Starting this year, and moving forward, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the California Dream Act Application (CADAA), will be opened on October 1 instead of its usual date of January 1. This nation-wide change was made to align with the college admissions application process.
The financial aid application process is often an overwhelming experience for students and parents. To help increase awareness and knowledge, the Skyline College Financial Aid Office provided comprehensive presentations and hands-on assistance in completing the 2017-2018 FAFSA and CADAA during the annual Cash for College events at five local high schools in both San Mateo and San Francisco County. Cash for College events are sponsored by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) and the workshops are free and open to the public. During these events, over 400 students and parents attended and received assistance with completing the FAFSA and CADAA in October.
The Skyline College Financial Aid Office actively works to bring awareness of early submission to the college community through our tabling efforts and informational workshops. The Financial Aid Office continues to provide financial aid application labs every Tuesday from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and every Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to assist with the completion of the application. Financial aid application labs are drop-in and open to the public.
These events were a success thanks to all of the supportive volunteers and staff from the Financial Aid Offices of Skyline College, College of San Mateo, and Cañada College, the Skyline College EOPS Program and Outreach Office, and the San Mateo Credit Union.
Article by Jenny Yang | Photos by Karen Chadwick and Jenny Yang