FAFSA
Federal Student Aid
Federal Student Aid
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for financial aid?
A FAFSA is all you need to get started.
What is FAFSA?
Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It’s FREE!!
What is a PIN?
The Personal Identification Number (PIN) is a quick and easy way for students and parents to sign the FAFSA application. Students and Parents can apply for a PIN on-line at www.pin.ed.gov. The four digit PIN will be either e-mailed within 1 to 5 days, if an e-mail address is provided; or, mailed within 7 to 10 days, if no e-mail address is provided.
Your PIN is confidential and should not be shared with anyone, even if someone else completes your FAFSA for you.
Your PIN is confidential and should not be shared with anyone, even if someone else completes your FAFSA for you.
Do I have to fill out a FAFSA every year?
Yes. Applications are available starting January 1st.
What is the difference between submitting an electronic FAFSA versus a paper FAFSA?
An electronic FAFSA is processed in two (2) to three (3) weeks, while the paper FAFSA takes four (4) to six (6) weeks to process.
What is the deadline for filing the FAFSA (i.e. applying for financial aid)?
The PRIORITY deadline for FAFSA is March 2nd. Forms must be postmarked no later than March 2nd before the academic year for which aid is being sought in order to be considered for STATE aid. However, if the March 2nd deadline is missed, you will still be considered for federal Financial Aid, as well as other Financial Aid programs.
You can apply for a Financial Aid through the last day of classes in Spring semester.
You can apply for a Financial Aid through the last day of classes in Spring semester.
How is the FAFSA used to determine my financial aid need?
The federal government uses data provided on the FAFSA to calculate a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The Financial Aid Office calculates a student’s Cost of Attendance (COA) which includes tuition, living expenses, miscellaneous fees, books, etc. COA minus EFC equals a student’s financial need, which we then try to meet with federal grants, state grants, academic or talent scholarships, institutional grants, federal work study, and various loans.
Are there any forms to fill out besides the FAFSA?
Board of Governor Fee Waiver (BOGFW): Community College students who are California residents or AB 540 students may qualify for a fee waiver. Check with the Financial Aid Office for qualification requirements, or navigate through our website for additional information.
Cal Grant GPA Verification Form: First year undergraduate students who are California residents and are applying for California Grants must submit a GPA verification form. The forms are available at California high schools and Fullerton College Financial Aid Offices. GPA verification forms must be completed by the institution where the student last completed 24 units and MUST be submitted by March 2nd. For students who have earned at least 16 Fullerton College units, their GPA will automatically be submitted electronically.
If you are selected for verification, other forms will be required.
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Cal Grant GPA Verification Form: First year undergraduate students who are California residents and are applying for California Grants must submit a GPA verification form. The forms are available at California high schools and Fullerton College Financial Aid Offices. GPA verification forms must be completed by the institution where the student last completed 24 units and MUST be submitted by March 2nd. For students who have earned at least 16 Fullerton College units, their GPA will automatically be submitted electronically.
If you are selected for verification, other forms will be required.
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Where can I obtain more information on Scholarships?
Scholarships may, or may not, be based on your grade point average and SAT or ACT test scores, and other factors. For more information, contact the Fullerton College Foundation Office at
www.fullcollfoundation.org or (714) 525-5651, or the Fullerton College Cadena Transfer Center at http://cadena.fullcoll.edu or (714) 992-7587.
Students are also encouraged to log onto www.fastweb.com. Students will answer questions, so as to create their profile. Thereafter, you will receive notification by e-mail of scholarship opportunities....IT'S FAST, IT'S FUN, IT'S WORTH IT!
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Students are also encouraged to log onto www.fastweb.com. Students will answer questions, so as to create their profile. Thereafter, you will receive notification by e-mail of scholarship opportunities....IT'S FAST, IT'S FUN, IT'S WORTH IT!
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I don’t live with my parents and my parents don't support me, do I still have to include their information on the FAFSA?
Yes. The only time a student would not need to include parent information is if the student can answer YES to at least ONE of the following questions:
- Were you born before January 1, 1990? (for the 13-14 academic year)
- Are you working on a master's or doctorate program? - As of the date you file the FAFSA, are you married?
- Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you?
- Are you an orphan?
- Are you a ward/dependent of the court?
- Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
- Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you
The outreach plan includes presentations in English and Spanish to students and parents regarding financial aid; workshops on completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); hands-on workshops, which include the completion and submission of FAFSA; one-on-one assistance; staff training; on campus classroom presentations; and, information booths.
Outreach efforts have made contact with eighty percent of the high school students resulting in the completion and submission of FAFSA applications.
Note
Students requiring assistance with the completion and/or submission of their FAFSA application are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office.
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Outreach efforts have made contact with eighty percent of the high school students resulting in the completion and submission of FAFSA applications.
Note
Students requiring assistance with the completion and/or submission of their FAFSA application are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office.
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In order to receive Financial Aid, male students between the age of 18 and 25, are required to register with the Selective Service, if the student has not already done so. Failure to register may cause you to permanently forfeit eligibility for Financial Aid benefits, among other consequences.
Once you have registered, within 90 days you should receive registration acknowledgement from Selective Service, which will serve as official proof of registration. However, if registration acknowledgement is not received within 90 days, we encourage you to verify with Selective Service that registration was received. Verification of registration may be obtained on-line at www.sss.gov, by telephone at (847) 688-6888, or by mail, as follows:
Selective Service System
Registration Information Office
P.O. Box 94638 Palatine, IL 60094-4638
Note
Registering with Selective Service does NOT mean that you are joining the military. The United States will utilize the names and addresses of men between the ages of 18 and 25, in case of a national emergency that requires a draft.
For students who did not register and are 26 years of age or older, you must complete and submit a Selective Service System Registration Form (you may not register on-line). The application must be accompanied by a letter of explanation setting forth the reason for your failure to register between the age of 18 and 25.
Selective Service will send a letter of confirmation to you, confirming that you are not required to register due to your age. This letter will fulfill the Financial Aid requirement.
For additional information, please contact Selective Service System at indicated above, or contact the Financial Aid Office at (714) 992-7050, or visit our office.
If you do not have a social security number, you must register at any U.S. Post Office by filling out the Selective Service "mail-back" registration. A male can fill it out (leaving the space for his Social Security Number blank, if he has not yet obtained one), sign it, affix postage, and mail it to Selective Service, without the involvement of the postal clerk.
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Once you have registered, within 90 days you should receive registration acknowledgement from Selective Service, which will serve as official proof of registration. However, if registration acknowledgement is not received within 90 days, we encourage you to verify with Selective Service that registration was received. Verification of registration may be obtained on-line at www.sss.gov, by telephone at (847) 688-6888, or by mail, as follows:
Selective Service System
Registration Information Office
P.O. Box 94638 Palatine, IL 60094-4638
Note
Registering with Selective Service does NOT mean that you are joining the military. The United States will utilize the names and addresses of men between the ages of 18 and 25, in case of a national emergency that requires a draft.
For students who did not register and are 26 years of age or older, you must complete and submit a Selective Service System Registration Form (you may not register on-line). The application must be accompanied by a letter of explanation setting forth the reason for your failure to register between the age of 18 and 25.
Selective Service will send a letter of confirmation to you, confirming that you are not required to register due to your age. This letter will fulfill the Financial Aid requirement.
For additional information, please contact Selective Service System at indicated above, or contact the Financial Aid Office at (714) 992-7050, or visit our office.
If you do not have a social security number, you must register at any U.S. Post Office by filling out the Selective Service "mail-back" registration. A male can fill it out (leaving the space for his Social Security Number blank, if he has not yet obtained one), sign it, affix postage, and mail it to Selective Service, without the involvement of the postal clerk.
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| Office/Service | Website URL | Telephone No. |
|---|---|---|
| Americorps | www.americorps.gov | |
| Audio Recording Regarding Financial Aid | www.studentaid.ed.gov/audioguide | |
| Cal Student Aid Commission (Cal Grant & APLE Program) | www.csac.ca.gov | (916) 526-7590 (888) 224-7268 |
| CARE (Book Grants) | http://eops.fullcoll.edu/care.html | |
| Department of Education | www.studentaid.ed.gov www.students.gov |
|
| EOPS (Book Grants) | eops.fullcoll.edu | |
| FAFSA Applications | www.fafsa.ed.gov | |
| FinaidFacts.org | www.finaidfacts.org | |
| Federal Student Aid Information Center/Duplicate Student Aid Report | www.studentaid.ed.gov | (800) 433-9843 TTY: (800) 730-8913 |
| Financial Aid Guide | www.studentaid.ed.gov/guide Paying for College Student Resource Guide |
|
| Financial Aid Information Page | finaid.org icanaffordcollege.com |
|
| Financial Aid Office | financialaid.fullcoll.edu | (714) 992-7050 |
| Foundation Office | www.fullcollfoundation.org | (714) 525-5651 |
| Fullerton College | www.fullcoll.edu | (714) 992-7000 |
| IRS (for duplicate tax returns) | www.irs.gov Get a copy of return |
(800) 829-1040 |
| Loan Repayment | www.studentaid.ed.gov/repayingpub | |
| National Student Loan Data System | www.nslds.ed.gov | |
| Request a PIN | www.pin.ed.gov | |
| Scholarship Scams | www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams | |
| Scholarship Searches | broke scholar www.edfinancial.com fastweb School Soup California Latino College Dollars Directory |
|
| Selective Service | sss.gov | |
| View Award/Tracking Requirements | www.banner.nocccd.cc.ca.us | |
| U.S. Department of Ed | www.ed.gov | (800) 433-3243 |
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If you were not successful in getting your questions answered, more answers are available by visiting edquestion.com or by calling or visiting the Financial Aid office.
NOTE: At the Financial Aid Office, we believe that the more you know the more you will benefit, which is why we provide you with answers to the most frequently asked questions. To find out more about financial aid, feel free to call or visit our department. Remember...the question that is NOT asked is the question that remains unanswered! We are here to help YOU!
