Hands-on FAFSA Workshops Help Get Students Aid

Students can participate in a series of two-hour workshops through the end of February designed to help them complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form as the priority March 2 deadline to apply for financial aid in the 2015-2016 academic year approaches. Five remaining workshops will be held on designated days between Saturday, Jan. 24, and Friday, Feb. 27 with application by the March 2 deadline a goal. Students may file FAFSA applications after March 2, but those who file by this date increase the likelihood of receiving maximum consideration from all sources of aid because some program funds are limited. Additionally, students should ask their current schools to submit their verified grade point average to the California Student Aid Commission by March 2 to be considered for a Cal Grant. The workshops are provided by the Cal State San Bernardino Financial Aid office and will give students hands-on assistance in completing the FAFSA. Information on the California Dream Act for undocumented students will also be provided. Computer stations and wireless Internet connection for applicants bringing laptops will be made available. The workshops will take place at CSUSB's Pfau Library, room PL 1105 and are: • Saturday, Jan. 24, 9 to 11 a.m. • Saturday, Feb. 7, 10 a.m.to noon • Wednesday Feb. 11, 6 to 8 p.m. • Monday Feb. 16, 9 to 11 a.m. • Friday Feb. 27, 2 to 4 p.m. Students should bring, if applicable: • A copy of their 2014 Federal Income Tax Return (1040) or W-2 forms; • Information on any untaxed income received; • Information on savings, investments, and other asset information; • A copy of their Social Security card; • A copy of alien registration/permanent resident card. The workshops are free and no reservation is required. On average, California State University undergraduates in need of financial assistance receive grants covering 100 percent of tuition fees if they are either dependent undergraduate students from families with incomes less than $70,000, or independent undergraduate students with family incomes less than $20,000. Students with higher income and dependent students with higher family incomes may still qualify for many forms of aid, including grants, scholarships, work-study and subsidized or unsubsidized loans. After filling out their FAFSA forms online, students may transfer their application data from CSUMentor’s transfer module directly to the U.S. Department of Education’s FAFSA website. Students may also obtain paper copies of the FAFSA from any high school, college or the financial aid office of the nearest CSU campus to submit by mail, or go directly to the U.S. Department of Education’s financial aid website. The FAFSA needs to be filed every year a student wishes to be considered for financial aid. Four key steps for CSU students to complete to see if they are eligible to receive a financial aid package include: estimating financial aid eligibility; filing a FAFSA form with the federal government; research the types of financial aid available in the meantime while the federal government reviews FAFSA applications; and the last step is checking for errors and submitting corrections to their school's campus financial aid offices once students receive their Student Aid Reports. For more information, visit the CSUSB Financial Aid website or call 909-537-5227 for updates.