Get Free Cash for College!
SEPTEMBER 27, 2021 -- Parents and students can significantly reduce the cost of college attendance by taking advantage of free Cash for College workshops beginning this October.
The Central Coast Cal-SOAP Consortium at Allan Hancock College and Cuesta College are co-sponsoring a series of in-person and online Zoom workshops to help students and parents complete and submit financial aid forms that could result in students being awarded thousands of dollars for college.
There will be a total of 40 workshops from October 2021 through February 2022 throughout Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Spanish-speaking staff will be available at all locations. Students and their parents can choose to take these free workshops in-person or online via Zoom. The free workshops are intended for high school seniors and their parents. For an online Zoom session, make an appointment at the following link: https://www.hancockcollege.edu/calsoap/workshops.php. For in-person assistance no appointment is necessary, however students will be helped on a first-come, first-served basis. The application process takes about one hour to complete and we encourage students to only bring one parent.
At each workshop, staff will be available to help students fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), a California Dream Act application and the Allan Hancock or Cuesta College admission application. Students will also be able to apply for state and federal grants, including a Cal Grant, which offers cash for college and does not have to be repaid.
Students and parents can attend any of these workshops, even if the workshops are not held at the high school campus they currently attend. Current Hancock and Cuesta students can also attend the workshops to renew their FASFA applications.
Students can find the free FAFSA application online at studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa and the California Dream Act application at www.caldreamact.org. The Cal Grant GPA verification form is available at www.csac.ca.gov, but students should check with their high school counselor before submitting the form. Because counselors are required to complete part of this form, some high schools may submit a Cal Grant GPA verification for the student. Both forms must be postmarked and sent to the California Student Aid Commission by March 2, 2022.
To view a list of all workshops dates and to sign up to attend, visit https://www.hancockcollege.edu/calsoap/workshops.
Those planning to attend a workshop should bring the following information and items with them:
- Completed income tax forms from 2020 for parents and high school seniors, including W2’s packet
- Student’s and parent’s Social Security Number (if available)
- Records of untaxed income such as welfare benefits (optional)
- Social Security benefits, or child support payments
- Bank statements (optional)
- Business records (optional)
- Permanent resident or DACA card (if a student is not a U.S. citizen)
- A list of colleges the student is interested in attending
In addition to grants, the FAFSA and California Dream Act applications may also provide an opportunity for low-interest loans. Current high school seniors, college students and any adult 18 years of age or older interested in attending college should apply to be considered for grants and scholarships.
For information about the local workshops, email Diana Perez at dperez@hancockcollege.edu, or call the Central Coast Cal-SOAP office at 805-922-6966 ext. 3710, or toll-free 1-866-DIAL AHC (342-5242), ext. 3710. To learn more about Cal-SOAP visit www.hancockcollege.edu/calsoap.
For additional information on Cal Grants, log on to http://www.calgrants.org or call toll-free 888-CA-GRANT (224-7268).
- AHC -
Photo Caption: Parents and students can significantly reduce the cost of college attendance by taking advantage of free Cash for College workshops beginning this October.
