Financial Aid & Scholarships | Akins Early College High School

FAFSA or TASFA and what they mean for you.

Depending on your situation you will apply for financial aid one of two ways:

If you have a Social Security Number, you will fill out the FAFSA
If you do not have a Social Security Number or have a Social Security Number through DACA, you will fill out the TASFA

Seniors, if you want support with FASFA or TASFA application, please see Ms. Arellano or Advisor Garcia in the CCC.

Most senior students will apply for FASFA or TASFA as a dependent, meaning they will have to provide information about their parents.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA is the free online application students can use to receive federal aid for college.

You can receive grants, loans, and work-study.

Before beginning your FAFSA application, you and your parent must make an FSA ID. This is like a username and it makes it easier once you are ready to submit!
- Create a FSA ID
After you have made your FSA ID, you can begin your application.
There you will select "Start A New FAFSA) and enter your FSA ID

Scholarships: Awards that students MUST APPLY FOR that are based on need, merit, or achievement that DO NOT HAVE TO BE REPAID.
Grants: Awards that students QUALIFY for vs. applying for that are mostly awarded on the basis of need and DO NOT HAVE TO BE REPAID.
Work Study: On and sometimes off-campus jobs for students who demonstrate financial need. Hours are limited. Students must apply for this aid through the FAFSA or the TASFA.
Loans: Money that is BORROWED and MUST BE REPAID WITH INTEREST. There are different types of loans, and students should accept certain types of loans first before restoring to other.

Please have your child provide you with this information only if you are okay with me (Ms. Wilkins- Akins College Adviser) helping your child submit a FASFA application in school. If you are comfortable submitting a FASFA application without assistance, then disregard pages 2-3 of this sheet.
If you would prefer to be present while your child submits a FASFA application, please join us during our October FASFA/TASFA events: Friday, October 1st at 5:30 PM- 7:30 PM, or Thursday, Oct 7th at 5:30 PM- 7:30 PM. If neither of these dates works for you, feel free to email me at marshala.wilkins@austin.utexas.edu to make an appointment. I handle all students’ personal/family income and social security information with confidentiality.

The TASFA is the free application students can use to receive state aid for college.

TASFA 2022-2023 (English) OR TASFA 2022-2023 (Espanol)
.pdf application in English and in Spanish.
NOTE: You will have to submit a separate application for each college that you apply to.
Ms. Wilkins and Ms. Arellano manage all TASFA applications for Akins. Visit us in the CCC for support!
Parent tax return, tax transcript, and W-2’s for the year prior
Student tax return, tax transcript, and W-2’s for the year prior
Required documents vary from school to school

TASFA Milestones