How do I even start??

Paying for College
1

<p>*this is for freshman year in fall 2015 </p>

<p>I'm so confused and naive about this whole idea. I don't even know where I'm supposed to start. Basically, do I just go on the fafsa website and fill out my information, and then the schools will tell me if I qualify for financial aid? Or is there more to that that I have to do? I went on the fafsa website today and I don't think I can apply yet. And how do you get scholarships? On the UC applications, it asks you to check the things that you may qualify for scholarships. Is that all you have to do? </p>

<p>Do I submit my college apps before I apply for fafsa/financial aid? </p>

<p>Any advice at all would be very helpful, and maybe you can explain your experience in applying and all that. </p>

<p>How much financial aid would they give you? Is it the same as a scholarship? What exactly are the qualities you have to have to qualify? </p>

<p>Sorry, i am COMPLETELY clueless and would really appreciate any help. </p>

2

<p>Do you go to high school? Where is your guidance counselor?

  1. Did you take the correct high school courses to qualify you for admission to a UC? Go to the UC website and see if you have taken the right courses for the A-G categories: <a href=“http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/freshman/requirements/”>http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/freshman/requirements/&lt;/a&gt;
    Answer yes to any questions asking about financial aid if you need aid of any kind, scholarships, grants, loans and work study.
  2. Fill out the FAFSA (Free application for Federal Student Aid) on or after January 1, 2015. FAFSA is not available to you until AFTER Jan 1, 2015. If you’ve filled it out already for this year, you’ve made a mistake. Your parents have to be involved in this. They will fill out their portion and you will fill out yours. FAFSA does not give out money; it’s an application that is sent to the federal aid commission and to the universities you have applied to to determine if you are eligible to receive aid. Your university will decide how much to give you in scholarships, grants and loans based on what you’ve filled out in FAFSA. Everyone’s aid is different, so it is important to apply to schools that are “safeties” where you would be able to gain admittance and one that you could afford. </p>

<ol>
<li> Go to your high school counselor. That’s what they are there for. It has been my experience that the counselors talk to you about your college career in every grade especially 9th through 12th. They also hold parent nights, college fairs, and financial aid where the parents come to the high school and talk to representatives from the colleges.</li>
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3

<p>If you live in CA, and qualify for a Calgrant, do NOT miss the deadline for application for this.</p>

4

<p>If you are Cal-Grant eligible, make sure you fill out your FAFSA by March 2nd, 2015, and that your HS counselor sends your GPA report to CSAC (California Student Aid Commission). </p>