Tennessee State Government



FAFSA FRENZY BEST PRACTICES 2017Using Partners“Sevier County High School invited several universities and colleges to meet with students about College Scholarships, deadlines and educated students about the FAFSA. We had a computer lab opened to students…for students to set up their FAFSA ID. The majority of our senior class visited the computer lab that day. SCHS hosted FAFSA Frenzy events with Student Services Corporation, TSAC, and WSCC Financial Aid Department…School Counselors were also available to help students/parents with the FAFSA.” – Sevier County High School“We host a FAFSA Frenzy event on the same day as our annual Senior Signing Day. During this event in the morning, students work with admissions counselors who come to our high school to complete the application process. Students sign up for up to three sessions with various colleges of interest, speak with an admissions counselor, and complete applications. After lunch on that day, all seniors have a FAFSA appointment where they (and their parents that attend) meet with an admission counselor or financial aid assistant and complete the FAFSA process. Those who do not complete the entire FAFSA (having missing information, etc.) have been met with in follow-up appointments throughout the month of October.”- Meigs County High School“The local community college also offers afternoons that they can provide assistance with the FAFSA so we make sure to share this information with the seniors and parents so that they have options in case they cannot attend our event!” – Mc Ewen High School“Partnering with different colleges and TSAC representatives is one of the best things that we do. They bring a different perspective to the students and parents and open a dialogue between the parents and college financial aid representatives before the seniors even begin college.”- Monterey High SchoolPotential Partners: TSAC, EdSouth, Local Colleges and Universities (Admissions and/or Financial Aid Offices), tnAchieves, REDI, or the Ayers Foundation, GEAR UP, Advise TN, Project Grad, Educational Talent Search, local financial institutions, and/or Teachers Promoting the Event“Sent copies of [FAFSA Frenzy information] letter through our principal's weekly emails and our counseling text alerts. Did a robocall about the FAFSA Frenzy event. Put link to appointment registration on front of school website.” – Wilson Central High School“We set up the library to hold FAFSA frenzy and provided refreshments. It was advertised through parent emails, announcements, Remind text system, newspaper, and parent letter. A list of required documents was listed as well.” - Seymour High School“FAFSA Frenzy posters where displayed in hallways and classrooms…Seniors were given a packet of information on FAFSA. A group text message was sent out to remind students of the event. On the day of the FAFSA, I telephoned a parent for each senior to share information about the FAFSA Frenzy in case their student did not relay this information.” – Big Sandy School“We coordinated with our Parent Teacher Conferences... I made announcements, sent out text, went into classrooms, and handed out fliers.” – Rhea County High School“Utilized social media, all call phone system, school newsletter, school website, daily announcements, and class meetings to share information about FAFSA Frenzy Day with students to encourage participation.”- Upperman High School“We mailed home invitations and gave each senior two appointment times for them and their parents to decide which day would be best.”- Cumberland Gap High School “To encourage strong attendance, we promoted the event with the chance to win a gift card by entering them in a drawing if the student and/or parent attended our FAFSA Frenzy event.” – Mc Ewen High SchoolScheduling Wisely“We really did not want it to be one night. We have deemed October to be FAFSA Frenzy Month. The entire month of October we have scheduled individual appointments with seniors and their parents. Also, we have gone into senior English classes to help students if they did not have their FSA IDs.” – Brighton High School “We coordinated our FAFSA Frenzy so it was the same day as our 1st TN Promise meeting.” – Loudon High School“Parents made appointments using SignUpGenius... We schedule [our FAFSA Frenzy event] from noon to 7pm to accommodate all schedules.”- Mt. Juliet High School“We have classroom FAFSA information/work sessions, FAFSA Frenzy evening events, individual FAFSA filing appointments in the counseling office. We will have multiple events, and another FAFSA evening event in January prior to TN Promise filing deadline.”- Greeneville High School“Two days were set aside to help students file their FAFSA during school hours… We had school counselors, GEAR UP, and local college financial aid counselors available to help students and parents complete their FAFSA.”- Cumberland Gap High School “Counselors reserved computer labs and English IV teachers brought their classes to us. During that class period, students completed the TN Promise and registered for their FSA ID.”- Riverdale High School“We offered a three hour window at night during the parent/teacher conference time for parents to come and get help filling out their FAFSAs. I also continued to have private sessions with parents after that night.” – Cascade High School“The TN FAFSA Frenzy was held on Friday, October 6 from 9 - 10:30 am in the library. On October 6 students were out of school for Teacher Professional Development. This day seems to work well for our students and parents.” – Ooltewah High School “We also do individual appointments for parents before and after school hours during the months of October, November, and December, and January.” – Tellico Plains High School“We encouraged our seniors to set up their FSA ID on the same day we did our College App day, sent them home with a worksheet that they could keep track of their ID info. We held our FAFSA Frenzy the same night as Parent/Teacher Conferences.” – Houston Co. High School“I have also learned to accommodate my customers. Some parents preferred to come to the FAFSA workshops that were held during the day, while others preferred an evening event. Doing both day and evening events and also taking individual appointments, seems to be working well for us here.”- Sequoyah High School (Monroe County)Getting Creative and Making it Fun!“Our school had a FAFSA Tailgating Workshop. We had tailgating food and games available in one area and financial aid reps in the computer lab to assist students and parents with their FAFSA.” – Sunbright School“My school is difficult because we are an online school that serves students throughout all of Tennessee. So it is not feasible for me to have a FAFSA night so I had to be creative. I basically had a FAFSA FRENZY week where I sent an email each day explaining why the FAFSA is important and how to apply. Students were also instructed to send me a picture of a cute animal when they filled out their FAFSA. I posted these pictures on social media to symbolize students filling out their FAFSA. I also partnered with teachers for them to offer extra credit if they show proof of finishing their FAFSA. I also sent a letter home to each of the seniors with information about the FAFSA and resources to help them fill it out.” - Tennessee Online Public School“We held a "No Fright FAFSA Night" Monday, October 30th…We had eyeball punch, popcorn hands, and other Halloween snacks available to those who attended. Parents were walked through the FSA ID creation and the FAFSA filing process….I will work individually with those who are unable to attend meetings to ensure their FAFSAs are completed on time.” – Ivy Academy“[We made] FAFSA Frenzy a BIG event! The seniors were excited to do their FAFSA. There was food and lots of people around to help. Next year, the seniors want to have a “lock in” at the school as part of the FAFSA Frenzy Weekend.” – Chattanooga Girls Leadership AcademyPreparing Students and Parents in Advance“We had several senior meetings leading up to our October 17 event. We also mailed FSA ID and FAFSA information home to parents… All teachers wore college gear, and we talked to all classes about TN Promise and college-going events.”- Loudon High School Host multiple meetings to prepare parents. Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy hosted the following: “1) Transition Meeting (May '17): discussed with future seniors and senior parents about what the FAFSA is all about and what information they will need for it.2) Senior Parent Night (Aug '17): discussed what FAFSA Frenzy is and why it is so important to fill out the FAFSA. Provided them with information on what they will need for FAFSA Frenzy. 3) FAFSA Informational/ FSA ID Night (Sept. '17): Parent could bring in tax paperwork to make sure they had the correct information. Eric Farmer presented presentation on FAFSA. Computer lab open to help parents make FSA ID that did not. 4) FAFSA FRENZY! (Oct. ‘17): We opened up our computer lab and had parents and students to come in and help.”“Senior teacher advisors went over a PowerPoint showing the basics of the FAFSA last Friday to remind students of the FAFSA Frenzy and to show them what to expect.” - Halls High School- Lauderdale County“[During our FAFSA Frenzy event, we provided] ancillary articles and examples of forms for kids who had more than 10 schools listed, codes for the schools desired, how to use the FAFSA for more than one child in college, How DACA students' families use the FAFSA, how to fill out for a child with a 529 educational account, and others.” – Sacred Heart of Jesus High School“We started out the October 1st FAFSA kick off with phone calls to all senior families explaining FAFSA benefits.” – Cleveland HighOther Ideas“In our area, having a Spanish-speaking adult on hand was great. Parents and students felt more comfortable and confident since parents did not have to rely on their child to translate.” - Loudon High School“At FAFSA Frenzy sign-in, I would ask the family where they are in the FAFSA process. I would write on a sticky note what they need assistance with and have them hang the sticky note on the edge of their computer monitor so the volunteers would know what the family might need assistance with.”- South Side High School“Feed them and they will come. Our National Guard recruiter is always ready to provide food and materials to enhance any meeting or event we have.”- Milan High School“I find it helpful to pull students in and have them do their part and their FSA ID…Designated times work best. I engage the teachers in helping me get the seniors to come down with my "MOST WANTED LIST" I send about 30-40 names out and ask the teachers to send them sometime during the day.”- Soddy Daisy High School ................
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