How much does Project STAY, Inc. charge for services?
There is no charge. We are contracted by the U.S. Department of Education to provide free services to eligible students.

How do I know if I am eligible?
First of all, you must attend one of our target high schools to be eligible for our Talent Search program. To be eligible for our Educational Opportunity Center program you must be over the age of 19 and live in the target area. Also, you must be a U.S. citizen with a social security card or eligible non-citizen with a current permanent resident card and a valid social security card. Call our office for more details.

What Documents do I need to enroll with Project STAY?
You will need your social security card and permanent resident card, if applicable; a Texas drivers license or other photo I.D. and you/your spouse’s federal income tax returns for the previous year. If you are a dependent student (under the age of 24, not married and have no dependents you support by more than half) you must also provide your parents’ tax return(s) with all W-2s and schedules. When you call our office for an appointment we will review the requirements with you.

What is the difference between your two programs?
Our Educational Talent Search Program is for high school students planning to attend college right after graduation. Our Educational Opportunity Center is for adults who have a high school diploma or a GED and have never been to college or want to return to earn a degree or certificate from an accredited post-secondary institution.

Does Project STAY award scholarships, grants or make financial aid decisions?
No, we do not award any scholarship or grants, nor do we make any financial aid decisions. We provide information, explain all your options and assist with all the paperwork required.

What if I or my parents don’t file a tax return?
Proof of income is required by the federal government even if you don’t file a tax return. You must provide W-2s, if you worked, 1099s, or printouts for any child support, SSI, TANF, veterans, or any other benefits you or members of your household receive. In some cases we may have to prepare a statement for you to have notarized to describe your means of support. Call our office for more information.

I don’t live with my parents and they don’t support me. Will I be considered an independent student?
If you are under the age of 24, not married or have no dependents that you support by more than half, you must provide the financial documents of your parents (biological, step- or adoptive parents). Even if you don’t live with them and they don’t support you the federal government requires their documents.

I haven’t completed a federal income tax return yet; may I estimate my information on the FAFSA?
Although technically permissible, it is not a good idea to estimate your financial information. The Department of Education will consider your FAFSA incomplete and will not provide an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). The colleges won’t receive your information and you are no further along in the process than if you waited until you completed your tax return. You will have to make the corrections using your completed tax return.

I don’t have a diploma. I have all my high school credits, but have not passed TAKS. Can I still go to college?
If you have earned all your high school credits, but have not passed TAKS, community colleges may, at their discretion, allow you to enroll for one semester and award financial aid, if you are eligible. However, you must pass TAKS before you are allowed to enroll for a second semester. You may not enroll in a 4-year institution.

What, if after several attempts, I don’t pass TAKS?
You should consider taking a GED pre-test. If you do well on that you should take the GED exam. Earning your GED will allow you to continue your college education. If you still want to earn a diploma you may continue to take the TAKS until you pass.

Where can I get information on the cost of attending college?
You may access this information on individual college websites. Also, our experienced College Placement Specialists can provide information on any college or university in the country when you meet with them.

What do I need to enroll in college?
Generally, to enroll in college you must provide a copy of your high school transcript if you have never attended college. You must take a college entrance exam (SAT or ACT) and, unless you are exempt, you must also take a college placement test (THEA or ACCUPLACER) to determine for what level of college course work you are prepared. Individual colleges may have other requirements. Our College Placement Specialists can advise you on all requirements.

By when do I have to apply for financial aid?
Financial Aid is awarded on a first come, first served basis. Ideally, your FAFSA should be submitted by April 1st. However, some colleges and universities may have earlier deadlines so check with the college. Missing deadlines may delay the awarding of financial aid in time to pay your tuition and fees. Also, many scholarships require that you file your FAFSA before they will consider awarding you a scholarship. Let our experienced staff complete the FAFSA for you.

What do I do if I am currently attending college, but want to transfer to another college next semester?
First of all, complete an application for admission online and request a transcript from the college you are currently attending. It is important for you to know ahead of time which of your credits will transfer to the new college. Be aware of all admission and financial aid deadlines.

I want a bachelor’s degree, but would like to start out at a community college. Is that possible?
Yes, if that is what is best for you, you may enroll at a community college. Under a “2 + 2 Plan,” a college advisor will help you design a plan that after two years you can transfer your credits to a 4-year institution to be applied towards a bachelor’s degree. However, enrolling in the plan is an option, not a requirement to be able to transfer.

Will my financial aid be transferred from one college to the other?
No, if you currently receive financial aid at one college and transfer to another within the same academic year, you must add the code for the new college to your FAFSA before that college will consider you for financial aid. A FAFSA must be completed each academic year, so if you transfer at the beginning of a new academic year you would include the code for the new college on the FAFSA.

Will the amount on my financial aid be the same at any college I attend?
No, with the exception of the Pell Grant, which is determined by the information on your FAFSA each year; all other types of aid are determined by the Financial Aid Administrator of each college based on your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC), the cost of attendance and the availability of funds at the college.

What is a Student Aid Report (SAR)?
An SAR is a report generated by the Department of Education based on the financial information you provided on the FAFSA. This report will list your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). After completing your FAFSA our staff will follow-up to explain your SAR as soon as you receive it in the mail.

What is an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC)?
The EFC is a measure of your family’s financial strength and is based on the information you provided on your FAFSA. It is calculated by the Department of Education according to a formula established by law. Colleges use the EFC to determine your federal student aid eligibility and to award state and campus-based financial aid. After completing your FAFSA our staff will follow-up to explain your EFC.

Is the EFC the amount of money my family will have to pay for me to attend college?
Your EFC is not the amount of money your family will have to pay for college nor is it the amount of federal student aid you will receive. It is a number used by the college to calculate the amount of federal student aid you are eligible to receive. Our staff will fully explain the implications of your EFC.

I received my Student Aid Report (SAR) and there is an asterisk (*) by my Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). What does that mean?
It means that the Department of Education has selected you for a process called verification. They require that you provide the college with all the documents you used to complete your FAFSA. Verification ensures that the information you reported on the FAFSA is accurate. Colleges will not consider you for financial aid until you have provided the requested documents. Our staff will complete the verification paperwork for you and make copies of all the documents we used to complete your FAFSA to take to the college to comply with the verification process.

Why was I selected for verification?
The Department of Education randomly selects about 90% of FAFSAs for verification. Others are selected by the Department or colleges due to discrepancies on questions in the information provided.

My Student Aid Report (SAR) has my Estimated Family Contribution (EFC), but there is a “C” next to it. What does that mean?
It means that the Department of Education has found a discrepancy in the information you provided. All the information you submit is cross-checked with the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, Citizenship and Immigration Service, Selective Service System, and the Department of Homeland Security. You will have to make corrections before the college will award you financial aid. Our staff will review your SAR with you and advise you on how to address the issues the Department has identified.

What if I provide incomplete or wrong information on my FAFSA?
You must complete the FAFSA truthfully and accurately. If you left something out or made a mistake you must correct it immediately. All the information you submit is cross-checked with other federal agencies. If the information does not match with their records you must make corrections or you will not receive financial aid. Before completing your FAFSA our staff will review all your documents to ensure that all information is provided accurately

What if I made a mistake on my FAFSA and still received financial aid?
If you receive federal student aid based on incorrect or incomplete information, you will have to re-pay the money along with fines and fees. If you purposely provide false or misleading information, you may be fined $200,000, sent to prison, or both.

I received an offer from an organization to complete my FAFSA if I pay them a fee. What should I do?
Applying for financial aid is free; that is why it is called the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. You should be wary of offers to complete your FAFSA for a fee or to find money for you to attend college. Some of these offers are legitimate and others are scams. If you are eligible for our services, we can assist you for free.