scholarships & financial aid
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Scholarships & Financial Aid. Searching for scholarships Helpful hints for winning them Financial Aid: How to file. WHAT IS A SCHOLARSHIP ?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Scholarships & Financial Scholarships & Financial AidAid
Searching for scholarshipsSearching for scholarships
Helpful hints for winning themHelpful hints for winning them
Financial Aid: How to fileFinancial Aid: How to file
WHAT IS A SCHOLARSHIP ?WHAT IS A SCHOLARSHIP ?
A scholarship is a gift of A scholarship is a gift of money donated by a money donated by a foundation, group, foundation, group, corporation, individual corporation, individual or government to assist or government to assist a student in funding a student in funding his/her education. his/her education. These monies do not These monies do not have to be paid back.have to be paid back.
TYPES OF SCHOLARSHIPSTYPES OF SCHOLARSHIPS
NEED BASEDNEED BASED• Scholarship is based Scholarship is based
on a student’s on a student’s demonstrated demonstrated financial need as financial need as determined by determined by completing the Free completing the Free Application for Application for Federal Student Aid Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or other (FAFSA) or other income informationincome information
MERIT BASEDMERIT BASED• Scholarship is based Scholarship is based
on a student’s on a student’s performanceperformance– academicacademic– athleticathletic– performing artsperforming arts– otherother
• Can be need based Can be need based or non- need basedor non- need based
WHERE TO LOOKWHERE TO LOOK
JVS Student JVS Student ServicesServices
Home School H.S. Home School H.S. Guidance Dept.Guidance Dept.
Colleges, Colleges, Universities & Universities & Technical SchoolsTechnical Schools
Internet web sitesInternet web sites Libraries/book Libraries/book
storesstores
Lorain County JVS Student Lorain County JVS Student
ServicesServices
Receives scholarships from many local, Receives scholarships from many local, regional, state and national organizations regional, state and national organizations and businessesand businesses
Also solicits/automatically receives some Also solicits/automatically receives some local high school scholarship applicationslocal high school scholarship applications
All scholarships reproduced and placed All scholarships reproduced and placed in “Blue Box” and sorted by deadline; in “Blue Box” and sorted by deadline; criteria listed on label criteria listed on label
Personalized help if desired (internet Personalized help if desired (internet searches, essay advice, etc.)searches, essay advice, etc.)
High School Guidance High School Guidance OfficesOffices
Announce, post or print Announce, post or print scholarship information; scholarship information; may have a special file may have a special file drawer accessible to drawer accessible to studentsstudents
Many communities have Many communities have excellent local excellent local scholarshipsscholarships
Will help student provide Will help student provide transcript, GPA and other transcript, GPA and other required informationrequired information
College, Universities & College, Universities & Tech SchoolsTech Schools
College Viewbook lists College Viewbook lists requirements & deadlines; requirements & deadlines; many occur before regular many occur before regular admission deadlinesadmission deadlines
Ask admissions officer Ask admissions officer about scholarship, about scholarship, fellowship and internship fellowship and internship opportunities:opportunities: academic academic - performing arts -- performing arts -underrepresented groups - underrepresented groups - athletics - otherathletics - other
InternetInternet
www.finaid.orgwww.finaid.org – – links to fastweb.com, links to fastweb.com,
College Board’s FUND College Board’s FUND FINDER, FINDER,
SRN ExpressSRN Express Yahoo: type in “scholarship Yahoo: type in “scholarship
search engines” or search engines” or “scholarships for culinary “scholarships for culinary students” (hidden gem: students” (hidden gem: www.cookingwww.cooking schools.com ?) schools.com ?)
Collegeanswer.com (sponsored Collegeanswer.com (sponsored by SallieMae)by SallieMae)
Don’t: Pay any $$ or provide Don’t: Pay any $$ or provide confidential information such as confidential information such as your social security numberyour social security number
Ohio Career Information Ohio Career Information Services (or OCIS)Services (or OCIS)
Usually available through a school’s Usually available through a school’s media center; can be accessed in school media center; can be accessed in school library or from home via school’s library or from home via school’s website.website.
Requires user name: LorainJVS and Requires user name: LorainJVS and password: ohiocis03.password: ohiocis03.
Website: www.ocis2004.ode.state.oh.usWebsite: www.ocis2004.ode.state.oh.us Has scholarship sort and school sort, Has scholarship sort and school sort,
plus many other terrific services.plus many other terrific services.
OCIS: Getting StartedOCIS: Getting Started
www.ocis.orgwww.ocis.org – click on “what’s new” – click on “what’s new” Click on link (http: …)Click on link (http: …) Enter info: Lorain JVS… ohiocis03Enter info: Lorain JVS… ohiocis03 Click on Financial Aid…or Financial Aid Click on Financial Aid…or Financial Aid
SortSort Financial Aid: select cluster areasFinancial Aid: select cluster areas Financial Aid Sort: more detailed search!Financial Aid Sort: more detailed search! Click on scholarships found for infoClick on scholarships found for info
POSSIBLE SOURCES...POSSIBLE SOURCES...
Private FoundationsPrivate Foundations IndustryIndustry EmployersEmployers Clubs & Clubs &
OrganizationsOrganizations ChurchesChurches Community & Civic Community & Civic
GroupsGroups Federal & State Federal & State
GovernmentsGovernments
CHOOSING SCHOLARSHIPSCHOOSING SCHOLARSHIPS
Read scholarship Read scholarship descriptions carefullydescriptions carefully
Narrow your choicesNarrow your choices Time is of the essenceTime is of the essence Use credible referencesUse credible references Take advantage of Take advantage of
every possible every possible opportunityopportunity
Pay close attention to Pay close attention to detaildetail
PREPARING A SCHOLARSHIP PREPARING A SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONAPPLICATION
Read all instructions Read all instructions carefullycarefully
Prepare thoughtful essay(s)Prepare thoughtful essay(s) Proof several timesProof several times Make & keep a copyMake & keep a copy Collect requested Collect requested
informationinformation• TranscriptsTranscripts• Letters of referenceLetters of reference• Completed FAFSACompleted FAFSA• ACT Score required?ACT Score required?
REMEMBER...REMEMBER... Searching for and completing Searching for and completing
scholarship applications scholarship applications requires hard work, but the requires hard work, but the pay -off can be significant.pay -off can be significant.
You don’t have to have a 4.0 You don’t have to have a 4.0 GPA to win scholarships.GPA to win scholarships.
You can’t win unless you You can’t win unless you apply.apply.
Ask for help if you need it.Ask for help if you need it.
Winning that Winning that Scholarship!Scholarship!
The Application: Making a The Application: Making a Good Good First ImpressionFirst Impression
Copy application; make a draft then Copy application; make a draft then transfer information to the originaltransfer information to the original
Where possible, word process - especially Where possible, word process - especially essays. Use word count for proper essays. Use word count for proper length.length.
Proofread: grammar and spell check; Proofread: grammar and spell check; have another person proofread it too.have another person proofread it too.
Be honest regarding grades, activities, Be honest regarding grades, activities, etc.etc.
Writing a Winning EssayWriting a Winning Essay
• Essay “do”sEssay “do”s
Create an outline firstCreate an outline first Grab the reader; Grab the reader;
finish strongfinish strong Be specific; examplesBe specific; examples Passionate, positive Passionate, positive
and persuasiveand persuasive Unique; set apart?Unique; set apart?
• Essay “don’t”sEssay “don’t”s
Re-use an old Re-use an old essayessay
Stop at a first draftStop at a first draft Exceed the lengthExceed the length Avoid the topicAvoid the topic Use passive voice; Use passive voice;
boring toneboring tone
Recommendation LettersRecommendation Letters
Select wisely: knows Select wisely: knows you well; positive you well; positive viewview
Teacher, supervisor, Teacher, supervisor, coach, counselor, club coach, counselor, club advisor (no friends or advisor (no friends or family members!)family members!)
Allow 2-3 weeksAllow 2-3 weeks
Ace the InterviewAce the Interview
Prepare answers to Prepare answers to possible questionspossible questions
Dress for successDress for success Be on timeBe on time Eye contact; smile; Eye contact; smile;
speak clearlyspeak clearly Thank you note to Thank you note to
committee can’t committee can’t hurthurt
Financial Aid: How to File Financial Aid: How to File and What You Might and What You Might ReceiveReceive
What is Financial Aid?What is Financial Aid?
Source of money Source of money provided to help a provided to help a student afford student afford educationeducation
Student can Student can attend a college, attend a college, university or university or technical schooltechnical school
Types of Financial AidTypes of Financial Aid
FREE MONEYFREE MONEY• GrantsGrants• ScholarshipsScholarships• Work StudyWork Study
LOANS must be LOANS must be repaid after college repaid after college (student loans) or (student loans) or during college during college (parent loans)(parent loans)
Cost of AttendanceCost of Attendance
Tuition and feesTuition and fees Books, supplies Books, supplies
and equipmentand equipment Room and boardRoom and board TransportationTransportation Necessary Necessary
personal spendingpersonal spending
Sources of AidSources of Aid
Federal government (70%); Federal government (70%); colleges and schools (25%); state colleges and schools (25%); state government (5%)government (5%)
Other sources: employers, Other sources: employers, community groups, foundations, community groups, foundations, unions, religious organizations...unions, religious organizations...
How to apply for Federal How to apply for Federal and State Aidand State Aid
Free Application for Federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)Student Aid (FAFSA)
Don’t file until after January 1Don’t file until after January 1
Can file on-line or mail: aim for Can file on-line or mail: aim for 2/15/05. Definitely recommend on-2/15/05. Definitely recommend on-line filing if possible!!line filing if possible!!
Automatic Consideration Automatic Consideration for:for:
Federal Pell Grant (EFC of $4000 or less)Federal Pell Grant (EFC of $4000 or less) Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant
(if you are Pell-eligible)(if you are Pell-eligible) Work study (a job at school)Work study (a job at school) Student loan of $2625 for first yearStudent loan of $2625 for first year Parent (or PLUS) LoanParent (or PLUS) Loan Ohio Instructional Grant (OIG)Ohio Instructional Grant (OIG) (Plus schools often require it for their (Plus schools often require it for their
monies)monies)
What Happens Next?What Happens Next?
Student Aid Report Student Aid Report (SAR) to parent (SAR) to parent and studentand student
Will contain EFC, Will contain EFC, which determines which determines much of aid givenmuch of aid given
Colleges or schools Colleges or schools will send FA Award will send FA Award Letter to studentLetter to student
What can you do to What can you do to prepare?prepare?
Go to www.studentaid.ed.gov and get Go to www.studentaid.ed.gov and get a PIN or Personal Identification Number a PIN or Personal Identification Number for you and a parent ; allows you to for you and a parent ; allows you to electronically sign the FAFSA/ make electronically sign the FAFSA/ make corrections. corrections.
Do taxes as soon as possible in 2005; Do taxes as soon as possible in 2005; transfer numbers to FAFSA.transfer numbers to FAFSA.
Ask for help if you need it from your Ask for help if you need it from your guidance counselor.guidance counselor.
How can you get help with How can you get help with FAFSA?FAFSA?
Financial Aid Night at JVS in January, Financial Aid Night at JVS in January, letter to be sent to parentsletter to be sent to parents
One-on-one appts at JVS (mostly days)One-on-one appts at JVS (mostly days) Financial Aid Service Centers in February Financial Aid Service Centers in February
(at LCCC; 4-7 pm, 2 dates to be (at LCCC; 4-7 pm, 2 dates to be announced)announced)
College Goal Sunday in late Jan or early College Goal Sunday in late Jan or early Feb; at LCCC 1-4 pm, date to be Feb; at LCCC 1-4 pm, date to be announcedannounced
EFC or Expected Family EFC or Expected Family Contribution: How to Obtain Contribution: How to Obtain an Estimatean Estimate
www.finaid.orgwww.finaid.org …Calculators…Expected …Calculators…Expected Family Contribution…enter information Family Contribution…enter information (do not enter home equity)(do not enter home equity)
Click on “calculate” – your EFC will Click on “calculate” – your EFC will appearappear
If it is $4000 or lower, you may be If it is $4000 or lower, you may be eligible for a Pell Grant depending on eligible for a Pell Grant depending on school costschool cost
Don’t panic – you can borrow to help Don’t panic – you can borrow to help cover the EFC. cover the EFC.