Empowering Futures with Faith and Financial Wisdom
By Samantha DePriest
The Trinity Christian School High School Counseling department hosted a college financial aid workshop earlier this week with special guest Ben Meadows from the Georgia Student Finance Commission. Mr. Brian Fourman, 11th and 12th grade counselor, was pleased that the workshop was so well attended. Mr. Meadows educated our families about a variety of relevant topics. It was a special opportunity for our parents and students to get their questions answered and begin taking the next steps towards their futures.
Ben Meadows from Georgia Student Finance Commission.
Topics included completing the FAFSA, how to find and apply for scholarships and grants, understanding student loans, and important deadlines and next steps. Both HOPE and Zell Miller Grants were explained as well as grants for students who are interested in high demand fields including automotive technology, health care assistant specializations, welding, and more.
The HOPE Career Grant, formerly known as the Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant, is a financial award for Technical College System of Georgia students. “It was first presented by the Governor’s Office in Fall 2013. It awards funds to students who meet certain criteria and who are enrolled in certain programs and is available to HOPE Grant-qualified students who enroll in select majors specifically aligned with industries in which there are more jobs available in Georgia than there are skilled workers to fill them. These industries have been identified as strategically important to the state’s economic growth.”
College prep Tips from TCS MOm
The Embry family at the opening day of the Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech in August 2025.
One of the best ways to learn about current resources for college prep is by hearing from others experiences. Cathy Embry and her husband Scott have two graduates from TCS. They have been a tremendous resource for families for years. Her daughter Elisabeth graduated in 2022 and her son Anderson graduated in 2025. While both were accepted into UGA, both Elisabeth and Anderson are students at Georgia Tech. Elisabeth is a Business major with Supply Chain and Operations and will graduate in May of 2026, while Anderson is a freshman majoring in Business and minoring in Finance and Sports and Entertainment.
College prep notes and timeline
Let your student take the lead, but help them navigate all of the application process.
You will need there to be there to help them navigate the common application and FAFSA.
Talk to your parents about finances before applying to schools to make sure you’re all on the same page financially.
Freshman year
Starting in your freshman year, start a résumé. Even if you write it on a piece of notebook paper-write down everything you do over the next four years that you could possibly want to include on a college application resume. It’s hard to go back and remember what you did your freshman year when you’re writing your résumé your senior year.
Make sure and ask a recent high school grad what their résumé looked like to keep it current for the colleges.
Junior year
Begin taking the SAT/ACT several times to find out which test works for your child’s learning style. If prep is needed, hire a SAT/ACT prep tutor to get the grade that they are striving for.
Do all college tours.
Become familiar with all dates. Common app date, early admission 1 and 2 and regular decision and start thinking about some ideas for your essay.
Once junior year is over the summer going into your senior year email all of your teachers and ask if they would write you a college recommendation in August of your senior year.
Senior year
Make sure you have the test score that you are happy with applications. My advice would be to make a spreadsheet or grab a notebook and keep up with all things that are sent to colleges. Application, test scores, transcripts, etc. that have been submitted to all schools.
Apply to safety schools, target schools, and apply to that reach school. You just never know!!!
When the common app does open work on it a little bit every day from August through September.
To be ready for EA1 in October!
Start researching all local scholarships and all freshman scholarships to the universities you’re applying.
Follow Rick Clark at Georgia Tech all about college admissions even if your child is not planning on applying there he offers some wonderful advice on college admissions!
Senior year is very busy for your student! Anything you can do ahead of time is time well spent.