After You Apply: Newly Admitted Credential Students

You will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) after your application has been processed. The SAR is a summary of the information you entered on your financial aid application (FAFSA or Dream Act Application). You should review this document for accuracy and follow any instructions provided. Be sure to save, or print, a copy for your records. 

• FAFSA Applicants: Details for accessing, as well as when to expect, your SAR are located on the Federal Student Aid website. 
  
• Dream Act Applicants: Details for accessing your SAR are located on CSAC’s website 

If, after reviewing your SAR, you find an error in the information you submitted, you can make a correction. Note that your financial aid application is a snapshot in time, so you should only be making corrections to mistakes, rather than updating information to match a new circumstance. If you are classified as a Dependent student, both you and your parent will need to electronically sign the correction. 

If you were awarded Cal Grant A or B as an undergraduate, you may be eligible to renew your Cal Grant for up to 1 additional year while enrolled in a teaching credential program.

The additional year of payment may be provided if you are seeking an initial teaching credential but cannot be used for other graduate level courses of study.

Submit the G-44 Request for Cal Grant Teaching Credential Benefits Form
After submitting your FAFSA Application, you’ll need to submit a G-44 Request for Cal Grant Teaching Credential Benefits form to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) at the address on the form.

• Submit your G-44 request after completing your bachelor’s degree and after being formally or conditionally accepted into a teaching credential program.

CSAC and Your WebGrants Account

After you have filed your FAFSA Application, you can go on-line and check the status of your Cal Grant application by logging on to WebGrants for Students and creating an account. This secure site provides you with resources, information and tools to assist you with the college financial aid process. It will also let you view the status of your Cal Grant application, update your address, submit corrections, view your payment history, update your college of attendance, or satisfy outstanding requirements

Creating an Account (WebGrants 4 Students):

Additional documents may be required before your eligibility for aid can be determined, and an official aid offer issued. This process is referred to as verification and is done to confirm the information you submitted on your financial aid application, as well as your eligibility for financial aid. This can be a very easy process – as long as you submit the requested documents & forms – as soon as they are requested. 

If your aid application is selected for verification, we will send you an email, as well as update your "To Do" list on your MyCPP Student Center with the request.   

Notifications of required documents are sent beginning in mid-March. Some examples of information we may need to verify include: 

• Income Information (for you and your parent – if parent information was required)
• Household information  
• Confirmation of Independent Student Status 
• Citizenship Status (for FAFSA Filers) 

To avoid delays be sure to check your MyCPP To Do List, and your email, every week. 

More information about the verification process is availble on our Understanding Verification page.

You will receive a financial aid offer after your file has been completed and reviewed and your eligibility for aid has been finalized. The offer states the types and amounts of aid for which you qualify, and the semester for which the aid can be used. 

Timing of Notifications

We begin releasing Aid Notification emails based on the following schedule:

• Fall semester admits:  Mid-March.
• Spring semester admits:  Mid-October. 

As a newly admitted Credential student, you may receive a Notice of Preliminary Aid Package, which is an estimate of your eligibility for aid. Estimated Aid packages are provided to newly admitted students whose applications require additional information to be submitted and reviewed prior to receiving an official aid package. These estimated aid packages are for informational & planning purposes only; the aid items cannot be accepted as they do not reflect an official offer. 

Remember - we may request additional information from you before we can finalize your aid offer. Be sure to check your email and MyCPP Student Center!  

We understand that there may be circumstances that affect your ability to pay for college, which may not be apparent, based on the information collected on your application for aid. If your or your family’s financial situation has changed significantly from what is reflected on your federal income tax return (for example, if you’ve lost a job or otherwise experienced a drop in income), or if there has been a change to your relationship with your parents, you may be eligible to have your financial aid eligibility reviewed.

Complete the application questions as instructed on the application (including the transfer of tax return and income information, if applicable), submit your aid application, then contact our office to discuss how your current financial situation has changed.

Our team can work with you through the appeal process, which allows us to evaluate the impact of your special circumstances on your ability to pay for college.   

Common reasons for an appeal include:

• Change in Income or Resources
• Death of a Parent or Spouse
• Dependent Care Expenses
• No longer have a relationship with parents

Evaluation Process

Appeals are typically reviewed within 10-15 business days of submission. During busy processing times (such as the summer), it may take longer for your appeal to be evaluated. Once the review is completed, if your appeal is approved you will receive a revised notification of eligibility on your MyCPP Student Center reflecting the changes made to the award. If your appeal is denied, you will receive an email to notify you of the reason(s) for the denial.

Deadline

Three weeks before the end of the academic year. Some funding may be limited so try to submit your appeal as early as possible.