Cash for College

Go to college. Empty your pockets. That’s the way it seems for most students and would-be students.
     But on the night of February 23, 2010, Modesto Junior College held an event known as “cash for college” to show students that there is money to be had for education.
    The main purpose of this seminar was to assist high school seniors and recent graduates in filling out FASFA applications by going through the process step by step. FASFA stands for free application for federal student aid which is a service for college students where they can receive free money to help pay for college. Elida Miranda, a financial aid recruiter, gave a power point presentation on the all the functions of the FASFA website and how to fill out the forms.
The application process is free.
      “If you end up at the website where they want to charge you eighty bucks then you’re in the wrong place,” Miranda proclaimed.
   Although the application process is free, students must meet a certain criteria in order to receive financial aid; requirements include:
• Must be a U.S. citizen
• If you are a male between the ages of 18 and 25 you must be registered for the Selective Services
• Applicants must be in financial need
• Obtained a high school diploma or the equivalent
• Must be making satisfactory progress; a C average or better
• Must be eligible for a degree program, whether it is an AA, AS, transfer pattern, etc.
• Anyone under the age of 24, unless under special circumstances or have a child and/or spouse that receives most of their support from you, has to provide parent’s information regardless of whether they live with their parents or not
     For financial aid there are many types of assistance:
• BOG (board of governors fee waiver); if a student falls under a certain income bracket he/she can get reduced tuition costs
• Grants; free money that does not have to be paid back
• Work study,  which allows the student to work for the college to help cover costs
• Student loans; borrowed money that has to be paid back
     March 2, 2010 is the deadline to get full funding for the Cal Grant, a grant which students can get anywhere from $955 to $5500 pending on their needs. Students who wish to apply for financial aid can visit http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. MJC’s financial aid office is located on the West Campus, 2201 Blue Gum Ave. (not a mailing address), in the Yosemite Hall building. There they have trained professionals who can assist with giving out all the proper forms and where to go to start or complete the application process.

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