List of 3 items.

• How to Apply for Financial Aid

  The Clarity application is at the heart of the financial aid process. This common application is shared by most Bay Area independent schools. For financial aid questions, please email financialaid@college-prep.org or call 510.420.2345. Clarity customer service may be reached at support@clarityapp.com.

  
  

  Step 1:  Complete your financial aid application through Clarity Financial Aid

  • Due January 9, 2024 for new financial aid applicants (due December 1, 2023 for returning financial aid families)
  • Visit the Clarity website to get started on your application
  • The fee to submit your application is $60. Fee waivers are automatically granted to families who qualify. If this fee is a hardship and you do not automatically qualify for a waiver, please contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@college-prep.org.

  Step 2: Upload 2023 Federal Tax Form 1040 to your Clarity account 

  • Due February 23, 2024 for new financial aid applicants (due April 15, 2024 for returning financial aid families)
  • Upload completed 2023 Federal Tax Form 1040 including all schedules, W-2’s, and supporting documents to your Clarity account.

• Financial Aid FAQs

  What are the basics of financial aid at College Prep?

  College Prep financial aid awards are based on an application and supporting tax documents. The Financial Aid Committee then determines each family's demonstrated financial need, which is defined as the difference between what a family can afford to pay and the full cost of College Prep's tuition. 
  
  

  Are there opportunities for merit-based scholarships?

  No, all financial aid at College Prep is need-based.

   

  Who is eligible to apply for financial aid?

  All current and prospective College Prep students are eligible to apply for aid, regardless of their grade level or current financial aid status.

   

  Could the request for financial aid impact my child’s chances of being accepted for admission?

  The school’s financial aid budget is able to meet the need of most eligible applicants. In some years, the outcomes of a small percentage of qualified students may be impacted once the financial aid budget is expended.

   

  If I did not apply or did not qualify for financial aid, can I pay full tuition for a year and then reapply for financial aid?

  College Prep assumes that all students who enroll without receiving financial aid will be able to pay full tuition each year. Unless your family circumstances change significantly while your child is a student at the school, financial aid will not be awarded in subsequent years.

   

  Do I have to reapply for financial aid each year?

  Yes, all financial aid recipients must reapply for financial aid every year. Awards are given for one academic year at a time. A family whose financial situation remains relatively unchanged can generally expect the same percentage of their tuition to be covered by financial aid from year-to-year. For current College Prep families, all future financial aid awards are contingent upon payment of the prior year’s account.

   

  When will I receive a decision regarding financial aid?

  For new students, financial aid decisions are sent alongside admission decisions. This year, that date is March 15, 2024. Returning students receive financial aid awards at the same time they receive their enrollment agreement for the following year, typically in March.

   

  Is there a minimum GPA required to maintain a student’s financial aid eligibility?

  No, College Prep maintains the same standards of academic performance and behavior for recipients of financial aid as it does for non-recipients.

   

  Is my information kept confidential?

  Financial aid applications are only reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee. The school safeguards the confidentiality of financial aid applications, records, and decisions while respecting the right of each family to discuss its own financial aid outcomes in an appropriate manner.

   

  Does financial aid cover non-tuition school fees and other expenses?

  Non-tuition expenses are typically $1,000 - $1,500 annually. Many financial aid recipients can expect to receive about the same percentage of their non-tuition costs covered as their tuition costs. For example, a student receiving a financial aid award equal to 50% of tuition will have about half of their non-tuition expenses paid for by the school. Non-tuition expenses include books, the Intraterm program, and the annual laptop fee, among others.

   

  What information will the Financial Aid Committee need if I am divorced, separated, or do not live with my child's other parent?

  If the student’s parents do not live together, whether separated, divorced, or never married, each parent should complete a separate application that is reflective of their own household and financial picture. If one or both parents has remarried, stepparent information should be included as well.
  
  Clarity calculates each household's ability to pay and College Prep makes an award based on the combined determination of both households.

   

  What if my child’s non-custodial parent is not willing to complete a financial aid application?

  Financial aid is determined by each parent's ability to pay, not their willingness. If the non-custodial parent has little or no contact with their child for a significant period of time, and provides little to no financial support, the requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Financial Aid Committee. In such cases, College Prep requires a written statement from a non-family member (such as a family lawyer, clergy person, social worker, or school official) who is aware of the family situation in a professional capacity. If the non-custodial parent is providing financial support and/or is in contact with their child, College Prep requires their participation. 

   

  I’m a stay-at-home parent and do not work outside the home. Will my family still be considered for financial aid?

  To treat families equitably, College Prep typically attributes a small income for stay-at-home parents to the financial aid calculations. Exceptions to this policy may occur if a parent is caring for a child not yet of school age, a child with a disability, a seriously ill child, parent, or grandparent, or if a parent is disabled and cannot work. Please inform the Financial Aid Committee in writing of these circumstances at the time of your initial application by disclosing your situation in the financial aid application.

   

  If we cannot afford to pay the family contribution after an award is made, is there an appeals process?

  If you feel that you cannot pay the family contribution, please contact the Financial Aid Office and provide additional documentation supporting your claim.

   

  If I still have questions about financial aid, who should I contact?

  Please contact Jonathan Zucker, Director of Financial Aid, at (510) 420-2345 or jonathan@college-prep.org

• Important Financial Aid Dates

  • September 1, 2023: Clarity application opens to apply for the 2024-25 school year.
  • November 8, 2023, 4:00 PM: Affording College Prep: Demystifying Financial Aid webinar via Zoom.
  • December 1, 2023: Financial aid application due for returning applicants.
  • December 8, 2023, 10:00 AM: Affording College Prep: Demystifying Financial Aid webinar via Zoom.
  • January 8, 2024, 6:00 PM: Affording College Prep: Demystifying Financial Aid webinar via Zoom.
  • January 9, 2024: Financial aid application due for new applicants.
  • February 23, 2024: Completed 2023 federal tax returns (including all schedules) should be uploaded to your Clarity application by this date for all new College Prep financial aid applicants.
  • March 15, 2024, 4:00 PM:  Financial aid notifications sent to newly admitted students via the application portal. 
  • March 22, 2024, 10:00 AM: Response deadline for newly-admitted students receiving financial aid. No exceptions to this due date and time will be granted.
  • April 15, 2024: Completed 2023 federal tax returns (including all schedules) should be uploaded to your Clarity application by this date for all returning College Prep financial aid recipients.