Community College (Steps to Apply)

Students need to create an account with CCC (CA community College) system. Then add an individual application for the Community College Campus (SD Mesa). Students will receive a USER ID (College ID Number). Steps are listed for students to complete College application. 

https://www.sdmesa.edu/student-support/admissions/first-time-student.shtml

The primary purpose of the FAFSA is to determine how much financial aid a student qualifies for, including both need-based and non-need-based aid.  It determines eligibility for federal need-based grants, including the Pell Grant. To determine a family's financial need, the FAFSA asks a series of questions about the parents' and student's income and assets as well as other factors, such as how many children there are in the family. It then comes up with a Student Aid Index (SAI).

Students fill out the FAFSA or CA Dream Act (not both) which helps determine the need of financial aid. This report gets sent to the colleges indicated on the application. Every college has a financial aid office. With this report, the college will provide the student with a financial aid package which would include GRANTS, LOANS. Students can chose the amount of loans and grants offered or not accept them. 

*Common mistakes on Financial aid applications:

• Legal name not entered on application. Legal name differs than school database (Powerschool, Transcript). 

• Forgetting login Username/Password

• Confusing Parent Information with Student Information

• Not Reporting Parent Information (Financial Information specifically) 

• Listing only ONE college (it does not hurt your application to add more schools)

• Not being prepared - Parents/guardians need to be involved (financial information)

• Not signing the Application/completing the application

BENEFITS OF THE PROMISE

• Up to two years of free tuition and health fees

• Books grants for eligible students

• Access to Peer Mentors/Success Coach

• Counseling guidance and support to assist with successfully completing your educational goals

REQUIREMENTS FOR BEING ADMITTED TO THE SAN DIEGO PROMISE

If a student meets one of the three San Diego Promise Pathways, Eligible students must have the following: 

• High school diploma or High School Equivalency with completion year and received.  

• Classified as a California Resident by the San Diego Community College District.  

• Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a California Dream Act application (CADA) and be received by the San Diego Community College District.  

• Enrolled in 12 or more semester units for the Semester at the San Diego Community College District.  

Students may also complete a “Disability Support Programs and Services Waiver of Full-Time Status Requirement for Student Success Programs” indicating the advised amount of units considered full-time for the San Diego Promise.