Applying for Financial Aid

Prospective students who wish to apply for financial aid must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the GPA Verification Form (for Cal Grant consideration) between January 1 and March 2, 2008. By mid-January 2008, all fall 2008 applicants will receive a packet from the University containing financial aid information and application materials — including a FAFSA and GPA Verification Form.

The online or paper application for undergraduate admission should be submitted during the appropriate application filing period — November 1–30, 2007, for applicants for fall 2008. Students who wish to be considered for need-based as well as honorary scholarships also must submit the FAFSA between January 1 and March 2, 2008.

Campuses have different standards for awarding scholarships, require different supporting documents for scholarship consideration and have different deadlines for submitting supporting documents. This information is included in the Campus Scholarship Requirements section of the Application for Undergraduate Admission and Scholarships.

Students who file the FAFSA and GPA Verification Form between January 1 and March 2, 2008, and who submit any required supporting documents by the deadline specified, will receive all financial aid for which they are eligible. Students who submit the FAFSA after March 2 will receive aid only if funds permit. Students who submit the FAFSA and/or GPA Verification Form after March 2 will not be eligible for the Cal Grant.

Students applying for admission to terms other than the fall should be advised that they must file the FAFSA and GPA Verification Form between January 1 and March 2, 2008. Otherwise, they will not be eligible for the Cal Grant and will receive other forms of aid only if funds permit.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used by all public and most private colleges and universities in California to determine the amount of aid for which a student is eligible. In addition, it serves as the application form for the Pell Grants and — along with the GPA Verification Form — the Cal Grants. For more information about Cal Grants, visit the California Student Aid Commission website.

Students interested in obtaining Stafford loans must also file the FAFSA, although they do not need to demonstrate financial need for an unsubsidized loan.

If a student has filed for financial aid while in community college, he or she may be able to file the shorter renewal form online by going to www.fafsa.ed.gov and choosing "Fill out a renewal FAFSA."

Supporting Documents

Applicants for financial aid should be aware that independent students and parents of dependent students may be required to submit a certified copy of their federal income tax returns to verify the information provided on the FAFSA.

A student who has attended another college or university may be required to have the financial aid office at that school submit a financial aid transcript to the Financial Aid Office at the UC campus he or she plans to attend.

Independent Status

The Financial Aid Office at each UC campus uses the information provided on the FAFSA to determine whether an applicant is dependent on his or her parents, or is independent (self-supporting) for financial aid purposes. Parents of dependent students are expected to contribute to their child’s educational expenses. The same “definition of independence” is used for University programs, Cal Grant Programs and federal programs. The definitiongrants independent status to students who meet one of the following conditions:

• Are graduate or professional school students;
• Are orphans or wards of the court;
• Are veterans of the United States Armed Forces;
• Are married (the state of California and the University of California — but not the federal government — treat students as married if they are in a registered domestic partnership);
• Have legal dependents other than a spouse; or
• Are 24 years or older by December 31, 2008. Students who do not meet one of the above conditions and wish to be classified as independent will have to provide proof of their self-supporting status. Consult with a financial aid office representative about this issue.

Checklist

Applicants for Honorary Scholarships

• Submit Application for Undergraduate Admission and Scholarships November 1–30, 2007.
• Provide required supporting documents by campus deadlines.

Applicants for Financial Aid and Need-Based Scholarships

• Submit Application for Undergraduate Admission and Scholarships November 1–30, 2007.
• Provide required supporting documents for scholarship consideration by campus deadlines.
• File FAFSA and GPA Verification Form January 1–March 2, 2008.
• Provide required supporting documents for financial aid consideration by campus deadlines.