POWERFUL COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAYS WORKSHOP

Description: In this workshop, students will learn to write personal statements to help them get into their match colleges. Using an unique Into, Through, and Beyond method, I introduce the    important steps in writing unique college application essays that reveal students' core qualities and make them pop for admissions readers.  I also introduce strategies for writing the fewest, most effective essays.

Where: 

Little Toyko Branch

Los Angeles Public Library

203 S. Los Angeles Street

Los Angeles, CA 90012

(213) 612-0525

When:

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Time:

2:30PM

If you have any questions, please call Little Tokyo Branch Los Angeles Public Library

 (213) 612-0525

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The California Student Aid Commission has created Web Grants 4 Students (WGS) just for you, the student. The goal is to provide you with the resources, information and tools needed to assist you with the college financial aid process. WGS will allow you to manage your Cal Grant and/or Chafee account(s) online by letting you view updates, make school changes, make address changes, make corrections, and post leave of absence requests. It is important for you to understand that your WGS account does not replace your School or FAFSA accounts. Each account must be monitored and managed independently.

Once you completed FAFSA complete the following steps to check the status of your Cal Grant. If you are unable to create an account, please see Ms. Herrera, in the College Center (D-308).

1.        Login to https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov/logon.asp

2.        Click Create an Account

3.        Fill out your Student Information:

a.        SSN or Dream Act ID

b.        First Name

c.        Middle Initial

d.        Last Name

e.        Date of Birth

4.        Click NEXT

a.        Fill out Student Security Information

5.        Create User ID (Write Down)

User ID: ________________

Password: _______________

a.        New Password

b.        Re-enter Password

c.        Answer all three security questions

6.        Click Exit

7.        Login using User ID & Password

8.        Click on Cal Grant

9.        Click on  View Application Status

10.     On Academic Year 2013-2014 Click Go

Note: Cal grant is calculated on a 4.00 scale to two decimal places (between 0.00 and 4.00). They do not use a weighted scale. The Cal grant uses your sophomore year, the summer following the sophomore year, the junior year, and the summer following the junior year. The high school GPA excludes physical education (PE), Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), and remedial courses. Remedial work is defined as any course that is not counted toward high school graduation. Failing grades must be included in the GPA calculation unless the course has been retaken. For more information, please visit www.calgrants.org

If you have any questions, e-mail them to studentsupport@csac.ca.gov or call 888-CA-GRANT (888-224-7268)

 Deadline: March 2, 2013 

What is FAFSA? The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required to apply for federal student aid, such as federal grants, loans, and work-study. The FAFSA is also used to apply for most states and college aid, in addition to some privates financial aid.

JANUARY 1, 2013 is the first day you can start working on your FAFSA. Although the FAFSA becomes available in early December, no forms are accepted by the Department of Education until after January 1. FAFSA is an important application that you must submit if you are planning to go to any college (community college, four-year college or university, career or technical school, in-state or out-of-state).  You must submit the FAFSA on time in order for the federal government and for your college to determine how much money they can give you to help you pay for your education.

Please note that only U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents can qualify for financial assistance through FAFSA.  Undocumented students must apply for Dream Application at www.caldreamact.org. 

The following steps will prepare you to apply for FAFSA:

1: Collect the following materials for completing the application.

• ÿ       Your social security number. Be sure it is correct! Or your alien registration or permanent resident card (if you are not a U.S. citizen).
•         Your driver’s license (if any)
•         Your parents´ 2012 W-2 Forms and/or other records of money earned.  Also acceptable are your parents’ 2011 or 2012 Federal Income Tax Returns or their last check stubs for 2012.
•         Your current bank statements (if any)
•         Your current business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond and other investment records (if any)

2: Create a PIN

• Create a PIN number for you and another one for one your parents (ONLY IF PARENT HAS A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. If your parents are not residents or U.S. citizens please do not create a pin number for them.  Print a signature page, sign it, and mail it to the address on the page. Your application will be processed once your signature is received.
 

3: Begin the FAFSA application.

1. Login at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
2. Click on Start A New FAFSA
3. Fill in your information (social security number, last name, first name, etc.) Then click NEXT.
4. Click on Start 2013-2014 FAFSA
5. Create a password. Then click NEXT
6. Begin to fill out your information.

NOTE: In the question regarding What is the name of the high school where you received or will receive your high school diploma? Type: Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts.

Dear VAPA family! The official Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is at www.FAFSA.ed.gov – not at a “.com” website. If you go to a “.com site,” you will probably be asked to pay to submit the FAFSA. Remember, the first F in “FAFSA” stands for “free” – so use the official government site to submit your application. Also remember, if you want to apply for federal student aid , you must complete a FAFSA. It’s due on March 2, 2013.

Your PIN can be used each year to electronically apply for federal student aid and to access your Federal Student Aid records online. If you receive a PIN, you agree not to share it with anyone. Your PIN serves as your electronic signature and provides access to your personal records, so you should never give your PIN to anyone, including commercial services that offer to help you complete your FAFSA. Be sure to keep your PIN in a safe place.

Attention Students: Please make sure that you know your Social Security Number before applying for a PIN number. 

The PIN Application Process consists of 4 steps:
                                                Step 1: Enter Personal Information
                                                Step 2: Submit Your PIN Application
                                                Step 3: Receive Your PIN

                                                Step 4: Write down your PIN number in a safe place

1. Login to www.pin.ed.gov
2. Click onAPPLY NOW
3. Click on NEXT
4. Enter  Personal Information

                          Note: Students can create their own pin number

1. Click on NEXT
2. Submit Your PIN Application
3. Click I AGREE NOT TO SHARE MY PIN
4. Receive Your PIN (Please follow the same steps to get your parent’s pin number.  You will only need to create one pin number for one of your parents).

Please note:  If your parents are not residents or U.S. citizens please do not create a pin number for them.  Please see your college counselor Ms. Herrera in D-308, for more information.

The California Dream Act, authored by Assembly Member Gil Cedillo (Los Angeles), became law through the passage of two Assembly Bills, AB 130and AB 131.AB 130 allows students who meet AB 540 criteria (California Education Code 68130.5(a))to apply for and receive non-state funded scholarships for public colleges and universities.

AB 131 allows students who meet AB 540 criteria to apply for and receive state-funded financial aid such as institutional grants, community college fee waivers, Cal Grant and Chafee Grant.

2013-14 Dream Act Application (PDF).

To fill out the California Dream Act Application:

1. Login to http://www.csac.ca.gov/dream_act.asp
2. Click here for the California Dream Act Application
3. Click on START A DREAM APPLICATION
4. Click START A DREAM APPLICATION
5. Click 2013-2014 School Year
6. Begin to fill out your information

Sign-up for a FAFSA Workshop in the College Center  (Office, D-308) and we will help you with California Dream Application! Workshops are available every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday during lunch time.

Cal Grant participating colleges, universities, and career technical schools must meet various eligibility requirements in law to be able to receive Cal Grants. Among those are two new requirements* recently enacted in 2012-13.
1. Schools must keep their federal student loan Cohort Default Rate (CDR) below 15.5%.
2. Schools must keep their graduation rate above 30%.
Schools on this Ineligible Cal Grant Schools list did not meet one or both of the requirements above for the 2012‐13 academic year, unless noted.
For more information on the CDR and graduation rate requirements, visit http://www.csac.ca.gov

Download the Ineligible list Cal Grant School list 2012-2013.

There are now 488 Common Application members in 46 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, and Switzerland. They represent an enormously diverse variety of institutions: small and large, public and private, coed and single-sex, highly selective and relatively open enrollment. However, they all share a commitment to the mission of promoting access through holistic admission.  Please download the Common Application 488 members to make sure your college/university accepts the common application.

1.  Login to www.commonapp.org

2.  Click on Never Registered

3.  Fill out your Personal Information 

4.  Scroll down click REGISTER. Write down your username and password

                   Username: _________________

                    Password:  __________________

5.  Then login with your username and password and begin typing your information

-Before submitting it have Ms. Herrera check it.

-Every school has a SUPPLEMENTAL section that needs to be completed

Remember that deadlines vary from college to college. Make sure to go into the university's website to find out what their deadlines are. Good luck!!!

This workshop is a comprehensive test-prep course, encompassing all three sections of the test: math, critical reading, and writing. We will begin by answering any questions and dispelling all myths about the SAT. Then we'll cover general test-taking tactics, specific strategies for each question type, and ways to approach the essay.

Check out more FREE SAT/ACT/PSAT Prep Classes

Download the 2012-2013 Schedule 2012-2013 Schedule for SAT/ACT/PSAT Prep Classes

Here's a PowerPoint slide show for seniors:

2012-13 College Information

 Greetings VAPA students, parent and friends!

The following Universities/Colleges will be on campus:

FAFSA WORKSHOPS FOR 12th Graders (during lunch time only) Starting January Every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday during lunch time there will be workshops on how to apply for financial aid. 

Every Tuesday students can apply for any Community College during lunch time. Just bring your social security. If you do not have a social security, then do not worry about it.  (12th graders only)

  Students can sign up for these events in the College Center, D-308.