free from the Apple App Store or Android Market.

  What is NOT a "Friends for Life" tip?   The Campus "Friends for Life" system is intended to be an anonymous one, where there are no face-to-face communications.

  http://www.469tips.com/ 

  The Campus Crime Stoppers "Friends for Life" Hotline is not a substitute for the 9-1-1 emergency system. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately!