Schola larship p Tips ps & & Colle llege a and nd - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Schola larship p Tips ps & & Colle llege a and nd Care reer Pathw hways D s Departm tment Explo plora rati tion

Paying f g for College llege

What at is a a s schol olar arship ip?

Where d do s schol olarsh ships s come me f from? m?  The e acade demic i c institution ( (colle llege/university)  Community o organiza zations/businesses  Pr Priv ivat ate e sp spon onsor sors/ s/donors

What at kinds ds of schol olar arships ips are avail ilab able?  Me Meri rit t - Bas ased ed: : academic, athletic, artistic, or other abilities  Need eed - Bas ased ed: : financial need  Stud udent ent - Spe pecific: c: ethnicity, gender, religion, etc.  Car areer eer - Spe pecific: c: interests and career plans  Unus nusual ual c crit iter eria: ia: left-handed

Begin in your ur sear arch ch earl rly Find nd and a appl pply f for a or as s ma many sc schol holarshi hips a s as y s you ou can!

How do I find scho hola larshi ships? s? Look Look l loc ocally: – high school counselor – family, friends – your employer or your parents’ employers – non-profit agencies – religious organizations – professional groups related to your field of interest.

Kle lein I ISD E-Schol cholar arship hip USA www.collegeguidanceconsultants.com Enter User Name & Password (Contact the counseling office) o List sorted by due date o Search for specific types o Titles directly link to scholarship site

www.f .fastweb.c .com  Free scholarship database, largest, most accurate, frequent updates  Local, national and college-specific  Search and compare college profiles  Requires User ID and Password you create

Schol olar arship S ip Search ch Sites  Big Big F Future b by The Co College Bo Boar ard  Colle llege Greenli light ht  Fast We Web  Scholar arships. ips.com Sc Scholly  Scholar arships. ips.com  StudentScholar arsh shipSe ipSear arch.com  FinAid id.org 

Fede deral ral Resour ource ces The following websites provide important information for obtaining scholarships and grants through the federal government: www.car areer eerones nestop.org www.F .Faf afsa. a.go gov www.St Stude dentAid. d.gov/sch chola larships ps www.NationalSe lService ce.gov www.HHS HHS.gov www.V .VA.g .gov

Ho How do do I I appl pply for or scho hola larshi ships? s?  Each scholarship has its own requirements; check scholarship’s website for details  Make sure you read the application carefully, fill it out completely, and meet the application deadline.

Get O Organiz anized o Gather scholarship materials o Transcripts o Standardized test scores o Tax returns and financial information o Financial aid forms o Essays o Letters of recommendation o Proof of eligibility

Preparing paring a an Appl plicat ication ion  Follow directions  List all activities and honors  Neatness and grammar count  Make a copy  Meeting deadlines is crucial  Choose references that know you well  Proof your application and/or essay

Tips f for Writing g an n Essay  Give yourself time.  Follow directions.  Focus on the topic.

Writing g the E e Essa say Prepare to answer questions on a variety of topics: – Academic plans – Current events and social issues – Personal history – Achievements – Future plans

Top op 1 10 thing ings sch cholarship ip commi mmittees look at at: 1. An application submitted on time 2. General qualification, criteria, and completeness 3. Community volunteer involvement 4. Leadership & Personal Development 5. Extracurricular Activities 6. Applicant ’ s personal situation 7. The Essay 8. References & Recommendations 9. Grade Point Average (GPA) 10.SAT & ACT Scores

Other r Schol olar arship p Appli lication Tips Use a professional email address, such as • firstname.lastname@gmail.com Clean up the content of your Facebook account, • removing inappropriate and immature material Google your name to see what shows up • Make a photocopy of your application before • mailing it Send the application by certified mail, return • receipt requested or with delivery confirmation If rejected, ask for the reviewer comments •

Avoiding g Schola larsh ship S Scams  Read the fine print  Understand the terms and conditions  Beware of “guarantees”  Protect personal information  Learn more at the scholarship scams website: Federal Trade Commission http://www /www.ftc.gov/sc /scholar arshipsc ipscams ams

Campu pus–Sc Scholarship ip In Infor ormat atio ion Go to the campus webpage for Couns nseling ng and click on the link Scho holar arshi hips a and F Finan ancial al Aid.  Database of scholarships  Monthly bulletins, newsletters  Presentation PowerPoints

Kle lein I ISD Financial ancial Aid R Resour ource ces www.p .prom omise2pur purpose.n .net Scholarships and Financial Aid Webpage