Financial Aid and Scholarships

Financial aid is money to help pay for college or career/trade school after high school graduation. Grants, work-study, loans, and scholarships help make college or career/trade school affordable. Students who are U.S. Citizens will complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (known as the FAFSA) and students who are non-U.S. citizens will complete the Dream Act Application (known as CADAA) when applying for financial aid.


ALL PDHS graduating seniors of the Class of 2023 will be required to submit a FAFSA application. Seniors should complete the FAFSA as soon as possible beginning October 1st.

The FAFSA and Dream Act Applications will be submitted annually beginning the year in which a student becomes a high school senior and subsequently each year a student plans to be enrolled in a college or career/trade school at least part-time. Despite its name, the FAFSA application is not for a single federal program, being rather the gateway of consideration for:

  • the nine federal student-aid programs

  • the 605 state aid programs

  • most of the institutional aid available

Steps to Fill out a FAFSA Application

FILING PERIOD: October 1- March 2, 2023 (includes application extension)

FAFSA steps for U.S. Citizens:

Step 1: Visit www.fafsa.ed.gov and click on “Start Here”

Step 2: Click “I am the Student” then type in your FSA ID Username and Password

  • Don’t have an FSA ID? Click on “Create One”

Step 3: Complete FAFSA application

Step 4: Sign and submit your application with your FSA ID (See below on how to create an FSA ID)

Step 5: You will receive confirmation that your application has been received. Be sure to check your email and save it for future reference

Step 6: Create an account at www.mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov to track the progress of your Cal Grant eligibility


Steps to Fill out a Dream Act Application

Students that DON’T have a social security number (SSN) or who have a social security number through DACA will need to fill out a Dream Act Application instead of the FAFSA by March 2, 2022!

Step 1: Fill out a Dream Act Application online at www.dream.csac.ca.gov

Step 2: Create an account at www.mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov

Please contact Ms. Rubio in PDHS' College and Career Center if you need help or email her at april.rubio@desertsands.us

Things to keep in mind:

● The FAFSA is a free application. You should never be asked to pay to submit your application.

● It's not just about income. Income is only one factor used to determine financial aid eligibility. Other factors include household size, number of children going to college, and age of the older parent. Any of these factors could increase a family's eligibility for aid.

● You may be more eligible than you think. Some colleges are offering significantly more grant aid to students from families with higher incomes, even those above $100,000. Check with the college about its policies and the likelihood of a family similar to yours receiving aid so you can make an informed decision.

● It's your ticket to federal student loans. Any student can borrow low-interest federal student loans, regardless of the family's income level..

● Even if you're not sure you will borrow, filing the FAFSA gives you options to pay for college and it's free to submit.

● A family's financial situation may change over the course of the school year. Submitting aid applications establishes initial aid eligibility and provides an easy-to-reference baseline for comparison in case family circumstances change.

● The FAFSA automatically qualifies the student for low-interest and forgivable federal student loans–the most attractive kind of student loans available. It also is the first step to qualify a parent for a federal parent PLUS loan, which can be used to help pay college costs.

● In some cases, filing a FAFSA can actually help a student gain admission to a college. Admissions officers know that students hoping for aid who don’t submit FAFSAs to the college are less likely to enroll.


Still need help with FAFSA/CADAA?

Please Ms. Rubio in PDHS' College and Career Center if you need help or email her at april.rubio@desertsands.us

Click on the CSAC logo to search for and attend a free Cash for College Workshop! (invite a parent/guardian)

SCHOLARSHIPS

Check your Counseling Google Classroom for announcements on available scholarships for students in your grade level or email Ms. Rubio for more information april.rubio@desertsands.us