Every Penny Counts!

Have you finished your FAFSA?  If you have, Tusculum is usually one of the first to send out Financial Aid Packages to students and families.  We know this is a very valuable component in your decision making process and try to get it in your hands as soon as we can.  We even call each student to make sure you received your package and understand it.  If you receive this letter and have any questions, go ahead and call your counselor and we’ll be glad to explain it in more detail.  

This is also the time to apply for outside scholarships! Your high school guidance office is a great resource for these awards. You can also search online at Fastweb.com. In fact, here are some details on a new outside scholarship, if you are looking for an extra $10,000.

~Aaron 

GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program Now Accepting Applications

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, in cooperation with General Electric (GE), has launched a new scholarship program in the president's honor which will provide $10,000 for twenty college-bound high school seniors. The renewable award gives students the potential to accrue $40,000 over four years to use toward the pursuit of a bachelor's degree.

Successful candidates should display exemplary leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship in all aspects of life.

"Like President Reagan, candidates use their formative experiences of their youth to lead, serve, and pursue a life of progress, both individually and for their communities," writes Erin Korsvall, program officer of the scholarship program.

In addition, candidates must:

• Be nominated by an eligible community leader (eligible leaders include high school principals, elected officials, or directors of nonprofit organizations)
• Maintain a GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent)
• Demonstrate financial need
• Be a citizen of the United States
• Graduate from high school in winter 2010 or spring 2011
• Use the funds disbursed by the scholarship program for tuition, room, and board while pursuing a bachelor's degree at an accredited U.S. college or university in Fall 2011

According to the award website, "GE-Reagan Foundation Scholars are among America’s foremost young leaders who personify the values that President Reagan took to Washington and inspired a nation with three decades ago. Like President Reagan, candidates use the formative experiences of their youth to lead, serve and pursue a life of progress, both individually and for their communities."

To apply or learn more about the program, visit the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship website. Applications are due no later than March 18, 2011.

Meet TC's Student Ambassadors!

If you've visited Tusculum College, you may have had the pleasure to meet some of our student ambassadors. These students are members of The President's Society, and work very closely with the Office of Admission to help introduce students and families to TC. This elite group of students undergo an extensive application process to be admitted to the program. Take a moment to meet our students by checking out their website, which you can find here: http://www3.tusculum.edu/mytusculum/presidentsociety/.

Also, if you haven't had a chance to visit TC yet, there's still time to check us out! You can schedule one on our website here: https://www.tusculum.edu/mytusculum/visit.php

Welcome Back!

After a week of exciting weather, campus is starting to settle in to the Spring semester.  Many of you have been in similar situations.  As you pick up your college search process, remember that the FAFSA priority deadline is right around the corner (February 15^th).   

The Office of Admission is teaming up with the Office of Financial Aid to provide FAFSA workshops at area high schools.  If you or your parents need help completing the FAFSA, be sure to stop by one of the workshops listed below:

South Greene High School – January 20^th 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

North Greene High School - January 24^th 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM

West Greene High School – January 27^th 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Greeneville High School – January 31^st 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

-Eric

Merry Christmas!

Hi everyone!
Tusculum College will be closed for the Christmas holiday beginning December 18. We will reopen on January 3, 2011.
We wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
~Becky

Brrrrrr...it's cold outside!

While this cold weather may be keeping you from enjoying the outdoors, here are some ideas for inside activities:

• Finish your college application!  Most colleges let you complete the application online, as does TC.  If you have already completed your application, be sure your high school guidance office knows where to send your transcripts and test scores.
  
• Look for scholarships/grants!  But how do I do this, you may ask.   First, you'll want to talk to your high school guidance office and see what scholarships/grants they have information on, and see if you can apply for them.  Then you'll want to create an account at www.fastweb.com and do a search for scholarship/grant money there.  You may also want to call around (or venture out if you can) to your local Chamber of Commerce, bank, etc.  It never hurts to look!

• Get ready to complete  your FAFSA!  I say "get ready" because it is not yet time to complete this application.  You can begin as soon as January 1.  While you and your parents wait for January 1, you can go ahead and complete your PINs.  You will need a PIN and your parent will need a PIN to electronically sign the FAFSA.  You can do this here: www.fafsa.ed.gov/  Please remember that Tusculum College's deadline for the FAFSA is February 15!

That should help with your cabin fever while waiting for the snow to melt.  With that thought, I leave you with this picture of Tusculum College's campus, blanketed with snow.

Merry Christmas!

Nicole

Check out the Holiday Vlog

Christmas Around the Corner (and so is free money!)

Hi everyone!

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving, and are gearing up for Christmas! It's been a busy time in the admission office, as we've had lots of students come in for campus visits before the holidays officially arrive! If you haven't scheduled your campus tour yet, I hope you will! You can schedule by calling our office at 800.729.0526. or online here: https://www.tusculum.edu/mytusculum/visit.php.

Please remember, our campus visits are private visits, tailored to each individual student, rather than large group visits. It helps to have a couple of different days in mind on which you can visit, so that we can make your experience the best possible!

As Christmas approaches, it brings another important season right behind it: Financial Aid season! All students want to receive as much help as possible when paying for college. The key to getting help is the FAFSA. The FAFSA is a form you and your family will fill out after January 1, based upon your 2010 tax returns. This will help the government, and each college you are considering, find the financial aid your are eligible for, and you can find the form here: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Even though you can't fill out the FAFSA today, you can apply for your PIN. You'll need two different ones--one for the student, and one for the parent. Once January arrives, you can complete the FAFSA--remember, the priority deadline is February 15! If you apply after this date, you could miss out on some great scholarship opportunities. Remember, the earlier the better!

If you have questions regarding financial aid, give us a call at 800.729.0256, and we'll be glad to help.

Merry Christmas!
~Becky