SBHS Counselors

Financing Higher Education:

Financial Aid is assistance provided to students from a variety of federal, state, local and college sources.
Starting in your junior year, talk to your counselor, ask parents to check with employers and labor unions, go to a library and look at scholarship, grant and student aid directories, and search the net.
Obtain and read the Student Guide: Financial Aid from the US Department of Education. Copies are available at the counseling office.
During the admission process, find out what each school requires in order to apply for financial aid. Even at similar colleges in California, requirements and deadlines are not the same. Schools outside the state will have their own financial aid application process.
To apply for financial aid, you must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Copies are available in the counseling office. DO NOT FILE BEFORE JANUARY 1 OF YOUR SENIOR YEAR.
Many schools and scholarship programs also require that you complete the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Financial Aid PROFILE application. The financial aid section of your college application booklet will indicate whether a PROFILE is required, how to secure a copy (by December), and when it is due (Jan/Feb.) Request a copy from the Counseling Office. Dates vary with colleges: check your application.
Most financial aid applications also require letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, employers, or volunteer agencies. Request these early enough to be received by the deadline.
Make and keep copies of all financial aid forms. If forms are lost, the financial aid office will allow you to submit a duplicate form if you have a receipt. Certified or registered mail or an overnight express delivery service may delay processing of the application.
Request a certificate of mailing (.55cents) from the post office when sending forms.
Mail applications early enough to arrive at the financial aid office by the deadline.
Most students receive their aid in a combination or package comprising loans, grants and work study.
The terms scholarship and grant are now used interchangeably They are categorized as either need (financial) or non-need (honorary). A need based scholarship/grant is awarded after evaluation of academic records, promise, and financial need. A non-need based scholarship/grant is awarded on merit alone. Neither requires repayment.

Rule of thumb: Apply for everything and let the sponsoring agency determine if financial need exists. The pool of candidates changes each year. To apply for both Federal and State aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The California priority deadline is March 2. The FAFSA is available from the Counseling Office starting in November. Do not file earlier than January of your senior year. Be prepared to supply additional materials, such as your family's income tax returns, directly to the school.

Sources Of Financial Aid

Federal Government Aid:

Pell Grants: ranging from $400 to $2,400 awarded to undergraduate students with financial need who are attending an eligible college or vocational school at least half-time.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG): ranging from $100 to $4,000 per academic year awarded to students who have needs beyond that fulfilled by the Pell Grants.
Perkins Loans: low interest loans (5%) awarded to students who demonstrate need. The annual loan limit is $3,000 for undergraduate students and $5,000 for graduate students.

Work Study: program which assists students to find jobs and subsidizes their wages; awarded to students with need.

California State Government Aid

Cal Grant A: ranging from $594 to $5,250 to help low-income students pay tuition and fees.

Cal Grant B: ranging from $300 to $1,410 to help very low-income students pay for living expenses and sometimes tuition/fee help. Tuition/fee awards are the same as Cal Grant A.

Cal Grant C: ranging from $594 to $2,890 to help students attending vocational schools pay tuition and training costs.

Federal Stafford Loans: (Administered by the California Student Aid Commission) these loans are for undergraduate, graduate, vocational, or professional students who demonstrate financial need. Students may borrow $2,625 for each of the first two undergraduate years, and up to $4,000 annually through the fifth year. Maximum undergraduate borrowing may not exceed $23,000. Interest rate does not exceed 9%.

Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loans: (Administered by the California Student Aid Commission) these loans are for students who are ineligible for some or all of a subsidized Federal Stafford Loan. These loans are not need based. Interest payments begin immediately after the loan is disbursed, or the interest may be added to the amount owed. Regular repayment begins six months after the student ceases to be at least a half-time student.

Your College

Most colleges do award scholarships and loans to students who have financial need. Students should obtain the college's own scholarship applications and complete them before the deadline. Request application forms when you send your applications for admission.

Private Individuals, Corporations, Foundations

Many private organizations such as private clubs, parents' employers, corporations, and private individuals award scholarships and loans. Check with the counseling office, career center, and your parents for such opportunities.

Local Sources

Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara Foundation:

Scholarship and loan programs for local students: Awards may be used at approved vocational schools, 2-year colleges and 4-year colleges. For questions on either Foundation's student aid programs or for financial aid advice, call the Scholarship Foundation office at 965-7212. (The Scholarship Foundation administers both foundation programs).

Eligibility for Scholarship Foundation programs: students must have attended at least grades 11-12 at a Santa Barbara County high school. Eligibility for Santa Barbara Foundation programs: students must have attended at least grades 7-12 at a Santa Barbara County high school.

General Scholarship and Loan Program

Applications are available in the counseling office or at the Scholarship Foundation office from October 1- January 20. Deadline is normally January 31, of that school year. Interviews are required in the month of March. Awards based on financial need.

Santa Barbara Foundation Fleischmann Award Program: applications available in the counseling office or at the Scholarship Foundation office from October 1 - November 15. Deadline is normally November 15, of that school year. Selected interviews are required in December. Awards based on academic excellence (3.8 unweighted GPA minimum) and community service.

Scholarship Foundation Honors Award Program: applications available in the counseling office or at the Scholarship Foundation office from October 1 - November 15. Deadline is normally November 15, of that school year. Selected interviews are required in December. Awards based on a very high level of academic excellence.

Scholarship Foundation Art Competition Program: applications available in the counseling office or at the Scholarship Foundation office from October 1 - January 20. Deadline is normally January 31, of that school year. Awards based on a judged art competition.

Santa Barbara Foundation Pillsbury Music and Creative Writing Scholarship Program: Applications for creative writing scholarships are available in the Fall, and applications for music scholarships are available in the Spring. For the Pillsbury programs only, call the Santa Barbara Foundation at 963-1873 for questions.

Santa Barbara High School Resources:

Santa Barbara High School receives flyers on available scholarships and posts them in the counseling desk. Scholarship information is published in the bulletin as it arrives in the Counseling Office. The Career Center offers a personalized computer printout of numerous financial aid sources in addition to numerous college catalogues and their financial aid packages. An expert financial aid team visits all economics and government classes in January.

When Is Financial Aid Offered?

All forms should be signed and returned, indicating whether you accept or reject the award. You may accept part of a package rather than the entire offer. Realize, however, that if you do reject the loan portions of the package, the financial aid office will seldom be able to increase the size of your grants in the future. If your financial circumstances change, either before or during the school year, report the changes in resources or expenses to the financial aid office. Your award may be changed accordingly. Failure to report changes, especially in resources, may cause problems. Some colleges permit students to trade work aid for loan aid or loan aid for work aid. Ask your college's financial aid office how payments will be made to you.