Humboldt County Office of Education: Cash for College Workshops

There are four types of workshops that we offer:

FAFSA/CADAA Preparation Workshops

Cal-SOAP visits senior classes to help seniors prepare for financial aid application season by creating their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or CADAA (California Dream Act Application) accounts. Students learn about the different types of financial aid and how to maximize their financial aid opportunities. Seniors should come to class prepared to create their accounts with their social security number if they have one.

In-class Workshops

Cal-SOAP visits senior classes to assist students as they begin their financial aid applications. Seniors should come to class prepared to begin their financial aid applications with their FAFSA or CADAA account logins. Experts will be on site to support students as they begin their applications and to answer any questions they may have.

Cash For College Workshops

Cal-SOAP hosts after-school workshops in partnership with local high schools to support seniors and families as they complete their financial aid applications. Financial aid experts will be on site to support and answer questions, and can assist with FAFSA, CADAA, Chafee, CSS Profile, and more.

NEW! Cash For College now has a virtual option! If you can’t attend any of the scheduled in-person Cash For College events, one-on-one private support sessions are now available on Mondays from 5-7:30 PM via Zoom. Click here to book a session to get expert support completing financial aid applications such as the FAFSA, CADAA, Chafee, and CSS Profile.

Summer Transition Workshops

Cal-SOAP visits senior classes to help students prepare for the summer transition to postsecondary education. Students receive a presentation on summer steps to college and career, review the financial aid application process to ensure they’re on track to receive their financial aid, and complete senior exit surveys.

Please note: All Cash for College Workshops are open to all seniors and families in Humboldt and Del Norte counties. In-class workshops are only for students in those classes.

FAFSA/CADAA Preparation Workshops

• Social Security Number (if you have one)
• Cell phone (if you have one) for account verification
• Access to a personal email address for account verification

In-class and After-school Cash For College Workshops

• Studentaid.gov account login information (for FAFSA Filers)
  • Note: both the student and any parent contributors will need their own studentaid.gov accounts.
• Social Security Number (if you have one)
• Parent contributor information (required to invite parent contributors to the FAFSA form and complete the student section of the FAFSA). Required contributor information:
  • Name
  • Email address
• 2024 tax and income information. Students report their tax and income information in their section of the FAFSA and the contributors report their own information in their section. Students are not required to bring parent tax information to in-class workshops.
• Any records of untaxed income such as child support payments, payments to/from retirement accounts, combat pay, short-term disability, or workers compensation
• List of colleges you’ve applied to or are planning on applying to

1. Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the next academic year at studentaid.gov as early as possible.
2. AB 540 eligible students complete the free, secure online CA Dream Act Application (CADAA) at dream.csac.ca.gov as early as possible.
3. Apply for national & local scholarships.
4. Talk to your family about paying for college. Tell them they can assist you just by helping you complete the FAFSA or CADAA.
5. Create your WebGrants for Students account at mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov about one week after your financial aid application has been submitted. This is where you’ll be notified if you are awarded California State financial aid like the Cal Grant, and where you’ll make sure all your information is up to date so you can receive the State aid you’re entitled to. This account does not replace your studentaid.gov account.