Help Applying For Scholarships, Paying For College |
We’re excited to share these upcoming scholarships with students residing in the North region of CA! Whether you’re ready to start the application process today or not, the Let’s Go team advises that you save these opportunities and get connected with the organizations who allocate these funds to further support your education.
As always, good luck with the process! If you have any questions or would like to access additional scholarship opportunities, follow us on Instagram @gotocollegeca
Dare To Dream Scholarship
Each year the Dare-to-Dream Scholarship Program provides higher education funding opportunities for a number of current or former foster high school graduates and GED recipients in VOA’s service areas. Scholarships are given to former foster youth who are motivated to attend college in order to build emotional, financial and social security.
Eligibility:
- Current or former foster youth living or have lived in Northern California
- Be a 2023 graduating high school student or has already earned a high school diploma or GED
- Accepted or expects to be accepted to an accredited 4-year college/university, community college or vocational program
- Current GPA of 2.0 or higher
Deadline
April 14, 2023
Chicana Latina Foundation Scholarship
Each year, CLF selects 40-45 students to be part of the Leadership & Scholarship Program. As a recipient, awardees will participate in a year long program in the following ways:
- Awardees will attend all Leadership Institute sessions in August 2023 and February 2024
- Awardees will receive a scholarship of $1,500, which is split into two payments.
- Awardees will be invited to attend the Annual Award Dinner in January 2024.
- Awardees will act as CLF Ambassador for 10 hours during the 2024 Application cycle by completing outreach on their campuses
Eligibility:
- Self-identify as a Chicana and/or Latina
- Be enrolled in an accredited college, university, or community college in one of the following California counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, San Francisco, Sonoma, or Yolo
- Commit to attending the CLF Leadership Institute Sessions & CLF Annual Awards Dinner
- Commit to volunteering 10 hours as a CLF ambassador before March 2024
Amount Awarded
$1,500
Deadline
March 31, 2023
10,000 Degrees Scholarship
10,000 Degrees proudly provides scholarships to students with significant financial need who exhibit a strong desire to go to college and accomplish their educational goals. Scholarship recipients will receive one-to-one support from trained Fellows who provide the student with ongoing mentorship both on campus and off during their entire college journey. After a student graduates, they will also have access to Career and Alumni Success services, and will be invited to stay connected to 10,000 Degrees through their Alumni LinkedIn group and Young Professionals and Alumni Council networking group!
Eligibility:
- Must demonstrate financial need in pursuit of your first associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, teaching credential, or certification for a technical program
- Must be enrolled in 12 academic units or more
- Must be a student in the Bay Area: Marin, Sonoma, San Francisco, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Napa, and Lake counties.
- Must have completed either the FAFSA or the California Dream Act Application
Amount Awarded
$1,500
Deadline
Rolling-basis until all funds are distributed
Don & Roy Splawn Scholarship
The Don and Roy Splawn Charitable Foundation West Scholarship Grant Program is open to financially disadvantaged students who wish to further their pursuit of post secondary education; whether it be of an academic or vocational nature.
Eligibility:
- Must be a High School Senior
- CA resident
- Must demonstrate financial need
- Must have a 2.6 GPA and above
- Must engage in paid or unpaid Community Service Extracurricular Activities
Amount Awarded
$200 – $2,000
Deadline
April 9, 2023
Paying For College |
For many students, college is an investment in their future. Along with the costly price of tuition many students have to juggle the cost of living. Students are expected to supply their own textbooks for their classes, many of which come at a heavy expense. However, not all textbooks must be fresh off the bookshelves. There are various ways students can save money on their textbooks all while being sustainable.
One way to save money on textbooks is to utilize campus resources. One crucial library resource is the online databases available to students. They can be an excellent digital resource to find books and sources for school. Another alternative when utilizing the library is renting books. Both of these are great options to save money while being sustainably smart. Library resources may vary from campus to campus.
A great resource when trying to learn on a budget is networking! It is always great to make friends in all your classes. Students can split the cost of a book for the class among each other. This way students can also take turns sharing the books in between assignments. Students can print specific pages for certain assignments and share online access to their books. Making friends can be beneficial, especially if you have friends who have previously taken the class and no longer have a need for the textbook.
A reliable online resource for textbooks is Amazon. Sometimes books will be found cheaper on Amazon, if that is the case most campus bookstores will price match and students can either choose to buy from Amazon or their campus bookstore. There is also a renting option for some books on Amazon where students can rent the book of their choice for a set period of time.
Yet another way to save money on textbooks is opting for the electronic version of textbooks. The digital versions of textbooks are often the most up-to-date versions, cheaper and sustainable. In addition to the perks of digital textbooks is the convenience of being on the go.
There are various apps that offer students great alternatives to a cheaper and sustainable way to get textbooks for college.
ECampus is a great app for students looking to save money on used, rented, and new textbooks. It also offers students a way to rent their own textbooks after they’re done using them.
Campus Books offers students a way to compare textbooks prices across various platforms.
Chegg is a great resource for finding books as well as getting access to books digitally.
There are various expenses college students have to juggle. Textbooks can be one less financial stress through cultivating these resources. Not only are these great alternatives for pricey textbooks, but it’s also a great sustainable way to help the environment.
Financial Aid For Undocumented Students |
NORTHRIDGE, CA- The California Dream Act was enacted in July 2011. Its purpose is to serve the undocumented community. It is meant to aid those ineligible for the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA). Thanks to the Dream Act, undocumented students no longer have to put higher education in limbo because of financial restraints. The application process could be a difficult journey but with the right resources and guidance, undocumented students can successfully apply to their dream school.
When applying to college there are various outlets of financial assistance one can seek. For undocumented students, however, the search for financial aid looks a little bit different. Eligibility and financial requirements when filling out the Dream Act can be verified through the Immigrants Rising website.
The application for the Dream Act can be found on the CADAA website. Changes to the application are made every year so it is important to actively keep up with the most recent modifications. Among those changes are an updated user-friendly website and mobile look. The new application takes after FAFSA’s simplistic look Student’s can refer to — for updates on the application on @CAstudentaid.
Laws supporting the undocumented community include AB540, SB68. AB540 is a California law enacted in 2001 intended to allow eligible students to pay in-state tuition at community colleges, California State Universities (CSU’s), and Universities of California (UC’s).
SB 68 is an expansion of AB540. SB68 allows students to count their years in a community college or adult school and have them count towards their eligibility requirements for AB540. Requirements can be verified through the Immigrants Rising Quick Guide to SB68.
There are various financial aid resources available to the undocumented community in addition to the Dream Act like scholarships and grants! California students can turn to Cal Grants for extra financial aid. Eligible students can apply for a Cal Grant through the CA Dream Act. For more details visit Immigrants Rising checklist for the CA Dream Act and Cal Grant.
To keep up with scholarships, grants and deadlines follow our @gotocollege Instagram page to stay connected!
Career & Early Adulthood |
You see it all the time on movies and TV! People go shopping and pull out their nice sparkly credit card to pay for the charge, but what exactly is it? Credit cards are actually a staple in adult finances. Read below for more on what credit cards are and why they matter!
Q: What is a credit card?
During a transaction, a credit card will work the same as a debit card. Both cards have a 16-digit number, a security code, and an expiration date; however, the mechanics behind them are different.
While debit cards withdraw your own funds from the bank, credit cards draw from a loan. This “loan” is called your credit line. Banks will approve you for a certain loan amount and this loan is the maximum the bank is giving you to spend. If your credit line is $500, then you can only use $500. If your credit line is $1000, then you can only use $1000.
Because the money is not yours, you have to pay the money back month-to-month. Most banks have a listed minimum payment amount. For example, you may have used $300 of your $1000 credit line, and you’re required to make at least a $35 payment each month. The minimum payments vary from bank to bank.
Notably, credit cards charge you an interest rate. Because the bank is allowing you to use their money, they will charge you interest to make more money back. If your interest rate is 10%, then if you use $100, you have to pay the bank back $110 ($100 + $10 for interest).
There are different types of credit cards. Some are specifically meant for college students! As you grow older, you will have options to cards that are specific to travel, rewards shopping, and more.
Q: Why should I get a credit card?
Importantly, credit cards can help build and increase your credit score! A credit card is a perfect way to show lenders that you are a reliable consumer through on-time payments and credit usage.
If you pay your credit card bill every month on time, your credit score will go up! If you pay more than the minimum payment each month, your credit score will also go up!
Additionally, using only a portion of your credit limit is extremely beneficial! Financial experts recommend using only 30% of your credit limit. This indicates to other lenders that although you have access to more money, you do not need to use it all. So if you have a $1000 credit limit, it is recommended that you only use a constant $300. If you use more than 30%, your credit score may decrease, but if you manage to keep it at 30% or lower, your credit score will go up!
Q: Who can get a credit card?
There are a few requirements for a credit card. You must:
- Be at least 18 years old. At this age, you must have a reliable source of income (your financial aid counts);
- Have a social security number. If you are a DACA recipient, you can use the SSN assigned to you to apply;
Applications will then ask for other basic information such as your residence, birthdate, and more. Note that some banks may require that you have a co-signer. A co-signer is someone who becomes responsible for your debt if you cannot pay it back. If you miss your credit card payments, then the co-signer begins to be charged and becomes liable for the debt.
After submitting an application, you will know if you got approved or not within a few business days. Some cards let you know if you got approved instantly!
Q: How do I get a credit card?
The first step is choosing a credit card to apply to. Because we are not financial experts, we cannot recommend specific cards; however, there is plenty of information available online. Some cards are specifically designed for college students. While your credit limit may be lower, it will have more advantages for college students such as easy approval or no yearly charges.
Google, “best credit cards for college students,” and choose according to what you think is best! Remember that this is a huge financial decision and can impact you negatively if you get rejected. First, make sure that you can prove you have access to financial aid. A work-study or part-time job will always be a plus! If you have not worked for a few months anywhere, you should wait until you have a longer history of income. Credit cards are a safer option for people who have been working for at least a year or two.
Follow the links below for more resources on credit cards! Please remember that we at the Let’s Go team are not financial experts. More individualized advice is required by experts.
Financial Aid For Undocumented Students, Paying For College, Student Loans |
Background
The creation of the California Dream Loan was first introduced by then-Senator Lara back in 2014. Then in 2018, Assemblymember Ian Calderon introduced AB1895 and it was signed by the California governor. AB1895 provided repayment programs based on someone’s income for the loan. The latest piece of legislation signed by Governor Newson was SB354 by Senator Maria Elena Durazo which expanded the Dream Loan program to graduate students.
How to apply and know you if are eligible
Students are eligible if they are enrolled at a CSU or a UC where the loan is currently being provided and they are enrolled as an AB540 student. Students may also be eligible if they file the California act application with the financial aid office and show that they are in financial need. Students need to keep in mind that the loan is provided on a main campus basis so they have to make sure to talk to their campus because it is not administered by anyone else.
Important details about California Dream Loans
- The interest rate that you agree upon in your contract can not change, it is a fixed interest rate and the interest rates are the same as federal student loans.
- Just like federal student loans, you have a six-month grace period before you have to pay it back.
- There is an income-based payment program that schools have come up with. This is based on what you are making as someone who has entered their career and are you eligible to repay this program.
To learn more about CA Dream Loans click the video below!
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