Financial Aid Focus
March 2nd fast approaches--that's the deadline for your FAFSA and for Cal Grant applications here in California. Most of you have probably already gotten your Student Aid Report (SAR) from the FAFSA. The SAR is where you will find the EFC (Estimated Family Contribution)--this is the amount of money your family (you and your parents) will be expected to contribute toward your college education for the year. Make sure you look at the SAR to see whether you are among the families selected to "verify" their FAFSA. If there is an asterisk after the EFC figure, then you will have to submit tax returns and other documentation to the financial aid office of the college that you're going to attend. Even if you're not selected for verification, individual colleges may still ask you to submit tax forms W-2s, etc.