How to apply for a Cal Grant
Students who have been California residents may be eligible
for a grant from the State of California, otherwise known as
a Cal Grant. Currently, the Cal Grant provides up to $9,708
in tuition assistance. Eligibility is based upon several factors
including demonstrated financial need and grade point average.
If a student is a California resident, the College will project
his Cal Grant eligibility as part of his financial aid package.
If the student fails to apply for a Cal Grant, or applies too
late, he may be responsible for paying that portion of his tuition,
room and board that would have been paid by the Cal Grant. As
a consequence, it is extremely important that California residents
submit the necessary paper work by March 2, 2010.
The steps for applying for a Cal Grant are laid out in detail
in the GPA
Verification Form published by the California
Student Aid Commission (CSAC). The GPA Verification Form is available through CSAC's website
at www.csac.ca.gov. Click on "Publications" then on
"Cal Grant GPA Requirement."
In short, it takes two forms to apply for a Cal Grant:
- A FAFSA must be submitted to the federal processor
by no later than March 2, 2010. The FAFSA should be filed
as early as possible after January 1st so that necessary corrections
can be made prior to March 2nd.
- A GPA Verification Form must be submitted
to CSAC by no later than March 2, 2010. The GPA Verification
Form can be filed as soon as the forms are available in
the preceding fall:
- Incoming Freshmen and returning Sophomores in 2010-11:
Since you have fewer than 24 college credits from Thomas
Aquinas College as of March 2010, you must submit a high
school GPA or a qualifying GPA from a prior college. Some
schools will do this electronically for you.
- Juniors and Seniors in 2010-11: Since you have
more than 24 college credits as of March 2010, Thomas
Aquinas College will submit your college GPA electronically
on your behalf by March 2, 2010.
File early, make photocopies of all submissions
and request a "Certificate of Mailing" ($1.15)
from the Post Office when mailing the FAFSA, GPA Verification
Form or any related item. If you transmit your FAFSA on-line,
print a copy of it and print a copy of it and a copy of the
Submission Confirmation Page.
We cannot over emphasize the importance of keeping a copy of
both the FAFSA and Cal Grant GPA Verification Form
and obtaining evidence that both were transmitted or mailed
by March 2nd. Each year one or more of our California students
need to document for the State that they submitted the appropriate
forms on time.
CSAC specifies that Cal Grant applicants who do not have a
grade point average from a high school must provide an ACT,
SAT or GED test score in lieu of a GPA. CSAC defines "high
school" as a secondary school accredited by the Western
Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) or another regional
accrediting association if the secondary school is not in the
WASC region, or a school that has a University of California
approved course list.
Home-schooled students must submit an ACT, SAT or GED test
score in lieu of a GPA unless the student has been part of an
independent study program administered by a high school as defined
above. In this latter case, the high school, not the
parent, must complete the GPA Verification Form.
Are you wondering if your Cal Grant GPA has been received by
the Commission? If you have filed a 2010-2011 FAFSA, you can
go on-line and check the status of your Cal Grant application
by logging on to www.webgrants4students.org
and creating an account.
If you have any questions regarding the Cal Grant program,
please call Thomas Aquinas College's Financial Aid Office at
(800) 634-9797, extension 5936 or call the California Student
Aid Commission at (888) 224-7268. Either office will be happy
to help you.
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