Focus on college NOW!

Senior year of high school is hard enough... why is it important to focus on college now? You may ask yourself, "Can't I just wait until I graduate and worry about it then?" The answer is NO. Although you might think you have alot of time, this last semester of high school is going to fly by, and there are many important things that you need to do before you will be ready for college. To get you started, I have listed three of the most important steps below:

1. Collect the information you will need to fill out your FAFSA by Feb. 1
Filling out FAFSA is crucial to receiving as much funding as possible for your education so you do not have to worry about college tuition. As a tnAchieves Scholar, you should know that FAFSA must be completed by February 1. To fill out FAFSA, you will need your parents/gaurdians, your social security number, your driver's license, your W-2 forms (if you are employed), your parents/guardians tax returns, and your alien registration card or permanent resident card (if you are not a US citizen). For more information on FAFSA, visit http://www.tnachieves.org/, look at your mentor handbook, and make sure you attend the January team meetings at your high school!

2. Decide which college you would like to attend and do some research on the programs they offer
tnAchieves offers scholarships to community college. Ask your guidance counselor for information on the community colleges around you or visit their websites online. Although you will have to take several general courses when you begin college, it is a good idea to have an idea of what careers you are interested. This will give you the chance to research that career and what classes must be taken to have that job!

3. Apply to school
It is not to early to apply to school! The sooner you apply to college, the sooner you can get in all the required information so you are not overwhelmed during the summer. It is also good to apply early because you can register for your fall classes and get the class times that work best for you!
Remember... with tnAchieves, you have NO Excuses!