1. A guide to the 2011-2012 Financial Aid Year (Numbers in parentheses refer to page numbers in “Fund Your Future” financial aid booklets)

2. WHY SHOULD I GO TO COLLEGE? CAREER POSSIBILITIES FULFILL DREAMS POSITIVE GROWTH EXPERIENCES EARNING POTENTIAL (inside front cover)

3.  SAVINGS ACCOUNT (14)  GRANTS (4-8) ◦ Money you don’t have to repay; usually based on financial need.  SCHOLARSHIPS (13-14) ◦ Money you don’t have to repay; competitive and usually based on area of study or merit.  WORK-STUDY PROGRAM (5&9) ◦ Federal program that lets you earn money for school while working at an on- or off-campus job.  LOANS (16-21) ◦ Borrowed money that you must pay back, usually with interest. (3)

4.  Federal Government ◦ FAFSA  State Agency/Government ◦ GPA VERIFICATION FORM  Colleges and Universities ◦ INSTITUTIONAL FORMS ◦ CSS PROFILE (Private Institutions)  Private Agencies/Companies/Foundations ◦ Scholarships

5. Students and their families have the primary responsibility to pay for higher education expenses to the extent that they are able. Top 10 Important Things to Qualify for Federal & State Aid. (1)

6. Cost Of Attendance (COA) -- COA Includes: TuitionRoom and Board FeesBooks Transportation Personal Expenses Note: Cost of Attendance includes costs & expenses a student would have even if they were not enrolled in college. Expected Family Contribution (EFC) -- the amount that you and your family are expected to pay Subtract: Your Federal Eligibility -- the determined amount of “need” for financial aid in the form of grants, loans, and/or work-study Equals : Determine: HOW DO I QUALIFY FOR STUDENT AID? (25)

7. College Costs in Thousands COA EFC Federal Eligibility 30 20 0 10 15 (For grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans) (Tuition/fees, residence, meals, books, transportation, and personal expenses) (25)

8.  The application used to apply for federal and most state financial aid, and sometimes institutional aid.  It asks for information about you, your family, your finances, and your college plans.  Complete the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Or call 800.433.3243 to have a paper FAFSA mailed to you.www.fafsa.ed.gov  It can be submitted starting January 1, 2011. (22-24)

9. (22) Each student and a parent needs to get a PIN number for electronic/online FAFSA filing. Get your PIN numbers NOW! www.pin.ed.gov

10. Web: www.fafsa.ed.gov www.studentaid.ed.gov/completefafsa www.fafsa.ed.gov www.studentaid.ed.gov/completefafsa Phone: 800.433.3243 (800.4FED.AID) TTY 800.730.8913 (hearing impaired) Live Chat: Click “Live Help” @ www.fafsa.ed.govwww.fafsa.ed.gov In Person: California Cash for College Workshops www.californiacashforcollege.orgwww.californiacashforcollege.org or 888.224.7268 (24)

11.  The form submitted, in addition to the FAFSA, in order to apply for a Cal-Grant.  May be submitted electronically or mailed.  Can be submitted beginning in November 2010 for the 2011-2012 school year.  Deadline for submission is March 2, 2011. (26)

12.  The financial aid application administered by the College Board and required by some independent colleges and scholarship organizations to award private aid.  The application is only available online at https://profileonline.collegeboard.com. https://profileonline.collegeboard.com  There is a fee to apply and fee waivers are available.  Deadline for submission varies by institution.

13. Where can I find scholarships? WEBSITES www.fastweb.com www.scholarships.com www.collegeboard.com www.collegenet.com …And many more… SCHOLARSHIP BOOKS COUNSELORS/TEACHERS PEERS (13 & back cover)

15.  Grants  Scholarships  Financial Aid Forms  Priority & Deadline Dates

16. Students: Update your FAFSA and continue to search for scholarships every year you are in college. (32)

17. Students without Social Security Numbers: www.maldef.org AB-540 & Scholarships: www.usc.edu/dept/chepa/pdf/AB_540_final.pdf www.latinocollegedollars.org (12)

20. (24)

21.  Student Aid Report (SAR) (28-29) ◦ Lists your EFC for the school year.  California Aid Report (CAR) (28-29) ◦ Gives an estimate of your Cal-Grant Award.  Evaluate financial aid offers (30) ◦ Each college you report on the FAFSA will send you a financial aid package with the grant, loan, and/or work- study amounts you would receive if attending that institution.

22. Contact us at: 858.569.1866 www.sandiegocalsoap.com California CASH for COLLEGE Cal-Grant & FAFSA Event High School Seniors and Parents $1000 Scholarship Opportunity FAFSA Individual Assistance Tax Preparation (1040EZ) Lincoln High School Saturday, January 29, 2011 Time: 9am-12noon Come at any time and plan to stay an hour. www.sandiegocalsoap.comwww.sandiegocalsoap.com  Click on “Events” More dates and times…

23.  Sat., Jan. 29 9am-Noon ◦ Lincoln High School  Sat., Feb. 5 9am-Noon ◦ Hoover High School ◦ San Ysidro High School  Fri., Feb. 18 9am-Noon ◦ Imperial Valley College  Sat., Feb. 19 9am-Noon ◦ CSU San Marcos  Sat., Feb. 26 9am-Noon ◦ CSU San Marcos ◦ Southwest High School ◦ Madison High School ◦ Montgomery High School For more info., directions, and registration: www.sandiegocalsoap.com → Click on “Events”www.sandiegocalsoap.com

24.  Step 1 : Get a PIN for yourself and one parent (custodial): www.pin.ed.gov www.pin.ed.gov  Step 2 : (optional): Print out a FAFSA on the web worksheet online: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/  Step 3 : Complete the FAFSA online before March 2: www.fafsa.ed.gov www.fafsa.ed.gov  Step 4 : Review your Student Aid Report (SAR) via email or the FAFSA website: www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/studentaccess.jsp www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/studentaccess.jsp  Step 5 : Wait for your financial aid packages from each of your colleges of interest– via mail and/or email!

25. THANK YOU! For information and events on high school preparation, college planning, and financial aid, remain up-to-date with the Cal-SOAP website: www.sandiegocalsoap.com