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Our Mission

Who We Serve

Services Offered

To increase the college-going rate among our low income and first-generation students

We serve all students in San Diego County.
We are in select high schools in the San Diego Unified, Sweetwater, Grossmont, Oceanside, and Imperial County school districts.

Individual student college advisement
Financial Aid Workshops & Events
Middle school college and career workshops
Summer College Prep programs

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Follow Cal-SOAP on social

Twitter/X:@sandiegocalsoap
Facebook: @sandiegocalsoap
Instagram: @calsoapsandiego

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Helpful Resources

calsoapsandiego.org
cacareerzone.org
workforce.org (San Diego career info)
onetonline.org (career/job research)
https://explorehealthcareers.org/
californiacolleges.edu
bigfuture.collegeboard.org (college, career, scholarships)
mymajors.com (search college majors)

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Financial Aid and Scholarships

https://www.calsoapsandiego.org/scholarship-information
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/bigfuture-scholarships (scholarships)
calkids.org (scholarship for low-income)
https://www.fastweb.com/ (scholarships)
https://www.sdfoundation.org/students/common-scholarship-application/ (San Diego Foundation Scholarships)
https://studentaid.gov/aid-estimator/
https://studentaid.gov/ (FAFSA)
https://dream.csac.ca.gov/landing (CA Dream Act)
immigrantsrising.org (help for immigrants)

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Advice for 12th graders

FAFSA or CADAA (fill out Dec 1-March 2)
Search for and apply for multiple scholarships
Fill out CSS/Profile (some out of state/privates)

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What is Financial Aid?

Financial Aid is any money given to students pursuing higher education options after high school

Examples: 2yr colleges, 4yr universities, trade and/or vocational programs

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Where Does Financial Aid Come From?

The Federal Government
The State Government
Colleges/Universities
Private Organizations
Public Organizations

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Five Common Financial Aid Questions

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We make too much money. Should we still bother to fill out a FA form?

YES! Filling out a FAFSA or CADAA or CSS/Profile is the only way you will know if the student qualifies for any federal or state financial aid AND the only way college Financial Aid offices will consider students for any college aid, often even non-need-based aid. It is also required to qualify for MILITARY aid, California Community College PROMISE, the San Diego Foundation Scholarship, the UC/CSU Middle Class Scholarship, and more.

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Am I obligated to accept a loan if one is offered?

NO! If you are offered a federal loan (such as PLUS) or any other loan (state, federal, private, credit union, bank) you are NOT obligated to accept.

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Can my student accept both grants and scholarships?

YES! Students can accept multiple forms of financial aid simultaneously. Scholarships could reduce the amount of grants and other aid, but usually not until it would exceed total Cost of Attendance.

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What is the difference between a loan to the parents and to the student?

Parent loans: must begin making monthly payments right away
Student loans: students don’t need to begin repayment until after college graduation

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When will we find out how much financial aid a college offers?

Usually around March or April of 12th grade
May 1: Intent to Register deadline
College Financial Aid offices share financial aid packages in spring, after acceptances.

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Grants = Free Money, Gift Aid. No repayment necessary.

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Grants: federal, state, or college $

Pell Grant (Federal)

California State Grant (CAL-GRANT A, B, C)
Chafee Grant for Foster Youth
Educational Opportunity Program Grant (EOP)
Additional state colleges grants, such as UC Blue & Gold for tuition coverage, or CSUG-California State University Grant
How to apply for grants? Fill out a FAFSA or CADAA to find out if you qualify.

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California College Promise Grant

Covers Tuition for CA Community Colleges for 2yrs
The California Promise Grant is available for CA residents planning to enroll in as first-year students at a California community college. FAFSA or CADAA required.
Mesa, Miramar, San Diego City College, and other community colleges have their own Promise Grant Application

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Scholarships

Are a gift; do not have to be repaid
Can be need-based
Can be non-needs-based (academics, achievements, identity)
Many are targeted toward specific groups of people
Require a separate app
Various $ amounts, applications, and deadlines

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How to Find Scholarships?

Search before and during senior year
Talk to your High School Counselor
Use School Districts platforms & school listings, etc.
Explore local opportunities

Ford Salute to Education
San Diego Foundation

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Federal Work Study

Provides part-time employment while you are enrolled in school
Available to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students with financial need
Administered by colleges participating in the Federal Work-Study Program

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Loans

Loans are borrowed money that are paid back with interest
Students/Families are not required to accept any Federal/State loans that are offered to them
These are good alternatives to fund post-high school options!

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How to Apply for Financial Aid?

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Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): https://studentaid.gov/

Eligible students

Students with a Social Security Number (SSN)

US Citizens, Permanent Residents

I-94 Arrival-Departure Record: Refugees, Asylees, T-visa holders

Requires FSA ID

Username/password for student & parent(s)

California Dream Act Application (CADAA): https://dream.csac.ca.gov

Eligible students:

Students without a Social Security Number (SSN) or

Students with DACA, TPS or U-Visa SSNs

Meet AB 540 criteria

No non-immigrant visas

Requires CADAA Account

Student username/password for CADAA

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Third category: not eligible for FAFSA or CADAA

Temporary non-immigrant visa holder students are NOT eligible for US federal or CA state financial aid.
If student has a Visa such as an E, H, I, L, O, P, R, or TN/TD Visa, they are NOT able to fill out FAFSA or CADAA. (T Visa students can fill out FAFSA; U Visa holders can fill out CADAA.)
These students might have to rely on savings, loans, and scholarships open to their category of residency.

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Can’t fill out FAFSA or CADAA? Consider this FREE-tuition option

San Diego College of Continuing Education: nearly all classes are FREE and do NOT require a financial aid form or specific citizenship status.
Classes include automotive, business, child development, citizenship, clothing, community education, digital media, ESL, healthcare, hospitality/culinary, information technology, and skilled trades like welding.

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Parent/Guardian Role in Fin Aid Apps

Determine if parent info will be required on student app

Then, determine which parent(s) will contribute info to your FAFSA/CADAA

Consult with school counselors when students do not live with parent(s)

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Special Notice!

The FAFSA/CADAA usually opens in Oct of senior year
The 2024-2025 FAFSA underwent a major overhaul
2025-26 FAFSA/CADAA releases Dec 1, 2024!
Class of 2025 will fill out the 2025-2026 FAFSA/CADAA,based on tax year 2023
The FAFSA/CADAA Priority Deadline in California is usually March 2 of senior year

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New Terminology

Contributor – Anyone who is required to provide information on the FAFSA form.
Every contributor—anyone (student, the student's spouse, a biological or adoptive parent, or the parent's spouse) who's required to provide information on the FAFSA form—will need an FSA ID to access and complete their section of the online form.

*FSA ID will be your login to access the FAFSA

application

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Who is a Contributor?

A Contributor IS

Student
Student’s Spouse (if student is married)
Biological or adoptive parent(s)
Parent’s spouse (stepparent, if contributor parent is married to someone other than student’s biological parent)

A Contributor IS NOT

Grandparent(s)
Foster parent(s)
Legal Guardian(s)
Sibling(s)
Aunts/Uncles
Even if the above helped provide for or raise the student, they are typically not considered CONTRIBUTORS

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FSA ID Process for Students (for FAFSA App Only)

Student will create an FSA ID

Full, Legal Name
Birth Date
Social Security Number
Address
Email Address (Do NOT use student’s district email)
Phone Number (optional)

After completing FSA ID students need to save/write down their:

FSA ID Username
FSA ID Password
Backup Code

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Contributor Parent(s) Must Have an FSA ID

At least (1) Contributor Parent will need to create an FSA ID

Full, Legal Name
Birth Date
Social Security Number (if applicable, not required for parents)
Address
Email Address (must have access to account)
Phone Number (optional)

After completing FSA ID parent(s) need to save/write down their:

FSA ID Username + Password
Backup Code
Recommendation: take photo of/print account info (items above)

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Next steps:

Confirm full, legal names

Update full, legal name on school records

Gather info to create accounts

Name
DOB
SSN (if you have one)
Email
Address

Review parent/guardian role in fin aid apps

Help parents create accounts @ beginning of senior year

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What will Fin Aid forms ask us?

Family Size
Student and parent income, if any. You must give permission to connect to IRS tax returns.
Student and parent assets, such as savings, 529 plans, investments, rental properties
Value of any businesses/farms
Will NOT require value of home you live in nor retirement accounts
Parent income will continue to be considered until student age 24, unless…

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How much need-based financial aid for college will we receive?

Depends on family size, income, and assets
Depends on the college and its Cost of Attendance
Colleges will send accepted applicants a financial aid package. (Universities: March/April.)
Tool to predict your future aid and SAI:

h ttps://studentaid.gov/aid-estimator/

UNOFFICIAL SAI Calculators:

https://www.mefa.org/student-aid-index-sai-calculator

https://get2college.org/resources/sai-calculator/

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SAI: Student Aid Index

Ranges from -$1,500 to $999,999
If SAI is negative or zero, student would qualify for maximum Pell Grant and probably other state and college grants and aid.
If SAI is up to $1,500, student might qualify for a program such as CSU’s EOP
Higher SAI (above $2,000) = less or no need-based aid. Loans might be offered, but would require repayment.

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Sample Family

Family size: 4
Annual family income: $75,000
Predicted SAI: $0

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What about “merit aid”?

Don’t qualify for need-based aid? You might still qualify for merit-based aid.
Even for MERIT aid, the first thing college Financial Aid office will want is FAFSA or CADAA.
Colleges package multiple sources together: federal grants, state grants, college grants, loans, work study, multiple scholarships from multiple sources, etc.

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CSS/PROFILE: FAFSA’s “nosy cousin”

Financial aid form required in addition to FAFSA by some private and out-of-state universities.
https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/
Examples of universities that require CSS: Brown, CalTech, Harvard, NYU, Yale, Stanford, etc.
Cost: $25, plus $16 per college. Fee waivers available if family AGI under $100,000.

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Suggestions/Tips

Consider community college/transfer pathways
Discuss ROI as a family
Discuss whether or not to accept loans (and if you do, what’s the maximum)
Consider “right fit” not just “reputation”
If saving, consider 529

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Website: http://www.calsoapsandiego.org��Instagram: @calsoapsandiego��Facebook: @SanDiegoCalSOAP��X: @SanDiegoCalSOAP��YouTube: �Cal SOAP: San Diego and Imperial Counties��Programs:�Jumpstart Senior Year�Monthly Newsletters�Monthly Webinars�College Readiness Coaches�College Fair�Cash for College Workshops�Summer Melt��

Cal-SOAP Resources in Senior Year