Financial Resources/Scholarships

Adult students can and should apply for financial aid and scholarships! Below is helpful information about financial aid resources, scholarships, and financial literacy. We encourage you to explore scholarship opportunities on your own, but we are always here to help! Many schools also offer specific scholarships to their programs, so be sure to check your school’s site as they update their financial aid resources.

• FAFSA application: https://fafsa.gov/
• Student Loans: https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/index.action
• Checking Status on Your Student loans: https://www.nslds.ed.gov/
• Veterans Benefits: http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/
• Create an FSA ID: https://fsaid.ed.gov/
• Estimate eligibility for federal financial aid: www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov
• Complete Loan Entrance or Exit Counseling: www.studentloans.gov
• Learn about student aid, requirements, payment plans, etc.: www.studentaid.ed.gov/

Financial Resources

• The Simple Dollar http://www.thesimpledollar.com/category/education/
• SALT https://www.saltmoney.org/index.html
• Want to talk to a financial advisor, free of cost? Schedule an appointment to meet with a financial planner in person at your local Financial Empowerment Center: http://www.sanantoniofec.org/

Tuition Assistance 

Many employers offer tuition assistance to their employees.  Be sure to ask your employer how you can take advantage of this benefit as requirements may differ at each place of employment. For instance, some employers may require you to be employed for a year before taking advantage of this benefit.  Others may require you to pay the cost of tuition up front and then reimburse you upon passing the course.  Be sure to get the details before you enroll!

Self-Assessment Tools

Not sure where to start? Use these tools to determine how your interests align with educational opportunities and explore career options.

• Jung Typology Test: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp and companion website: https://www.truity.com/view/types
• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/take-the-mbti-Instrument/
• Keirsey Temperament Sorter: http://www.keirsey.com/

College & Career Exploration Tools

• Career One Stop: https://www.careeronestop.org/explorecareers/assessments/self-assessments.aspx
• College & Career Exploration: http://www.mynextmove.org/
• Occupational Outlook Handbook: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/
• Local Career Exploration: http://www.emsicareercoach.alamo.edu/
• Workforce Solutions Alamo In Demand Occupations: http://www.workforcesolutionsalamo.org
• What Can I Do With This Major: www.whatcanidowiththismajor.com 
• Online Degree programs through Texas public schools:  http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/apps/programinventory/DESearchForm.cfm

Academic Support

• The San Antonio Public Library offers free tutoring for college students. Professional tutors are available online from 2:00 PM to midnight, seven days a week. Assistance is available for math, science, English, and Social Studies, as well as proofreading for essays and papers. Visit http://mysapl.org/homeworkhelp and have your library card number available.
• Each One Teach One is a local non-profit organization that offers individual tutoring:  http://eotosa.org.

TSI Prep

The TSI is the Texas Success Initiative, also known as the college entrance exam. This exam is only required if you are not yet at college level or are enrolling in college for the first time.

• Sample Questions from the Collegeboard: www.collegeboard.org
• Prep Tool from Austin Community College: https://sites.austincc.edu/tsiprep/

CLEP Prep:

The College Level Examination Program, CLEP, can help you get college credit for what you may cover in an introductory level course. CLEP offers 33 exams. Colleges/Universities may accept qualifying CLEP scores in place of taking an introductory course. If interested: 1) find out your school’s CLEP policy, 2) register for the exam, and 3) schedule your exam at a test center that is convenient for you.

For free practice exams, utilize your San Antonio Public Library card number to create an account through www.learningexpresshub.com. Once you’ve created your account, you may access practice exams through the “College Students” link. There are lots of other great resources within this page, all free of cost!

Scholarships

Make sure to first check with your institution and/or department for any scholarships available. These are often found on the school’s website. Our partner, cafécollege has a great list of scholarships available here: http://www.cafecollege.org/useful-links.

Search Engines:

• www.fastweb.com
• www.petersons.com
• www.collegeboard.com
• http://www.ptk.org/Scholarships: for associates or bachelor’s degrees
• www.collegescholarships.org/scholarships: Lists for adults, non-traditional students, married students, returning students, by ethnicity, for women, etc.

Community Resources

• Restore Education is a local San Antonio non-profit organization that offers free TSI prep classes, entrepreneurship courses, and certification courses (administrative assistant and CNA).  Restore Education is located at 1202 N Flores St. Suite 101, San Antonio TX 78212.  Call (210)-432-6123 for more information.
• Project Quest is a workforce strategy  program that provides support and financial assistance for individuals interested in high demand occupations in San Antonio. Attend an information session to learn more. Call (210) 630-4690 for more information.
• Workforce Solutions Alamo offers job seeker services, youth services, veteran services, and child care services. They also provide quality information on in demand occupations so that job seekers can make informed labor and occupation decisions. WSA has multiple locations around the city. Call (210)272-3260 for more information.
• Goodwill Industries of San Antonio: The Good Career Academy offers short term job training at affordable costs! For more information, visit their website or call (210) 570-7422. Goodwill also has Career Centers where you can receive assistance in job preparation, placement, and advancement. Visit their website for a location closest to you.