For a general overview of the financial aid process, please visit:
How Financial Aid Works & Types of Aid - Federal Student Aid/US Department of Education
Financial Aid Eligibility - Federal Student Aid/US Department of Education
To start you will need to create an FSA ID, Click here to do so
Next, Click here to log in to FAFSA and begin a new application
The FAFSA must be completed to be considered for a Cal Grant. The information you report on your FAFSA is used to calculate your Student Aid Index (SAI). According to the U.S. Department of Education, the SAI formula for a dependent student combines parents' and the student's contributions from income and assets. For independent students, only the student's contributions from income and assets are totaled. Schools use the SAI to determine your federal student aid eligibility and financial aid award.
Note: Your EFC is not the amount of money your family will have to pay for college nor is it the amount of federal student aid you will receive. It is a number used by your school to calculate the amount of federal student aid you are eligible to receive.