In the wake of recent election results, serious concerns have been raised, especially about data submitted to federal and state financial aid applications. The National College Attainment Network (NCAN) has provided the following guidance for mixed-status families, specifically for contributors without Social Security Numbers. We recommend that students and their families take their time to make an informed decision based on the guidance provided by NCAN, which particularly affects students from mixed-status families. Read NCAN’s full statement.

For students living in California, the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) has shared its own guidance for students from mixed-status families. Please see this link. Given the guidance provided by CSAC, completing the CADAA (California Dream Act Application) is an option for students from mixed-status families, especially those who are not comfortable sharing their information with the federal government. Read CSAC’s full statement here.

Privacy Policies

• Click here for more information on the Federal Student Aid privacy policy
• Click here for more information on the CSAC CADAA privacy policy
• Click here for more information from the Presidents’ Alliance On Higher Education And Immigration regarding Data Protections for FAFSA Information

Additional Resources

• Below you will find the links to the webinar recording, slide deck, and SoCal CAN’s communication principles to help guide your conversation with students:

  • Webinar Recording
  • Slide Deck
  • SoCal CAN’s Communications Principles guide

For more updates, we encourage you to subscribe to the following:

• • First-Gen Empower Newsletter
  • SoCal CAN Newsletter
  • Immigrants Rising Newsletter

Read the latest 24-25 Coach newsletter!

🎯 Monthly Goals 🎯

• Milestone 6: Submit your college applications
• Milestone 7:  Apply for Financial Aid (FAFSA is now open!)
• Milestone 8: Apply for Scholarships

Head over to our College-Ready Milestones page to learn more about available resources and deadlines. 

Resources For January

• Halfway Huddle
• ScholarMatch Advising Playbook (NEW)
• Monthly Scholarship List
• Undocumented student campus resources
• Colleges that meet full need
• American Talent Initiative Schools (ATI)
• Federal Student Aid Estimator
• FAFSA Hub
• A Focus on Improving the FAFSA® Experience
• Common App
• EAB Counselor Account
  • Set up your EAB counselor account, instructions below, and learn more about the EAB Match Reverse Admissions Process here.
  • Visit this page to request your counselo
• About the College Cost Transparency Initiative

Some Recorded Webinars & Training Opportunities!

• How Do They Know What They Don’t Know: This is a great watch (or listen) as you begin to work with first-generation students Led by our coach Amy Lund.
• CollegeBoard College Counselor Guide: A guide for college counselors supporting students through the application journey.

FAFSA Resources Webinar (provided by NACAC)

• FAFSA Fixes & How To Use Them
• Better FAFSA: One Month Out, What We Know

uAspire FAFSA & CSS Support

• uAspire FAFSA Completion Part 1 | Part 2
  • Tools and Resources
• uAspire CSS Profile recording Part 1 | Part 2
  • Tools and Resources

Coach Coffee Chats!

Join us on Thursday, January 9th, 12-1pm (PST) to chat with ScholarMatch staff and other coaches regarding any questions you may have about advising, finding resources, or just for a quick pulse check. Coffee is not required, but we hope you’ll drop-in! We always have these twice a month, so be on the lookout for the next dates!

• Tuesday, January 21st, 3-4pm (PST)

Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship

Applications are now open for the Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship program!
Our team has hosted an information session with Amazon representatives! Watch the recording here! Passcode: %rL.Tn4J

Coach-led Webinars

Reminder that you can find recordings of out Coach-led Webinars in our College Toolkit!

• ScholarMatch Coach-Led Webinar: Supporting LGBTQIA+ Students (Led by Varsity Coach Mel Horadam and Robert Powers of IECs for Human Rights)
  • Passcode: *9rm?f8T
• A Major Decision: Using BigFuture to Explore Majors and Careers Led by Coach Michelle Cosner
  • Passcode: bw&j9L.y
• Balanced College List Building (Led by Coach Hannah Takasuka)
  • Passcode: fFc^9*Wb

If you are interested in leading a webinar, hosting a Q&A, or participating in a panel discussion, we are currently accepting webinar interest forms for the fall.

Webinars to Check Out

• CSAC All-In & Ready Webinar Series
  • Thursday, January 9th, 9-10 am (PST)

• Chutes & Ladders: Research on the 24-25 FAFSA and Updates on 25-26 Webinar
  • Thursday, January 16th, 11-12 pm (PST)

• CSAC All-In & Ready Webinar Series
  • Thursday, January 9th, 9-10 am (PST)

• ScholarMatch & uAspire: FAFSA Follow-Up & Verification
  • Thursday, February 6th, 9-10 am (PST)
• ScholarMatch & uAspire: Financial Aid Offer Review
  • Wednesday, February 26th, 11-12 pm (PST)

Webinar Recordings

• Common App Training for ScholarMatch College Coaches
  • Passcode: *CX4=7ue
• What’s New with the Common App

 UC Resources for counselors

• 2024 Quick Reference Guide
• Counselor resource library
• UC Information Center
• Counselors and Advisers Bulletin archive

First-Year

• California resident first-year application data (fall 2024)
• Presenting yourself on the UC application
• PIQ worksheet (English)
• PIQ worksheet (Spanish)
• UC-CSU comparison of minimum first-year admission requirements (newly added!)

Resources

• Scholarships for Undocumented Students
• NACAC – Enrollment Deadline List
• ACT Academy
• College Application Tracker
• Khan Academy SAT Prep
• List-building resources
• Standardized Testing Guide

FAFSA Resources 

• NCAN
  • NCAN/uAspire Better FAFSA Training 
  • FSA ID Creation Presentation (for those with Social Security numbers) – uAspire
  • 2024-25 FAFSA Checklist
  • Better FAFSA Training Scenarios (From NCAN) – solutions here.
  • Understanding FAFSA Guide (10 languages)
• Webinars (for practitioners)
  • FAFSA Fixes & How To Use Them
  • Better FAFSA: One Month Out, What We Know