Fort Worth
Dallas
High School Students
There are many options for higher education in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Higher education doesn’t only include four-year universities. There are also two-year colleges and trade schools in the area that can improve employment opportunities. As a parent, it is very important to set expectations for your child early. By setting the expectation that your child will attend some type of schooling or earn a certification after high school, they are much more likely to end up enrolling in a post-secondary program. In this section you will learn more about:
- Post-Secondary Education Opportunities in the Area
- The Application Process
- Financial Aid Resources
- How Students Can Stay on Track with a High School Timeline
Post-Secondary Education Opportunities in the Area
It is helpful to know about the different opportunities for post-secondary education early in your child’s high school career. This way you can make sure that you do not miss:
- Important application deadlines
- Required high school courses for particular programs
- Other steps that must be taken prior to admission to a program
| TWO-YEAR AND FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES IN THE AREA | |
|---|---|
| TWO-YEAR COLLEGES | FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES |
| Dallas County Community College District | Public Colleges |
| Brookhaven College | University of North Texas |
| Cedar Valley College | University of Texas at Arlington |
| Eastfield College | University of Texas at Dallas |
| El Centro College | Texas Women’s University |
| Mountain View College | University of North Texas at Dallas |
| North Lake College | Private Colleges |
| Richland College | Southern Methodist University |
| Tarrant County Community College District | Arlington Baptist College |
| Northeast Campus | Criswell College |
| Northwest Campus | Dallas Baptist University |
| South Campus | Dallas Christian College |
| Southeast Campus | Northwood University |
| Trinity River Campus | Paul Quinn College |
| Trinity River Campus East | Southwestern Adventist College |
| Collin College | Southwestern Assemblies of God University |
| Central Park Campus | Texas Christian University |
| Collin Higher Education Center | |
| Courtyard Center | |
| Preston Ridge Campus | |
| Spring Creek Campus | |
| Allen Center | |
| Rockwall Center | |
| North Central Texas College | |
| Gainesville Campus | |
| Corinth Campus | |
| Bowie Campus | |
| Graham Campus | |
| Flower Mound Campus | |
If your child intends to pursue higher education, you may want to consider the rigor of the high school they attend. High schools that provide good preparation for college should offer an academically challenging curriculum, a college-bound culture, and a support system for navigating college admissions. Indicators of these characteristics can include:
- Wide offering of advanced courses like Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and/or Honors courses
- High rate of students taking the SAT or ACT exams
- Available and knowledgeable guidance counselors
Applications
Most post-secondary programs require some kind of application. Community colleges have an open-door admissions policy, which means that students are admitted regardless of previous academic history. However parents and students should be advised that students in Texas entering a public college institution, including community colleges, must meet the minimum threshold on the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment unless they are otherwise exempt. If students do not meet this threshold, they may be required to enroll in developmental education or Adult Basic Education classes, which do not count towards a degree and are fee-based, before they are eligible to enroll in college coursework. You can learn more about this requirement at http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/.
The Common App and Apply Texas are two widely used application processes for four-year colleges and universities. The Common App is used by hundreds of colleges throughout the United States. Apply Texas allows students to apply for admission to any Texas public university, as well as to participating community and private colleges. To learn more about which schools accept these applications, application deadlines, and additional information visit the individual sites:
- Common App: www.commonapp.org
- Apply Texas: www.applytexas.org
Financial Aid
The costs associated with higher education can seem overwhelming for parents, families and students. However, being aware of financial aid opportunities that are available can help ease your concerns. Each university or college has their own financial aid program, which may include grant and scholarship opportunities, and there are also opportunities to obtain financial aid through the state and federal government, nonprofits, and private organizations.
You won’t know just how much money a college or university is able to offer you in financial aid until you apply to the university and apply for financial aid! Financial aid can be used to cover expenses such as tuition, dorm fees, meal plans, books, supplies, or other college fees.
You should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), as it is will make your student eligible for the largest source of financial aid available. The application becomes available in early January, but deadlines differ by program. You will want to submit the FAFSA as early as possible to make sure that you can take advantage of as many aid opportunities as possible.
Due to citizenship status, some students may need to use the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA). Visit http://www.aie.org/state/tasfa/ for more information. Students file their first FAFSA or TASFA form beginning their senior year of high school and will re-file every year they intend to enroll in college courses.
How do I prepare for the FAFSA?
- The FAFSA asks for financial information, including balances of savings and checking accounts and information from tax forms.
- Filing your 2014 income taxes early and electronically enables you to use the IRS Data Retrieval System when completing the 2015-2016 FAFSA. Using the IRS Data Retrieval system increases the accuracy of the information on the FAFSA. Errors in the FAFSA could delay your application.
- If you haven’t done your taxes, it’s okay to estimate the amounts. You can base your estimates on your last pay check stub for the 2014 calendar year. After you file your taxes you must update your FAFSA. You can update your FAFSA with actual 2014 information by using the IRS Data Retrieval system or the information from your tax return.
- Before your senior year, students can use the FAFSA4caster to get a sense of how much federal aid may be available to you when you do apply. Visit https://studentaid.ed.gov/fafsa/estimate for more information.
How can I file the FAFSA?
- Online at www.fafsa.gov
- You can download or order a paper FAFSA
- Ask the financial aid office at your student’s college or career school if it can be filed there
Here is a brief look at financial aid opportunities and when you should fill out the FASFA from the Federal Student Aid website:
| Aid Program | Deadline Information |
|---|---|
| Federal and State student aid | For the 2014-2015 year, you can apply between Jan. 1, 2014, and June 30, 2015. However, there are a few first come, first served federal student aid programs, so be sure to apply as soon as you can. You can also find state deadlines at www.fafsa.gov. |
| College or career school aid | Check the school’s website or contact its financial aid office. School deadlines are usually early in the year (often in February or March). Furthermore, many schools will offer work-study programs, which place students into part-time jobs or paid internships as a form of financial assistance. |
| Other financial aid | Some programs, other than government or school aid, require that you file the FAFSA. For example, you cannot get certain private scholarships unless you are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant– and you cannot find out whether you are eligible for a Pell Grant unless you file a FAFSA. If the private scholarship’s application deadline is in early to mid– January, you will need to submit your FAFSA before that deadline. |
Source: http://studentaid.ed.gov/fafsa
High School Timeline
It is important to plan ahead for higher education. In order to apply to a four-year university or college, your child will need to take the SAT and/or ACT exam, typically during their junior year of high school.
You also should be aware of the admissions requirements of the program(s) your child may wish to attend, so that they will be sure to fulfill all requirements during high school. For example, some universities may require more science or math course credits than your child’s high school requires as the minimum. Your child may also need to take elective courses to be adequately prepared for college.
Here is an example of a timeline that can help students stay on track to obtaining an advanced degree or certification:
Freshman and Sophomore Years
- Talk with your assigned guidance counselor about taking college preparatory courses and exploring higher education options.
- Start getting involved in extra-curricular and volunteer activities and keep track of the number of hours spent on those activities.
- Register and take the Preliminary SAT (PSAT).
- Schedule a college tour of an area college to get a feel for what college might be like. These tours are free and you can call the admissions office to schedule a tour at a time that works well for you.
- Register for rigorous courses that will appropriately challenge you. Look at admissions requirements for various colleges to understand what coursework may be required. Not all high school graduation plans will fulfill college admissions requirements.
Junior Year
- Continue to participate in volunteer and extra-curricular activities as a way to explore potential career interests.
- Continue to take rigorous courses.
- Work with your guidance counselor to establish a list of the higher education options that you are interested in.
- Begin researching scholarship and financial aid opportunities.
- Register and take the SAT and/or ACT exams.
- If possible, visit the individual campuses that you will be applying to.
- Start working on your college application essays the summer before your senior year. Essay topics typically do not vary widely from year to year, check the application website for the essay prompt.
Senior Year
- August – September
- Narrow down school options and create a list of application deadlines and required materials, including scholarship and financial aid deadlines, essays, letters of recommendation and transcripts.
- Register or retake SAT and/or ACT exam if necessary.
- Begin thinking about who to request your letters of recommendation from.
- Request transcripts from your high school
- October – November
- Draft any required college admissions or scholarship essays.
- Secure letters of recommendation if required. It is best to request letters of recommendation at least one to two months in advance of the application deadline. This allows the recommender time to complete and submit a quality recommendation.
- Ensure that your transcripts are accurate.
- December – January
- Final application dates for many schools. However, note that early decision applications are typically due in November.
- February – March
- College acceptance letters begin to arrive.
- Parents need to file taxes to prepare for filling out the FAFSA or TASFA. Remember to complete the FAFSA or TASFA by your intended college’s priority deadline.
- April – May
- Review your admissions information and submit any required materials to the college or program of your choice. This may include housing information, final transcripts, a potential deposit, etc.
- Check your email regularly and register for the college’s online portal, if they have one, to make sure you receive all information in a timely manner.