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Office of Counseling & Post-Secondary Success

Your Financial Aid Offer

Last Updated: April 2021

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Agenda

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  • Steps to Take after Applying for Financial Aid�
  • Frequently Asked Questions�
  • Financial Aid Appeals�
  • Scholarships

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“I submitted my FAFSA or CA Dream Act financial aid application…now what?”

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Answer:

Take these Steps after applying for financial aid

  1. Create your Webgrants4Students account (csac.ca.gov) to view your CalGrant offers�
  2. Log into FAFSA or CA Dream Act to
    1. Download your SAR Report
    2. Submit corrections if needed
    3. Add a college campus (i.e. CCSF)

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“I haven’t yet submitted my FAFSA or CA Dream Act financial aid application…is it too late?”

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You may still receive limited state or federal aid

Financial aid is first come first serve, so apply as soon as possible...

You can still submit your FAFSA or CA Dream Act application by September 2nd and...

March April 2nd was the priority deadline, especially for students intending to enroll at UC, CSU or Private Colleges

Answer:

It’s NOT too late!

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“I got into college! Now what?”

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Answer

  • About 2-3 weeks after you get accepted, you should receive a financial aid offer from that college. If you don’t get an offer, contact the financial aid office.�
  • Check your college portals for documents and deadlines that may hold up your financial aid process �
  • Make sure you have listed the college on your FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application, otherwise the college will not receive your financial information and cannot give you a financial aid offer.

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“How do I figure out which college I got into is most affordable?”

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Answer: Compare your Financial Aid Offers

Compare financial aid offers from all your admitted colleges

Helpful Tool: create an account and use uAspire’s College Cost Calculator

    • Add in each campus and each financial aid offer
    • Compare each campus side-by-side to help you calculate and compare your final costs
    • (available in Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese)��uaspire.org/calculator

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“So… What’s the difference between all the loans?”

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Answer

The way interest is charged is different

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Subsidized

Unsubsidized

Parent PLUS

Interest is paid by the government under the following time periods:

  • While student is in school at least half-time
  • For the first six months after student leaves school (called the grace period)
  • During a period of deferment (a postponement of loan payments)

Interest is paid by the student during ALL periods

Interest is paid by the guardian during ALL periods

Reference: What's the difference between Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans? & Direct PLUS Loan Basics for Parents & Parent PLUS Loans

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Some advice for folks considering taking out loans...

  • READ THE FINE PRINT
  • Only take out what you need
  • If possible, pay it off early
    • Loans can be paid off while you’re a student!

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SFUSD Graduation vs. A-G Requirements

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“What is Work-Study?”

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Answer

Work-Study is a job on or off campus

Please note that:

  • Being awarded work-study doesn’t guarantee getting a job. You still have to apply & interview.
  • Work-study funds are earned, not granted. You must work to earn the money.
  • Like any job, work-study positions can be competitive
  • Money earned from work-study does not affect future financial aid offers

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For more details on work-study: Federal Work-Study &

8 Things You Should Know About Federal Work-Study

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“Why didn’t I get financial aid?”

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Here are some possible reasons:

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There are holds on your student portal

Holds indicate that a the college needs you to resolve something (e.g. turn in paperwork). Once the hold is resolved, financial aid information can be released. Do it in a timely manner.

It’s been 3 weeks since you were admitted to a college, but you haven’t received you a financial aid offer

  • The college you are planning on attending is not listed in your FAFSA/CA Dream Act
  • There were errors on your FAFSA/CA Dream Act (Example: tax information was inputted incorrectly)
  • There were unmatched names (see below)
  • There are forms you haven’t submitted yet (refer to college portal)

You have hit the income limit to receive aid

Federal / Pell Grant: income level not specified, but grant given based on EFC and cost of college

State / Cal Grant: Cal Grant has income limits indicated (Cal Grant Income Limit)

Family Assets: Assets (e.g. cash, property, businesses, investment farms, stocks, bonds) are also in consideration. These can exceed limitations.

Unmatched Name

Your name on your financial aid application does not match your legal name (on your social security card) or your name listed on your college application.

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To get help

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Contact your college’s financial aid office (ie Virtual Help Counter, email, or phone)

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or

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Set up an appointment with your school counselor

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“My family’s financial situation changed… How can I receive more financial aid?”

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Answer:

Financial Aid Appeals

If your family’s financial situation has changed since what you reported on your financial aid application, or if the application did not capture a financial difficulty that you are facing...

Helpful tool: use appeal letter templates from Swift Student

Contact the college’s financial aid office with documentation of this change. They may be able to work with you on adjusting your offer.

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Other Reasons to Contact Financial Aid Office

  • Your financial situation has changed with a reduction in family income and you want to submit that change so that your offer can be amended
  • Your college portal says you have financial holds or forms to-do that are confusing
  • Your plans have changed (i.e. you are no longer going to do on-campus housing, or you received a private scholarship)

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By May 1st, choose the one college you will attend!

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Log into the college portal and accept the financial aid offers that you want to receive. You do not have to accept all of them.

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Log into Webgrants and verify your final college choice, as well as your graduation date.

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Open up discussions with your family. Show them your financial aid offers and final calculations.

Your counselor (and advisors) can help.

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Continue to apply for scholarships

Visit SFUSD’s website for local scholarships

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https://www.sfusd.edu/CPSS/students-and-families/finaid-scholarships

Check your school’s announcements

for scholarship postings...

like counselor’s google classrooms, instagram, tiktok, or emails

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Thank you!

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​

SAN FRANCISCO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

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