FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Download a handy graduation checklist.

The Fulfillment Fund offers many resources for students in high school and college. Some, like scholarships and internships, are only available to Fulfillment Fund students. However, many more are available to the general public. Take a look!

FEATURED WEBSITES (These links will take you outside the Fulfillment Fund website.)
Californiacolleges.edu - if you are a California student, you can explore college and plan what high school classes you need to take to get there.
KnowHow2Go.org - this helpful site offers tips, resources and checklists for high schools students at each grade level, to make sure you are on track to graduate and go to college.

Other helpful links for preparing for college:
www.kaplan.com
www.collegeboard.com
www.ets.org
www.collegeview.com
www.ucop.edu/pathways
www.csumentor.edu
www.commonapp.org
www.act.org
www.review.com
www.myroad.com

FINANCIAL AID - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. How can I finance my education?

There are many options for funding your education. There are scholarships, grants, loans and work-study. The way to get started is to complete and mail a Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA). You can get an application from your high school college counselor, local college, or public library. You can also call 1-800-433-3243 to request an application. You may also apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Four weeks after you have sent in the FAFSA (or earlier), you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail. Verify that all the information is correct, and keep a copy for your personal use. If further information is requested, or any information reported is not correct, make any changes and send the corrected SAR back IMMEDIATELY. Financial aid is on a first-come first-serve basis. If you don't send this form back, you could lose the opportunity to receive financial aid if you miss the deadlines.

Here is a website to help you complete the FAFSA:
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

2. How does financial aid work?
The U.S. Department of Education has the following major student financial assistance (SFA) programs:

• Federal Pell Grants

• Stafford Loans

• PLUS Loans

• Consolidation Loans

• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOGs)

• Federal Work Study

• Federal Perkins Loans

Grants are financial aid you don't have to pay back.

Work Study lets you work and earn money to help pay for school.

Loans are borrowed money that you must repay with interest.

Undergraduates may receive grants, loans and Federal Work Study.

Graduate students may receive loans and Federal Work Study, but not Federal Pell Grants (except, in some cases, for attendance at a post baccalaureate teacher certification program) or FSEOGs.

Not all schools participate in the SFA programs. Also, not all schools take part in all the programs. To find out which programs (if any) are available at a particular school, contact the financial aid office at that school.

3. What is a financial aid package or award letter?
You'll usually receive an award letter in the spring containing a list of the types and amounts of financial aid and a deadline for responding to the letter. When you apply to more than one college, your financial aid offers often vary. Each college may not be able to meet 100% of your financial aid eligibility with student aid. Be sure you understand each offer before accepting it. Contact your financial aid office with any questions. Don't be shy - it's your future!

Evaluate each offer carefully. Do a side-by-side comparison to determine what it will cost you to attend the school. Your family's out-of-pocket costs will differ from college to college because both student budgets and financial aid offers vary.

Keep in mind you don't have to accept your entire student aid package. If you don't accept the loan portion, the financial aid office usually won't be able to increase any grant funds. Let your financial aid administrator know if your resources or expenses change, both before and during the school year.

4. What will be expected of my parents?
The information you provide on your FAFSA is used to estimate your expected family contribution or EFC - the amount of money you and your parents could reasonably contribute toward your education. Keep in mind that your calculated EFC may not be what you and your family end up paying. This is because your college's student budget contains reasonable expenses, not your actual ones. Also, not all colleges will be able to meet 100% of your financial need. Sometimes students and parents are surprised or dismayed when they are asked to furnish personal financial information to obtain financial aid. Please understand that most or all of the data is sought from you to meet requirements of the federal government and to insure that the financial aid programs are administered fairly for all students. In addition to a financial aid application, you may be required to provide federal tax returns for the student and the parents.

Have your parents attend financial aid meetings held in your school district to learn more about the basic types of financial aid and how to obtain assistance. In California, college financial aid professionals expect the current financial aid system administered by the state and federal governments to stay the same in the coming years. So, it is useful to know how the financial aid system works.

Other organizations, such as corporations, labor unions, professional associations, religious organizations, credit unions and non-profit organizations, also award financial aid. You and your parents can find out about the availability of such scholarships by contacting someone from the specific organization or by directly contacting its main headquarters.

Helpful links about financial aid:
College Board
http://www.collegeboard.org

Financial Aid Information Page
http://www.finaid.org

FastWEB Scholarship Research
http://www.fastweb.com

National Association for College Admission Counseling

U.S. Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/index.html

Fulfillment Fund Scholarships
Scholarships are only open to students who completed at least two years in the Fulfillment Fund Mentor Program or High School Program. Learn more about scholarships. If you are a Fulfillment Fund student, please contact us for assistance.