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Road to College Night
Road to College Night
Getting ReadyCollege is generally paid for by
• Private fundsa.k.a- the Bank of Parents/Relatives
* Grants – based upon financial need
* Loans
* Work-Study
* Scholarships
FAFSA• Free Application for Federal Student
Aid
www.fafsa.gov
• Application available January 1, 2015
What can you do now to get ready?
1. Visit FAFSA website2. Obtain a FAFSA PIN3. Gather forms
And……..
Your family’s financial information is analyzed using the federal need formula.
You will receive a
Student Aid Report (SAR) which shows the
Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Your EFC is an indicator of your family’s financial strength. It is sent to your state scholarship agency as well as to the colleges you listed on the FAFSA. They use this number to determine your financial aid award.
You’ll receive an award letter showing your “financial package,” which may consist of scholarships, grants, loans and work study. You can decline all or part of it.
You’ll need to report information about private scholarships you’ve been awarded to the university’s financial aid office. Your financial aid award may then be adjusted.
AFTER THE FAFSA IS FILED
Dear Rufus D. Lion,We have reviewed your financial aid application for the upcoming academic year 2014-2015 and are pleased to make the following offer of financial assistance based on the available information:
Cost of Attendance (COA)Tuition and Fees $31,400Room and Board $ 8,500Books and Supplies $ 1,000Personal Expenses $ 2,500Transportation $ 600
Total Cost of Attendance (COA) $44,000
Expected Family Contribution (EFC) $ 5,468Calculated Financial Need $38,532To assist in covering your calculated financial need, you are offered the following financial assistance:
Fall Spring TotalPaws & Claws University Grant $ 10,000 $ 10,000 $20,000ABC Restricted Scholarship $ 5,000 $ 5,000 $10,000Subsidized Stafford Loan $ 1,750 $ 1,750 $ 3,500Federal Work Study $ 1,500 $ 1,500 $ 3,000Total Awards $ 18,250 $18,250 $36,500
SAMPLE FINANCIAL AID AWARD LETTER
TYPES OF SCHOLARSHIPS
CollegeLocal
StateNational
Merit: Based upon academic index (grades, class rank, test scores, strength of transcript).
Non-Merit: Examples: leadership, certain extracurricular
activities, community service.
• The most common type of scholarship.
• Check out a college’s website, catalog & financial aid materials for information on the scholarships it offers.
• Awards can be offered on a university-wide basis or within a particular college or major.
• Apply early – first come, first serve
COLLEGE
LocalArea businesseschurches Kiwanis Rotary
StateFlinn FoundationWood Foundation
NationalNational Merit Scholarship CorporationGates Millennium ScholarsIntel Science Talent Search
So how can I access Local,State and National
Scholarships?
Subscribe to our College & Career Newsfeed by entering your e-mail. Every time we update these, you’ll receive info about new scholarships, college recruiter visits and more!
Complete your scholarship profile by completing the Google Docs form located in the Student Advisor link.
The Red Mountain Scholarship Committee is asked to identify worthy students for scholarships from a variety of state and local programs and organizations. Your profile provides us with a snapshot of you – your goals, accomplishments, interests and more. We are looking for well-rounded individuals with a strong emphasis placed on academics, leadership in school, community or church, service learning, and extracurricular activities
SCHOLARSHIP PROFILE
RMHS Scholarships Link includes:
Set up a profile on at least one scholarship search site, such as www.fastweb.com. It will search a national database of scholarships for you.
More Ways of Searching for $$$
• Look for local scholarships on the library’s jobs and careers section
• Look in the coupon section of the newspaper• Answer the optional questions on a scholarship
matching service for twice as many matches• Look for near-miss matches• Pursue less competitive scholarships, such as
small awards and essay contests, since they are easier to win, the money adds up and they help you win bigger scholarships
How to Apply for a ScholarshipStart your research early
Read eligibility requirements carefully
Get organized- High School Transcript- PSAT, ACT, SAT scores- AP Scores- Resume- FAFSA PIN/ Forms- Letters of Recommendation
Make a separate file for each scholarship and sort the files by application due dates.
Don’t miss deadlines!!!!!
• Stick to the word limit for the essay. If supporting materials are not requested in the application, don’t send them.
• Answer the essay question orally and transcribe the recording
• Use an outline to organize your thoughts• Give examples and be specific• Personalize your essay and be passionate• Write about something of interest to you• Talk about your impact on other people• Proofread a printed copy of the essay for spelling
and grammar errors
Keep copies of everything!
Case:Jamie is awarded a merit scholarship for U of A for nearly the full cost of tuition.She also is awarded several other scholarships through U of A’s College of Engineering, her father’s company and some private foundations.This is an example of “stacking” – multiple scholarships that may cover a good portion of the estimated cost of attendance.
You are required to report to the school’s financial aid office any scholarships outside of the merit scholarship you’ve received. The university may then choose to adjust your financial aid award.
Stacking Scholarships
The Application:
Before you send the application in:Practice on a copy of the application form.Tailor your application to the sponsor’s goals.Make sure you filled in all the blanks. You can contact scholarship sponsors if you aren't sure how to fill out part of the application.Make sure your answers are readable. If you can, fill out the application online. If you have to write out the application, print neatly.If you're reusing material (such as a cover letter or an essay) from another scholarship application, make sure you haven't left in any incorrect names.Proofread your application. Run spell check and grammar check on the application. Also, have someone else read your essays to catch mistakes and give you feedback.Remember to sign and date your application.Use a professional email address, such as [email protected] up the content of your Facebook account, removing inappropriate and immature materialGoogle your name to see what shows upMake a photocopy of your application before mailing itSend the application by certified mail, return receipt requested or with delivery confirmationIf rejected, ask for the reviewer comments
Tips for Letters of Recommendation• Ask the teacher whether he/she can write you
a great letter of recommendation
• The recommendation should be relevant to the scholarship sponsor’s goal
• Provide the recommender with a copy of your accomplishments resume
• Provide the recommender with all required forms • Give them two weeks notice
• Thank the recommender for writing the letter
Most Common Application Mistakes
• Missing deadlines• Failing to proofread • Failing to follow directions• Omitting required information• Applying for an award when you don’t qualify• Failing to apply for an award for which you are
eligible• Failing to tailor the application to the sponsor• Writing a boring essay
Acing the Scholarship Interview
• Practice, practice, practice• Videotape a mock interview and review the
recording afterward• Wear appropriate business attire• Arrive 15 minutes early• Pay attention to the interviewer’s name• Be polite and send a thank you note afterward
• If you have to pay money to get money, it is probably a scam• Never invest more than a postage stamp to get information about scholarships or
to apply for a scholarship• Nobody can guarantee that you’ll win a scholarship• Do not give out personal information like bank account numbers, credit card
numbers or Social Security numbers• Beware of the unclaimed aid myth
Telephone and Webcam Interviews
• Conduct the interview in a quiet room• Use a corded phone, nor a cordless or cell
phone, and do not use a speakerphone• Clean the lens on your webcam• Make sure there is nothing embarrassing
within view of the webcam• Look at the webcam when you speak, not the
video of the interviewer
Top Ten Scholarships for Age 13 and Under1. National Geography Bee2. National Spelling Bee3. National History Day Contest4. Jif Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich
Contest5. Scholastic Art & Writing Awards6. Christopher Columbus Community Service
Awards7. Dick Blick Linoleum Block Print Contest8. Gloria Barron Prize for Your Heroes9. Patriot’s Pen10. Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
Top Ten Scholarships for Community Service
1. Segal AmeriCorps Education Award2. The Do Something Awards3. Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship4. Discover Card Tribute Award5. Echoing Green Fellowship6. The Heart of America Christopher Reeve Award7. Kohl’s Kids Who Care Program8. Samuel Huntington Public Service Award9. National Caring Award10. Youth Action Net
Top Ten Most Prestigious Scholarships
1. Marshall Scholarships2. Rhodes Scholarship3. Winston Churchill Scholarship Program4. Harry S. Truman Scholarships5. Henry Luce Foundation Scholarship6. Morris K. Udall Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships7. Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program8. Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship9. Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest10. National Merit Scholarship Corporation
Top Ten Scholarships that Don’t Need an A
1. US Department of Education2. AXA Achievement Scholarship Program3. Horatio Alger Association Scholarships4. Ayn Rand Institute5. Girls Going Places Scholarship6. Holocaust Remembrance Project Essay Contest7. Americanism Essay Contest8. AFSA National Scholarship Essay Contest9. Red Vines Drawing Contest10. Community Foundation Scholarships
Top Ten Most Generous Scholarships
1. Intel Science Talent Search2. Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology3. NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program4. Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student
Competition5. Davidson Fellows6. Intel International Science and Engineering Fair7. Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships8. Collegiate Inventors Competition9. Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship10. Gates Millennium Scholars
Top Ten Most Unusual Scholarships
1. Scholarship for Left-Handed Students2. Duck Brand Duct Tape Stuck at Prom Contest3. David Letterman Telecommunications Scholarship4. Zolp Scholarships5. Patrick Kerr Skateboard Scholarship6. Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year Award7. National Marbles Tournament Scholarships8. Klingon Language Institute Scholarship9. National Beef Ambassador Program10. Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship
Key Scholarship Resources
• www.fastweb.com• www.finaid.org/scholarships• www.finaid.org/websearch• www.finaid.org/scholarshipscams• www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams• www.finaid.org/taxbenefits• www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf
After You Win a Scholarship
• Understand your college’s outside scholarship policy and seek adjustments to the cost of attendance or defer a scholarship if necessary
• If your scholarship is renewable, review the requirements for retaining eligibility
• Tell the scholarship sponsors when you win a major award or other recognition
• Understand the taxability of your scholarships– Amounts for tuition, fees, books, supplies tax-free– Amounts for room and board, transportation and other living
expenses are taxable
If you have any questions please contact the Advising office at 480-472-8030.
