You did run the Net Price calculators on the schools you applied, correct?
If so, unless your parents are divorced, they own a business or self-employed, the numbers are pretty accurate.
You stated your EFC is $0, so between Federal Aid, work study and Cal Grants, you should get enough FA to at least commute to your local Cal state and possibly partial housing if going further.
You will not get an FA package until you are accepted so depending which CSU’s you applied, February/March is when you should get your admission decisions along with your FA packages within a few weeks after the decision.
So Cal Grants still confuse me. How are they different from the FAFSA, is it a different application from the FAFSA? Or will it be on an FA package in Feb/March?
FASFA determines if you are eligible for Federal Aid (Pell Grant/Work study and Federal Student loans).
Cal Grant is for California students and funded by the state. The CSU’s will use a combination of Federal aid and Cal grant aid in your financial package.
Your FA package from each school will spell out how much Federal aid and Cal grant aid you will receive to attend that University. If there is a gap meaning the school costs more than the grants cover, then you can make up the gap by taking out the Federal student loans ($5500 Freshman year, $6500 Sophomore year, $7500 for Junior and Senior year) and possibly work study along with a summer job.
Oh okay. Thank you you’re so helpful. How are you everywhere at once???
Since I am the UC Forum Champion, I am always checking the Cal state and UC forums to make sure the discussions are in the correct topic areas.
I also have 2 son’s whom I helped with UC and CSU applications/admissions along with countless other friends and relatives these past few years, so hopefully I can pay it forward with all the helpful information I have gotten.
Best of luck and please post once you start getting your decisions and FA packages. There is a wealth of knowledgeable CC posters that are always willing to help and answer questions.
