Hi! I come from a single parent family and my mom’s income is only several dollars above the federal guideline for low-income family… she lost her job for two years so we have no saving so I cannot afford the tuition but I am really scared that I may get a lot of financial aid. Besides FAFSA, is there another form which I can fill out to apply for full-ride to UC? Also, what are some good financial aid/scholarships to apply to for UC or privates?
I know some of them have academic requirements so here is my stats: I have a 3.94 unweighted and I took 6 AP’s already. I am taking 5 this year and I am in all the honor classes that are available in my school.
I am really clueless so please help!
Why are you really scared that you may get a lot of financial aid? The best scholarships for those attending private schools come directly from the schools.
He likely meant he was concerned he would **not ** get enough aid.
What are your ACT / SAT scores?
What are your test scores? If you haven’t yet signed up for the SAT and ACT…do so. Get the fee waivers for testing AND for applications from your GC. You qualify because of low income, particularly if you get free or reduced lunch.
Which UCs are you applying to?
Are you instate for Calif?
UCs give GREAT AID to instate low income students so don’t worry about that. JUST make sure that you talk to your GC to make sure all is done so that you qualify for a Cal Grant. There are a few things that need to get done by an early spring deadline. Make sure those things are done.
If you are a California resident from a low income family, UCs tend to give good financial aid. Local CSUs that you can commute to may be even cheaper, but CSUs that you would have to live at may not be. Both UC and CSU use only the FAFSA form (CSS Profile not used, unlike many private schools that have good financial aid). Schools like UC and CSU that use only FAFSA consider only the parent you live with for financial aid calculations, while most schools that use CSS Profile consider both parents for financial aid calculations. When you fill in the FAFSA list of schools, be sure that a school in California is listed first so that the California Student Aid Commission will consider you for Cal Grants.
UCs, CSUs, and other schools with good financial aid will expect you (the student) to make some contribution, typically through a federal direct loan up to $5,500 per year and/or a few thousand dollars of work earnings (often with a work-study preference).
For each school, go to its web site and put net price calculator in the search box. Use it to get an estimate of financial aid and net price before you apply.
I got 2250 on SAT, which is not very competitive…
I see! Thank you! So with Cal grant and FAFSA and GPA verificaiton, there is a chance for full tuition? There is no other forms which I need to fill out?
Ok! Thank you for the info!
Cal Grant will cover ALL of your tuition. Then a Pell Grant will cover some of your dorm. then likely a UC grant will cover some of your dorm. Then a fed loan and work study will likely cover most of the rest.
Be sure to work next summer to cover books and dorm stuff that you’ll need and misc costs.
Your stats are great.
Get the app waivers and the test waivers from your GC.
apply to as many UCs as you can. @ucbalumnus Does one fee waiver cover all UCs? or what?
This student should be sure to apply to “some” lower UCs because likely some merit would be awarded which should either close any gaps or eliminate some loans.
What is your major?
What do you say that SAT is not competitive, when it is? Is it that you just made that up or did someone tell you that?
What are your CR and Math scores?
Also, what was your PSAT score?
UC may give fee waivers for applications to up to 4 UC campuses:
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/application-fees/
Just to be clear, you do live in California, right?
@mom2collegekids I want to be a psychiatrist so psychology and premed. I heard that Cal Grant is only a small amount, but it actually covers ALL tuition?
@Madison85 I have 750 and 760. my psat is really low (221)…I am not qualified for National Merit.
@wlester Yes, I am a CA resident:)
That is not a low psat, why do you make that up? Why do you listen to things your ‘heard’ that are incorrect, when you can just look at the cal grant website and see that cal grant covers all your tuition if you have ‘need’.