College Applications, Financial Aid, and Hazlewood Act Information
Essay A: Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?
Word Limit: 550-700 words
***College Applications for the Class of 2024 open August 01, 2023***
Students should have Essay A, resume, letters of recommendation, and TSIA2 scores
or proof of exemption through SAT/ACT by beginning of senior year.
College Application Fee Waivers
All students in the Class of 2024 who took the SAT Test Day exam at Memorial High School
can access college application fee waivers in their College Board account.
Some students may have missed the SAT School Day exam or
may have transferred from another district to McAllen ISD. Students in these situations
should contact Mrs. Carrillo at the Go Center to see if they meet fee waiver eligibility.
DO NOT PAY FOR ANY COLLEGE APPLICATION FEES
WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING WITH MRS. CARRILLO!
In accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.0256, beginning with students enrolled in 12th grade during the 2021-2022 school year,
each student must do one of the following in order to graduate:
Complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
Complete and submit a Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA); or
Submit a signed opt-out form.
***The 2024-2025 FAFSA and TASFA applications will open on December 31, 2023***
You are strongly recommended to submit the financial aid application as soon as it opens.
For Students Who Are U.S. Citizens or Eligible Noncitizens
The student and contributors (also known as parents) will first be required to create an FSA ID before starting the FAFSA application, even if the contributor does not have an SSN, is not a resident of the U.S., and/or is not required to file a tax return.
Grandparents and other relatives (e.g. aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, etc.) are not considered contributors on the FAFSA application regardless of the circumstances.
Students Who Are Not U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents
Students that are classified as a Texas Resident who cannot apply for federal financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in Texas may still have an opportunity to receive financial aid. If you have lived in Texas for the three previous years leading up to college and graduated from a Texas high school, you may be eligible for Texas state financial aid.
***The 2024-2025 FAFSA and TASFA applications will open on December 31, 2023***
Students will need parent(s) 2022 tax return and W2 forms.
If a tax return was not filed for 2022, students can still complete a financial aid application.
Note: Grandparents and other relatives cannot have their income entered in the parent section on any financial aid application.
The CSS Profile is an online application used by colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid
CSS Profile Fee Waiver
Getting Started
Complete the Application
Types of Federal Student Aid
Hazlewood Act
The Hazlewood Act is a State of Texas benefit that provides qualified Veterans, spouses, and dependent children with an education benefit of up to 150 hours of tuition exemption, including most fee charges, at public institutions of higher education in Texas. This does NOT include living expenses, books, or supply fees.
