Hello I am a high school senior who is looking for scholarships offered by CSUF, CSULB, and CPP. I’ve done some research but all I can find are scholarships for people who already attend their university, and when I go to the general application for all scholarships, they ask me for things I could only have if I were already attending their school. Are there any scholarships for high school students offered? And how do I apply?
When you apply to our state schools through the FAFSA and CAL grants, you are considered for any scholarships that the school, state, and federal government offers. Make sure you check the box that asks if you are applying for financial aid. The best and most aid comes directly from the schools. (For these California schools, to get the best aid, you need to be a resident of California.)
So let’s say you apply to Fullerton, Long Beach and CPP. Let’s say you get into all three. Each school may offer you a completely different aid package. Fullerton may offer you full tuition but not room and board. Long Beach may like that you are a local and may have public and private scholarships that will pay for everything. Cal poly may offer you a combination of grants, work study, and loans. Each offer depends on your parents income, your stats, and the school’s budget. Some schools have private donors that fund certain students.
Private scholarships may offer a few hundred dollars and are typically only for the first year.
You ask for aid in your freshman application because if you decide, “I’ll apply next year”, youmay not get any aid for all four years since the money is allocated for four years and can run out.
UC’s and (specially) CSU’s give little merit aid. They have great financial aid for lower income CA residents, though. Are you instate? What’s your FAFSA EFC?