Financial Aid Office

Apply for Aid

How do I get started Online?

Filling out the FAFSA on the Web is the fastest and most accurate way to start the financial aid process.

1. You will need an electronic PIN number. Apply for one at www.pin.ed.gov .Depending on your dependency status collect a copy of you or your parents current year tax return, Resident Alien number (for non-U.S. Citizens) and school code (Found at www.fafsa.ed.gov. by click on the find my school code button).

2. With your Electronic PIN number sign into the FAFSA website (www.fafsa.ed.gov.)by clicking on the "Fill out a FASFA" button or hypertext located in the center bottom.

3. With the information gathered the prompts guide you through the process. Be prepared to print a copy of your results for reference. For additional question or concerns please contact the Financial Aid office.

Side note: Dependent student is a student who is less than 24 years of age, unmarried, has no dependent children, is not an orphan or ward of the court, not working on a masters or doctorate program, or a veteran of the military which means you will need your parent tax information and for them to obtain an electronic pin number to certify you FASFA.

Which FAFSA form should I use?

First-time applicants

You can apply for the 2007-2008 school year by completing and submitting the 2007-2008 FAFSA.
You should apply through the Internet, using FAFSA on the Web, or you can complete a paper FAFSA. Both web and paper applications are available in English and Spanish.

Renewal applicants

If you applied for federal student aid for the 2006-2007 school year, you probably will be able to file a 2007-2008 Renewal FAFSA. A renewal application may be sent to you in the mail by December, or you may access it at www.fafsa.ed.gov. If you do not receive a renewal by December, you should apply either on-line or use a new FAFSA application.

Is it better to file my FAFSA online?

YES. If you can, you should file your application using FAFSA on the Web.
You will get your results faster than if you mail in a paper FAFSA.
You will make fewer mistakes because the software immediately identifies common errors and allows for on-the-spot correction.
You will be allowed to skip questions that don’t apply to you.
Your data is completely secure.
You will have access to free online help and much more detailed instructions than on the paper FAFSA.
Your application will be processed in one to five days, provided you (and your parents, if applicable) have a PIN and provided electronic signatures. (The paper application, in comparison, takes 4-5 weeks for processing.) Please allow extra time for your school to download your electronic information.

How and when do I get a PIN?

You will need a PIN to electronically sign your FAFSA. Apply for one at www.pin.ed.gov before you start your FAFSA on the Web application.
If you are a dependent student, your parents should also apply for a PIN so they can electronically sign your FAFSA. (Your parents can use the same PIN for all of their dependent children.)
If you provide an e-mail address, your PIN will be e-mailed to you within 1 to 5 days.
If you do not provide an e-mail address, a PIN will be mailed to your permanent mailing address within 7 to 10 days.
Your PIN is confidential and should not be shared with anyone, even if someone else completes your FAFSA for you.
Note: If you submit your application electronically, but don’t have your PIN, you must print a paper signature page to sign and mail. (Processing time for this method is typically 2-3 weeks.) You do not need to renew a pin number. A pin number stays valid from year to year.

What else can I do with my PIN?

A PIN allows you to file your application at your own pace. You can start the process, stop at any time, use your PIN to reopen your file, and complete your FAFSA whenever you want. You do not need to complete the application at one sitting.
With your PIN, you can also check the results of your processed FAFSA.
You can make corrections to a submitted application.
You can print a copy of your SAR (Student Aid Report) information.

How do I mail a paper FAFSA?

You can get a paper FAFSA from your Financial Aid Office, your local high school or library, or from the Federal Student Aid Information Center (1-800-4FEDAID).
Complete the application and mail it in the pre-addressed envelope that is in your FAFSA packet.
Or, before mailing it, you may check to see if your school, or a school that interests you, offers the option of submitting your FAFSA information electronically (which is different from you submitting it over the Internet). Chabot does not currently offer this option.
You must list school codes for the schools you plan to attend.

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Dependency Status

Knowing if you are a dependent or an independent student is essential to determine if you are eligible for financial aid, and which types and amounts of aid you may receive.

The Department of Education believes that the student’s family has the first and primary responsibility for funding a student’s education. Only after the family’s contribution has been determined is financial assistance from the government considered. The definition of “independent” for financial aid eligibility differs from the IRS definition of independent, as well as from the less formal definitions found in society.

How do I qualify as an independent student?

For the 2007-2008 school year, you are considered an independent student if you can answer “yes” to any of the following questions:

Were you were born before January 1, 1984?

Are you married?

Are you or will you be enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program (beyond a bachelor’s degree) during the 2007-2008 school year?

Do you have children who receive more than half their support from you?

Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half their support from you and will continue to receive more than half their support from you through June 30, 2008?

Are you an orphan or ward of the court (or were you a ward of the court until age 18)?

Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces (“veteran” includes students who attended a U.S. service academy and who were released under a condition other than dishonorable)?

If you are independent of your parents, you will report on the FAFSA only your own income and assets -- and those of your spouse, if you are married. (A parent's income or assets won’t be considered for most independent students.)
Note: Not living with your parents does not classify you as independent. Also, unwillingness of your parents or stepparents to provide information does not support an independency status.
(add additional information from d/o request form)

What if I qualify as a dependent student?

If you answer “no” to all of the questions above, you are considered a dependent student.
The following data must be reported on your FAFSA, and it will be taken in account when calculating your expected family contribution, or EFC, toward your education:

Your income and your parents’ income.

Your assets and your parents’ assets, including savings, stocks, mutual funds, college savings plans, real estate investments and trusts.

The age of your older parent.

The number of children and other dependents in your family.

The number of children in college.

Note: If your parents are divorced or separated, read the FAFSA instructions for guidance on which parent’s financial information to report. If that parent has remarried, you must also provide stepparent’s information, regardless of prenuptial or other family agreements.
If you experience unusual and extenuating circumstances, including but not limited to substantial changes in your financial situation, contact the Chabot Financial Aid Office. After review, the Financial Aid Office will decide if the circumstance can be taken into account through an "Unusual Circumstance Review".

How do I change my dependency status?

In unusual circumstances, you may be considered independent even if you answer “no” to all the questions listed above.
To override the dependent status, you must make a compelling case.
You need to make an appointment with the Financial Aid Office and submit a Request for Dependency Review.
Note: Earned income at any level does not constitute an unusual circumstance and does not support an independent status.
Note: Living away from parents does not qualify a student as independent, nor does unwillingness of parent(s)/stepparent(s) to provide information to the student.