<p>Is filling out a FAFSA all you need to do for applying for a CAL Grant? (aside from GPA verification)...</p>
<p>Yes, unless they've changed things. That is, there are 2 things you need to fill out: 1) FAFSA, 2) Cal Grant.</p>
<p>Another tip -- if you are applying to private colleges in California, put aprivate college as the #1 college listed on the FAFSA, ahead of any UC or CSU. The reason is that Cal Grants give more for private than public education, but they calculate the grant against the first school you list. So you will get a bigger grant authorized if you list the private school first, assuming you are eligible.</p>
<p>I am sure that if you don't follow this procedure, it can be rectified -- you can probably simply notify Cal Grant of the college that you want to attend at the appropriate time -- but it will be more helpful to you for financial planning to get the the correct numbers the first time around.</p>
<p>Make your cal grant schools your first 6 schools on your fafsa.</p>
<p>Calmom</p>
<p>Thanks for the tip!</p>
<p>Just to make sure I understand, even though UC says to list a UC or state college first, it is OK to list a private CA college first on the FAFSA? </p>
<p>My S has 12 schools and the UCs have the latest FAFSA deadlines. Is it OK to list a private CA college then 5 other private colleges, hit submit, and then submit the UCs on the second round?</p>
<p>Or should I do as overseas suggests and list all the CA schools first?</p>
<p>thanks,
FresnoMom</p>
<p>What is a cal grant?</p>
<p>You may also have to fill out a GPA verification form, unless you're renewing last year's grant. FAFSA + GPA Verification form are required. Some schools send the GPA verification automatically, some do not.</p>
<p>im still lost... what is the cal grant form??</p>
<p>also...on the place where you write down HOUSING information for the school you put down...I am a transfer student and planning to live on university housing which is located off campus...(apartment-style funded by the university)...so would this be on campus/off campus or what?</p>
<p>FresnoMom, I don't know why UC asks you to list a UC or Cal State first -- maybe its because that is the way that they would get notice of the Cal grant. I just know that when my son did it, listing a UC first, we got a letter saying that he wasn't eligible for aid... but he would have been eligible for a private college. So if he had ended up opting for the private college, then I think he would have had to resubmit. </p>
<p>The reason for the differential is simple: based on the FAFSA, we qualified for very little in-state aid - I think Berkeley would have given my son something like a $300 grant, then a Stafford loan, no work study, and that would have been meeting 100% need. I think our FAFSA EFC was probably around $16K. So we dropped off the "need" thresshold as far as Cal Grant was concerned... but of course he would have qualified for a private college.</p>
<p>I don't think you prejudice yourself in any way if you have to make a change down the line -- it's probably just a matter of submitting new paperwork. But I do think that many middle class families probably are in the position that we were in in terms of EFC. So it was just that in hindsight, I think I should have listed his private colleges first. </p>
<p>Obviously, you don't get any money until the kid is enrolled in college, and the kid can only go to one college. There is probably plenty of time between May 1 and September to fix the paperwork. All of the California colleges include estimated Cal Grant numbers in their financial aid packages, so one way or another this is factored in. </p>
<p>So I honestly don't know if my advice is the best- maybe it depends on where you fall along the eligibility spectrum.</p>
<p>HI Calmom</p>
<p>Thanks for the thorough answer!!!</p>
<p>FresnoMom</p>