December Digest - Senior Edition
December 1, 2023
FAFSA to open in December!
As many of you are aware, the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is still undergoing its final changes and it is scheduled to open sometime in December. An official launch date has not been announced, but the rumor circulating in the counseling world is sometime between December 15th and December 31st. Here is what you and your senior student can do in the meantime:
1) Check out the new FAFSA Preview Presentation.
- This is a comprehensive overview of what to expect once the FAFSA opens. Previewing this information will give you a head start on some of the vocabulary and requirements associated with the FAFSA.
2) Create your Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID).
- The student and at least one parent (possibly both parents or a step-parent the child lives with) will need to create their own account. This is a very important part of the application process!
- If there is a question of which parent should file, click on the attachment below for a flowchart explanation.
- Create your separate accounts ahead of time will allow you to have immediate access to the application once it officially launches.
Other Important Info
- The 2024-25 FAFSA will use data from your 2022 tax return.
- You will need your Social Security Number to create an FSA ID.
- The priority due date is April 15th, but everyone is encouraged to file as soon as possible.
- Tipton High School will host a Financial Aid/FAFSA Completion night on Wednesday, February 7th from 5:30-7:30 in the high school media center.
Graduation Checklists ☑️
Once 1st semester grades are posted, Mrs. Capshaw will be meeting with all seniors to ensure they are on track to graduate and to discuss postsecondary plans. Winter Break would be a great time to have this same conversation with your child as well. As always, please contact the guidance department if you have questions about postsecondary planning, employment opportunities, available resources, etc.
Scholarships
The Tipton County Foundation scholarship application will open on January 1st with a due date of March 1st. All students are encourage to fill out the general application regardless of their current postsecondary plans. Feel free to browse through the scholarship guide to see what scholarships are available as well as the specific requirements, eligibility, etc. Winners of these scholarships will be honored at the senior awards night, which will be held on Thursday, May 30th in the high school auditorium.
Additionally, you can continue to explore the various free scholarship websites to help offset the cost of college. Some of the most popular are: Going Merry, Fast Web, Scholarships.com, Scholly, and Collegeboard's Big Future Scholarships.
Previous Newsletters
Check out information from counselors in our previous newsletters by clicking on the link.