<p>Hey CC!</p>
<p>As far as I understand, FAFSA is just a form, and colleges individually use those numbers and details to determine the amount aid you get. Is it the same for Cal Grant? Who decides how much (and if) I'll receive?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Start here</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.calgrants.org/index.cfm?navId=12”>http://www.calgrants.org/index.cfm?navId=12</a></p>
<p>Cal Grant awards are determined by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). In addition to any Cal Grant award you receive, you may also receive an award from the college itself, and that part of your award has nothing to do with CSAC.</p>
<p>To find out if you were awarded a Cal Grant, do to [WebGrants</a> 4 Students](<a href=“CSAC - Student Landing Home”>CSAC - Student Landing Home) and create an online account. (The website will use your social security number or other identification to link you to your Cal Grant application.)</p>
<p>You can also contact CSAC [url=<a href=“http://www.calgrants.org/index.cfm?navid=18]here[/url”>http://www.calgrants.org/index.cfm?navid=18]here[/url</a>].</p>
<p>@sybbie - Thanks!</p>
<p>@dodgersmom - And they get the numbers from FAFSA, correct? So if there’s some important information pertaining to my details that I need to explain, I should contact CSAC directly, right?</p>
<p>Edit: By the way, WebGrants 4 Students isn’t working. The site hasn’t been working for the past week. Not sure why. Is it working for anyone else?</p>
<p>Okay . . . WebGrants 4 Students worked for me. Your post actually reminded me that I was supposed to check it today. Worked fine. So, time for you to clear your browser cache (or something?) or try a different computer.</p>
<p>But if you still can’t get through, then, yes, call CSAC when they open this morning.</p>
<p>As for contacting them to explain your info, you can try, but everything in your FAFSA (or Dream Act application) should be pretty straightforward. Do you want to tell us what the problem is? (If you don’t feel comfortable sharing your info here, that’s okay, too. 
)</p>
<p>"I’m a US Citizen, and since I’m currently living in India, "</p>
<p>You don’t have a state of residence, so you don’t qualify for a Cal Grant. Your parents don’t live there. You didn’t go to high school there. </p>
<p>Unless your parents are in India on some sort of gov’t business and that allows them to keep their Calif state residency, you’re not a resident. </p>
<p>“I’m a US Citizen, and since I’m currently living in India, I technically don’t have a state of residence, though I’m still filing for CA taxes.”</p>
<p>??
What does that mean? Does that mean that your parents are US Citizens and are filing federal taxes? Or does it mean that they own a home/business in Calif and pay property taxes and/or income taxes on the business? </p>
<p>If your parents are living in India and aren’t a special case then you’re not a Calif resident. You’re OOS and don’t qualify for Cal Grants. Calling the office isn’t going to change that.</p>
<p>@dodgersmom - Nope, still isn’t working for me! Tried a different browser, and a different computer. I’ll give it another shot tomorrow, otherwise I’ll call em up. Thanks! And about what I need to tell them - in short, it’s some critical information about my dad’s salary and EFC for that year specifically. </p>
<p>@mom2collegekids - Thanks so much for your continuous help.
My father is paying CA taxes.</p>
<p>“My father is paying CA taxes”</p>
<p>Why? Does he own a business there? Does he own property there? </p>
<p>On the Cal Grant site, what does it say about eligibility?</p>
<p>edit to add:</p>
<p>WHO QUALIFIES </p>
<p>ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR A CAL GRANT?
If you are a California graduating high school senior or recent graduate, or just got your GED, and meet academic, financial and eligibility requirements and submit two forms by the Cal Grant deadline then you may qualify for a Cal Grant for college or career or technical school.</p>
<p>What is the Cal Grant deadline?
You must apply by March 2 to maximize your opportunity to receive an award.</p>
<p>If you miss the March 2 Cal Grant deadline AND you plan to attend a community college in the fall, you have until September 2 to apply. However, the number of Cal Grant awards is limited.</p>
<p>To be eligible for a Cal Grant you must:</p>
<p>Submit the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (beginning in 2013) and your verified Cal Grant GPA by the deadline
Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen (your parents don’t need to be citizens or eligible noncitizens) or meet AB540 criteria (beginning in 2013)
Be a California resident when you graduated from high school or meet AB540 criteria
Have a Social Security number or meet AB540 criteria
Attend a qualifying California college
Not have a bachelor’s or professional degree (except for Cal Grant A and B extended awards for a teaching credential program)
Have financial need based on your college costs
Have family income and assets below the established ceilings
Meet any minimum GPA requirements
Be in a program leading to an undergraduate degree or certificate
Be enrolled at least half time
Have registered with U.S. Selective Service (most males)
Not owe a refund on a state or federal grant, or be in default on a student loan
FOUR CHANCES TO GET A CAL GRANT ENTITLEMENT AWARD!
You can apply for a Cal Grant Entitlement Award in one of four ways:</p>
<p>Within one year after you graduate. So even if you have to go straight to work before going to college, you don’t have to miss out on a Cal Grant.
As a community college transfer student, as long as you are under the age of 28.
As a high school senior.
Within one year of getting your GED.</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids - Why? I thought it was mandatory, like paying federal tax? I’m only living abroad temporarily. I just want to make sure that CSAC understands my special circumstances and financial details that can’t be explained through numbers.</p>
<p>"@mom2collegekids - Why? I thought it was mandatory, like paying federal tax? I’m only living abroad temporarily. That’s probably why I’m still paying tax."</p>
<p>Who is paying Calif taxes? You OR your parents. You keep saying “I” am paying taxes. And then you’ll say that your dad is paying taxes. </p>
<p>No it’s not mandatory to pay state income taxes when you don’t live there. Are you sure your parents are not paying property taxes?</p>
<p>Do your parents own a home in Calif?</p>
<p>Do they own a home in India?</p>
<p>When did you stop attending Calif schools?</p>
<p>Are you the student whose dad may move back to Calif to work because his business isn’t doing well in India?</p>
<p>M2CK - It makes no difference if SahilC attends a California high school (or has ever attended a California high school, for that matter) so long as he is a California resident. The “graduate from a California high school” requirement is only for AB 540 kids - students who are not California residents.</p>
<p>If SahilC and his family are California residents who are living abroad temporarily, the temporary residence overseas would not disqualify him from eligibility for in-state tuition and CalGrants.</p>
<p>SahilC - My understanding of CalGrant eligibility is that it’s based strictly on the FAFSA. Special circumstances are generally not taken into account. I don’t know what your specific circumstances are, but it happens all the time that a parent has an exceptionally high income for one year only . . . and if it’s the year immediately preceding the Cal Grant application, the student will be disqualified from receiving Cal Grants for the following year.</p>
<p>The good news is that you can apply for Cal Grants prior to both your freshman and your sophomore year in college, so if your father’s income was high in 2013, but drops down again in 2014, you might be able to get a Cal Grant award next year, even if you don’t qualify this year.</p>