By Leonardo Cervantes
ELAC’S latest work-shop on Financial Aid covered how to apply for Financial Aid in 2021-2022 and answers many questions students often have.
Josephine Tang presented the workshop covering the different types of sources of financial aid and the required financial aid application forms.
She also explained how to complete the free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), CA Dream Act application and the Cal Grant GPA verification form.
This March 2, the 2021-2022 FAFSA application was the deadline to be submitted. A 2021-2022 Cal Grant verified GPA needed to be submitted by the school before the deadline aswell. To submit a FAFSA application students need an FSA ID and can download the FASFA app to make the process fast.
Gift aid is a grant or scholarship that does not need to be earned or repaid. Loans are borrowed money to be paid back, usually with interest.
The sources of Financial Aid come from the federal government, state government, colleges and universities, private agencies, companies, foundations and employers.
Cal Grant A is for high school seniors, recent high school graduates and transfer students.
Their GPA must be at least 3.0 for high-school students and 2.4 for transfer students.
The student’s family income and assets must be below state ceilings.
Cal Grant B is for high-school seniors and recent high-school graduates. Their GPA must be at least 2.0 for high schools students and 2.4 for transfer students.
Family income and assets must be below state ceilings and must come from disadvantaged or low income families.
For a student to be eligible for a Cal Grant, the students must also be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizen, be a California residents, and attend an eligible, accredited California college or university at least half-time in 2021-2022.
“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 be a current or former foster youth who was a dependent or ward off the court, living in foster care for at least one day between the ages of 16 and 18 and not having reached their 26th birthday as of July 1 on the award year,” Pang said.
Current or former foster youth are encouraged to apply during their senior year of high school as early as October 1.
The current FAFSA application cycle started Oct. 1and ends June 30, 2022. The Cal Grant deadline was March 2.
The tax year that was be utilized are 2019 Federal Income Tax returns. The mandatory documents to file FAFSA are Social Security cards, 2019 W-2 and 1099 Forms and records of money earned and other taxable benefits.
2019 federal income tax forms a\were also required as well as records of untaxed income.
Current bank statements, Business, farm and other real estate records and records of stocks, bonds, and other investments were required.
Undocumented students are not eligible for federal aid, but they can inquire in elementary and high-school to see if it possible for them to become a permanent resident.
These students can consider applying for a federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) which allows for work authorization.
Students can also check with colleges and universities to see if institutional financial aid is available.
In order to keep financial aid, students must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, and maintain at least half-time enrollment for federal student loans.
Students must also pass enough classes to graduate within 150 percent of the normal time-frame for the degree.