Get needed help by attending this workshop on Tuesday! Graphic courtesy of senior Vyolet Burrus.
As the year comes to an end, San Luis Obispo High School seniors are finalizing their college applications and thinking about financial aid. Tomorrow night, December 2, there will be a financial aid workshop in the library from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Cuesta financial specialists will be there to assist families with Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) applications.
“Completing the form is free and allows you to access financial aid to help pay for college or career school. The application uses information from your tax returns, bank accounts, and other financial records to determine your eligibility for aid,” said College and Career Specialist Colleen Martin.
Undocumented students or those in “mixed-status” families are also eligible for the California Dream Act Application (CADAA), a financial aid application similar to FAFSA. Any information reported for the CADAA is not shared with the federal government.
Even if college applications haven’t been submitted, students should fill out the FAFSA form as soon as possible to qualify for more grants.
“College is expensive and there’s no reason to shoulder the full burden if you don’t have to. Financial aid can cover the gaps you didn’t even realize would hit you later: books, housing, random fees. The earlier you apply, the more options you open up for yourself,” said SLOHS 2025 Graduate Aria Olsen.
Completing the FAFSA is completely free and is the largest source of financial aid for students. By filling out the FAFSA, students may be eligible for the following: federal aid, state aid, institutional aid, campus-based scholarships, and paid volunteer opportunities.
“I realized that completing the FAFSA is required to apply for some scholarships, so completing it is important even if you think you might not be eligible for any financial aid. Without this financial support, I think a lot of us would be screwed,” said senior Ava Rhodes.
For those attending the workshop, it is requested they bring a laptop, their SSN, and 2024 tax documents. Prior to attending, students must also create a FAFSA account.
There will also be other opportunities for seniors to receive help throughout the year. Martin frequently hosts scholarship workshops during tutorials and posts information on the grade Google Classrooms. On December 15, there will be a Senior Scholarship Night hosted in the theater at 5:30 p.m.
“Cast a wide net. Apply for everything that even remotely fits you. If a scholarship description sounds like it might apply, just go for it…you miss one hundred percent of the money you don’t try for,” said Olsen.
Tigers, don’t miss this opportunity to receive help and get questions answered!
Sources: studentaid.gov, csac.ca.gov, casfaa.org
