Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Connect 4, why should I be a part of it?Connect 4 activities at the high schools assist students in their matriculation process to Mt. SAC and increase their knowledge of Mt. SAC resources. Additionally students who complete all Connect 4 are awarded with Early Registration for Fall 2014 which allows new students to have more options when selecting their Fall courses schedule.

Q: How do I sign up for the Connect 4 workshops at my school? Check with your counselor or career tech to sign up. You may also contact your Mt. SAC outreach specialist for more information.

Q: What are the Mt. SAC Connect 4 steps? Please see Connect 4.

Q: How does High School Outreach know that I'm a potential Connect 4 student? Potential Connect 4 students must attend one of our local in district high schools.And complete the 4 steps of Connect 4. When completing the Mt. SAC application, students must answer the questions as listed below in order to be identified as a Connect 4 student.

Term applying for: Fall 2014

Entry Level: First Time Student in College (After leaving High School)

High School Education: Received HS diploma from a U.S. School (include projected graduation date)

California HS attendance: I have received a diploma (Select yes)

Q: What do I do once I submit my college application? Check your email after 1-2 weeks for a "Mt. SAC Welcome" email that will include your Mt. SAC ID # and username. Save this information, you will need it for any Mt. SAC related workshop at your high school.

Q: What do I do with the Mt. SAC username? Claim your account by going to myportal.mtsac.edu. Enter your username, leave the password BLANK, and click "1st time users (claim account)". Follow the instructions. Once you've set up your account, make sure to save your log-in password and log-in every 30 days to keep your account active.

Q: How will I be notified of my Connect 4 Orientation and Registration Tutorial appointment? You will be notified by mail and email by mid-June.

Q: What if I don’t receive my Connect 4 appointment in the mail or email by mid-June?   If you are from one of our local in district schools and completed steps 1 and 2 of Connect 4 yet didn’t receive your appointment, contact us immediately. Otherwise you might miss your chance to receive early registration.

Q: Can I still participate in Connect 4 if I missed the Mt. SAC assessment testing at my high school or the testing field trip? You can still participate in Connect 4 only IF you take the assessment tests at Mt. SAC before June 1, 2014 AND notify your assigned outreach specialist.

Q: What does it mean if I get an e-mail about being an international student or non-resident?  Residency is based on how you filled out your college application. If you feel that you received this in error, you must submit a residency reclassification form or an AB540 affidavit to the Admissions & Records office. Otherwise you are at risk of being charged out of state fees.

Q: Why does Mt. SAC request my Social SS# on the college application? All Colleges request a SS# in order to match your application to your Financial Aid Application. If you have SS# bud did not include it on the application, you may take your SS card to the Admissions and Records officeto add it to your student record.

Q: Can I apply without a Social Security Number (SS#)? Yes, you can apply for admissions without a SS#.

Q: What if I don’t have a Social Security Number because I am not a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Resident (green card holder) what should I do? You can submit your application without a SS# and after you graduate from high school you should fill out an AB 540 Affidavit formand submit it to the Admissions & Records office.

Q: What is AB 540? A California state law that allows eligible students to pay in state tuition.  AB 540 eligible students may be undocumented or U.S. citizens, who are not CA residents.

Q: Can undocumented students apply for financial aid? Yes, several types of state and institutional aid are available to AB 540 students as a result of the California Dream Act. For information on how to apply go to California Dream Act. 

Q: Can I use my new DACA Social Security # on the application? Your new DACA SS# is only for work purposes and should not to be used to apply for FAFSA or the college.