Step 5: Financial Aid

When: January 1 through March 2 of your senior year

What to do:

• Attend your school’s financial aid night in January to receive information to file in your FAFSA.
• Visit CaliforniaColleges.edu for information about financing your education.
• File your application online (www.fafsa.gov) for financial aid as early as possible (January 1–March 2).
  • Your parents can use last year’s income as an estimate if taxes have not yet been filed.
  • Be sure to obtain a pin number — one for you and one for your parent(s)/guardian(s) — before January. To get a pin number, go to www.pin.ed.gov.
  • Take care to follow all instructions when completing the applications.
  • Attend "Cash for College Saturdays" if you need help in completing and filing your application. Ask your counselor for details.