New Student Checklist: Your Steps to Success
Stay Enrolled and On Track
The transition to college can feel overwhelming, but Forsyth Tech is here to help with some important details you need to remain enrolled and be successful.
This guide provides a quick overview of the key items you’ll need to check off your new student to-do list in order to maintain your enrollment and achieve your goals. And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your advisor, or contact the Student Success Center. We’re here for you!
Complete Your FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a single application that you can fill out to learn if you are eligible for federally-funded grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and loans that help reduce the amount you pay for college.
States and colleges may also use FAFSA to award their own financial aid packages. So when you apply, you have access to the largest potential source of financial aid for school.
Things You’ll Need
- Your Social Security Number (SSN)
- Your parents’ SSNs, if you are a dependent student.
- *Being a dependent for FAFSA purposes is separate from being a dependent for tax purposes. View the questions that determine if you are a dependent student here. If you are a dependent student, that doesn’t mean your parents are required to pay anything for your education. The information is used to determine how much aid you qualify for.
- Your tax returns
- Your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. You can can create one at studentaid.gov. (Your parents will also need an account)
FAFSA Steps
Step 1: Go to studentaid.gov and log in with your FSA ID. Click “Complete the FAFSA form”
Step 2: Fill out the Student Info first (name, birthday, SSN, email, phone). The name you enter must match the name on your Social Security card. Select Forsyth Technical Community College from the school list, including the school code: 005317.
Step 3: Add your parents’ info. If you’re under 24, not married, and don’t have kids, you probably need to include your parents’ information, even if they don’t plan to help pay for college. You’ll need:
- Their names, birthdates, and SSNs
- How many people are in your family
- How many family members are in college
Step 4: Enter Financial Info using tax returns from two years ago
- The FAFSA tool can often pull this info in automatically from the IRS
- You’ll also need to list savings accounts, checking accounts, and any other money/assets
Step 5: Sign & Submit
Start Your FAFSA Now
What Happens Next?
After submitting your form, you’ll get a confirmation email that it was received.
Once processed, Forsyth Tech will then email the financial aid offer for you to view and accept.
Pay Your Tuition or Set Up a Payment Plan
College is a commitment. Once you are enrolled, you are expected to pay your tuition costs (whatever amount is left after financial aid has been awarded), or risk losing your enrollment.
How to Get Started with Payment
- Log into your student portal to view your tuition
- Pay online or at the business office, or set up a payment plan
If something you couldn’t plan for is preventing you from making a payment, we won’t let tuition costs stand in your way. The Forsyth Tech Cares office has resources and assistance programs that help with tuition costs.
Complete Your Course Entry Assignment
After paying your tuition, all students must complete their Course Entry Assignment for each class in which you are registered. The Course Entry Assignment is a short questionnaire that can be found on Blackboard for each class on your schedule.
This is required, and must be completed by the Census Date (10% of the class duration).
Find more information about accessing and completing your Course Entry Assignments by watching this video.
Speak to Your Advisor
All Forsyth Tech students are paired with an academic advisor. It’s their job to help you succeed here. Not only will they help guide you through your program, they can also help you find and access all the other resources Forsyth Tech offers: tutoring, financial aid, career services, and more.
Schedule An ApointmentAttend Orientation
Going through our online Orientation is the final action you need to take to be ready for the school year. This step-by-step guide to familiarizing yourself with Forsyth Tech is designed to help you understand all the resources available to you as a student, so you can make the most of your time here.
Online Orientation Includes:
- Overview of our campuses
- Understanding your program and how courses are structured
- Our tech tools and how to get support
- How to pay for college and money tips
- Student life and how to get involved
- FTCC services and our commitment to your success
Start Your Orientation
Additional Resources
If you have more questions, see the additional resources below or feel free to contact us any time.
Additional Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Success Coaches are here to help students from all backgrounds.
- Student Groups: Find a club or group based on shared interests
- Forsyth Tech Cares: Our program to help students with non-academic support, such as food and housing assistance and legal aid
- Ride Shares: Find someone to share your commute to campus
- View All Student Resources and Services
If you have any other questions or need support in your journey at Forsyth Tech, don’t hesitate to contact our Student Care team today:
336-734-7195