Hello Class of 2024 families!

Over the winter break, the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) opened and are now available to submit. The FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for a variety of aid including federal, state, and school-based, as well as grants and scholarships. Please use THIS CHECKLIST to ensure that you are prepared to fill out FAFSA or CADAA, starting with obtaining an FSA ID, which is needed by both student and parent.

The sooner you complete the FAFSA or CADAA the better, as some aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit Studentaid.gov to begin the FAFSA application or visit Dream.csac.ca.gov to begin the CADAA application.

*Connect HS is hosting a hand on FAFSA/Dream Act workshop on our campus, where an El Camino College financial aid rep will be here to answer your financial aid/FAFSA/CA Cream Act questions, help you fill out the applications, and submit that night! This is taking place on Connect HS’s campus on Tuesday January 23rd, time TBD, but it will have a start time of either 5pm or 5:30pm and run for one hour, for your planning purposes. Will send another post when start time is confirmed. Please RSVP HERE so we know how many computers will be needed.*

FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION WORKSHOPS

• The California Student Aid Commission is hosting various online Financial Aid Workshops to help with applications. Check out their free resources and sign up for a free webinar HERE.
• Da Vinci School Counselors usually host a Parent Financial Aid Workshop Night in which we cover the steps of filling out the FAFSA. Our Parent Financial Aid Workshop Night will happen this semester and we are working on finalizing a date. Expect an update soon! Please note this is separate of than the hands on workshop on Jan. 23.

Please share them with the yearbook staff to be featured in the Yearbook! Scan the QR code in the flyer to upload!

Check out the scholarship available through the ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY, INC. – SIGMA ETA ZETA CHAPTER. Please click on the link and then “scholarships”, or CLICK HERE to access the form to fill out directly.

As you may know, November 30th was the application deadline for UC applications and most CSU applications. However, there are a number of CSU campuses that are continuing to accept applications and a list can be found here.  Students can also apply to UC Merced until January 15, 2024. 

Other highlights: 

• Community College: applications are open! Most students who have El Camino College on their college list completed their application during their advisory class.  In the spring, we will take prospective seniors to El Camino College to help them complete the enrollment process. If you haven’t finished filling it out and/or need help, please see Erin!
• Private Universities: Many seniors submitted their applications during the months of November and December.  Some seniors are still working through their private university applications via the Common App. and will continue to do so until early 2nd semester for those universities that have a later deadlines.
• University Portals: Once applications are submitted, many universities will require students to create a portal.  Portals are the main method of communication for many universities.  Please encourage your student to keep a close eye on their email, including spam, to access important information from prospective universities.

Financial Aid Update: 

The Department of Education just announced that the FAFSA will be available by December 31, 2023.  We encourage you to create an FSA ID, which allows you to digitally sign the FAFSA, prior to the launch. Both student and at least one parent need FSA IDs. Financial aid updates and resources are below:

• Create an FSA ID – it takes 2-3 to process so creating one now will allow you to start the FAFSA when it opens

• Changes to the FAFSA (video)
• The California Student Aid Commission announced that the California Dream Act Application (CADAA), financial aid application for undocumented students, will be launch at the same time as the FAFSA.
• Complete the CSS Profile,  if applicable.  The CSS Profile is used by private universities.  Here is the list for participating schools. Please check each university’s financial aid website for CSS and FAFSA deadlines as they vary. Ex: USC requires students/families to submit CSS profile.
• Below is a list of scholarships with upcoming deadlines, please check the blog regularly as scholarships are posted here when avaialble:
  1. Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship – due 12/15/23
  2. Edison Scholars – due 1/23/24
  3. Equitable Excellence Scholarship Program– due 12/18/23
• Here are some scholarship databases to search on your own:
  • https://www.chegg.com/Scholarships
  • https://www.unigo.com/scholarships/our-scholarships
  • https://www.fastweb.com/

Deadlines for FAFSA/CADAA:

• University of California: March 2, 2024
• Cal State University: April 2, 2024
• Private Universities: Check each university site as deadlines vary

We know there are a lot of updates and we are here to help!  Please don’t hesitate to reach out for support.

Application for High School Programs

The online application for the USC Summer 2024 Program is NOW OPEN!

USC Summer Programs offers current high school freshmen, sophomore and junior students a preview of “freshmen year” through their college immersion experience. Students explore Los Angeles as a laboratory for cultural learning beyond the traditional classroom. Their programs are designed to combine college level course work, academic field trips, and structured extracurricular activities.

USC Summer Programs offers 4-week courses in a variety of subjects from which students choose one course for intense study. Courses are interactive, engaging, and challenging, and students receive 3 units of transferrable USC elective credit upon successful completion. Students can choose from courses in the following subject areas:

• Architecture
• Business
• Engineering & Info Tech
• Global Studies
• Communication & Journalism
• Performing Arts
• Pre-Health/Science
• Pre-Law
• Writing & Critical Thinking.

To find out more about the program, visit the USC Summer Program website HERE.

Attention Seniors! While the most competitive CSU campus deadline to submit an application for Fall 2024 admission has passed on Nov. 30 (ex: CSU Long Beach, CSU Fullerton, San Jose State to name a few), some of the CSUs have decided to extend their deadlines past Nov. 30! CSUs like Cal State Northridge, CSU Dominguez Hills, CSU Channel Islands, CSU East Bay (to name a few) have new deadlines of mid-January, and some end of January. Please CLICK HERE for a complete list of CSU campuses that are offering extended deadlines. Please note- some campuses’ extended deadlines are only open to certain majors. Please click on the link above to view this info, as well. See Erin if you have any questions!

Thank you to everyone who participated in honoring their loved ones, and adding cempasúchil (marigolds) and offerings to the ofrenda for Día de los Muertos! A special thank you to Senior Aaron Diaz and his mom, Abril, for providing the altar and decorations! Lauren has saved the written names, photos, and other added elements — if you are interested in claiming them, please find her to get them back. ¡Muchas gracias de nuevo!