The pandemic has changed many things about our lives, including the necessity for social distancing, wearing a mask in public, and hanging out with people on Zoom. What hasn’t changed, however, are the opportunities for students to receive financial aid that can defray—or even sometimes eliminate—the costs associated with higher education.
If applying for financial aid has been preventing you from pursuing a certificate or degree, we have good news: despite the pandemic, TMCC is still running its helpful Fastober event, where our financial aid specialists are on-call (and on Zoom) to help you complete your financial aid application and take that next step in your academic and professional career.
The event—which is being offered in a virtual environment—happens Monday, Oct. 5–Friday, Oct. 9 from 4–7 p.m. each evening.
“Prospective and current students need to realize that opportunities to receive financial aid are available,” said Financial Aid Coordinator for Scholarships & Outreach Elisabeth Saldana, who organizes the annual Fastober Event. “Filling out the FAFSA is completely free, and it’s not as difficult as it might seem. Working with us during the Fastober event can make it even easier, so if you’re interested in learning more about the financial aid opportunities, join us!”
Interested students will need to RSVP in order to reserve a time slot for the event. RSVP and more information can be found on the Fastober webpage.
Students should also gather the necessary documents for their FAFSA application. These include:
- Information about you (name, date of birth, address, etc.)
- Your Social Security Number
- Your parents’ Social Security number
- Your driver’s license number (if you have one)
- Federal tax information or tax returns for 2019
- Federal tax information or tax returns for 2019 for your parents (if you are under the age of 24)
Before You Attend Fastober, Complete This Checklist
If you’ve reserved a time slot for this year’s virtual Fastober event, you can also complete steps that will ensure that you’re ready to complete the FAFSA application and to see what financial aid opportunities await.
- Step One: Watch this overview of the FAFSA application process. This will give you an idea of what you will do when applying for the FAFSA, and what documentation you will need when you attend your appointment during the Fastober event.
- Step Two: Create an FSA ID. This is an easy step that both you and your parents can do from home. You and your parents must have an FSA ID before you can apply for the FAFSA. This video tutorial explains how to complete this process.
- Step Three: Get your parents involved. If you’re under 24, that means your parents will have to be a part of your FAFSA application process. This video explains their role in the application process. Watching this video can ease any extra stress or tension that may surface during the application process.
If you’re a DACA and/or undocumented student, the Adelante Grant and SGA Green Door Scholarships are also available. The application opens on Oct. 1.
The Bottom Line
If you’re putting off pursuing a certificate or degree because you think it’s too expensive, think again! RSVP for Fastober and learn about the scholarships, loans and work study opportunities that can enable you to make your dreams a reality.
If you have questions regarding the FAFSA or any aspect of the Financial Aid application process, contact TMCC’s Office of Financial Aid, Scholarships and Employment at 775-673-7072.