What YOU Need to Know About YOUR FINANCIAL AID at SF State!!

1. What YOU Need to Know About YOUR FINANCIAL AID at SF State!! Nancy Jodaitis Financial Aid CounselorScholarship Specialist/AB 540 Counselor San Francisco State University

2. FAFSA & CA DREAM FACTS • Students HAVE to Do It Every YEAR! • Should be completed in January or February • Recommended to Sign App with P.I.N. • Completing Application is only the FirstStep • Financial Aid Eligibility is Based Primarily on Last Year’s Income, Investments & This Year’s Household Size • If Household Income Changes, Contact the Financial Aid Office after June 2014 to see if eligibility for need-based aid could change.

3. How Does My Financial Aid Get Calculated??? Financial Aid Offer

4. What Does Financial Aid Pay For?? • Tuition (paying your classes, gym, health clinic, student services & fun activities!) • Where You Live (at home, in the dorms, your own apartment) • School Books & Supplies • How You Get Back & Forth to School (BART, bus, car & parking costs, bike, walk) • Personal Expenses (Educational Related Costssz)

5. THINGS Financial Aid Usually Doesn’t Cover • Housing Deposit (due with License) • Books Options Before First Disbursement • SF State Program ~ BayBucks • Financial Aid CANNOT Release Until One Week Before School Starts Each Semester.

6. How FINANCIAL AID Works WHEN School Begins, If Financial Aid is ALL IN ORDER $$ comes to the School Tuition & Other Fees (Dorms, etc) are DEDUCTED $$$ BALANCE Goes to STUDENT and/or PARENT OR $$ Student pays OUTSTANDING Fees Prior to First Day of Classes

7. GRANTS = Free $$ to STUDY! • Federal Grants: • Pell • SEOG • State: • Cal Grants A & B • State University (CSU) • EOP Grant

8. Federal STUDENT LOANS • Subsidized Loans: • Gov’t Pays Interest While You’re in School • 3.8 % Interest • Maximum Amount ~ Freshman: $3,500 Sophomores $4,500 Jr/Seniors $5,500 • UNSubsidized Loans: • Interest Accrues While You’re in School ~ We recommend you pay interest & it’s tax-deductible • 3.8% Interest • Maximum Amount for Dependents: $2,000

9. Federal PARENT LOANS • Based on CREDIT ~ 6.41% Interest Rate • Parent Must complete ALL three steps AFTER July 1st: 1) SF State Parent Plus form 2) Apply at studentloans.gov 3) Complete Master Promissory Note • Parent Must Be APPROVED & Interest Accrues While Student Is in School • Maximum Amount: Difference Between Student Financial Aid & Cost of Attendance • If Parent Declined, Student Can Increase Unsubsidized Loan $4,000 ~ Contact School for Instructions

10. FEDERAL WORK STUDY • Need-Based Aid that You EARN • Great Option for PT job at School • Get Connected to Staff/Faculty on Campus • Can Work as a Tutor with America Reads • Is Not Counted as Income on FAFSA if you Indicate it is Work Study

11. Cost of ATTENDANCE orESTIMATED COSTS for SF State 2014-15SF State • Tuition $6,464 • Room & Board $13,052 • Books & Supplies $1,826 • Transportation $1,496 • Personal Expenses $1,364 • TOTAL $24,206 COA is found on your award letter & financial aid website

12. MARCH 2ND !*!*! REALLY!

13. College Student Undergraduate Federal/State Financial Aid Programs

14. For CAL GRANTS:www.csac.ca.govCreate an account at WebGrants4Students

15. Check your CAL Grant status and Make SURE the Proper School is Listed

16. Becoming an AB 540 Student • Allows certain categories of non-resident students to pay in-state tuition fees • Must file AB 540 affidavit & present official CA high school transcripts to be exempt from non- resident fees • Requires 3 Years of CA HS & Graduate from CA High school or Equivalent. (Citizens & Non-Citizens) www.sfsu.edu/~finaid/ab540

17. Where Do I Get INFO/HELP with My Financial Aid?? • FAFSA www.fafsa.ed.gov • CA Dream Application www.caldreamact.org • SF State Financial Aid Website www.sfsu.edu/~finaid • SF State Gateway Student Center www.gateway.sfsu.edu

18. Figure out YOUR Budget… Do You NEED LOANS? • Tuition~ Has to Be Covered FOR SURE! • Books~ Project Connect Book Loan? Rental? Half.com? • Transportation ~ (Plane, Train, Car or Bus Pass) • Example: BART from Fremont to Daly City = $12 Roundtrip • School 3xs week = $36 for 15 weeks= $540 per SEMESTER!! • Dorms or Housing~ HOW MUCH is IT? Monthly Payment Plan? Do You Have to Pay a Deposit? • Personal Expenses ~ Educational Expenses, Computer, etc.

19. Financial Aid Office at SF State • Experienced Counselors Available Visit or Call with Questions ~ BE PROACTIVE! • OneStop, Student Services Building, Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00 • By Phone: M-F 9:00 to 4:30 415.338.7000 • Via email: finaid@sfsu.edu

20. Key Times to Check Financial Aid Status • FAFSA or DREAM website • Check Two Days After Applying • SF State Student Center gateway.sfsu.edu • March ~ Income Verification or Documents • Mid-April ~ To View Award • PRIOR to Your Student Orientation • Right Before Fee Payment Deadlines • Fall: Early July & Mid August for Fall • Just Before Classes Begin

21. Student Center – TO DO List

22. To Do List ~ Income Verification

23. Verifying Your Income for FAFSA • Students randomly selected by FAFSA to verify income • Student/Parent completes Income Verification Sheets AND USES the Data Retrieval Tool at www.fafsa.ed.gov OR If student or parent cannot use data retrieval tool, then Parent & Student must submit Tax Return TRANSCRIPT from IRS, if taxes were filed. 1040 TAX RETURNS ARE NOT ACCEPTED!

24. 14-15 Dependent Student Verification Form

25. Verification of Family Household Size

26. Parents Who are Tax Filers

27. Parents Who Don’t File Taxes

28. Student Tax Information

29. The IRS Data Retrieval Tool is accessible through the FAFSA website http://www.fafsa.ed.gov

30. “Financial Information” Section of FAFSA How the questions under the “Financial Information” section are answered, determines whether you can use the tool. Data Retrieval Tool is AVAILABLE for BOTH Parents & Students

31. “LINK TO IRS” • If you are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, you will be prompted to: • Enter your FAFSA Pin • Number • 2. Select Link to IRS

32. FAFSA – IRS Data Link • After you are connected to the IRS.gov website: • Review your tax information for accuracy • Select the appropriate box below. • Select Transfer Now. • You will then be returned to the FAFSA website. • Your Data will now be transferred to your FAFSA Please sign with FAFSA PIN & resubmit your FAFSA to complete the process.

33. Print Tax Return Transcriptfrom www.irs.gov

34. VIEWING Your Financial Aid AWARD Student Center ~ www.gateway.sfsu.edu Will BE Available to VIEW in Mid to Late APRIL

35. MOST Common Reasons Financial Aid Award Could be Delayed • Not Formally Admitted to the School • Invalid FAFSA: Discrepancy with Name, Date of Birth and/or Social Security Number • Financial Aid File is INCOMPLTE: • Didn’t sign FAFSA or DREAM App • Specific Documentation Needed (Foster Youth, Marriage or Birth Certificate, etc. ) • Selected for Income Verification

36. Handle Your BUSINESS!*! • Check your Financial Aid Status at www.gateway.sfsu.edu • SHARE Responsibility with Your Parents to ensure everything is in order. • BUDGET Your Money! • Take Advantage of all Resources Available! • Ask for Help if you Need it!

37. SCHOLARSHIPS Looking for Scholarships • Scholarships for Grades, Community Service, Your Major, Geographic Area, Ethnicity & MORE! • Apply for AS MANY AS POSSIBLE! • Apply Early ~Majority of Deadlines are Jan – June • Use a Scholarship CHART Writing the Essay • Tell Your Story! • One Good Essay can be the Base! • Write & Re-Write Your Essay! • Work Your Chart!

38. IDENTIFYING AS MANY SCHOLARSHIPS AS POSSIBLE!@!

39. SCHOLARSHIP CHART TO ORGANIZE YOUR EFFORTS

40. Make A Friend In Financial AID!! SF State Office of Student Financial Aid OneStop, Student Services Building, Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00 By Phone: M-F 9:00 to 4:30 415.338.7000 Via email: finaid@sfsu.edu