Applying for Financial Aid 2013-2014

1. Applying for Financial Aid2013-2014

2. Sponsored by: Presented by:

3. What Will You Learn At This Workshop? • Types and sources of financial aid • Required financial aid application forms • How to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form • Answers to your individual questions

4. Gift Aid - Grants or scholarships that do not need to be repaid Work - Money earned by the student as payment for a job on or off campus Loans - Borrowed money to be paid back, usually with interest Types of Financial Aid

5. Federal government State government Colleges and universities Private agencies, companies, foundations, and parents’ employers Sources of Financial Aid

6. Cal Grant A Entitlement Awards – for high school seniors and recent high school grads with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0, family income and assets below the state ceilings, who demonstrate financial need Cal Grant B Entitlement Awards – for high school seniors and recent high school grads with a GPA of at least 2.0, who come from disadvantaged or low income families, whose family income and assets are below the state ceilings, and who demonstrate financial need Cal Grant C Awards - for students from low income families pursuing vocational programs of study Cal Grants

7. Eligibility for Cal Grants • To be eligible for a Cal Grant, the student must also: • be a U.S. citizen, eligible noncitizen, or AB540 student • be a California resident • attend an accredited California college or university at least half-time in 2013-14

8. Possible Cal Grant and Federal Pell Maximum Awards If you qualify for Cal Grant, amounts vary depending on the school that you attend, your financial need, your year in college and your enrollment status (full or part-time). If you qualify for the Federal Pell Grant, amounts vary depending on your family contribution and your enrollment status (full or part-time). Other eligibility requirements may apply. • Cal Grant* (Up to $12,192) • 1 FAFSA or • California Dream Act Application • 2 Your GPA • 3 Apply by March 2 • Federal Pell Grant (up to $5,550) • FAFSA • = Up to $17,742 • maximum annually • * Check for eligible schools at: www.csac.ca.gov +

9. Residency and Cal Grant Eligibility for 2013-2014 • If unmarried and under 18 years of age, the student will be considered a legal resident of California if: • parents have been legal residents of California for one year immediately prior to September 20, 2013, or • student has lived in California with other legal California residents, other than parents, for two years immediately prior to September 20, 2013, or • parents who are active duty military, stationed in California at the time the student enrolls in college, or parents’ military home of record is California • If married or 18 years of age or older, the student establishes his/her own residence status. The student must be a legal resident of California for one year prior to September 20, 2013 • Undocumented students who qualify for AB540 in-state tuition satisfy Cal Grant residency requirements

10. 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 2013-2014 Cal GrantApplication Requirements • By March 2, 2013, complete and submit: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) OR Cal Grant GPA Verification Form If eligible under AB540, students should complete the California Dream Act Application: www.caldreamact.org

11. California Chafee Grant • The California Chafee Grant program provides up to $5,000 annually to current and former foster youth for college or vocational training at any accredited college in the U.S., based on available funding • To be eligible, foster youth must have been in California foster care on their 16th birthday and not have reached their 22nd birthday before July 1, 2013 • Foster youth are encouraged to apply during their senior year of high school • To apply, the foster youth must complete: • 2013-2014 FAFSA • California Chafee Grant Program Application • AB540 students may also be eligible To apply for a Chafee Grant, go to: www.chafee.csac.ca.gov

12. FAFSA Types of Applications • Undocumented student covered under AB540 should complete the California Dream Application • Cal Grant GPA Verification Form • Other applications or forms as required by the college such as: • CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE • Institutional Scholarship and/or Financial Aid Application • 2012 federal tax returns (along with all schedules and W-2s) or other income documentation

13. File early, but no later than March 2, 2013 Use estimated 2012 income information if taxes are not complete at time of FAFSA submission Student and at least one parent whose information is reported must complete and sign the FAFSA FAFSA Information & Tips

14. FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) • Internet application used by students and parents to complete electronic FAFSA at: • www.fafsa.gov • Sophisticated on-line edits and skip logic help avoid errors • On-line help is available for each question • Student and one custodial parent should get a federal PIN to sign FAFSA at: • www.pin.ed.gov

15. Federal PIN • 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 Apply for student and parent PINs at: www.pin.ed.gov

16. Another Useful Form -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.

17. Getting Ready • 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

18. 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

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

20. Section 1STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS

21. 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

22. 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.

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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 possiblefor younger students to become permanent residents Section 1 - Undocumented Students If the student is undocumented • 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

28. 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

29. Section 1 - High School Completion Status 2013-2014 • 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

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

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

32. Section 1 - First Bachelor’s Degree 2013? • 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”

33. Section 1 - Parents’ Educational Level Indicate highest level of schooling completedby the student’s biological or adoptive parents (for state award purposes only) • Use birth parents or adoptive parents - notstepparents or foster parents • This definition of parent is unique to these two questions

34. 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

35. 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

36. Section 2SCHOOL SELECTION

37. Section 2 - School Selection • 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

38. Section 2 - School Selection • 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

39. 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 Section 2 - School Selection Strategies for Listing Colleges NOTE: Each UC and CSU campus must be listed separately

40. 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

41. Section 3STUDENT DEPENDENCY STATUS

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

43. Section 3 - Determination of Student Dependency Status • 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

44. Section 4PARENT DEMOGRAPHICS

45. Section 4 - Parent Demographics • 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 0 (no cents) 12,356

46. 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) Section 4 - Parent Demographics

47. Section 4 - Who is Not a Parent • 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

48. 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

49. Section 4 - Parent Information • 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

50. 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 Section 4 - Parent E-mail Address