MYTH 1: Applying for financial aid is hard and takes a lot of time.

FACT: Completing the FAFSA or CADAA takes less than an hour, and there is a lot of help available to walk you through the process. Every year CSAC and our partners hold hundreds of Cash for College workshops to help students just like you apply for financial aid and get the help needed to pay for college.

MYTH 2: I already applied for financial aid last year, so I don’t have to apply again.

FACT: Students should apply for financial aid every year they plan to be in college. If you plan to attend school next year, you should complete the FAFSA or CADAA for the following year as soon as it is available.

MYTH 3: I have to wait to decide what school I will attend before I apply for financial aid.

FACT: Students start to apply for financial aid and to colleges at the same time, which is usually in the fall of their senior year of high school. This allows the school of choice to put together award packages more quickly.

MYTH 4: If I complete FAFSA, I have to take out loans.

FACT: Completing the FAFSA does not mean you are required to take out loans. You may be offered loans as part of an aid package; however, you can decline them as they do require repayment.

MYTH 5: I don’t want financial aid because I have to pay it back.

FACT: Financial aid includes many programs you don’t have to pay back after you finish your certificate or degree, including grants, scholarships, and tuition waivers.

MYTH 6: My family makes over $100,000 so I’ll never qualify.

FACT: 80% of students who apply get some form of aid, so it’s worth it to apply. California has aid programs with income ceilings for the middle class.

MYTH 7: I’m applying to a trade school/career certificate program/technical college, so I won’t get financial aid.

FACT: California has specific aid programs for students attending career or technical training programs and students apply for them by completing the FAFSA or CADAA.

MYTH 8: I’m a part-time student so I won’t get financial aid.

FACT: Many part-time students receive financial aid! Financial aid can be adjusted based on your enrollment status.

MYTH 9: I’m going into the military, so I don’t have to apply.

FACT: Even if you think you’re headed for the military, it’s free to apply for financial aid, which can be a backup in case your plans change. It’s good to keep your options open.

MYTH 10: I can’t apply because my parents don’t file taxes.

FACT: Some parents are not required to file taxes because they don’t have enough taxable income. Parents can also report their taxable income manually if they haven’t filed taxes; however, if a parent has enough taxable income to meet the IRS threshold for filing, the parent will need to file taxes for the student to be considered for most forms of aid.

MYTH 11: I don’t have the grades or GPA to qualify for financial aid.

FACT: Many financial aid programs are needs based only, which means your GPA or grades don’t matter. If you have financial need, you can get financial aid.

MYTH 12: I can’t apply now because if I transfer, I won’t qualify for aid.

FACT: Many students start at one school and then transfer, and they can take their financial aid with them.  Financial aid follows a student, not a school, so you can use it at whatever campus you are attending; however, you cannot use it at two campuses in the same semester.

MYTH 13: Community college is free, I don’t need to apply.

FACT: You do need to apply. The FAFSA/CADAA qualifies you for tuition waivers that make community college free.

MYTH 14: There’s no financial aid for community college so I won’t apply.

FACT: There’s a lot of financial aid for community college students, including tuition waivers, Cal Grant, Students with Dependents awards, and other grants and scholarships.

MYTH 15: I’m able to pay for community college and I don’t want to use up any financial aid since I’ll need it when I transfer to a four-year university.

FACT: There are unique financial aid programs at community colleges that are only for community college students. Students worried about programs with lifetime eligibility can speak to a financial aid counselor at the community college to make sure they are not using future eligibility.

MYTH 16: If I receive financial aid, it will take funds away from other students who need them.

FACT: There are some programs with limited funds; however, there are also many federal and state financial aid resources that are unlimited for all students who qualify.

MYTH 17: My family receives SNAP/CalWORKs/WIC and I don’t want them to lose their benefits because I get financial aid.

FACT: Student financial aid typically does not affect eligibility for public benefits assistance.

MYTH 18: My parents are undocumented and afraid that sharing their information with the federal government will be used against them.

FACT: The U.S. Department of Education does not currently share parent information with any other federal agency; however, these rules could change. In California we have strong data protection policies and laws, and we’ve made the California Dream Act Application available for students with undocumented parents to apply for state aid and aid from the college you attend.

MYTH 19: I’m undocumented and/or don’t have a Social Security number so I can’t apply for financial aid.

FACT: Undocumented students can apply for state aid and aid directly from a college in California using the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) – CADAA is a safe way to apply for financial aid.

MYTH 20: I do not qualify for financial aid because I am not a Dreamer and I’m not eligible for the DACA program.

FACT: You do not have to be a DACA student to apply for state financial aid using the CADAA.

MYTH 21: If I submit a CADAA now I cannot file a FAFSA later in the same year.

FACT: Students who choose to file a CADAA first have the opportunity to file a FAFSA later.

Resources to Help You Better Understand Financial Aid

Looking for more guidance or details on a specific type of financial aid? Plenty of free resources can help you better understand financial aid, including:

• StudentAid.gov (information on federal loans, grants, work-study programs, and more)

• NerdWallet (information on private student loans)

• Fastweb (a great resource for finding scholarships)