For any student planning to attend college this Fall, there are two important steps to begin now: Start by completing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and make sure you’re also applying for scholarships from the TMCC Foundation. If you’ve ever applied for either of these resources in the past, you’ll notice many updates this year, promising to make each application easier to complete. To assist you, here are a few helpful tips for securing the most financial aid and scholarships possible.
Get Assistance at the FAFSA Fiesta on Jan. 11
“We recommend that you always complete your FAFSA early,” said Financial Aid Coordinator Charlie Cryderman. “Many awards are made on a first-come, first-served basis, and completing the FAFSA early gives you plenty of time to make corrections if necessary.”
Experts in the TMCC Financial Aid, Scholarships and Student Employment Office are returning to a tried-and-true event to provide 1-1 assistance with your FAFSA application: the FAFSA Fiesta.
FAFSA Fiesta is a free, one-day event held on Saturday, Jan. 11, from Noon–3 p.m. in the Sierra Building at the TMCC Dandini Campus. The event is designed to help students and their families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
“Our amazing team of well-trained staff will be on hand to help people with completing the 2025–2026 FAFSA, but this event is an opportunity to receive assistance with any general financial aid inquiries as well,” Cryderman explained. “We invite anybody and everybody to join us for FAFSA Fiesta. Anyone interested can RSVP through our FAFSA Fiesta webpage, however, walk-ins are also welcome.”
“The 2025–2056 FAFSA is generally the same as the 2024–2025 form,” said Cryderman. “The main differences are slight adjustments to make the form easier and more streamlined. The time it takes to complete the FAFSA can vary from student to student depending on a variety of factors such as the complexity of the financial situation or if there are issues accessing their FSA ID. Some people might be able to be in and out in 15 minutes, and others may take closer to an hour. That said, generally most people can complete the FAFSA in approximately 20 minutes.”
For those who plan to attend the FAFSA Fiesta, Cryderman shared two pieces of expert advice to streamline the process:
- Set up your FSA ID in advance: Cryderman said, “We recommend students and contributors set up their FSA ID at studentaid.gov, a minimum of 3 full days before Jan. 11 to ensure their account is ready to go. The FSA ID is the account in which people will complete the FAFSA.”
- Bring a copy of any 2023 Tax information and any other documents you think may be necessary or relevant.
If you can’t make it to the FAFSA Fiesta event, Cryderman says, you can still get assistance with your FAFSA application from the TMCC Financial Aid experts. “Students are also welcome to drop by our office during our business hours, and we can sit them down at a computer and guide them through completing their FAFSA. All in all, we cannot stress enough the importance of submitting the FAFSA early, and we are looking forward to helping everyone.”
Make sure to RSVP for the event in advance if possible. For more information, contact the Financial Aid Office or visit RDMT 315.
Apply by March 1 for Scholarship Opportunities
“The TMCC Foundation awarded 1,019 scholarships to 697 students in the 2024–2025 academic year,” said Samantha Bellwood, TMCC Foundation Scholarship Manager. “Scholarships can help fill your financial gaps between any financial aid you receive and, if you aren't eligible to receive federal aid or are unable to apply, scholarships can help pay for your tuition, books, and living expenses.”
New for the upcoming 2025–26 academic year, Bellwood says: “We've moved to a new application platform, AwardSpring. This new platform is more streamlined for students to fill out in less time. You’ll also have access to see all of the scholarships we have available, and the application will give you suggestions to apply for scholarships that have additional questions to complete.”
The online application is open Jan. 1–March 1, 2025. Fortunately for your busy schedule, Bellwood reminds you: “The application process is easy! The application should only take 15 minutes to complete and that is worth your time.”
Bellwood also provided some quick tips for improving your chances of being selected for the 2025–26 academic year scholarships:
- Make sure to proofread your short-answer essays: one helpful way to do this is to use a word processing tool to help check your spelling and grammar. You can then copy and paste your text into the short answer box.
- When writing the two required short-answer essays regarding your financial need and what a scholarship would be to use, be detailed, but concise. One-sentence answers to these questions will be scored low.
- If you are applying for scholarships that have additional questions or short-answer essays, make sure to read the description carefully so you only apply for what you are qualified for. Spend your time wisely!
For questions, please contact the TMCC Foundation.