1. Applying for Financial Aid 2013-2014

2. 2013-2014 Cal Grant Application Requirements Check with your high school or college counselor for more details on how to file the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form, required of all students By March 2, 2013, complete and submit: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) OR Cal Grant GPA Verification Form 2 If eligible under AB540, students should complete the California Dream Act Application: www.caldreamact.org

3. FAFSA on the Web Worksheet Thought not a required form, the 2013-2014 FAFSA on the Web Worksheet may: Help some students prepare to complete the FOTW Be used for the January 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014 federal aid application cycle. 3

4. PIN (Personal Identification Number) Needed to sign and access the FAFSA Both student and one parent need PINs to sign the FAFSA electronically May be used to: Check on FAFSA status Verify and correct FAFSA data Add additional schools to receive FAFSA data Change home and e-mail addresses PIN will be generated only if a valid email address is provided Federal PIN Apply for student and parent PINs at: www.pin.ed.gov 4

5. Before starting the FAFSA on the Web (FOTW), gather: Student driver’s license Student Alien Registration Card Student and Parent Social Security cards 2012 W-2 Forms and records of money earned and other taxable benefits 2012 federal income tax form (even if not yet completed) Records of untaxed income Current bank statements Business, farm, and other real estate records Records of stocks, bonds, and other investments Complete 2013-14 FOTW Worksheet (optional) Create a file for copies of all financial aid documents submitted Getting Ready 5

6. FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) The 2013-2014 FAFSA on the Web may be used for the January 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014 federal student aid application cycle 6

7. Section 1 Section 1 –Student Demographics Section 2 Section 2 –School Selection Section 3 Section 3 –Dependency Status Section 4 Section 4 –Parent Demographics Section 5 Section 5 – Financial Information Section 6 Section 6 – Sign and Submit Section 7 Section 7 – Confirmation The FOTW A Seven-Section Online Form 7

8. Section 1 STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS

9. Section 1 - Student Name The FOTW will ask for the student’s first and last names Make sure to report the student’s name exactly as it appears on the student’s Social Security card 9

10. Section 1 - Student Social Security Number Double check the student’s Social Security Number when entering it on the FOTW. Both student name and Social Security Number will be compared through a database match. 10

11. Section 1- Home State Residence Home state residence if the student is dependent, the Home State is usually the one in which the custodial parent(s) lives Home state is also used to determine eligibility for state grants in the need calculation to determine the appropriate allowance for state and other taxes paid by that state’s residents 11

12. Section 1 - Student Marital Status The student should check his or her marital status as of the date the FAFSA on the Web is submitted If the student is married or remarried, he or she will be asked to provide information about his or her spouse 12

13. Section 1 - Student Citizenship Status If U.S. citizen, status will be confirmed by Social Security match If eligible noncitizen, status will be confirmed by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) match. This includes:  U.S. permanent residents with I-551  Conditional permanent residents with I-551C  The holder of an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security showing any of the following designations: “Refugee,” “Asylum Granted,” “Parolee” (I-94 confirms paroled for a minimum of one year and status has not expired), T-Visa holder (T-1, T-2, T-3, etc.) or “Cuban-Haitian Entrant;” or  The holder of a valid certification or eligibility letter from the Department of Health and Human Services showing a designation of “Victim of human trafficking.”  A resident of the Republic of Palau (PW), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (MH), or the Federated States of Micronesia (FM)  Canadian-born Native American under terms of the Jay Treaty 13

14. Section 1 - Eligible Noncitizen If eligible noncitizen, write in the student’s eight- or nine-digit Alien Registration Number (ARN)  Precede an eight-digit ARN with a zero  Copy of the student’s Permanent Registration Card may be requested by the financial aid office If neither a citizen nor eligible noncitizen, the student is ineligible for federal aid. Such students should check with their college financial aid office for other aid opportunities. If the student is undocumented as defined in AB540, he/she may be eligible for state California Dream Act financial aid. Learn more at www.caldreamact.org 14

15. Section 1 - Undocumented Students 15 and is applying to any California public college or university, check to see if he/she might be eligible for in-state tuition/fee costs under AB540 If eligible for AB540, apply for California Dream Act financial aid at www.caldreamact.org check with colleges and universities about CA Dream Act institutional financial aid and private scholarships and the timelines for applying apply for all other private scholarships for which the student may be eligible start inquiring in elementary, middle or high school to see if it is possible for younger students to become permanent residents For more information and a list of scholarships, go to: www.maldef.org/assets/pdf/MALDEF_Scholarship_Resource_Guide.pdf www.caldreamact.org www.e4fc.org If the student is undocumented

16. Section 1 - Selective Service Registration All male students who are between the ages of 18 and 25 years must be registered with Selective Service to receive federal and/or state aid Answer “Register me” only if you are male, aged 18-25, and have not yet registered. The student may also register by going to: www.sss.gov 16

17. Section 1 - High School Completion Status High School Completion Status When the student begins college in the 2013-2014 school year, what will be the student’s high school completion status?  High school diploma  GED certificate  Home schooled  None of the above 17 2013-2014

18. Section 1 - Grade Level in 2013-14 When the student begins the 2013-2014 school year, what will be his/her grade level?  Never attended college/1 st year  Attended college before/1 st year  2 nd year/sophomore  3 rd year/junior  4 th year/senior  5 th year/other undergraduate  1 st year graduate/professional  Continuing graduate/professional or beyond 18 2013-2014

19. Section 1 - Degree or Certificate Objective In the 2013-2014 school year, what degree or certificate will you, the student, be working on?  Some options are:  1 st bachelor’s degree  Associate degree (occupational or technical program)  Associate degree (general education or transfer program)  Graduate or professional degree 19 2013-2014 2013-2014

20. Section 1 - First Bachelor’s Degree Will you have your first Bachelor’s degree before July 1, 2013?  students starting college in 2013-14 should mark “No” to this question  only students who will be pursuing a graduate or professional degree during 2013-14 should mark “Yes” 20 2013?

21. Section 1 - Parents’ Educational Level Indicate highest level of schooling completed by the student’s biological or adoptive parents (for state award purposes only)  Use birth parents or adoptive parents - not stepparents or foster parents  This definition of parent is unique to these two questions 21

22. Section 1 - Student Aid Eligibility Drug Convictions  Students who have never attended college since high school will not be asked any of the Drug Conviction questions  Students who indicate that they have attended college before will be asked if they have ever received federal student aid  If the answer is “yes,” students will be asked if they were convicted for the possession or sale of illegal drugs. Most students will answer ‘No” to this question and will not be asked any additional questions  Even students who have been convicted of a drug offense while in college and receiving federal financial aid may still be eligible to receive federal financial aid 22

23. Section 1 - High School Question High School Question Enter the name, city and state of the high school where the student received or will receive a high school diploma Select “Confirm” to retrieve the high school information If no matches are found, the student should select “Next” to save the search information and continue with the FOTW application 23

24. Section 2 SCHOOL SELECTION

25. 25 FAFSA on the Web allows the student to list up to 10 colleges/universities that will receive his/her student and parent information The student should list first the California school he/she is most likely to attend The student may re-order his/her school choices Then list other schools to which the student is applying for admission Section 2 - School Selection

26.  While in the School Selection Section, the student will be asked to enter the location and name or the federal school code for each school to which he/she wants FOTW information sent  If the student does not know the federal school code, enter the state in which the college/university is located and search for the federal school code by the college/university name 26

27. Section 2 - School Selection 27 List a California college or university first (for Cal Grant consideration) Then list those schools with the earliest financial aid deadlines, regardless of whether they are in-state or out-of-state If the student is applying to more than ten schools, wait for the processed Student Aid Report (SAR) and add additional schools via the Web or by phone using the student PIN Strategies for Listing Colleges NOTE: Each UC and CSU campus must be listed separately

28. Section 2 - School Selection  The student will be asked to select the housing plan that best describes the type of housing the student expects to have while attending each listed school  The choices for housing are:  On Campus  With Parent  Off Campus  The student’s choice of housing may affect the amount of financial aid for which he/she is eligible. It is usually more expensive to live on or off campus than with parents or relatives  Remember, selecting the On Campus housing option is not an application for On Campus housing. Check with the colleges/ universities for housing information when you apply for admission 28

29. Section 3 STUDENT DEPENDENCY STATUS

30. Section 3 - Determination of Student Dependency Status 30 1990 ? 2013-2014 2013 2014? 2014? 2012,

31. 31 If the student checks “No” in all of the boxes about Dependency Status, the student will be asked to go to Section 4. For FAFSA filing purposes, the student is considered a dependent student and will be required to provide parental information If any one of the items in this section applies to the student, he/she should mark the appropriate box, skip Section 4, and go to Section 5. The student is considered an independent student for FAFSA filing purposes and is NOT required to provide parental information Section 3 - Determination of Student Dependency Status

32. Section 4 PARENT DEMOGRAPHICS

33. 0 12,356 Section 4 - Parent Demographics 33  If the answer to any question is zero or the question does not apply, enter 0:  Report whole dollar figures:  Recommendation: If your parents have not filed their 2012 federal tax return, use W-2 forms and/or other employment records - such as final 2012 pay check stubs - to estimate total income  Remember, rather than miss any filing deadline, use estimated 2012 income information (no cents)

34. Section 4 - Parent Demographics 34 Who is considered a parent? Biological or adoptive parent(s) In case of divorce or separation, provide information about the parent and/or stepparent the student lived with more in the last 12 months Stepparent (regardless of any prenuptial agreements)

35. 35 Do not provide information on: Foster parents or legal guardians If the student is in foster care or has a legal guardian, he/she is automatically considered an independent student Grandparents or other relatives are not considered parents unless they have adopted the student If this is not the case, the student must attempt to get biological parental information Colleges may use Professional Judgment to allow the student to file as independent Section 4 - Who is Not a Parent

36. Section 4 – Parents’ Marital Status Report your parents’ marital status as of today Married or remarried Single Divorced or separated Widowed Depending on your parents’ answer to this question, they might be asked about the date of their marital status 36

37. Section 4 - Parent Information 37  If the student is providing father’s/stepfather’s and/or mother’s/stepmother’s information, the student will need those parents’: Social Security Numbers Last names and first initials Dates of birth

38. Section 4 - Parent E-mail Address  Provide a parent e-mail address that will be valid at least until the student starts college  If a parent provides an e-mail address, the FAFSA processor will let them know the student’s FAFSA has been processed 38

39. Section 4 - Parent Household Size  Include in the parents’ household:  the student  parent(s)  parents’ other dependent children, if the parents provide more than half their support or the children could answer “no” to every question in Section 3, regardless of where they live  other people, if they now live with the parents and will continue to do so from 7/1/13 through 6/30/14, and if the parents provide more than half their support now, and will continue to provide support from 7/1/13 through 6/30/14 39 2013-2014

40. Section 4 - College Students in the Parent Household NOTE: Some financial aid offices will require proof that other family members are attending college Always include the student even if he/she will attend college less than half-time in 2013-2014 Include other household members only if they will attend at least half-time in 2013-2014 in a program that leads to a college degree or certificate Never include the parents in the number in college 40 2013 2014?

41. Section 5 FINANCIAL INFORMATION

42. Section 5 - Parents’ 2012 Tax Return Filing Status  The parents will be asked to provide information about their tax filing status for 2012:  If parents have completed a 2012 federal income tax return, select “Already completed”  If they have not as yet filed, but plan to file a 2012 federal income tax return, select “Will file”  If they have not, nor will not, file a 2012 federal income tax return and are not required to do so, select “Not going to file” 42 2012

43. Section 5 IRS Data Retrieval  This question asks if parents have completed their 2012 IRS income tax return  If parent(s) answer “Already completed,” they will be given the option to transfer their 2012 income tax information directly from IRS records to the FOTW  If parents indicate that they have recently filed their 2012 taxes, they may not be able to access their IRS data if they have filed taxes electronically within the last three weeks or by mail within the last eight weeks  Instead, they should use their actual 2012 IRS tax return to complete the FOTW so the student does not miss any important financial aid deadlines 43

44. Section 5 – Parents’ 2012 Adjusted Gross Income If the student’s parents have not yet filed their 2012 federal tax return, use estimated 2012 information for this question The “Income Estimator” on the FOTW may help calculate this amount If the student’s parents have completed their 2012 federal tax return, use actual 2012 tax return information to complete this item if they are not eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval process 44 2012?

45. Section 5 - Money Earned from Work by Parent(s) in 2012 Use W-2 forms and other records to determine all income in 2012 earned from work (including business income earned from self-employment) for father/stepfather and/or mother/stepmother 45 2012? 2012?

46. Section 5 - Parent Dislocated Worker The student will be asked to check if the father/stepfather and/or mother/stepmother is a dislocated worker A person may be considered a dislocated worker if he or she:  is receiving unemployment benefits due to being laid off or losing a job and is unlikely to return to a previous occupation  has been laid off or received a lay-off notice from a job  was self-employed but is now unemployed due to economic conditions or natural disaster  is a displaced homemaker 46

47. Section 5 - Parents’ 2012 U.S. Income Taxes Enter the amount of parents’ income tax for 2012?  Use U.S. income tax paid (or to be paid), not the amount withheld from parents’ paychecks 47 2012.

48. Section 5 - Parents’ 2012 Tax Exemptions  Enter the parents’ tax exemptions for 2012  Be sure to include all persons being claimed on the parents’ 2012 federal tax return, regardless of whether they are included in the parents’ household size question 48 2012.

49. Section 5 - 2012 Additional Financial Information The student will be asked to report if his or her parents received or paid any of the following items in 2012. Check all that apply and provide amounts.  American Opportunity, Hope or Lifetime Learning tax credits  Child support paid  Taxable earnings from work-study, assistantships, or fellowships  Taxable grant and scholarship aid reported to the IRS  Combat pay or special combat pay  Cooperative education program earnings 49

50. Section 5 2012 Parent Untaxed Income 50  The student will be asked to report if his or her parents had any untaxed income in 2012. Check all that apply. Some examples of the most common items are:  Payments to tax-deferred pension and savings plans such as 401K, IRA deductions, and payments to self-employed SEP and Keogh  Child support received  Tax exempt interest income  Housing, food and other living allowances paid to members of the military and clergy

51. Section 5 - Parents’ Household 2011 or 2012 Benefits Received Indicate if the student, his/her parents, or anyone in the parents’ household received benefits in 2011 or 2012 from any of the federal programs listed Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) Free or Reduced Price School Lunch Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) 51 2011 or 2012

52. Section 5 Parent Asset Information 52 NOTE: Some financial aid offices may request supporting documentation for the answers to these questions Parents may be asked to report their assets. If so:  List the net value of your parents’ assets as of the day you complete the FAFSA  If net worth is one million dollars or more, enter  If net worth is zero, enter 0 0 999,999

53. 53 Some parents may be asked to report the current balances of their cash, savings, and checking accounts as of the day they complete the FAFSA They may also be asked to provide information about the net value of their investments such as real estate, rental property, money market and mutual funds, stocks, bonds and other securities In addition, they may be asked questions about the net value of their businesses and investment farms They should not include the home in which they live, the value of life insurance and retirement plans, or the value of a family-owned and controlled small business Section 5 – Parent Assets

54. Section 5 STUDENT INFORMATION

55. 55 Student questions in Section 5 are identical to the parent financial questions we covered If the student is married, also report spouse’s income and assets The questions in Section 5 ask: Which 2012 federal tax return the student filed or will file The student’s 2012 Adjusted Gross Income, if filing a tax return, and earnings from work as well as untaxed income and assets Section 5 Student Financial Information

56. 56 There are questions in Section 5 that the student will be asked only if he/she checked at least one “Yes” response in Section 3 – Dependency Status Section 5 – Student Information (Independent Students)

57. 57 Student Household Size Include in student’s household: the student and the student’s spouse (if married) the student’s dependent children, if the student provides more than half their support other people, if they now live with the student and will continue to do so from 7/1/13 through 6/30/14, and if the student provides more than half their support now, and will continue to provide that level of support from 7/1/13 through 6/30/14 Section 5 – Student Household Size (Independent Students)

58. 58 Student Number in College Count the student even if the student will attend college less than half-time in 2013-2014 Include others only if they will attend at least half-time in 2013-2014 in a program that leads to a college degree or certificate Section 5 – Student Number in College (Independent Students)

59. 59 A person may be considered a dislocated worker if he/she: is receiving unemployment benefits due to being laid off or losing a job and is unlikely to return to a previous occupation has been laid off or received a lay-off notice from a job was self-employed but is now unemployed due to economic conditions or natural disaster is a displaced homemaker Section 5 – Student Dislocated Worker

60. 60 Indicate if the student, his/her spouse, or anyone in the student’s household received benefits in 2011 or 2012 from any of the federal programs listed Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) Free or Reduced Price School Lunch Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) None of the above Section 5 – Student Benefits (Independent Students)

61. Section 6 SIGN AND SUBMIT

62. Section 6 Signature Page 62  Sign and Submit  Recommend that parents and students sign the FAFSA electronically using their PINs  Parents without Social Security Numbers  Click on “Other options to sign and submit” for Paper Signature Page

63. Section 7 CONFIRMATION

64. Section 7 Confirmation 64  Confirmation Page  Confirms submission of the FOTW to the U.S. Department of Education  Shows  Expected Family Contribution (EFC)  Estimated Federal Pell Grant and Federal Stafford Loan eligibility  List of schools to receive FAFSA data

65. Go to www.fafsa.gov to complete and submit your application. For more information on federal student aid, visit www.StudentAid.gov You can also talk with your college’s financial aid office about other types of student aid that may be available 65

66. What Happens Next? 66 Students and the colleges the student listed receive Student Aid Report (SAR) from federal processor  Students who complete FAFSA and Cal Grant GPA Verification Form receive California Aid Report (CAR)  Students and families review SAR and CAR for important information and accuracy of data  Colleges match admission records with FAFSA and other required financial aid forms to determine aid eligibility  Colleges provide notices of financial aid eligibility to admitted students who have completed all required financial aid forms

67. 67 After the student completes the FAFSA on the Web, a SAR will be sent to the student An electronic SAR Acknowledgment will be sent if student provides an email address A paper SAR will be mailed if no student e-mail address is provided An electronic copy of the data will be sent to each college or university listed by the student in Section 2 Keep a copy of the SAR with other financial aid documents Student Aid Report (SAR)

68. 68 Some students may be required to verify the information reported on the FAFSA If selected for verification, the tax information of federal tax filers will be verified through The IRS Date Retrieval Process, or IRS Tax transcripts if requested by the college or university Non-tax filers selected for verification may be asked to provide Signed statements confirming that they did not file a 2012 federal tax return and were not required by IRS to do so Copies of W-2s or other income documentation from each employer, if any income was earned from work All selected aid applicants will also be asked to verify certain demographic data listed such as Household size and number in college Child Support paid and SNAP, if reported on the FAFSA Federal Verification

69. 69 By opening a WebGrants Account a student can: Check Cal Grant award status 24/7 Confirm student’s high school graduation as required Make changes to Cal Grant school choices View how much a Cal Grant is worth at different California colleges and universities View Cal Grant payment history Create a WebGrants account at: www.webgrants4students.org Check Your Cal Grant

70. 70 Submit all required forms, including the FAFSA, by each college’s published deadlines (but no later than March 2) By March 2, submit a Cal Grant GPA Verification Form Keep a copy of all forms submitted Review the electronic Student Aid Report (SAR) Acknowledgement or the paper SAR sent to the student Review the California Aid Report (CAR) Watch for financial aid award notifications from colleges to which the student has been admitted Be sure to apply for financial aid this year and every year as soon as possible after January 1 to receive the best financial aid award possible ASK QUESTIONS! Summary of the Financial Aid Process

71. 71 FAFSA on the Web – Live Help Phone 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) E-mail the U.S. Department of Education at: FederalStudentAidCustomerService@ed.gov If You Need Help at Any Time