Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How much Opportunity 14 Scholarship might I receive?
  2. How long can I continue to receive the Opportunity 14 Scholarship?
  3. I already have other scholarships paying for my tuition, fees, and books. Can I just get cash from Opportunity 14?
  4. I applied for financial aid and have been accepted to HCC. How will I find out if I'm going to reeive an Opportunity 14 Scholarship?
  5. I didn't do very well in high school. Why is it so important for me to go to college?
  6. I graduated from high school more than a year ago. Can I still receive the Opportunity 14 Scholarship?
  7. What is the service learning requirement for students who receive the Opportunity 14 Scholarship?
  8. Can I use the Opportunity 14 Scholarship to complete remedial courses?
  9. I am an undocumented student. Why can't I apply for financial aid using the FAFSA form?

 


 

 




 

  1. How much Opportunity 14 Scholarship might I receive?
    The amount of Opportunity 14 funds you might qualify for depends on your financial aid award. The scholarship was designed to assist students from low-income families who receive some financial aid but not enough to cover their tuition and books at HCC. You therefore must be eligible to receive less than $1,500 per semester of Pell Grant from the federal government (or, for undocumented students, some amount of state-funded TEXAS Grant support). 

    The way you find out how much money you can receive from O14 is by first applying for financial aid at     www.fafsa.ed.gov (or, for undocumented students, visiting the financial aid office at your local HCC campus). Opportunity 14 will make up the difference between the annual amount of government aid you receive and $3,000 a year, for a maximum of $1,500 per long semester and/or $1,000 per summer semester. This is enough to pay for most students’ full-time HCC tuition, fees, and books. 

    Students whose family income disqualifies them from receiving any amount of Pell Grant are not eligible to receive Opportunity 14.
  2. How long can I continue to receive the Opportunity 14 Scholarship?
    You can receive the Opportunity 14 Scholarship for up to three academic years, for a maximum payout of $6,000 total. Your receipt of funds will depend on your financial aid assessment from year to year and on your having met the other requirements for the scholarship. 
  3. I already have other scholarships paying for my tuition, fees, and books. Can I just get the cash from Opportunity 14?
    The Opportunity 14 Scholarship pays for tuition, fees, and books for students attending HCC. It does not pay for living expenses and will not be issued as cash to a recipient.
  4. I have applied for financial aid and have been accepted to HCC. How will I find out if I'm going to receive an Opportunity 14 Scholarship?
    You will receive an e-mail from HCC's Financial Aid office that explains all the financial aid and/or Opportunity 14 funds for which you are eligible.
  5. I didn't do very well in high school. Why is it so important for me to go to college?
    Most jobs being created nowadays require some kind of post-high school education. There are simply few opportunities anymore that will allow a person to make a decent income without first going to college. HCC offers you a lot of options that you might find very interesting. For example, did you know you could attend HCC for two years and become a healthcare professional such as a nurse, a respiratory therapist, or a dental hygienist? Or you could learn a career in other fields such as fashion design, audio technology, or automotive mechanics. More about academic and career training opportunities at HCC.
  6. I graduated from high schoool more than a year ago. Can I still receive the Opportunity 14 Scholarship?
    The Opportunity 14 Scholarship is available to students who attend HCC within one year of either graduating high school or completing the GED before their 20th birthday. Therefore you will not be eligible to receive Opportunity 14 Scholarship funds. However, you may be eligible for federal financial aid, so the first thing you should do is apply for that at www.fafsa.ed.gov. You are also eligible to apply for the many other scholarships offered by the HCC Foundation. We accept online applications every January through May. Visit our website at www.hccsfoundation.org.
  7. What is the service learning requirement for students who receive the Opportunity 14 Scholarship?
    Every student who accepts Opportunity 14 scholarship funds must commit to participating in a four-hour community service event sponsored by HCC’s Service Learning department. These events may include activities such as tutoring young children or community service for senior citizens. You will receive more information about your service learning options via e-mail. Please note that O14 recipients who fail to participate in a qualified service learning event will not be eligible to receive future O14 funds.
  8. Can I use the Opportunity 14 Scholarship to complete remedial courses?
    Yes. However, you will want to complete these as quickly as possible in order to begin taking regular credit courses. Remember that you may only receive the Opportunity 14 Scholarship for a maximum of three years.
  9. I am an undocumented student. Why can't I apply for financial aid using the FAFSA form?
    The financial aid application at www.fafsa.ed.gov is run by the federal government, and the federal government limits its availability to United States citizens. However, the state of Texas does provide financial assistance to undocumented students. There is no online form for this application, but the financial aid officer at your local HCC campus can help you fill out a paper copy of the FAFSA and take other steps so you can be considered for other financial aid. Opportunity 14 can be used to supplement your award if necessary.

    To find the HCC campus nearest you, click here. To talk with an HCC financial aid officer, please call 713-718-8550.