How to Search for How to Search for Scholarships Using the WebScholarships Using the Web

Presented by Leanna McConnellPresented by Leanna McConnell

Financial AidFinancial Aid GRANTS:GRANTS:

Free Money for educational Free Money for educational expenses based on needexpenses based on need PELL GrantPELL Grant Cal GrantCal Grant

LOANS:LOANS: Money on loan which must Money on loan which must

be repaid with interestbe repaid with interest

SubsidizedSubsidized UnsubsidizedUnsubsidized

WORK STUDY:WORK STUDY: Jobs to help pay for schoolJobs to help pay for school

Employment at the Employment at the CampusCampus

SCHOLARSHIPS:SCHOLARSHIPS: Free Money based on Free Money based on

specific criteriaspecific criteria

On CampusOn Campus Off CampusOff Campus

Get a PIN and Apply for FAFSA! You have between January 1 - March 2!!!!

www.fafsa.ed.govwww.fafsa.ed.gov

What is a Scholarship?What is a Scholarship? Most student aid comes in the form of federal Most student aid comes in the form of federal

education loans and grants from colleges. education loans and grants from colleges. However, scholarships — which don’t have to be However, scholarships — which don’t have to be paid back — get a huge amount of attention paid back — get a huge amount of attention from students and their families. from students and their families.

Scholarships are available for just about every Scholarships are available for just about every reason imaginable. reason imaginable.

It is a good idea to continuously apply for It is a good idea to continuously apply for scholarships before and throughout college. scholarships before and throughout college.

How Do I Find Scholarships?How Do I Find Scholarships?

Research Local Scholarships FirstResearch Local Scholarships First

Debbie Campbell overseas scholarships and has Debbie Campbell overseas scholarships and has information posted on the Career Center link on information posted on the Career Center link on ALHS website. http://alhs-cjuhsd-ALHS website. http://alhs-cjuhsd-ca.schoolloop.com/ca.schoolloop.com/

Be sure to check your School Loop mail regularly for Be sure to check your School Loop mail regularly for updates on Scholarship information. Many of the updates on Scholarship information. Many of the local/in-house scholarships will become available in local/in-house scholarships will become available in the spring semester, so be prepared. the spring semester, so be prepared.

Check Membership Check Membership Organizations and EmployersOrganizations and Employers

Organizations of all types and sizes sponsor Organizations of all types and sizes sponsor scholarships — leave no stone unturned. Explore scholarships — leave no stone unturned. Explore categories you might not have considered, such as categories you might not have considered, such as religious, community service, fraternal, military, union religious, community service, fraternal, military, union and professional.and professional.

And don't forget your parentsAnd don't forget your parents’ employer’ employer. Many large . Many large companies offer scholarships or tuition programs for companies offer scholarships or tuition programs for children of employees. children of employees.

Don't overlook student jobs. Employers such as fast food Don't overlook student jobs. Employers such as fast food chains, department stores and supermarkets often give chains, department stores and supermarkets often give scholarships. Awards related to student employment can scholarships. Awards related to student employment can come from unexpected sources. come from unexpected sources.

Use a Free Scholarship Use a Free Scholarship Search ServiceSearch Service

A scholarship search company collects A scholarship search company collects information on hundreds of awards and information on hundreds of awards and compares your student characteristics with compares your student characteristics with scholarship restrictions. scholarship restrictions.

Based on your answers to a questionnaire, Based on your answers to a questionnaire, you receive a list of possible scholarships. you receive a list of possible scholarships. It is up to you to decide which ones to try It is up to you to decide which ones to try for.for.

Tips and Tricks to Maximize Tips and Tricks to Maximize Your Fastweb ExperienceYour Fastweb Experience

• Access to the most scholarships you’ll find online, with over 1.5 million scholarships worth over $3.4 billion!

• Daily alerts when new scholarships that match your unique profile become available and deadline reminders

• Insider advice from some of the leading experts in financial aid, scholarships and college admissions

• Students receive a customized dashboard and tools to stay organized.

• It’s all 100% FREE!

Why Fastweb?

Fastweb Homepage

10

Registration Step 1

Registration Step 2

Registration Step 3

Insider Tip! Update your profile any time you have changes or additions to get the

best, most relevant awards . If you don’t,

you could be missing out on money for college.

Scholarship Matches

Insider Tip! You can get rid of awards

you don’t like, or mark them as a “favorite” to

save them and find quickly later! Just select the

“Manage My Scholarships” link and

check any box and then click the appropriate

button.

Manage Your Results

Scholarship Detail

Scholarship Deadlines

Insider Tip! Never miss a deadline

again! All your deadlines are stored

in your calendar!

Notifications

Insider Tip! Get the latest news, insider advice, notifications as soon as new awards that match

your profile become available and deadline

notifications sent straight to your email inbox!

New Scholarships

•Fastweb adds new scholarships to our database daily as they become available.

•When a scholarship is made available that matches your Fastweb profile information, it is immediately added to your scholarship matches.

•View your new matches by logging in to Fastweb and viewing your “Scholarship Matches” from within the Scholarships section. •Fastweb can send alerts straight to your personal email account! Alerts let you know when a new scholarship has been added, or when a deadline is nearing.

•REMEMBER: The more of your Fastweb profile information that you complete, the more scholarships you’ll see!

How to Take

Advantage

of New

Scholarships!

How to Apply for a ScholarshipHow to Apply for a Scholarship

To Get Money, You Have to Ask for It!!To Get Money, You Have to Ask for It!!

The scholarship application process is very The scholarship application process is very similar to the college application process. similar to the college application process.

First, you filter a large list of possible choices First, you filter a large list of possible choices into a focused list that matches your needs.into a focused list that matches your needs.

Then you create compelling applications that are Then you create compelling applications that are supported by your achievements, essays, supported by your achievements, essays, recommendations and interviews. recommendations and interviews.

Start Your Start Your SSearch Earlyearch Early

The more time you can put into your The more time you can put into your scholarship search, the more options you scholarship search, the more options you have. have.

You need time to research scholarships, You need time to research scholarships, request information and application request information and application materials, and complete your application materials, and complete your application — and remember, some scholarships — and remember, some scholarships have deadlines early in the fall of senior have deadlines early in the fall of senior year. year.

Read Eligibility Read Eligibility Requirements CarefullyRequirements Carefully

If you have a question about your eligibility If you have a question about your eligibility for a particular scholarship, contact the for a particular scholarship, contact the scholarship sponsors.scholarship sponsors.

Remember you can also come see Mrs. Remember you can also come see Mrs. Campbell for help too!Campbell for help too!

Organize All Organize All Scholarship MaterialsScholarship Materials

Create a separate file for each scholarship and file by Create a separate file for each scholarship and file by application date. Keep a calendar of application application date. Keep a calendar of application deadlines and follow-up appointments.deadlines and follow-up appointments.

Many scholarships require you to provide some Many scholarships require you to provide some combination of the following:combination of the following:

• Transcript Transcript • Standardized test scores Standardized test scores • Financial aid formsFinancial aid forms• Parents' financial information, including tax returns Parents' financial information, including tax returns • One or more essays One or more essays • One or more letters of recommendation One or more letters of recommendation • Proof of eligibility (e.g., membership credentials)Proof of eligibility (e.g., membership credentials)• You may also need to prepare for a personal interview. For students You may also need to prepare for a personal interview. For students

competing for talent-based scholarships, an audition, performance or competing for talent-based scholarships, an audition, performance or portfolio may be required.portfolio may be required.

Scholarship Application TipsScholarship Application Tips

There's a lot of advice out there about the best There's a lot of advice out there about the best way to apply for scholarships — how to package way to apply for scholarships — how to package yourself in your essay, what extracurricular yourself in your essay, what extracurricular activities to emphasize. activities to emphasize.

The truth is, much of this advice can vary widely, The truth is, much of this advice can vary widely, depending on the author — what works for one depending on the author — what works for one applicant may not necessarily work for another. applicant may not necessarily work for another.

You'll discover that most of the scholarship You'll discover that most of the scholarship secrets you read about boil down to using your secrets you read about boil down to using your common sense and following directions common sense and following directions carefully. carefully.

You Will start With You Will start With A Personal InventoryA Personal Inventory

Most of the information you are asked for on a scholarship Most of the information you are asked for on a scholarship is your year in school, citizenship, state of residence, is your year in school, citizenship, state of residence, religion, ethnic background, disability, military status, religion, ethnic background, disability, military status, employer and membership organizations.employer and membership organizations.

Beyond those questions, you should ask yourself:Beyond those questions, you should ask yourself: Do I want to participate in a competition? If so, what are my talents Do I want to participate in a competition? If so, what are my talents

and interests? and interests? What subject do I plan to major in? What subject do I plan to major in? What career do I plan to pursue? What career do I plan to pursue? Do I want to apply for all types of aid or only scholarships?Do I want to apply for all types of aid or only scholarships? Your answers to these questions help determine your scholarship Your answers to these questions help determine your scholarship

eligibility. Take your time brainstorming and don't overlook eligibility. Take your time brainstorming and don't overlook anything — the more personal characteristics you discover, the anything — the more personal characteristics you discover, the more scholarships you could potentially apply for.more scholarships you could potentially apply for.

Don’t ForgetDon’t Forget

Proofread your applications carefullyProofread your applications carefully Don’t leave items blankDon’t leave items blank Follow instructions Follow instructions Make sure your application is legibleMake sure your application is legible Make copies of everything you sendMake copies of everything you send Double-check your applicationDouble-check your application Get your application in earlyGet your application in early

Can You Spot a College Can You Spot a College Scholarship Scam?Scholarship Scam?

Be a Smart ConsumerBe a Smart Consumer

You should never have to pay for You should never have to pay for scholarship information. If you're asked to scholarship information. If you're asked to pay a fee for "exclusive" scholarship leads, pay a fee for "exclusive" scholarship leads,

there's a good chance your scholarship there's a good chance your scholarship service is really a service is really a scholarship scamscholarship scam..

Tell-Tale Signs It's a ScamTell-Tale Signs It's a Scam According to the Federal Trade Commission's According to the Federal Trade Commission's

Scholarship ScamsScholarship Scams, if you hear these lines from a , if you hear these lines from a scholarship service, you may be getting duped: scholarship service, you may be getting duped:

"The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back.""The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back."

No one can guarantee that they'll get you a grant or a No one can guarantee that they'll get you a grant or a scholarship. Refund guarantees often have conditions or strings scholarship. Refund guarantees often have conditions or strings attached. Get refund policies in writing — before you pay.attached. Get refund policies in writing — before you pay.

"You can't get this information anywhere else.""You can't get this information anywhere else."

There are many free lists of scholarships available. Start There are many free lists of scholarships available. Start researching scholarships online or at the your high school or researching scholarships online or at the your high school or library before you decide to pay someone to do the work for you. library before you decide to pay someone to do the work for you. Our free Our free Scholarship SearchScholarship Search is a good place to start.  is a good place to start.

Tell-Tale Signs It's a ScamTell-Tale Signs It's a Scam I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this

scholarship."scholarship."Never give out credit card or bank account numbers on the phone Never give out credit card or bank account numbers on the phone without getting information in writing first. It may be the set-up for an without getting information in writing first. It may be the set-up for an unauthorized withdrawal. unauthorized withdrawal.

"We'll do all the work.""We'll do all the work."Don't be fooled. There's no way around it. You must apply for Don't be fooled. There's no way around it. You must apply for scholarships or grants yourself. scholarships or grants yourself.

"The scholarship will cost money.""The scholarship will cost money."Don't pay anyone who claims to be "holding" a scholarship or grant for Don't pay anyone who claims to be "holding" a scholarship or grant for you. Free money shouldn't cost a thing. you. Free money shouldn't cost a thing.

"You've been selected by a national foundation" to receive a "You've been selected by a national foundation" to receive a scholarship or "You're a finalist" in a contest you never entered.scholarship or "You're a finalist" in a contest you never entered.Before you send money to apply for a scholarship, check it out. Make Before you send money to apply for a scholarship, check it out. Make sure the foundation or program is legitimate. sure the foundation or program is legitimate.

http://www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscamshttp://www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams http://http://www.fraud.orgwww.fraud.org//

General Scholarship SearchGeneral Scholarship Search https://www.connectedu.net/https://www.connectedu.net/

http://www.californiacolleges.edu/http://www.californiacolleges.edu/

http://www.meritaid.com/http://www.meritaid.com/

http://apps.collegeboard.com/cbsearch_ss/welcome.jsphttp://apps.collegeboard.com/cbsearch_ss/welcome.jsp

http://www.scholarships.com/http://www.scholarships.com/

http://www.collegenet.com/mach25/apphttp://www.collegenet.com/mach25/app

Month to Month list of Scholarships http://roybal-allard.house.gov/UploadedFiles/2010-

2011_Paying_For_College-2.pdf

Ethnic Specific Ethnic Specific Scholarship SearchScholarship Search

http://www.hsf.net/http://www.hsf.net/

http://www.vietscholarships.org/http://www.vietscholarships.org/

http://www.blackstudents.comhttp://www.blackstudents.com

http://http://www.apiasf.orgwww.apiasf.org//

Thank you!Thank you!