Financial Aid
Many students make mistakes that cost them thousands of dollars in Financial Aid. But at Firecracker, we're dedicated to helping you navigate the complex world of financial aid, so you can make informed choices, maximize your aid opportunities, and secure your path to a brighter, more affordable future. Let's ensure you make the right financial moves for your education!
A Small Guide to Financial Aid
How to Pay for College in California:
1. Cal grants
2. Pell Grants
3. Work
4. Loans
5. University scholarships
6. Outside scholarships
Image credit: Galileo Counseling Slideshow
Estimating costs:
Choose your school!
Options:
Use a net price calculator for your school of choice!
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search: (School Name) + net price calculator
Examples:
UC Berkeley: https://saservices.berkeley.edu/calculator
UC Irvine: https://www.ofas.uci.edu/cost/net-price-calculator.php
San Jose State: https://www.sjsu.edu/faso/docs/net-price-calculator.html
Harvard: https://college.harvard.edu/financial-aid/net-price-calculator
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Research your aid:
Harvard -If family income is $85k or less, tuition is free; Family income from 85k - 150k are expected to pay 10% of their annual income
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What is the FAFSA?
Free Application for Federal Student Aid form
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This form is used by the government to determine if you are eligible for federal student aid. You will need your parent’s help to complete this, as it requires information on your family’s finances and tax returns.
Note:
- Anyone who is applying to college next year should fill out a FAFSA form
- You are not required to be low income to receive financial assistance
- You must fill out a new FAFSA form before every academic year to receive aid
Applying for the FAFSA
ONLINE: fafsa.gov (recommended)
Both you and your parent will need a (federal student aid) FSA ID
- A FSA ID requires your Social Security number, full name, and date of birth
MAIL: print and fill out the FAFSA form on paper, and then mail it to the address on the form
Expected Launch: December 2023
(Usually opens October, but its is delayed this year)​
What is CSS?
College Scholarship Service
CSS is an online application created and managed by the College Board that allows College students to apply for financial aid. Many Colleges and Scholarship programs use this platform to award non-federal institutional aid.
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Link: https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/
*Open: Oct 1st
*Due: ~Jan 1st -March 31st (for regular decision)
deadline varies from school to school
Grants
Cal-Grant:
Deadline: March 2nd *
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- The Cal Grant is a California-specific grant for college students that does not have to be paid back.
- Must either submit the FAFSA or California Dream Act to receive this grant. This money is given for students who want to apply to Universities of California (UCs), California State Universities (CSUs) or California Community Colleges (CCs), or qualifying independent and career colleges or technical schools in California.
- Apply through the FAFSA or CA Dream Act application
Note: CA Dream Act is for undocumented students
- Make sure your GPA is reported to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC)
- create a WebGrants 4 Students account and log in to confirm they have a GPA on file by March 2nd
Website: https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov/
Award Amounts for the Cal-Grant
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Pell grant:
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A Federal Pell Grant is awarded to undergraduate students who need financial aid. This grant does not need to be repaid and is applied through the FAFSA.
The maximum Federal Pell Grant is $7,395 for 2023-2024.
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CA Dream Act:
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The California Dream Act helps undocumented students receive financial aid. It also allows eligible students to pay in-state tuition at any California public college.
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Apply: https://dream.csac.ca.gov/landing
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Scholarships
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Look for both local and national scholarships!
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Notable Links:
1. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Js27TzBo7bbFsOrvacDQsgDFFd-cRcBODgI66CdPhyI/edit#gid=0
2. https://www.sfachievers.org/high-school-scholarship-list/ ​
