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Financial Aid Award Letter

WCC COLLEGE TEA THURSDAYS PRESENTS:

In the chat box below, put down your name, high school, what do you want to learn today, and what is your favorite “money” song?

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WCC College Advisers

Ms. Janice

El Cerrito HS

UC Berkeley C/O 2018

B.A. Legal Studies and Social Welfare,

Education minor

Ms. O

Hercules HS

UC Davis ℅ 2018

B.S. Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems

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Ms. Stephanie

Pinole Valley HS

UC Davis c/o 2019

B.A. Sociology and Cultural Anthropology

�Los Angeles Valley College �

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WCC College Advisers

Ms. Gutierrez

De Anza HS

UC Davis ℅ 2019

B.A. Psychology & Chicanx Studies, Education Minor

Tony Morales

Kennedy HS

UC Berkeley ℅ 2019

B.A. Social Welfare/

Education Minor

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Ms. Monica

Richmond HS

UC Santa Barbara c/o 2019

B.A. Sociology and Chicanx Studies

�Ventura Community College �

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Learning Goals

Students and families will be able to understand financial aid language and the process.
Students and families will be able to interpret their financial aid award letters to better financially understand their post-secondary options.

*We know this might be a lot of information.

DO: Self care, take breaks

DO NOT: stress as this will be recorded! Feel free to chat your questions in the box and we will answer them :)

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Agenda

Financial Aid Application Timeline
Overview of Financial Aid Terms
Breaking Down Financial Aid Award Letters
FYIs & Tips
Scholarships
Q&A

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Financial Aid Timeline

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*Be sure to point at each stairway as we’re talking about it

Application: first step you'll need to take to evaulate your financial aid eligibility is to apply for financial aid! You can apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA). Both of these applications opened on October 1st. The priority filing deadline is March 2nd.
Verification: After applying for financial aid, you may be selected for a process called Verification. This means that you may be required to submit further documentation to verify your financial aid eligibility. Stay on track by checking the Student Checklist and email in your institution’s financial aid office.
Direct Cost: Once you've received your financial aid package and completed the verification process, you can determine your direct costs. The Direct Costs Worksheet is an online tool in which you can determine if you'll owe a balance or receive a refund once financial aid is applied to your student account. Here's a video about how the tool works and how to complete it.
Loans are financial aid awards that require repayment with interest under varying terms and conditions. You can learn about the types of loans we offer here. In order for your loans to disburse to your student account, you must first follow these steps:
Complete a Master Promissory Note
Complete Entrance Counseling
Disbusrement: 10 days before instruction begins
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Need to maintain their grades to maintain their funds

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Overview of Financial Aid Terms

Cost of Attendance (COA):

Estimated Family Contribution (EFC):

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Overview of Financial Aid Terms

Grant/Scholarships (Gift Aid)

Loans: Money you pay back with interest

Subsidized Loans
Unsubsidized Loans

Parent Plus Loans

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Work Study:

College program that enables students

to work part-time while attending school

(Not guaranteed money)

Federal Work-Study vs. Institution Work Study

Examples: Library, School Gym, Departments, Front Desk/Clerical, Dining Commons, Tour Guide, and more!
Note: You can convert your loans into work-study (and vice versa)
*If you don’t have work-study you can still work on campus

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Add Activity #1: What makes up the cost of attendance?

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Breaking Down Financial Aid Award Letters

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ACTIVITY 1/POLL

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Federal Student Aid Programs (FAFSA)

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FEDERAL PELL GRANT	SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANT	FEDERAL WORK STUDY (FWS)	FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT/ Parent LOANS
Eligible if parents make <50k Max amount you can receive $6,345 and up to 6 years	Students can receive between $100 and $4,000 a year, depending on financial need	Part time jobs for students with financial need. Students can earn money to help pay educational expenses.	Subsidized loans (Interests start 6 months after graduation) Unsubsidized loans (Interests starts right away) Parent Plus Loans

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California State Aid Programs

(FAFSA, CADA, CSS)

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CALIFORNIA PROMISE GRANT (CPG)	CAL GRANT	CHAFEE GRANT	STUDENT SUCCESS COMPLETION GRANT
Formerly known as the BOG Fee Waiver) Waives enrollment fees at California Community Colleges. Submit a FAFSA/Dream Act Application to be automatically considered. Contact your local community college for more information.	Offers cash aid to help pay for the costs of tuition, fees, and other expenses. Awards vary based on type of Cal Grant you receive and institution you attend. Students must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher. More info in the link provided above.	Students currently or formerly in foster care for at least one day between 16-18 years old can qualify for up to $5,000/year by completing a FAFSA/Dream Act application and Chafee App. More info can be found in link provided above.	Additional Aid to encourage students who are receiving Cal Grant B or C to attend full-time to increase retention and graduation. Learn more by clicking the link above

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OTHER AID TYPES (FAFSA, CADA, CSS)

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Institutional Grants	Institutional Loans (Undocumented Students)	Parent Plus Loans (Federal Government)	Scholarships
University Grants Work Study for Undocumented Students, can vary between campuses. Look up your school’s website if they offer it. �Ex: UC Berkeley	CA DREAM Loan Program. Click Here for more info: �CSU & UC	U.S. Department of Education makes Direct PLUS Loans to eligible parents. Students whose parents do not qualify. You can contact your financial aid office to convert them into student loans.	Merit based: Based on Academic History and Involvement. Need Based: Based on your financial need

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Break #2: STRETCH TIME!!!

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AWARD LETTER #1 :

SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY

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(Free $):

Grants:

Federal Pell Grant and Cal Grant/University Grant

Work Study:

Money you can earn with an on campus job to help pay for costs.

Subsidized Loans:

Money you can borrow and pay back. Interest does not build until 6 months after graduation or falling below 6 units during your academic term.

Unsubsidized Loans

Money you can borrow and pay back. Interest starts the moment you accept the loan.
Parent Plus Loans: Requires approval, interest starts the moment your parents pull out the loan.

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AWARD LETTER #2 :

UC BERKELEY

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AWARD LETTER 2;

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Grand Total = Total amount of Aid (Grants, Loans, Work Study $ they are giving you)

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Netcost: How much is left that is expected from your family to contribute (Loans, Scholarships, etc.)

*Students with EFC=0 will always be provided loans for the netcost.

It is important to look at your Estimated Cost of Attendance & Funding Offered.

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AWARD LETTER #3 :

University of San Francisco

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(Free $):

Grants:

Federal Pell Grant and Cal Grant/University Grant
Federal SEOG Grant
Scholarship (Merit based)

Work Study:

Money you can earn with an on campus job to help pay for costs.

Subsidized Loans:

Money you can borrow and pay back. Interest does not build until 6 months after graduation or falling below 6 units during your academic term.

Unsubsidized Loans

Money you can borrow and pay back. Interest starts the moment you accept the loan.
Parent Plus Loans: Requires approval, interest starts the moment your parents pull out the loan.

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Comparing Financial Aid Packages Tool

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Click Here to Access Financial Aid Letter Analyzer

Note:

File-> Make a copy �-> save to your drive

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Questions / pause/ break /

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Enrollment Costs

Statement of Intent to Register (S.I.R)

costs $100-$200
*If you are impacted financially during this time, contact your school admissions office to waive your SIR costs.

Housing Deposits:

$200-$600
*If you are impacted financially, contact your campus’ housing department to get the fees waived OR tact onto your Fall financial aid expenses.
Off campus/Apartment living: first and last month's rent

Orientation:

Fee can vary depending on the campus

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TIPS/FYIs to reduce cost

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Payment Plans

Research what your school’s installment payment plan looks like
Contact your school’s financial aid office to create a payment plan if you can not pay in full before the semester begins.

Do NOT wait to do this or risk your classes being dropped.

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Appealing your Financial Aid

Research your school website to see their process of appealing (via Form or Email)
Contact your College Adviser or Counselor for support
Email/Submit your Reasons for Appeal

Explain your financial situation:

Examples: COVID-19 impact on family income, 2019 Income is much lower than 2020, recent job loss, change of marital status, or any sudden changes to income

Gather any documents they request

*Note: It would be good to request IRS Transcript if applicable

Stay in contact with your financial aid representative and be timely in document submissions

this can go into the summer before your fall semester

If appeal is denied, focus on applying to scholarships to offset unmet need & Apply to Community College

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Loans

Assess if you NEED to take out the loan

For students who need to… Things you should keep in mind:

You do NOT need to take out the full amount
Take out Subsidized loans FIRST,
Then unsubsidized loans second
Lastly, parent plus loans / private loan provider
Reminder: Interest rates vary by year.

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4CD PROMISE:

FREE TUITION @ CCC, DVC, & LMC!!!

Be a first-time college student
Enroll in a minimum of 12 units
Be a California resident or otherwise exempt from paying non-resident tuition fees (e.g. AB540)
Complete the FT3 Promise Pledge
Complete the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act application
To maintain eligibility for future terms, students must complete a minimum of 12 units per term with a GPA of 2.0 or higher

More information can be found at: http://www.4cd.edu/ed/cp/default.aspx

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Chyna

http://www.4cd.edu/ed/cp/default.aspx Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) is invested in your success! The "First Time + Full Time = Free Tuition" (FT3) program offers free tuition for eligible students. Students who qualify may receive free tuition for their first two academic years of college (fall and spring terms only).

Can be considered for federal grants, promise grant based on the grant

Here's how it works:

Be a first-time college student
Enroll in a minimum of 12 units (Update: The requirement to complete 12 units has been waived for all students for Spring 2020 in order to support students affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19)).
Be a California resident or otherwise exempt from paying non-resident tuition fees (e.g. AB540)
Complete the FT3 Promise Pledge
Complete the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act application
To maintain eligibility for future terms, students must complete a minimum of 12 units per term with a GPA of 2.0 or higher (Update: The requirement to complete 12 units has been waived for all students for Spring 2020 in order to support students affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19)).

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Other Tips

Tuition & Fees:

Waive out of your campus’ health insurance fee if you are covered under your parent’s plan.
Students going out of state: Check your state’s residency policy and file to be an in state resident to reduce tuition costs.

Living Costs:

Room Type: Suite, Dorm, Studio, Apartment
Number of Roommates
Living at home, On-Campus (meal plan), Off-Campus
Find housing through Official School Facebook/Handshake pages

Books & Supplies

Buy used textbooks, rent, ask a friend, or find some online (pdf), resell your books (Talk to students who have taken the course to see what books they used)
Utilize campus centers: Free testing materials and free food, coffee or snacks

Personal Expenses

Campus and community food and essential pantries
Enroll in Calfresh programs (up to $200 a month for groceries)

Transportation: Google flight tracker, Bus, Bike, Walk, Rideshare, etc (free bus pass)

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Local Scholarships:

El Cerrito HS : Tinyurl.com/ECHSCOVID19
Hercules HS: tinyurl.com/hhsadvising
Richmond HS: Email: monicamendieta@berkeley.edu
Kennedy HS:
Pinole Valley HS: Email: szambrano@berkeley.edu
De Anza HS: pegutierrez@berkeley.edu

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Questions?

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Contact Us:

Ms. Janice

El Cerrito HS

JaniceLe@berkeley.edu

Phone: 510-501-0825

Calendly.com/janicele-1

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Ms. Stephanie

Pinole Valley HS

szambrano@berkeley.edu

Work phone:

Ms. O

Hercules HS

cmoyola@berkeley.edu

Phone: 510-501-3316

Ms. Monica

Richmond HS

monicamendieta@berkeley.edu

Phone: 510-387-4270

Ms. Gutierrez

De Anza HS

pegutierrez@berkeley.edu

Phone: 510-541-4836

Tony Morales

Kennedy HS

tomorale@berkeley.edu

Phone: 510-463-4670