Hello DVC,
Reminder that the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) is due in two days: March 2nd. All seniors that are planning on attending a 4-year college/university, community college, trade/vocational school should fill out the FAFSA or the CADAA to make sure they get access to financial resources such as grants and scholarships.
Here is the link to start the FAFSA Application.
Here is the link to start the CADAA Application.
We also have a recorded webinar of the FAFSA workshop we hosted back in October 2021 that provides step-by-step instructions on how to fill out the form: Da Vinci Schools FAFSA Webinar
Some common misconceptions about FAFSA are:
- If I fill out the FAFSA, I have to accept all the loans they’re offering me: Every student has the option of accepting or declining any financial awards they receive. If a student doesn’t want to accept any loans, they have the option of declining them once they receive their financial aid award letter form the colleges they’ve been accepted to.
- I already know that my son/daughter doesn’t qualify for financial aid based on my income: Every year colleges and universities have more financial opportunities made available for students with middle/higher class income. For example, UCs and CSUs now have middle-class scholarships in which students with family income up to $191,000, and household assets of no more than $191,000 will receive a scholarship that can cover between 10 percent and 40 percent of systemwide tuition and fees.
- My parents don’t have a SSN, so I can’t apply for financial aid: Parent’s legal status does not affect student’s financial aid eligibility. Instead of creating a FSA ID account for their parents when completing FAFSA, students will be required to print out a confirmation page, obtain their parent’s signature, and mail that confirmation page.
- Student does not have a SSN so they don’t qualify for financial aid: Students who are undocumented still qualify for state and school financial aid. They would need to submit the California Dream Act Application.
Students with a SSN should only complete the FAFSA. Students without a SSN should only complete the CADAA.
I’m available for any further questions about the FAFSA and the CADAA, please email me at maldrete@davincischools.org
Ms. Aldrete
College and Career Counselor