Accessing The Money Steps to Financial Aid

Step 1: Getting Prepared Checklist All admission applications completed and submitted Recommendations from teachers/counselors/etc. have been secured You have given permission to counselor for GPA verification Get your FAFSA pin numbers (one for student, one for parent) at Search for outside sources of aid (scholarships, grants, etc.)

Step 2: The FAFSA Things Needed in Order to submit Social Security Number (SSN) Parent and Student Financial Information 2014 Income Needed, 2014 Tax Information Helpful, 2014 Income Tax Information Helpful After midnight on January 1 st you can begin to submit your FAFSA California deadline for filing FAFSA is March 2 nd (to be eligible for Cal Grants) FAFSA can be edited/corrected after submission so don’t panic Make sure your FAFSA is sent to ALL colleges to which you applied

Step 3: How the System Works FAFSA will take your information and calculate your expected family contribution (EFC) Your EFC will BE THE SAME for every college FAFSA will be sent to the colleges you designate Admissions and Financial Aid departments work together Each college will determine student need by subtracting EFC from total cost of attendance at that particular college College will put a need package together usually consisting of scholarships, grants, work study, and loans

Step 4: Decisions, Decisions Student and Family decide on college choice and sign a commitment (which includes a deposit)

SAMPLE COST OF COLLEGE YEAR TUITION$42,000 ROOM AND BOARD $6,700 FEES $220 BOOKS AND SUPPLIES $1,200 TRANSPORTATION $1,000 PERSONAL $2,800 TOTAL$53,920

SAMPLE FINANCIAL NEED ASSESSMENT Total Cost of Attendance$53,920 Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) -$14,000 Student’s Unmet Need$39,920

SAMPLE FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE Scholarships, Grants$31,000 Work Study (On Campus Job) $3,920 Loans $5,000 Total Financial Aid Package$39,920

California Financial Aid To be eligible a student MUST BE A U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen A California resident Financially eligible Submit a FAFSA by March 2 nd Registered with Selective Service Admitted to a California School (at least half time)

Cal Grant A For low and middle income families To be used at four year California college, renewable for 4 years Based on G.P.A. of 3.0 (non-weighted, soph-junior years) For tuition and fees only amounts CSUs$5,472 UCs$12,192 Private $9,084

Cal Grant B For disadvantaged, low-income students Primarily for Community College, then transfer For entering freshmen only Eligibility determined by: family income, family size, parent’s educational level, household status, and G.P.A ( in Soph-Junior years) Pays subsistence only in first year ($1,648), then subsistence plus tuition for next three years

Cal Grant C For student pursuing a vocational program of study For programs ranging from 4 months to 2 years Eligibility based on financial need, G.P.A., and supplemental form Awards range from $547 to $2,462 Limited number of awards

Web Resources Guide Financial Aide Fastweb FinAid Fastweb’s College Gold Federal Student Aid for Students Financial Aid Calculators College Cost Information College Affordability FTC Project Scholarship Scam

Web Resources Guide Financial Aid (cont’d) Guide to Federal Student Aid International Students Mapping Your Future National Student Loan Data System Sources of Aid Scholarship Search AmeriCorps Athletic Scholarships City Year

Web Resources Guide Sources of Aid (Cont’d) College Savings Plan Network Job Corps State Resources Student Tax Information Financial Aid Applications CSS/Financial Aid Profile Profileonline.collegeboard.com FAFSA FAFSA PIN Registration FAFSA 4Caster