Planning Tools & Resources
Naviance
Naviance is a web-based college and career exploration tool available to all of our students. Students will register during their Freshman year during a Guidance Presentation in the Fall. Students are able to start exploring their options after high school, as early as freshman year. Naviance provides a number of resources in one place, including, but not limited to the following:
- Career and Personality Interest Inventories (Myers-Briggs and Strong) to help you discover potential careers and majors that match your skills and interests
- Career Exploration – job descriptions and summaries, and tools to show you the education, skills, and abilities necessary for thousands of careers, as well as expected salaries.
- Resume Builder - students can start keeping track of their activities in one place.
- College & Major search options that can be tailored to your specifications (location, size, etc.), including links to college websites and information about admissions requirements and deadlines
- Building a college list of schools you may be interested in
- Search for scholarships
- Links to summer enrichment programs
- Email notification of upcoming college representative visits
Logging on to Naviance
Naviance can be accessed from the your Student or Parent page by clicking on the Naviance icon. Students must be logged in to their FUHSD Google Account to access Naviance.
Students and parents each have a Naviance account. Log-in with the e-mail address and the password created. If you forgot the password, follow the instructions on the log-in page.
Direct any questions about Naviance to Ms. Yanez in the College & Career Center or to your Guidance Counselor.
Financial Aid
The best single source of financial aid is through the college where you have applied. Each college has an Office of Financial Aid from which you may request a separate financial aid application. Keep in mind that most schools have a deadline of January or February for these applications if you plan to attend in the fall.
You should also check into the many scholarships that are available from outside sources including your parents' place of employment or private clubs/lodges as well as any outside groups or organizations of which you are a member.
- Help with Financial Aid Resources
- Tips for Parents and Guardians
- Avoiding Financial Aid and Scholarship Scams
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- CSS Profile
- Cal Grant
- Scholarships
- Additional Financial Aid Links
Help with Financial Aid Resources
Attending a college, university, career or technical school can be expensive. About three‐quarters of all students get some type of financial assistance. However, there are many financial aid resources available to achieve your post secondary goals, including:
- Federal or California grants;
- Scholarships through your parents’ employers, religious groups, private clubs, lodges, businesses, foundations, unions, community groups, private individuals, and various organizations. They can be based on such things as academic merit, SAT or ACT scores, competitive essay, field of study, special talent, ethnicity, leadership ability, community service activities, and athletics. Determine what are the terms and conditions to renew the scholarship (i.e. GPA);
- Loans;
- Work study programs; and
- Tuition reimbursement programs from part‐time employers (for example, Bank of America and Starbucks).
It is never too early for you to explore the opportunities for financial aid while in high school. Getting these financial resources requires some research. Most financial aid is based on your need, not your academic performance. Talk to your high school and career counselors for assistance. Some of this financial aid is given on a first‐come, first served basis.
It is important for you to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or other required forms prior to deadline dates. In this way, colleges determine what type of financial aid you are entitled to as well as your family’s contribution. The FAFSA can be filled out online. An on‐line calculator (FAFSA4caster) has been developed to assist families in financial planning for federal student aid (see Web Resources). Colleges offer different packages and amounts of financial aid. Compare the offers of financial aid from various schools. Accept the right one for you. In some cases, it may be possible to negotiate with a college of your choice for a better offer
Tips for Parents and Guardians
Start early to open a tax‐free “college savings account” (529 Plan). Talk to your local banker, credit union representative, or financial planner for details.
Get help from your student’s school counselor about financial aid information. Be sure to attend all financial aid and college programs offered by your high school. Talk to friends and relatives whose children have attended college or vocational schools.
Be careful to meet all deadlines regarding financial information, loans, or scholarships. Missing a deadline may mean not getting well‐deserved financial assistances for your student.
Negotiate with college financial aid officers and loan officers providing assistance. This could reduce the cost of your student’s education. Your financial situation could have recently changed.
Be aware that there may be an Expected Family Contribution. This contribution is calculated by the government using various factors based on your student’s FAFSA. These include looking at your family size, income, assets, age of mother and father, and number of family members in college. The Expected Family Contribution is reported on the Student AID Report (SAR) which is received several weeks after completing the FAFSA. The contribution the same for all schools, no matter what the cost are to attend the school. Be aware that financial need is determined by subtracting the difference between what it costs to attend college or vocational school and what the government determines your family can afford.
Avoiding Financial Aid and Scholarship Scams
If you have to pay to get money for financial aid, it is probably a scam. Every year students and parents are cheated out of more than $100 million dollars. According to the Federal Trade Commission, common signs of a scam which you should watch out for include:
- Companies or organizations using names such as “National,” “Federal,” “Foundation,” or “Administration.”
- “There is a scholarship application fee.”
- “This scholarship is guaranteed or your money back.”
- “You can’t get this information anywhere else.”
- “May I have your credit card number, social security number, ATM pin number, or bank account number to hold this scholarship?”
- “We’ll do ALL the work for you.”
- “This scholarship may cost you some money.”
- “You’ve been selected by a foundation to receive a scholarship,” OR “You’re a finalist” in a contest in which you NEVER entered.
There are numerous free services available online (see Web Resources). Be a smart consumer! Never pay money to get money.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required by both public and private universities and colleges before scholarships or financial aid is awarded. For more information about the FAFSA and instructions, the website is www.fafsa.ed.gov. The filing priority date for most colleges is March 2. Within four weeks of filing by mail and a few days after filing online, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the federal processor. It will list the student’s expected family contribution, or EFC. A standard formula is used to calculate the EFC, based on the information the student provides on the FAFSA. The SAR will also be sent to the colleges you indicated on the FAFSA. The colleges will use the EFC to determine if you will be offered grants, loans, and/or work-study program. The earlier you file a FAFSA, the more likely you are to hear from the Commission early. Since most colleges have a May 1 deadline for intention to register, it is to your advantage to know as soon as possible about financial aid so that you can make an informed decision regarding which college you will attend. You will fill the FAFSA out your senior year in high school.
Ultimately, all financial aid decisions are made by the individual college; therefore, it is necessary for you to work with the financial aid officer at each school to which you are applying. Also, be sure to apply on time.
Complete a FAFSA by March 2
- FAFSA Website
- Register for a Personal Identification Number (PIN)
- FAFSA4caster - early estimate of eligibility for financial aid
- 2017 Financial Aid Presentation
CSS Profile
Many colleges, universities and private scholarship programs collect additional information to assist in the awarding of aid through non-federal financial aid programs. In particular, many private colleges require the CSS/PROFILE in addition to the FAFSA and some require that their own financial aid forms are submitted as well. If you are applying to one or more colleges on the CSS Code List (included in PROFILE registration material), you should complete both the FAFSA and PROFILE.
Please check with individual colleges for deadline dates.
Cal Grant
In addition to Federal Student Aid, California also provides grants. Every high school senior who graduates, meets academic, financial and eligibility requirements, and applies on time, is guaranteed a Cal Grant award to attend college. In other words, this is free money. It costs nothing for you to apply and does not have to be repaid!
Complete the student section on the GPA Verification Form, print it out, get it signed by Ms. Lim in the CHS Main Office, and mail it to the Student Aid Commission on or before March 2.
All Cal Grants Applicants must:
- Be a high school graduate or graduate from high school in 2014
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
- Have a Social Security Number.
- Be a California resident.
- Attend a qualifying California School.
- Meet U.S. Selective Service Requirements, if required
- Be enrolled at least half-time.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
- Have family income and assets below the established figures set each year.
- Not be in default of any student loan.
- Not owe any federal or state grant refunds.
- File the FAFSA and GPA Verification Form by the March 2 deadline.
Important Websites:
California Student Aid Commission http://www.csac.ca.gov/
Cal Grants http://www.calgrants.org/
2014/15 Cal Grant Verification Form http://www.csac.ca.gov/pubs/forms/grnt_frm/gpaform...
Scholarships
Fremont High School’s Guidance Office maintains a scholarship file in the Naviance document library. Contact your Guidance Counselor or College Career Advisor via e-mail if you need your log-in. Each student has a Naviance account and parents can access the information by using their student's log-in information.
- Naviance - look in the document library for a list of scholarships
- Fastweb - national database of scholarships
- Writing Competitions for College Money
- Database of colleges offering merit aid - see details of merit aid programs at any school
Additional Financial Aid Links
- www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college provides helpful information about various ways to pay for college.
- www.finaid.org offers an overall look at financial aid, where to look for it and how to get it.
- www.californiacashforcollege.org lists free Cash for College workshops in your area where you and your parents can get help filling out the FAFSA. You may even win an additional $1,000 scholarship at a Cash for College workshop.
- www.icanaffordcollege.com for information on California Community Colleges and other kinds of financial aid.
- www.edfund.org for planning for college and managing a student loan.
- www.chafee.csac.ca.gov provides information on this exciting opportunity for foster youth and former foster youth.
- www.californiacolleges.edu makes finding and applying to a school in California a no-brainer.
- www.scholarshare.com provides valuable information about college savings opportunities.
- www.studentaid.ed.gov provides information from the U.S. Department of Education.
- www.going2college.org to learn about the college and financial aid resources available in each state.
- www.latinocollegedollars.org provides a scholarship directory for latino students.
- www.HealthJobsStartHere.com will introduce you to good jobs in healthcare that could be the right fit for you.
- www.whodouwant2b.com helps determine what courses to take in high school and community college.
Student Athletes
The NCAA Clearninghouse
What is the NCAA
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a voluntary organization that governs intercollegiate athletics. The NCAA consists of three divisions:
- Division I - Typically larger schools; Athletic grants-in-aid available
- Division II - Typically small to medium sized schools; Smaller athletic budgets; Athletic grants-in-aid available
- Division III - Typically smaller schools; Grants-in-aid cannot be athletically based
What steps Should students take?
During your Junior Year
- Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center
- Send your SAT/ACT score reports with the (9999) code when you register for your exams
- Test scores reported on transcripts cannot be used
Once you have submitted your materials
- Eligibility Center staff performs evaluation on your materials
- Compares courses on transcript to courses on high school’s list of NCAA courses and inputs those that match
- Inputs grade and credit
- Quality control checks are performed
- Computer calculates courses, grades, credits, test scores against algorithm
- Prioritization “Ready to process” with all documents PSAs on an Institutional Request List
- Determines whether or not your are eligible to practice and compete at the collegiate level
What is the NCAA Eligibility Center?
What is the NCAA Eligibility Center?
The NCAA eligibility center certifies initial eligibility for incoming prospective student-athletes (first year students) at the Division I and Division II levels.
Commonly used terms by the NCAA Eligibility Center
- Prospective Student-Athlete (PSA): a student who has not yet matriculated at a college or university and who wishes to participate in collegiate athletics
- Qualifier: PSA who meets all initial-eligibility rules. May practice, compete and receive athletics aid
- Partial Qualifier: Division II only; a PSA who meets some but not all initial-eligibility rules. May practice and receive athletics aid but cannot compete during the first year
- Non-qualifier: A PSA who does not meet the initial-eligibility rules. No practice, no competition and no athletics aid during the first year