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Federal Student Aid Workshop Assists Families

The California Student Aid Commission has approved University of Silicon Valley as a site for free FASFA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) training. The Workshop will be on January 25, from 5 pm – 8 pm and is open to families with high school seniors regardless of their choice of colleges. Registration is available through the CA.GOV website.

Image source: cash4college.csac.ca.gov

Through the March 2 Cal Grant deadline, students and families can attend FREE Cash for College workshops across California for help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act (CADAA) and Chafee Grant for Foster Youth applications.

“We are excited to work with the State of California to help families understand their options when they consider financing their students’ college education”, said Yariela Perez-Gonzalez, USV’s Director of Financial Aid. “In addition to this workshop, we have an open-door policy where we invite families to use our campus facilities and counselors throughout the financial aid process.”

Before attending the workshop, high school seniors should also create a FSA ID. This ID is required to complete a FAFSA application.

Image source: cash4college.csac.ca.gov

What to Bring to the Workshop

This checklist includes important documents needed to help complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) and Chafee for Foster Youth application.

Students should come to the Cash for College workshop with the following documents, if applicable:

  • FSA ID (Please create one before the workshop at www.fsaid.ed.gov)
  • Driver’s license, if you have one
  • Social Security Card or number, if you have one
  • Alien registration number, if you have one
  • Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) – yours or your parents’
  • List of colleges you are interested in attending
  • Most current 2017 bank statements
  • Parents’ most current 2017 bank statements
  • Any records of untaxed income such as welfare benefits, Social Security benefits, or child support payments
  • The FAFSA and CADAA applications will utilize your 2016 tax and income information to apply for 2018-19 student aid.  While completing the FAFSA, you will use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) to populate your 2016 tax information. 
    • Please make sure to bring your 2016 tax information in case the DRT does not work. This includes…
      • Your 2016 W2’s or income information
      • Your parents’ 2016 W2’s or income information

NOTE: You must use 2016 income and tax information to apply for financial aid for the 2018-19 academic year.  If your financial situation has changed since 2016 for the worst, you should follow-up with the institution you are applying to attend.   

Many thanks to the USV Collective for the student image featured in this article.

 

 

 

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