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  2. College/FAFSA

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

Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA)

The State of Texas requires that all undergraduate students entering public colleges and universities in Texas have the skills necessary to perform effectively in college-level coursework. The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is the program that administers testing to measure college-level readiness in mathematics and english/language arts (reading and writing).

All incoming students, unless EXEMPT, must take a TSI Assessment prior to registering for classes. You will not be allowed to enroll in college level Math, Reading or Writing intensive courses until TSI requirements have been met. Once you have met these requirements, you will be considered “TSI complete” and allowed to enroll in college level courses in these areas.

You may enroll at Hill College before you become TSI complete; however, you may be required to register for developmental coursework as condition of your enrollment.

TSIA Student Information Brochure

Students may purchase a study guide. TSI Texas Version study books can be purchased at bookstores and online bookstores. Here is one place where the guide may be purchased – TSIA Study Guide 

Texas Education Agency – Texas Success Initiative Assessment

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

COMPLETING THE FAFSA

The first step to financial planning for college is to apply for federal student aid. If you haven't submitted it already, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form as soon as you can!In January of each year the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) becomes 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:

Guide to Filling Out the FAFSA Form

Start your FAFSA Form

Federal Student Aid Resources

 

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.