Too often, current and former foster youth--and their caregivers--assume that enrolling in college is not within their reach because of the cost of higher education. However, if students work hard in school in preparing themselves academically to do college level work, the funding will fall into place!

One of the reasons for this is that current and former foster youth--provided they were in foster care on or after their 13th birthday--file the FAFSA as independent students. As such, the expected financial contribution (EFC) toward college education for foster youth by all institutions is in most cases, zero! That means that colleges and universities attempt to fully fund expenses--the COA ("Cost of Attendance" --tuition, fees, books, housing, food, transportation, and personal expenses) with federal, state, and institutional monies. Although some funding may come from loans (generally, low interest loans that are subsidized by the federal government), most funding will be in the form of grants (e.g. the federal Pell grant and the state Cal Grant) which are "gift" aid. In other words, money that does not have to be paid back!

In addition, students can seek funding from private resources, some of which are listed below. The bottom line is that the cost of a college education is no reason not to go to college.  There are resources available to pay for college, especially for students with full need, such as foster youth, homeless youth, emancipated youth and youth in legal guardianship. Regardless of the COA, every college will attempt to award financial aid to close the gap between cost and the student's ability to pay (the EFC).

The first step in getting money to go to college is to file the FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov). The FAFSA must be filed after Jan. 1 and before Mar. 2, preceding the student's college entrance in the fall term. It is FREE to file the FAFSA and best to submit it online. In the months before filing, the student may register for a PIN in order to file the FAFSA (www.pin.ed.gov), or the youth may register for a PIN when completing the FAFSA. Youth in foster care (at any time since the age of 13), emancipated youth, homeless youth, and youth in legal guardianship will file the FAFSA themselves. Questions 52-57 (in the student "dependency" section)  allow youth to self-identify their status, and proceed with the form without having to submit parental information and thereby file as financially "independent", not dependent. As a result, the information regarding income and assets on the form will be the student's information, not her/his parents' or caregivers'.

In addition to filing the FAFSA, students must submit their GPA verification form to Cal Grant (www.calgrant.org) during the same filing period (between Jan. 1 and Mar. 2) as the FAFSA. Most schools submit this electronically to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). Students should check with their school counselors to ensure that their GPA verification form is submitted by Mar. 2. (Students enrolling in community college have a Sept. 2 deadline.)

Some private universities (e.g. USC) will require applicants to file the CSS (College Scholarship Service) "Financial Aid Profile" in addition to the FAFSA. Neither the CSU nor UC require it. Nor do the CCCs. If a current or former foster youth is applying to an private university that requires the CSS Profile, the processing fee should be waived. Check with each private university to which you are applying to ensure the filing of all appropriate forms. Of utmost importance at all colleges to which you apply is that you file the FAFSA and Cal Grant GPA verification on time.

If you are enrolling at a California community college (CCC), it is very important to apply for the BOGFW (Board of Governor's Fee Waiver) at www.icanaffordcollege.org, after you have filed your FAFSA and applied for admission to the CCC of your choice. The BOGFW waives the fees charged for taking classes. In addition, foster youth, emancipated youth and homeless youth should apply for EOPS at the CCC. EOPS provides all kinds of services (tutoring, mentoring, advising) and support (e.g. money for book purchases). It is essential for foster, emancipated and homeless youth to apply for both the BOGFW and EOPS if going to college at a CCC!

***In addition to being eligible for federal, state, and institutional monies that will be awarded by the colleges to which foster youth are admitted, foster youth have some additional financial resources available to them in particular.

First, eligible current and former foster youth may apply online for the Chafee Grant at www.chafee.csac.ca.gov. Grants are for eligible applicants ages 18-23 for up to $5,000 to assist with college tuition or job training. Youth must have been in foster care at or after the age of 16 to be eligible.

Other valuable sources for scholarship money are as follows: 

• Promises2Kids Guardian Scholars Program (www.promises2kids.org). The Program provides scholarships also up to $5000 per year to former foster youth enrolling in two and four-year colleges. Applicants should apply at the same time as their FAFSA filing (between Jan. 1 and Mar. 2). 
• Just in Time for Foster Youth: www.jitfosteryouth.org (approximate deadline is May 1--check website for updates). Its "College Bound" program provides laptops, printers, school supplies and/or dorm room/apartment furnishings for selected youth.
• Fostering Opportunities Dollars for Scholars: www.mydollar.org (approximate deadline is July 1 for fall semester and October 1 for spring semester--check website for updates). A $500 grant per semester is available to former foster youth enrolling in San Diego colleges or universities.
• San Diego Foundation (http://www.sdfoundation.org/GrantsScholarships/Scholarships/ForStudents.aspx) or call 619-814-1307. The San Diego Foundation is a clearinghouse for a large number of private scholarships, each with different sets of criteria. Scholarship applications may be filed online between Dec. 1 and February 9th (for first-time users). All application  materials are due February 13, 2012 at 5 PM. Check the website for details.
• Change A Life Foundation: http://www.changealife.org/how_to_apply/default.aspx. You may file your scholarship application between Dec. 1 and March 15. San Diego residents with questions may contact Cat Gomez-Holly at cgomezholly@changealife.org.
• Orphan Foundation of America (OFA): www.orphan.org (approximate deadline is Mar. 31--check website for updates). OFA serves foster teens throughout the country and provides college scholarships.
• Gates Millennium Scholars Program: www.gmsp.org (early January deadline for outstanding African American, Native American, Hispanic American and Asian Pacific Islander American students)
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund: www.hsf.net (for Latina/Latino students--deadlines vary)
• UNCF: www.uncf.org (for African-American students--deadlines vary)
• Finally, you may search the internet for other private scholarships by using a free Web-based search engine. Try www.fastweb.com or www.collegeboard.com/pay. You should never pay to find, apply, or receive a scholarship.

Financial aid terms:

FAFSA - Free Applicaiton for Federal Student Aid

EFC - Expected Family/Financial Contribution

SAR - Student Aid Report

CAR - California Aid Report

GPA - Grade Point Average

COA - Cost of Attendance

CSAC -California Student Aid Commission

Grants - awarded based on need; gift aid that does not need to be paid back; may be federal (e.g. the Pell Grant), state (e.g. the Cal Grant) or college money

Scholarships - usually awarded based on talent--either GPA, test scores, leadership, service, personal achievement, or a combination of some or all of these factors; gift aid that does not need to be paid back; may be private or college money

Work-Study - student employment on the college campus where you are enrolled; awarded based on need; money is federal

Student Employment - may be on or off campus job; may be based on need and/or desire to work

Loans - borrowed money that must be repayed, usually with interest. Some loans recieve federal subsidies that defer interest accrual; generally, those loans are awarded based on need

**High-achieving youth in foster care should consider the services of QuestBridge at www.questbridge.org, a non-profit program that links motivated low-income college applicants with some of the best colleges and universities in the country (the "National College Match Program"). They also administer the "College Prep Scholarship" award program.**

Scholarships for Homeless Youth or Previously Homeless Youth:

"Give Us Your Poor" has partnered with the "Horatio Algier Association" to provide scholarships to graduating seniors who are homeless or have been homeless. For additional information, see their webpage: http://www.giveusyourpoor.org/partners/horatio-alger-association.php