Free Money for College: Cash for College Workshops Help Students Financially Prepare for College

San Jose, California— Local high school seniors attending Cash for College student financial aid workshops are eligible for a $1,000 scholarship raffle.

The California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP) of San Jose, in collaboration with local colleges and school districts, will host a series of 33 Cash for College workshops from January to February 2014 throughout the San Jose area.  High school seniors and college students are encouraged to attend the workshops in order to receive FREE one-on-one assistance with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application.  Additional resources will include information on the Middle Class Scholarship, AB 540, California Dream Act and scholarship opportunities.

“For many low-income families this will be their first experience with the financial aid process, which can be overwhelming,” stated Sonia Ramos, Director of San Jose Cal-SOAP.  “Through the free Cash for College workshops we want to make sure every family is educated about their financial aid options and can successfully complete and submit their FAFSA or CA Dream Act applications, helping them afford college and earn their college degree.”
High school seniors who attend a Cash for College workshop can qualify for a $1,000 scholarship by submitting their FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application, verified Cal Grant GPA and an exit survey by theMarch 2, 2014 Cal Grant deadline. Recipients will be notified in May 2014. The scholarships must be used in Fall 2014 to pursue a 2 year or 4 year degree at an accredited public or private college in or outside California.
Parents and students are encouraged to attend and bring the information listed below for a successful completion of the 2014-2015 FAFSA or California Dream Act Application on-site:
·         Parent’s social security number (if they have one)
·         2013 or 2012 Federal Income Tax Return or 2013 W2 forms
·         Parent’s record of untaxed income (welfare, social security or child support payments)
·         Student’s social security number or Alien Registration Number
·        Student’s Federal Income Tax Return or 2013 W2 forms (if they were employed)
·         List of student’s prospective schools
For the next Cash for College workshop, or to find an event near you, please visit: http://calgrants.org