Financial Aid Workshop Mission Hills High School Presented by: Michele Ojeda Financial Aid Advisor

Today’s Discussion: What is Financial Aid? How do I apply? What types of Financial Aid are there? Am I Eligible? California Dream Application/AB540 Important Reminders! Scholarship Searches

What is Financial Aid? Grants Loans Scholarships Employment Opportunities

How Do I Apply? The FAFSA is the primary method of determining financial aid eligibility Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Easiest way to complete FAFSA is online Complete FAFSA Each Academic Year

You need to request a PIN for You (the Student) in order to sign and submit your FAFSA electronically. Your parents must request a PIN too! You and your parents can request your PIN NOW!!!

FAFSA on the Web Homepage

What happens when I apply? What’s the process? Complete electronic FAFSA, sign using PIN or send signature page to fed processor After your FAFSA has been processed, a Student Aid Report (SAR) “link” is ed to the student –Check the SAR for accuracy Schools listed on the FAFSA receive the information electronically Each school determines the financial aid eligibility If school needs additional information, student will be notified by school listed on FAFSA.

FAFSA used to determine EFC EFC = Expected Family Contribution –The federal government determines your ability to pay for post-secondary expenses (including living expenses) –The Financial Aid Offices use the EFC to determine a student’s eligibility for need- based aid

March 2 nd, 2013 All California public institutions, as well as some private institutions, use the March 2 nd priority filing date, which is also the Cal Grant deadline

Am I Eligible for Need-Based Aid? Cost of Attendance per institution (COA) MINUS Exp. Family Contribution (per FAFSA EFC) = Eligibility for Need Based Aid

Cost of Attendance (COA) Includes estimates for: –Tuition/Fees (actual) –Room/Board –Books –Transportation –Miscellaneous/Personal

California State University San Marcos Cost of Attendance for Amounts listed above are for CA resident, enrolled full-time.

Federal Pell Grant: Designed for low income students with an EFC between 0 and 4996 Awards range from $602 to $5550 per year depending upon EFC and enrollment May be received while completing 1 st Bachelors and preliminary teaching credential* * only at institutions which do NOT offer a Bachelors degree in education

Other Federal Financial Aid: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) Must be awarded to Pell eligible students first Limited funds; usually awarded to priority students first

Other Federal Financial Aid: Federal Work Study: Aid that is earned by working; monthly paychecks; will work around students school schedule. If you don’t work, you don’t get the $$

Federal Student Loans Subsidized Loan – 3.4% Unsubsidized Loan – 6.8%

Cal Grants Administered through: –California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) –

It Takes Two !!! To Apply for a Cal Grant, you must complete: 1.FAFSA 2.Cal Grant GPA Verification Form Both must be submitted by the March 2 nd deadline

CSUSM Institutional Funds State University Grant –Assists with the state fee, so can not receive Cal A simultaneously and can not receive with Cal B after 1 st year –Awarded to eligible students until funds depleted –Important to meet priority filing dates

Educational Opportunity Program EOP services include:  Personal & academic counseling Priority Registration Peer Mentoring First Year Experience Supplemental Instruction University & Program Orientation EOP Grant The Center Summer Bridge Program

Educational Opportunity Program Application process: Apply to university using CSU Mentor Indicate interest on application Complete EOP portion of application EOP Office will student with additional information

California Dream Application Students without lawful immigration status, who qualify for an AB540 nonresident tuition exemption: File for state and institutional need based scholarships and grants by filing a California Dream Act application at The Admission application fee waiver is also being extended to students without lawful immigration status, who will qualify for an AB540 nonresident tuition exemption & meet the income guidelines

California Dream Application AB 540 General Requirements The student must have attended a HS (public or private) in CA for 3 or more years, AND The student must have graduated from a CA HS or attained the equivalent (GED and CA HS proficiency exam also qualify), AND File an AB540 Affidavit (California Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Request form) with the college or university Available in the Admissions & Records office of each CSU

Financing College is a Partnership  Students contribute through working and borrowing  Parents are asked to contribute based on their financial ability  Low-income parents are often asked to contribute zero  Universities combine the different forms of financial aid for students  Offer a combination of federal, state, or university grants and scholarships to eligible students  Assist families seeking loans to help meet their contribution

Obtain a PIN –student AND parent, if student is ‘dependent’ Complete the FAFSA –submitted by student/parent to federal processor Cal Grant GPA Verification Form –submitted by school or student to CSAC Submit FORMS by March 2 every year

 No signatures! Must obtain PIN for electronic signatures of student and parent, or must send in signature page for student and parent  Income/Asset information left blank! File by deadline even if federal tax return not filed  Mismatched social security number with name and date of birth  No schools listed

Scholarshiphelp An excellent starting point. StudentServices Free scholarship information, by major. FastAIDFastAID and FastWEB Free college scholarship search and student loan information FinAid Comprehensive free resource for student financial aid information on the Web. Free scholarship search, financial aid calculators, glossary, and bibliography.