IMPORTANT REMINDER TO ALL 12TH GRADE STUDENTS AND PARENTS
Application deadline for
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
and Cal Grants (GPA Verification form) is:
March 2, 2011
Every year college costs go up and scholarship money is not awarded, low cost government loans are not evaluated, and work study programs are left unfulfilled – all because students (and/or parents) think they won’t qualify and therefore do not complete the appropriate financial aid forms. Remember: no application, no money, so why not complete the financial aid process and let the colleges decide if you qualify??
The Capistrano Valley High School Guidance Team would like to encourage every student to complete both the online FAFSA and the Cal Grant GPA verification form (GPA must be 2.0 or greater to apply for a Cal Grant). To be considered for a Cal Grant you must also complete the FAFSA. Private colleges may also require the CSS Profile (deadlines vary by college). Some scholarships and/or colleges may have an earlier FAFSA deadline. Students who will be attending community college, and/or trade/technical schools should also complete financial aid forms. (NOTE: Please see directions and links below for FAFSA, Cal Grant and CSS Profile.)
FAFSA web worksheets can be downloaded at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/before012.htm.
Finally, you do not need to pay anyone to fill out the FAFSA or CSS Profile. Please check the FAFSA website for online and phone contacts for FREE help directly from FAFSA. You may also contact the Financial Aid Office of the each colleges to which the student applied for assistance.
To file the FAFSA for school year 2011-2012
Step one:
Complete the online application for electronic pin numbers: one for a parent and one for the student
Step Two:
Gather the necessary paperwork for both the parent and the student. Print the paper FAFSA worksheet and fill in the information offline. Once done, you will go online to enter your data. NOTE: Save your information often during the process so you won’t lose it if your computer connection is lost.
Step Three:
Be sure you are filing for the 2011-2012 FAFSA. Follow the instructions to complete the FAFSA online. You can save it as you go along, but be sure to submit completed form no later than March 2, 2011 (February for some colleges and/or scholarships). You MUST complete the FAFSA if you wish to be considered for Federal loans.
To Apply for a CAL GRANT:
Step One:
Print a CAL Grant GPA Information Release Form. Complete the student portion of the GPA information release form, and then return it to Mrs. Gonzales, Registrar, in the CVHS Guidance Office, by Friday, February 11, 2011. Mrs. Gonzales will electronically file your application.
Step Two:
Be sure to complete and submit the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (see above) no later than March 2, 2011.
To file the CSS PROFILE:
Step One:
Follow the online instructions to complete the CSS Profile for those private schools that require this form.
NOTE: UC and Cal State do NOT require this form!
