Application Process
What you need to know about the financial aid process
Prepare
Learn about federal student aid programs and what's available to you. You can use FAFSA4caster to increase your knowledge of the financial aid process; become familiar with the various types of federal student aid that are available; and investigate other sources of aid, such as grants and scholarships. You can also find out about our programs in detail from one of our publications, Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid. The guide tells you almost everything you need to know about federal student aid, as well as other means of paying for your education after high school. Take what we say to heart... and then take it to the next step.
Federal Student Aid PIN (Personal Identification Number) A PIN lets you electronically sign your online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), make corrections to your application information, and more - all online. For faster processing, you (and your spouse or parents, if required) may "sign" the FAFSA electronically with a PIN. Go to FAFSA website for more information or to apply for a PIN now.
Financial Aid Forecaster - FAFSA4caster The FAFSA4caster provides students with an early estimate of their eligibility for federal student financial assistance. Students considering furthering their education beyond high school can use this FREE tool to:
- Calculate their eligibility for federal financial aid, including grants
- Reduce the time it will take to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the qualifying form for all federal student financial aid
Apply
This step is where many deserving students falter, either because they assume they won't qualify or because the FAFSA may seem complex and difficult to complete. FAFSA4caster provides an opportunity for you to become familiar with many of the questions that are asked on the FAFSA, and you can use the FAFSA4caster to practice answering the questions online.
When to file the FAFSA
File each year as soon as possible after January 1 for the upcoming academic year. If you have not
completed your tax return, you may estimate on the FAFSA and make corrections later
The FAFSA website has many resources to help you file the form correctly. Using the online
application is significantly faster and more accurate than using the paper application
**CSUSB's School Code is 001142. Enter this number on the FAFSA where indicated on the application.
2012-2013 Financial Aid Workshops
| Day | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Jan. 6, 2012 | 9 - 11 am | Library - PL 1108 |
| Tuesday | Jan. 17, 2012 | 6 - 8 pm | Library - PL 1108 |
| Saturday | Feb. 4, 2012 | 10 am - 12 pm | Library - PL 1108 |
| Wednesday | Feb. 15, 2012 | 6 - 8 pm | Library - PL 1108 |
| Thursday | Mar. 1, 2012 | 2 - 4 pm | Library - PL 045 |
