GALLATIN

Vol State: Seniors should apply now for TN Promise

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The first wave of Tennessee Promise students is taking fall classes. Now it’s time for high school seniors to start making their plans for college.

 Volunteer State Community College is one of the eligible Tennessee Promise colleges and the school is letting high school seniors know that they should apply for the Tennessee Promise now.

The Tennessee Promise is a statewide program that allows high school seniors to attend community college free of tuition. The deadline to apply is Nov. 2.

Initial applications can be completed at www.tnpromise.gov, but student must apply separately to their school of choice. Graduating high school seniors, home school students and High School Equivalency are all elibigle.

Vol State saw its enrollment nearly 20 percent, with 1,500 new students participating in the program.

The Tennessee Promise is a last-dollar scholarship, meaning that it comes after a Pell Grant, Hope Scholarship, and TSAA scholarships. Students will need to apply for Financial Aid by filling out the 2016-2017 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by Feb. 15. That can be done at www.fafsa.gov starting Jan. 1. Books and materials are not covered by Tennessee Promise.

Students must carefully follow the state guidelines to qualify and stay qualified. The Tennessee Promise covers five consecutive semesters of tuition, if students maintain qualification. They must start college in the first fall semester after they graduate from high school. They must also take at least 12 hours of classes each semester.

Vol State can help students and parents with questions about the program.  At upcoming information sessions, participants will have access to computers to complete the on-line Tennessee Promise application, and the online Vol State application. Those who apply to Vol State at the sessions will be waived from having to pay the normal $20 application fee.

Vol State began classes Monday with nearly 1,500 students attending as Tennessee Promise recipients.

The Gallatin campus sessions will be Saturday, September 12 starting at 8 a.m.; Thursday, September 17 at 5 p.m.; Thursday, October 1 at 5 p.m.; Saturday, October 10 at 8 a.m.; Tuesday, October 13 at 5 p.m.; and Saturday, October 24 at 8 a.m. A Springfield session will be held at the Highland Crest campus on Tuesday, September 29 at 5 p.m. Reservations are required for all sessions and can be completed online by visiting www.volstate.edu/promise. Exact locations at the campuses will be provided later. For more information, Tennessee Promise at Vol State visit the web page or call the Vol State Admissions Office at 615-230-3688.