FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS ARE FREE

Scam Alert!

Students, It is important to note that the government WILL NOT CALL YOU to offer grants. Do not be scammed by telemarketers saying you have won a government grant, and ask for bank account information. 
"Don't Get Scammed on Your Way to College," available at www.studentaid.ed.gov/pubs

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SENIORS 2020/2021

Scholarship list here

Welcome Seniors to the 2020/2021 scholarship applications,

Check the above document to view a live google document of upcoming scholarships. The document is updated constantly so make sure to check often. It is important to note that it is your responsibility as a student to carefully read the scholarship requirements and keep track of due dates. There is no limit to how many scholarships you can apply for. If a scholarship requires you to print and mail in a form and do not have access to a printer please let Ms. Cifuentes know. 

DO NOT KNOW IF YOU QUALIFY FOR AID?

FAFSA4caster is an online tool that helps students and parents
determine their current eligibility for federal student aid.
 Counselors should encourage students to check out www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov
to learn how much aid they would receive if they applied today.

CALIFORNIA DREAM ACT

The second application is the California Dream Act aka Cal Dream Act. This application is not to be confused with DACA. It is not the same application!

Cal Dream Act is the financial aid application that California has created for undocumented/ underdocumented students seeking to go to college.

Eligibility:

This application is for students who are NOT U.S Citizens and do not have a valid social security number. A student who has DACA must apply for Cal Dream Act, not FAFSA.

Students must have attended a school in California for a total of 3 years event if they are not consecutive years. 

*Check out this Cal Dream Act FAQ Video by 10,000 Degrees.

*Miren este video de preguntas prequentes de Cal Dream Act echo or 10,000 Degrees.

What you will need to apply:

Your parents' taxes

Your parents' birthdates

If your parents are married or divorced you must know those dates.

A list of colleges you are applying to or have already applied to.

Application Process:

Step 1: Apply for Cal Dream Act

Note: If your birth certificate has two last names listed for you, you must put both of those last names on the application.

Step 2: Submit an application!

In order to submit an application, you must digitally sign and create a parent pin within their website. 

Have your parent sign it digitally with their parent pin.

Do not forget to hit the submit button!

Step 3: Make sure your name on the application matches your school records.

 If you put two last names on your financial aid applications but the school (Aeries) only has one of those last names, you must contact Ms. Graham to add the second last name. rgraham@srsc.org

Note: It is important that your Cal Dream Act application matches what is on your birth certificate and your Cal Dream Act application must also match your school records.

Step 4: Keep a lookout for a confirmation email from Cal Dream Act.

Cal Dream Act will send you a confirmation email shortly after and if you receive this email, it means you are good to go. This email will also give you next step instructions like creating a web4grants account.

Step 5: Create a web4grants account

This account will allow you to view what grants you are being offered. This is how you will also let them know what college you are committing to in order for you to let them know what school you would like your money sent to. This must be done before or on:

May 1st National Decision Day!

FAFSA

The first application available is FAFSA. FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. 

Application Opens on October 1st and closes on March 2nd every year!

Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as many students wait for the last few days and the website sometimes crashes.

Eligibility:

To be able to apply for FAFSA students must be U.S Citizens, or have a valid social security number, or have a Visa U.

It is okay if the student has a valid social security number but the parent does not.

Note: If the student does not have a valid social security number, no worries just scroll down to read about California Dream Act.

What you will need to apply:

Your parents' taxes

Your social security number

Your parents' social security number (if they have one)

Your parents' birthdates

If your parents are married or divorced you must know those dates.

A list of colleges you are applying to or have already applied to.

Application Process:

Step 1: Create an FSA ID for the Student

Here you will create a user name and password.

Note: If you have two last names put both last names on the application. Sometimes if the name is really long the system will not let you fully write the name and that is okay. Just write as much as the system will allow you to.

*Watch this Creating an FSA ID video made by 10,000 Degrees

* Ver el video de como crear un FSA ID de 10,000 Degrees.

Step 2: If a parent has a valid social security number. Create an FSA ID for one of your parents/ legal guardians.

Here you will create a user name and password for your parent/ legal guardian.

Note: If your parent does not have a valid social security number that's okay and you can skip this step.

Step 3: Complete the FAFSA Application using the User name and Password you just created on the FSA ID.

Note: Once again, if you have two last names please put both on the application.

Step 4: Submit an application!

In order to submit an application you must digitally sign the application and your parent must digitally sign the application using their FSA ID user name and password (if they have a valid social security number). If your parent does not have a social security number you must sign electronically and print a parent signature page to mail in. 

Note: Make a meeting with Ms. Cifuentes to make sure you did the application correctly before you submit it.

Do not forget to hit submit!

Step 5: Make sure your name on the application matches your school records.

 If you put two last names on your financial aid applications but the school (Aeries) only has one of those last names, you must contact Ms. Graham to add the second last name. rgraham@srsc.org

Note: It is important that your FAFSA application matches what is on your social security card and your FAFSA application must also match your school records.

Step 6: Keep a lookout for a confirmation email from FAFSA.

FAFSA will send you a confirmation email shortly after and if you receive this email, it means you are good to go. This email will also give you next step instructions like creating a web4grants account. 

Step 7: Create a web4grants account

This account will allow you to view what grants you are being offered. This is how you will also let them know what college you are committing to in order for you to let them know what school you would like your money sent to. This must be done before or on:

May 1st National Decision Day!

FINANCIAL AID

Paying for college is possible!

Here at SRHS, we have a community partner who helps us with financial aid workshops every year! 10,000 Degrees is a local non-profit that helps low-income, first-gen students. We host financial aid workshops for all SRHS students every year in partnership with 10,000 Degrees.

Check out their 10,000 Degrees website to learn more about them.

*Check out this Financial Aid tool kit videos created by 10,000 Degrees.

*Miren estos videos sobre ayuda financiera creados por 10,000 Degrees.

There are two Financial aid applications but students should only apply to one.

Both Applications open: October 1st of every year and close on March 2nd of every year.

Both applications must be renewed every year until the student graduates from college!

All graduating high school seniors must apply for financial aid. Students who will be attending a community college must also apply for financial aid. If a student is planning on taking a gap year the student is also highly recommended to apply. This is because the student will already be in the system, therefore, making it easier to apply next year.

Check out our 2020/2021 Financial Aid presentation for seniors to learn more!

*Check out this Financial aid overview video made by 10,000 Degrees.