Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC)

• Understand the financial aid process
• Learn about grants, scholarships, and loans
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Reconcile defaulted student loans 

What to bring?

Participants should bring their tax return from 2 years ago. For the 2020-21 school year, this would be the 2018 tax return. Read below to determine if you are dependent or independent:

An independent student is defined as a student who:

• Will be at least 24 years old by December 31, 2020
• Is married
• Has children for whom they provide more than half of their child’s financial support during the school year
• Has dependents (other than child or spouse) who live with them and for whom they provide more than half of their dependent’s financial support during the school year
• At any time after turning 13 years old was an orphan, in foster care, or a dependent or ward of the court
• As defined by a court in the state of their legal residence was ever in a legal guardianship or an emancipated minor or
• At any time after July 1, 2019 was identified as an unaccompanied youth who was homeless, self-supporting, or at risk of being homeless by one of the following:
  •  HS liaison
  • director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center
  • director of an emergency shelter, or
  • director of a traditional housing program funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development

If none of the above apply, you are a dependent student.

Independent Student must bring:

• Your Social Security Card
• Your Permanent Resident Card (only if not US Citizen)
• Your (and your spouse’s) Federal Tax Returns (IRS 1040)
• Records of any untaxed income (child support, social security, unemployment, etc.)
• Your FSA ID and Password (if you do not have one, please create one at https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm

Dependent Student must bring:

• Your (and your parent’s) Social Security Card
• Your Permanent Resident Card (only if not US Citizen)
• Your (and your parent’s) Federal Tax Returns (IRS 1040)
• Records of any untaxed income (child support, social security, unemployment, etc.) for both you and your parents

Your (and your parent’s) FSA ID and Password (if you do not have one, please create one at https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm

• Complete Interest Profiles to find your passion
• Determine which careers are growing in job availability.
• Evaluate minimum educational requirements
• Learn about how much various career tracks earn

• Find GED classes near you
• Obtain study material and practice tests
• Receive funding for GED examination
• GED tutoring

• Personal finance strategies
• Manage money as a college student
• Learn about budgeting, credit, and investing

• Learn what colleges are looking for and how to choose a college
• Complete your college application
• Establish residency and request transcripts

• Build and polish your resume
• Gain tips for interviewing
• Learn about professionalism and work preparedness