Financial Aid 101 Presentation 

FAFSA Information

The college financial aid process is starts early. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) can be submitted as early as October 1.  

FAFSA is Federally funded financial assistance for education beyond high school.

FAFSA Website

FAFSA Info - translated into 5 languages

 7 Steps to the FAFSA

FIND SCHOLARSHIPS!!!

Attention! We post scholarships toMajor Clarity.  This includes local, regional, state and national opportunities. Major Clarity can be accessed via your student portal!

First things first--have you applied for the general scholarship at the college to which you are headed? Statistically, you will get the most money from your selected schools. To see how to apply for those, go to the individual college's website and look for the key words of financial aid and/or scholarships.

Check back frequently - We will continue to add scholarships as we get them throughout the year.

Some other databases for scholarships are listed below. Most of these will have you fill out a profile and then it will send you emails with scholarships that match your profile. You might want to open a new email account specifically for these scholarship data bases. That way your personal email is not flooded with these scholarship emails and when you are done with the search you can delete that email account. Also remember you should not pay for any scholarships or scholarship searches.

Other scholarship databases: 

College Net Click Here 

Fastweb Click Here

Tuition Funding Sources Click Here

Wired Scholar Click Here

Free College Scholarships and

Financial Aid Information Click here

The American Legion Click Here

College Board Opportunity Scholarship Click Here

Raise.Me -

What is it? Raise.me is a platform that helps 9-12 grade students prepare for college by earning scholarships for their achievements in high school. Over 150 colleges and universities have partnered with Raise.me, and award micro-scholarships for both academics and extracurricular activities. Click here for more information

Click here for an informational video
 

NISD is not responsible for external content

NISD affirms its commitment to ensuring people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to access online information and functionality. If you believe any online information or functionality is currently inaccessible, contact Melissa Shawn, communications and web specialist at 817-215-0135 or mshawn@nisdtx.org.

National Exams: SAT / Subject Tests & ACT

Two of the most common and most important high school national exams are the SAT and the ACT Assessment. These standardized tests not only measure a student's academic capabilities, but they also act as a major influence in college admissions.

A question commonly asked is what is the difference between taking the SAT and ACT - and should you take both?  The tests you take will probably be determined by the requirements of the colleges you would like to attend. Most accept either test, the SAT or the ACT. Some colleges prefer one or the other, so check the catalog or admission procedure section of the college or university information book to make sure you know exactly what tests you are required to take. If you take the exam more than once, most colleges will consider your best score and not be concerned about how often you took the test, although we recommend you not take the test more than three times - and never without doing some preparation before each new test. Just re-testing without preparation will not usually increase your score, and it could go down.

- SAT Test Dates & Registration 
- ACT Assessment Test Dates & Registration

TSI Information

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) program is designed to help colleges and universities determine if you are ready for college-level coursework in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. All incoming college students are required to take the TSI Assessment (TSIA2) unless they qualify for an exemption based on their SAT or ACT scores (see FAQs below for exemption information). After high school, based on how you perform on the TSIA2 you may be enrolled in a college-level course and/or be placed in the appropriate developmental courses.  Dual credit students may not take developmental courses and must meet the TCC TSIA2 requirements in order to take dual credit courses.

Northwest ISD offers the TSI throughout the year and students may choose to take it online or face-to-face. If you wish to take the TSIA2 please submit the 2021-2022 TSIA2 Voucher Request Form using the link below.

Request to take the TSIA-2
Please select the appropriate link below.

NOTICE: TSIA-2 Vouchers will not be generated from December 17 - January 4. 

2021-2022 TSIA2 Test Request Form for Dual Credit and Tarrant County College Students

2021-2022 TSIA2 Test Request Form for Graduating Seniors going to a Texas Public or Private College

TCC & Dual Credit Students may also be able to take the TSI through TCC. 
Go HERE to find out more about testing at TCC. 

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TSIA-2 Resources

TSIA-2 Website

TSIA-2 Study App and Support Resources

Get Your TSI & TSIA-2 Scores

Have your TSI Score Report emailed to you
Student Institution = Northwest ISD
 

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TSI FAQs
I need to take the TSIA2  for college admission, but my test date was canceled or postponed. What do I do now?
NISD can now offer remote TSIA2 testing. Please click on the appropriate link above and complete the form so we can generate a remote testing voucher. 

I qualify for STAAR testing accommodations. Are these available for TSIA2?
Some accommodations are available for TSIA-2 testing. We will work with students who qualify for 504 or SPED accommodations to provide any allowed supports.

Why do I need to take the TSIA2 Assessment?
All college students in Texas public colleges must take the TSIA2 Assessment to determine their readiness for college-level coursework. Based on how a student performs on the TSIA2, he/she may be either be allowed to enroll in a college course or placed in a developmental course to help improve his/her skills and the likelihood of success.

In some cases, your SAT or ACT scores may qualify you to be exempt from all or part of the TSI Assessment.

TSI Exemptions:

ACT
TSI Mathematics - Composite 23 AND a 19 on ACT Math
TSI Reading and Writing - Composite 23 AND a score of 19 on ACT English

SAT
TSI Mathematics - 530 on SAT Mat.
TSI Reading and Writing - 480 on SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

See your college advisor, high school counselor, or college and career readiness facilitator for more information about TSI exemptions.

My ACT and SAT Scores won't exempt me from the TSIA2. What score do I need on the TSIA2 to pass?
TSIA2 isn't a test that you pass or fail. It is a test that measures your readiness to take college-level classes. If you do not meet the college-readiness benchmark score, you will still likely be able to enroll in college; however, you may be required to take developmental courses before taking courses in your degree plan. Please note that developmental courses are NOT eligible for high school credit.

The college-ready standards for TSIA2 are: 
Mathematics - 950-990 or 910-949 with a diagnostic level of 6
ELAR - 945-990 AND and an essay score of 5-8 or 910-944 and a diagnostic level 5-6 and an essay score of 5-8

How much does the TSIA2 cost?
The cost of the TSIA2 varies by institution. The general range is between $20 to $60, depending on how many sections a student is taking.

Northwest ISD dual credit students may take the TSIA2 at any NISD testing site up to three times at no charge.  After the third attempt, there will be a $15 fee per section for each additional attempt. Students who choose to test at a non-NISD site may be required to pay additional fees. The cost will depend on the college and the testing site.

Seniors who will be attending a private college in Texas or any college outside the State may not be required to take the TSIA2. Please check with your college or university to confirm their requirements.

When and where do I test?
The TSIA2 Assessment is offered at the college you wish to attend. Visit their website and follow their procedures to sign up for testing.

OR

NISD students may also take the TSIA2 Assessment in NISD remotely or face-to-face.

How long does the TSIA2 Assessment take?
The TSIA2 Assessment is not a timed test. The average time to complete all 3 sections of the test is 3-5 hours.

What happens if I do not finish the test?
You have 14 calendar days to complete the test. If you do not complete the test within that 14-day period, you will have to begin again with Question 1 on the test section where you stopped.

What do I need to bring with me to the test?
Government-issued photo identification or current campus ID badge.

Can I bring a calculator to the test?
No. Calculators are not allowed. No study materials, reference materials, or calculators may be used during the test. Cell phones and all other communication devices are strictly prohibited in the testing room. The mathematics test has an integrated calculator for questions where a calculator is allowed. Please see the video above to learn how to use the calculator.

How do I interpret my scores?
Your counselor, college advisor, or college and career facilitator will be able to help you interpret your scores.

I took the TSIA2 but did not meet the college readiness standard in one or more areas. What do I do now?
You may retest one more time after two weeks. During this time, we recommend that you spend some time preparing for the section(s) you need to retake using the resources above.  

How many times can I take the TSIA2?
You may take the TSIA2 free of charge up to three times. After your third attempt, there will be a $15 fee per section for each subsequent attempt.

I have taken the TSI2 twice, but I still have not met the college readiness standard. What do I do now?
You will be allowed to test again once you have successfully completed a TSI Prep Course. Please see your College & Career Facilitator to be enrolled in this free course. You must successfully complete the TSIA2 Prep course before you will be allowed to try a 3rd time.

           NISD Campus-Based College & Career Facilitators

Habiba Lalani - All V.R. Eaton students & Northwest High School students with last name A-L
Melissa Furlow - All Byron Nelson students & Northwest High School students with last name M-Z
 

Please note that colleges have varying admissions policies. While NISD is available to help, it is ultimately the student's responsibility to work with their college admissions office to ensure that they meet the enrollment requirements of each college they plan to attend. If you have additional questions about the TSI Assessment or need further guidance, please contact your school counselor, NISD College & Career Readiness, or the admissions and advising office at the college you plan to attend.

NISD has changed their transcript request procedure.  Current and former students can request a transcript at this link:
Request Transcript Here

Transcripts for non-Common App applications and other records requests for current students are managed by campus registrars.

The Registrars	Alpha Split	Phone number	Email link
Teri Balich	A-L	817-215-0238	tbalich@nisdtx.org
Martha Gonzalez	M-Z	817-215-0257	martha.gonzalez@nisdtx.org

Transcript requests for all grades are handled through Parchment unless you are applying via the Common Application. If you are applying via Common Application, you must notify your counselor by email.

                           ******Notice******

The application to the school or program must be complete before the transcript may be sent out by the registrars. 

If a transcript needs to be mailed to a coach or scholarship, please email your counselor.