It's never too early to have the 'money talk.' Paying for college is an important aspect to consider.

 

Check out some of these resources that can help to reduce college costs:

 

- Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) - 

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE, pronounced “woo-wee”) is a regional tuition savings agreement administered by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). WUE enables students from one of 16 WICHE states and territories in the Western U.S. to enroll as nonresidents in 160+ participating public colleges and universities and pay 150 percent (or less) of the enrolling institution’s resident tuition—which annually saves students an average of $9,610 each on the cost of nonresident tuition.

 

- Colleges who meet 100% Financial Need

 

 

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The FAFSA is only for students who are U.S. citizens or Permanent California Residents.  Students who are Non-U.S. citizens can now use a new financial aid application called the CA Dream Act Application.  Only these students can go to www.caldreamact.org and apply for financial aid.  (This is a safe and confidential application and is very similar to the FAFSA and part of the California Student Aid Commission.)  

 

 

CSS PROFILE--- Required by some private universities:

If you are applying to any private colleges, you may need to fill out a CSS PROFILE form at the www.collegeboard.com AND the FAFSA application.  There is a built-in fee waiver on the form. If your college doesn't require a Profile Form, celebrate--that's less work for you!  Otherwise, complete the CSS Profile for each private school you applied to and make sure to meet their DEADLINE.  Each school has a different deadline.

 

You will receive a STUDENT AID REPORT (SAR) from the FAFSA (online in 3 days if you applied online and in a few weeks if you mailed out your FAFSA) and a CALIFORNIA AID REPORT (CAR) from the Cal Grant (through the mail). Check both forms to make sure they are correct and look for the EFC (Expected Family Contribution) in the upper corner of the first page to see how much your family is supposed to contribute towards the cost of your college.

 

If there are corrections to be made, fix them online (for the FAFSA, goto www.fafsa.ed.gov and use your PIN number to access your personal FAFSA; for Cal Grant corrections, use the form they send you with your CAR.)

 

You will receive a FINANCIAL AID AWARD LETTER, from every college you list on your FAFSA that admits you; usually by April.  Compare your award letters to find out if you can afford the college that you want to go to.  You may need to apply for student loans if your family has not saved money for your college education and the free grant and scholarship money doesn't cover all of your expenses.  Send in your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) before May 1st for four-year colleges to let them know that you are going there.

 

Your money from all sources will arrive in an account with your name on it at your college.  The college will withdraw the money you owe them for fees and tuition (and housing if you live on campus) and write you a check for the remainder.