Financial Aid

Steps For Financial Aid

1. Apply! Use FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application, depending on your status. Starting October 1 and by March 2nd for Cal Grant eligibility, but the earlier the better!!!! Check FAFSA/CADAA page for more info!

   • Note: some private colleges may ask you to complete a CSS profile. Only fill this out if they require it. Guide to completing CSS profile: https://www.goingmerry.com/blog/css-profile/

2. Once you receive your SAR (Student Aid Report), you can go back in and make changes (including adding more schools), or check your Cal Grant status on WebGrants.

3. Apply for scholarships through the university websites, private scholarship sites, and CVEF scholarship website. (CVEF scholarships are for Castro Valley students only and will be available in late January).

CA State Financial Aid

The State of California provides aid for students through its Financial Aid Programs.

Cal Grants

Eligibility for a Cal Grant is based on family income, family assets, and the student's unweighted GPA (sophomore and junior years only).

Students who have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, and have demonstrated financial need, are eligible for a Cal Grant A. Students who have a minimum of a 2.0 GPA, and have demonstrated financial need, are eligible for a Cal Grant B.

1. Apply: Complete the FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application beginning October 1st. (See FAFSA/Dream App page for more info).

2. File your GPA: File a certified grade point average (GPA) with us no later than March 2nd. - CVHS does this for you in October!

Cal Grant Process

Middle Class Scholarships

For students who do not meet the financial eligibility for Cal Grant and will be attending a CSU or UC, they will be considered for a middle class scholarship. Income ceiling and other info at: https://www.csac.ca.gov/middle-class-scholarship

Chafee Grant for Foster Youth

If you are or were in foster care for at least one day, between the ages of 16 and 18 as a dependent or ward of the court and have financial need, you may qualify for up to $5,000 a year for career and technical training or college. https://chafee.csac.ca.gov/

Check your Cal Grant status

After submitting FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application, wait 7-10 days, then check your status!

1. Go to https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov/.

2. Click Log In.

3. Fill out the information - this is different from FAFSA/CA Dream Act Application so create a new username.

4. You will receive an email (at the email address you listed on FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application). Follow the instructions in the email to activate your account.

5. Once you log in, you will select the tab for the appropriate Academic Year. You will be able to see your application status, the planned school of attendance (to be changed later), and amount of award and remaining eligibility.

6. Click on Show Details to view application status and any follow up items.

7. If it shows that your GPA did not match your financial aid application, contact Ms. Zuckerbrow in the College & Career Center at azuckerbrow@cv.k12.ca.us or contact the registrar, Ms. Smith-McKaig, at jsmithmckaig@cv.k12.ca.us.

In addition to Cal Grants there are also Middle Class Scholarships, Grants for Foster Youth, and more.

https://www.csac.ca.gov/financial-aid-programs

Fee Waivers

Who Qualifies?

• Students who: receive free-reduced lunch, come from families that meet the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Income Eligibility Guidelines, receive public assistance, are in the foster care system.

• If unsure, meet with your school counselor to determine eligibility

Entrance Exam Waivers

• SAT

  • SAT fee waiver code can be requested from College & Career Counselor

  • Once received, log into College Board account and enter code into “Got a Fee Waiver” section

  • Waives $55 registration fee and allows you to send SAT Scores to any amount of colleges you want

• ACT

  • Provides up to four exam fee waivers per student; speak with College & Career Counselor to determine eligibility and get code

  • If given physical ACT fee waiver, use code in top-right corner when registering for ACT online or by mail

College Application Fee Waivers

• UC/CSU Application

  • Fee waiver eligibility will be determined automatically by the application based on the information you provide (typically based on family size and income)

• Coalition Application

  • Can request fee waiver from within application; must have answered yes to at least one of the “Fee Waiver” questions in your MyCoalition Profile

  • List of schools in Coalition App will waive fee automatically based on response

  • Speak with school counselor to approve request once you get to the application payment screen

• Common Application

  • Fee waiver can be requested from “Profile” section of Common Application; confirm request with your school counselor

• Schools Not Using Coalition or Common Application

  • Download “NACAC Request for Admission Application Fee Waiver”; fill in basic info and Economic Need section before submitting to college admissions office