By Alonzo Meza/reporter
Students should apply for all the scholarships they can, a Trinity River administrative office assistant said last week.
Rachael Fournier gave a brief presentation on FAFSA Feb. 24 on TR Campus, showing students the process and explaining what they need to apply for grants and other financial aid.
“You can find scholarships almost anywhere,” she said.
Money is a big deal, and not everybody has it, she pointed out.
FAFSA is the official financial aid application to determine who qualifies for federal and state financial assistance.
Fournier also discussed a program for non-citizen students called TASFA. The only requirement, she said, is to have some kind of document proving the student is a legal resident in the state of Texas. Even people who are not yet U.S. citizens could still be eligible for grants and loans.
“You should do your free FAFSA application sooner than later,” she said.
Fournier said it is important for the financial aid office to receive students’ information in their office as soon as possible. It will be better for the office, and it could mean more money for the student, she said.
“Please do not wait for the last minute to turn in an application,” she said.
If the process is done in the summer rather than spring, Fournier said, a student might not get an award letter.
Every college and university has its own deadline for applications. TCC’s deadline is April 15. Deadlines are approaching quick, so Fournier said the sooner students submit their applications, the faster they could receive their award if they qualify.
Another topic Fournier discussed was dropping courses. Dropping courses or a low GPA can and will affect one’s financial aid, she said. She told the students to make sure they go to class and use their money wisely.
Students like freshman Jimmy Smalls who attended this presentation welcomed the information.
“This presentation really helped me get started with my FAFSA application,” he said.
Another freshman, Marlene Murrillo, said she benefited from Fournier’s knowledge.
“This presentation was really specific and gave me confidence on doing the application because it will be less stressful,” she said.
To learn more on FAFSA, contact Fournier at rachael.fournier@tccd.edu or contact the financial aid office on any campus.
