Financial Aid 101: the basics

By Lili Jimenez, Special to the On-Line Forty-Niner

Monday, January 25, 1999

Financing an education isn't easy.

Many students postpone going to college simply because they cannot afford it. Others bare the burden of working at a full-time or part-time job in order to pay for books and tuition.

But there is help for those who are strapped for cash.

Financial Aid Director Gloria Kapp, along with her administrative staff, assists students through the process of applying for federal funds each year.

Sharon Teran, a student at Cal State Long Beach, is a first-year recipient of financial aid.

"If it wasn't for financial aid, I would have to postpone my education," Teran said.

The process takes one year to complete and reach eligibility for the following academic year, Kapp said.

To determine financial aid eligibility, a "standard needs analysis system" is used. The system allows the financial aid office to decide the ability of each family to contribute toward attending CSULB, according to the university catalog.

According to the financial aid guidelines, there are several factors considered for eligibility such as parental contribution, the applicant's or the spouse's contribution from employment, savings, a portion of assets and other resources.

The amount of units a student is enrolled in each semester is also a factor of eligibility for financial assistance.

"Sometimes keeping twelve units each semester is hard," Teran said, "but you have to do what you have to do."

Once a student is considered eligible to receive financial aid, the student is sent a financial aid offer letter from CSULB financial aid office, which needs to be signed and returned for the process to continue, Kapp said.

They must make satisfactory academic progress toward a degree by earning credit for units attempted each semester and remain within the maximum time frame for the degree program in which the student is enrolled.

Along with federal help, there are other options to choose from to finance an education such as loans.

"With my loan I am able to pay for school and not worry about paying anything until I graduate," she said.

Other financial aid programs include federal work-study, university scholarships, student part-time employment and cooperative education.

For more information concerning any of the programs available to help fund a CSULB education, one may contact the Financial Aid Office at (562) 985-5541.