FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
AS OF NOVEMBER, 2007
THE COUNSELING DEPARTMENT IS
OFFERING A FINANCIAL AID EVENING ON
SEVERAL OF US RECENTLY
ATTENDED A FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOP PROVIDED BY THE CALIORNIA STUDENT AID
COMMISSION AND ED FUND. WE RECEIVED A
LOT OF WONDERFUL INFORMATION AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE IT WITH YOU.
ALL STUDENTS (SENIORS) ARE
ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR A CAL GRANT AND COMPLETE THE FAFSA, EVEN IF YOU FEEL YOUR FAMILY’S INCOME AND ASSETS ARE ABOVE THE CEILINGS. MANY THINGS CAN HAPPEN BETWEEN THE TIME THE
STUDENTS SUBMIT THE FAFSA AND THE START OF SCHOOL THAT CAN CHANGE A FAMILY’S
SITUATION, INCLUDING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, JOB LOSS OR OTHER HARDSHIP.
FAFSA
BEGINNING IN NOVEMBER,
PARENTS AND THE STUDENTS CAN GO ONLINE TO WWW.PIN.ED.GOV
TO APPLY FOR A PIN NUMBER TO BE USED WHEN COMPLETING THE FAFSA AND SUBMITTING
IT ONLINE AS THE PIN ACTS AS YOUR SIGNATURE (the process takes approximately
three (3) days). IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO
SUBMIT YOUR SIGNATURE WITH A PIN, YOU MAY DOWNLOAD THE SIGNATURE PAGE, SIGN IT
AND MAIL IT IN TO THE FEDERAL PROCESSOR.
EACH STUDENT NEEDS TO HAVE
THEIR OWN PIN, HOWEVER, PARENTS ONLY NEED TO HAVE ONE, NO MATTER HOW MANY
CHILDREN THEY HAVE APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID.
IT IS THE STUDENTS PIN THAT OPENS THE FAFSA FOR COMPLETION.
WE RECOMMEND IF AT ALL
POSSIBLE HAVING YOUR INCOME TAXES COMPLETED FOR THE YEAR 2007 PRIOR TO
BEGINNING THE PROCESS, IF NOT AND YOU WILL NOT FILE BEFORE THE MARCH 2ND
DEADLINE YOU MAY ESTIMATE USINGTHE FIGURES ON LAST YEARS TAX FORMS AND MAKE
CORRECTIONS ONCE YOU HAVE FILED.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET AN
IDEA OF YOUR FAMILY’S ESTIMATED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION (EFC) GO TO: www.finaid.org/calculators.
FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE IN
COMPLETING THE FAFSA AND COMPETING FOR A $1,000
SCHOLARSHIP CHECK OUT
CAL
GRANT- May be used only if attending a college or university in
California
THE FORM NEEDED BY THE
STUDENT TO APPLY FOR A CAL GRANT IS CALLED A GPA VERIFICATION FORM. THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON IN THE
THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF
CAL
GRANT B- is for students who have at least a 2.0 and whose course of study is
for at least one year. Cal Grant B
provides a living allowance of up to $1,551, in addition to a tuition and fee
award. Most first students receive only
the living allowance which may be used to pay living expenses, books, supplies
and transportation, as well as tuition and fees. When renewed or awarded beyond the first
year, students may receive the living allowance, as well as a tuition and fee
award.
CAL
GRANT C- is for students pursuing a career or technical education. Course work must lead to a recognized career
goal- a diploma, associate degree, license qualification or certificate-which
indicates at least an entry level job skill.
Courses of study must be for at least four months. Funding is available on the length of the program,
if students maintain satisfactory academic progress.
FREE SCHOLARSHIP OR A SCAM?
A
scholarship or grant is free money-you should never have to pay for one. Watch out for companies that make generous
scholarship promises, charge you money to apply for or receive a scholarship, try to get you to send money by
claiming you’re a finalist in a scholarship contest, or request your credit
card or bank account number to hold a scholarship or grant for you. Also be wary of free seminars that turn into high-pressure
sales pitches for financial aid information that’s readily available for
free. Reputable companies neither
guarantee scholarships nor use aggressive tactics.