Financial Aid

Financial Aid applications open on October 1st every year. The priority filing deadline for California students is March 2nd, which will allow you to qualify for Cal Grants. There are two different applications, FAFSA and CA Dream Act. Students will fill out only one of these applications, as follows:

FAFSA - To be completed by US citizens, green card holders, and students holding eligible visas. This application will make students eligible for federal aid and Cal Grants.

CA Dream Act - To be completed by undocumented students residing in California who meet AB-540 eligibility requirements, and will qualify for Cal Grants to help with colleges within California.

Students looking at some private schools and certain out of state public schools may be asked by their schools to complete a CSS Profile application as well. This is not in lieu of FAFSA or CA Dream Act, but would be in addition to that application. The CSS Profile is how certain schools determine their institutional scholarships. A full list of CSS Profile schools can be found on their website.

Please be aware that some individual colleges may have a priority financial aid deadline that is before March 2nd, so always check the information on the financial aid pages for the colleges you’re applying to.

Contact Us

Evestella Hanson
College and Financial Aid Advisor
650-558-2318
ehanson@smuhsd.org
https://bit.ly/Hansonbooking

Ms. Chang
Career Coordinator
650-558-2314
hschang@smuhsd.org
https://bit.ly/Changbooking

College Planning Webinars

Community College to Four Year Transfer Path

Tuesday, April 28, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

SMUHSD invites students and parents to learn more about the community college to four-year transfer pathway.

Tune in to hear from former SMUHSD students who will be sharing their experiences navigating the community college system, and who transferred (and graduated from) different UC campuses.

Check in with the College & Financial Aid Advisor at your school site with any questions!

Zoom Link: https://smuhsd-org.zoom.us/j/91823819014

Free Camp College Workshops

Join the Western Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC) on Wednesdays this summer and fall for the return of Camp College.

This seven-session virtual bootcamp for college applications is FREE and open to all high school counselors and students in the graduating class of 2027.

Reserve your spot now for this informative series specifically curated to maximize each step of the application journey: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8Rod86sBRderH-J29qUIxA#/registration

2026 Dates:

All sessions are held on Wednesdays from 4 - 5 p.m.