Morristown West Counseling Corner
October/November 2021
FAFSA Frenzy
If you need help with your FAFSA but cannot come to this event, please contact Mrs. Sadie Ramsey (Niswonger CARE Advisor) at https://calendly.com/sadie-niswonger
Thursday, Nov 4, 2021, 09:00 AM
Morristown-Hamblen West High School, Trojan TRL, Morristown, TN, USA
TN Promise Scholarship
Students will get more details when they meet with TN Promise representatives on Wednesday, Nov. 10, at 9:00 AM. This meeting is intended for students only. Students will be provided with TN Promise handbooks which they can share with their parents/guardians. Parents/guardians typically attend the second TN Promise meeting which will be held in the spring.
UT Promise Scholarship
This innovative scholarship will cover a student’s last-dollar amount of tuition and mandatory fees after other financial aid is applied (such as Pell grants, HOPE Scholarship or other institutional scholarships) to students who qualify for HOPE and whose family household income is under $50,000 a year. UT Promise is a student-success oriented scholarship program that requires students to complete volunteer service hours and meet with a volunteer mentor each semester to ensure a successful student experience. Students must apply for TN Promise by Nov. 1 and for UT Promise by Dec. 15. There are several other deadlines and requirements that student may find by visiting the program's website.
Tennessee Governor's School Applications Open!
Students interested in applying to a Governor's School can find more information and the application using the link below. Students applying to the Gov. School for the Arts need to have their materials to the Counseling Office by November 17 to ensure processing and mailing by the December 1 deadline. Students applying any of the remaining Governor's Schools need to submit all materials to the Counseling Office by January 5 to ensure processing and sending by the January deadline listed in the application.
More information and the applications may be found by clicking the link listed below.
U.S. Presidential Scholars Program
Seniors who are interested in being nominated for either of these options should let their school counselor know by Oct. 25.
General Academic Component
Our state can nominate high school seniors to be considered based on academic success and perseverance. The general academic component emphasizes the following areas on the application:
- Academic achievement
- Leadership skills
- Community involvement
- Overcoming obstacles
- Strong writing skills
CTE Component
Our state can nominate high school seniors to be considered based on excellence in career and technical education (CTE). This component emphasizes the following areas on the application:
- Academic rigor
- Technical competence
- Employability skills
- Ingenuity and creativity
AP Exam Payment Information
Important Dates
- Oct. 1: 2022-2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application available at fafsa.gov. Student and parents will utilize 2020 tax year information to file the 2022-2023 FAFSA
- Oct. 26: PSAT
- Nov. 1 & 2: WSCC dual enrollment registration for spring 2022
- Nov. 1: Class of 2022 TN Promise application deadline
- Nov. 2: Class of 2022 applicants can begin volunteering for the TN Promise fall 2022 community service requirement; deadline July 1, 2022: must report on-line)
- Nov. 4: FAFSA Frenzy at West High 9:00 AM-6:00 PM - more info to come
- Nov. 10: TN Promise meeting for all seniors, 9:00 AM, West High auditorium
- Dec. 1-16: EOC Testing
- Dec. 15: UT Promise application deadline.
- February 1: 2022-2023 TN Promise FAFSA filing deadline
FAFSA Opened Oct. 1!
Prior to completing the FAFSA, students must create a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID), which is used to confirm a student's identity when accessing financial aid information and to electronically sign federal student aid documents, including the FAFSA. Dependent students will also need to have one of his/her parents create an FSA ID so that the parent may electronically sign the student's FAFSA. To create an FSA ID, please visit fsaid.ed.gov.
Please remember that the FAFSA is FREE!! There are many internet scams which require payment to file a FAFSA. You should never have to pay for any part of this process.
After submitting the FAFSA, a student should be sure that he/she receives 2 e-mails: one verifying that the FAFSA was submitted and another stating that the FAFSA was processed. FAFSA must be filed by Feb. 1, 2022, for TN Promise eligibility.
Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) Information for Seniors
College Application Links
East Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
University of Tennessee at Knoxville - deadline November 1 for early action; December 15 for regular admissions
Scholarships
Transcript Requests
College Scholarship Deadlines
Below is a list of FIRM scholarship deadlines for some local colleges. Please note that in some cases, students must apply and be accepted before they are able to access the scholarship application(s). Also, many schools require that ALL parts of the application are received by the deadline, including the application, application fee, test scores, and high school transcript. It is important to apply well before the stated deadlines!
Carson-Newman University - Apply Early
East Tennessee State University - May 1
King University - Apply Early
Middle Tennessee State University - December 1
Tennessee Tech University - December 15
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - December 1
University of Tennessee at Knoxville - November 1 (for competitive scholarships, honors programs)
Walters State Community College - February 1
College Open House Dates
Click on the school's name to register online. Some of these fill up quickly, so register soon!
October 16
East Tennessee State University
October 16
November 13
October 16November 13
March 19
Middle Tennessee State University
October 27 True Blue Tour Johnson City
October 28 True Blue Tour Knoxville
November 6
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
no open house dates listed yet, but other visits can be scheduled
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
October 30 (Big Orange Preview)
College Visit Days
Each senior is allowed one college day during their senior year. Students are required to submit a parent note to Mr. Kinsler BEFORE going on the college visit. Upon visiting the college, students are required to submit a letter of attendance from the college to the front office to excuse the absence.
Please keep in mind that the best days to visit colleges are Open House or Preview days (typically held on Saturdays) because students and parents have the opportunity to see more campus facilities and have access to more faculty to inquire about specific program requirements, financial aid, admissions, scholarships, housing, etc. A list of these events for some local schools may be found below.
Dual Enrollment Registration
ACT Upcoming Test Dates
Please visit www.act.org for information about late registration and photo upload deadlines.
Students will not be admitted to the test center without an admission ticket.
Juniors and seniors who qualify for free or reduced meals are eligible to take the ACT up to 4 times on national test dates (Saturday test dates). Fee waivers are available in the counseling office. Students who are interested in this option should complete a Free/Reduced Meals application prior to requesting an ACT fee waiver to check for eligibility. Free/Reduced Meals applications are available from TNN teachers or in the front office.
SAT
Meet Your Niswonger Care Advisor!
Counseling Office Contact Information
Students are assigned by the first letter of their last name.
- Kelly Ezell: Students A-C
- Tenesha Bullington: Students D-He
Erica Gillett: Students Hi-Mi
Renae Byrd: Students Mo-R
Melanie Justis: Students S-Z
Jessie Alder, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Aimee Howerton: Counseling Office Secretary
Office Contact Information:
Fax- 423-585-3791