Your December Newsletter is Here

Happy December and New Year!

On Monday, January 20, at 12-4 (Passaic City Hall), our annual day of service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will focus on helping students and families in Passaic #DoTheFAFSA and get free money for college!

MTB College and High School along with Mayor Hector Lora's Youth Council will guide students and families through the process. Assistance will be available in English, Spanish, and Gujarati.

This event is open to the public and is appropriate for all high school seniors and their families and anyone else wanting help completing the FAFSA.

Congratulations to Ashley and Disha, who were selected to fly to Bentley University as part of a Fly-In program.

On November 1st and 2nd, I was lucky enough to visit Bentley University, and they flew me in! I stayed overnight in one of the dorms, which gave me a real feel for campus life and what it's like to live there. The day started with a welcome session led by the officers of admission, who talked about the application process and the different forms of financial aid available. Next, a student ambassador gave us an extended tour of the campus, showing us the library, residence halls, and athletic facilities. Throughout the visit, I was well-fed with delicious meals in the dining hall, which showcased the variety of food options available. The trip concluded with a Q&A session with current students, which provided many useful insights and personal stories. It was quite an experience and really made me excited at the idea of coming to Bentley University.

It was amazing. The itinerary was super organized and I didn't feel lost in any moments. From the beginning, they served yummy food and opened the floor to network with a Bentley Buddy who fortunately I was very compatible with. We hit it off strong and had great conversations. She did not miss a mark when answering my numerous questions plus she was very honest about the campus environment and Bentley as a whole. I got a huge advantage in going to this Fly-In opportunity because I lived the dorm life firsthand, from waking up to going to sleep. I am now confident that I am set to live in a dorm when given the opportunity due to this experience.

Fly-Ins are a great way to visit out-of-state schools. Students and families can learn more about these sorts of opportunities at Level All. If you haven’t activated your Level-All account, create your account here. Your parents can also access it, and they can do so in Spanish (see instructions).

FAFSA Preparation!

FAFSA is open!

For now, families should keep a few things in mind.

FAFSA is safe, regardless of tax filing history or immigration status.The Higher Education Act prohibits the use of data for any purpose other than determining and awarding federal financial assistance.

Both the student and parent (and sometimes parents) will need an FSA ID. When students begin the FAFSA, they will go through a process to determine which parents (called "contributors") will be "invited" to contribute to their application. (See the contributor wizard.)

After the FSA ID is created, it takes a few days to process. It is much better to create the FSA ID a few days before the actual FAFSA completion.

Students without an SSN are not eligible for federal financial aid (Pell) but are eligible for state aid (TAG) in New Jersey!

Ask a Question

There's no such thing as a stupid question. Ask anything and everything by going to this form. Don't be shy! bit.ly/AskMTB

Ask a Question!

Question: What should a parent do if they have a question?

Question: What should a parent do if they have a question about MTB, college, or financial aid?

Answer: Reach out.

Our Social Work Interns just completed this round of family outreach. They will reach out again in the Spring. If you missed the outreach and have a question or concern, don't hesitate to reach out to Sussex at sussex@morethanbootstraps.org.

Question: When do students complete financial aid applications?

Answer: It varies.

The two biggest forms of financial aid are the Pell Grant and TAG. The Pell Grant is "free money" that never has to be repaid and is based on financial need. The Pell is awarded by the federal government. To receive the Pell, high school seniors complete the FAFSA, which just opened. This application has to be completed each year. Only U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens (with a social security number) are eligible for Pell. Parents, even those without a social security number, are required to contribute to the FAFSA.

Students (regardless of citizenship status) who will complete at least three years of high school in New Jersey and will attend a New Jersey institution of higher education are also eligible for TAG. This year, the HESAA application is expected to open sometime in early December for current high school seniors and returning college students.

Some colleges also require the CSS Profile. This financial aid application unlocks institutional awards, particularly at wealthy private colleges. This application opens on October 1 for seniors. Each school has a different deadline.

We also share information with students about big national scholarships and small local scholarships throughout the year. Some scholarships accept applications from high school juniors, high school seniors, and/or college students.

Note: students can complete college applications before OR after they complete financial aid applications.

Coming Soon - Mark Your Planner!

Our fourth Full Group Meeting is on Saturday, December 14, at 10 AM (Zoom) and Sunday, December 15 at 4 PM (Zoom).

We will be talking about family communication.

Families, this month you can expect your students to talk about their college plans and ask some challenging questions about taxes, finances, and the possibility of going away for college! This is a required MTB task!

Follow MTB on Social Media!