Who, What, Where and How
} Use a professional email address } Clean up the content of your Facebook account (remove immature or inappropriate material) } Google your name to see what shows up
} Scholarships are available to just about any student } FACT Very few students win a completely free ride to college Of students enrolled full-time at a 4-year college Less than 1% get enough grants to cover the full COA
} Start searching as soon as possible } Use a free scholarship search engine } Look for scholarship listing books at the library or bookstore, but check the publication date
} Gresham High School Website } OSAC www.oregonstudentaid.gov } College Green Light } FastWeb.com } Cappex.com } BigFuture.CollegeBoard.org } Oregon CIS (Google it Your student has a login if he/she attends a Gresham-Barlow School)
} Family member employers or unions } Career related associations sae.org (Society of Automotive Engineers) ADA (American Dental Association) } College Alumni Foundations
} Don t pay for a service you can get for free } Services that guarantee a scholarship } Generally, don t pay money to apply } Don t give out personal information } Beware of the unclaimed aid myth
These applications are available in the Spring } Dale Krueger Scholarship } Rotary Club } Suburban Auto Group } Cascade Athletic Club } Gresham Lions Breakfast Club Top 15 } Gresham Elks Club Elks MVS Scholarhip Check GHS Website for updates
} www.oregonstudentaid.gov } Due by 5:00 PM, March 1st } 400+ Scholarships - 1 application } 4 Personal Statements } Activities Chart/Resume } Some have an additional essay } Transcript Must include 7 th semester grades Kendra will upload bring signed permission sheet (you print it from OSAC s website) #1 Reason application is rejected Wrong Transcript
} Based on Academic Merit GPA } Interests/Hobbies/Community Service } Need Based Scholarships- Need is defined differently } Athletics NCAA, NJCC, NAIA NCAA best to begin registration in 11 th grade
} May ask to provide the Student Aid Report (SAR) from FAFSA. (About 6 pages) } Some don t always provide a very good guide how to demonstrate it: Prepare a page of information and include: Cost of Attendance at school Family information (1 or 2 incomes family) Total Family Income Number of Financial Dependents in family Special Circumstances Amount you may have already qualified for in grants
} It s a numbers game Even among talented students, who wins involves a bit of luck, not just skill To win more scholarships, apply to more scholarships, but only if you qualify } You can t win if you don t apply One in four students never applies for financial aid } It gets easier after your first 6 applications Essays can be reused and tailored to each new application } Don t miss deadlines
} Read and follow the instructions Exactly } Know your audience } Prioritize your applications by deadline and the expected value of the scholarship } Use a calendar and checklist to get organized } Create an accomplishments resume } Tailor your application to the sponsor s goals } Make your application stand out from the crowd } Ask to be nominated } Practice on a copy of the application form } Don t use a pencil it isn t a class assignment!
} Differs from a job resume } Include GPA and Exam scores (if good) } Types of classes you have taken (Full IB?) } Outline community service Include dates and number of hours } Work Experience } School or other activities
} Know your audience } Answer the question or essay prompt } Answer the essay question orally and transcribe the recording or 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 } Don t repeat information (like your GPA) } Proofread a printed copy of the essay for spelling and grammar errors
} Have 3-4 short essays that can be tailored to different scholarships } Statement of Goals (short term and long term goals) } Personal Statement What s not on your resume ; Family educational background, disability, single parent home } Obstacle you have overcome } Community Service How did you make a difference quantify when possible
} Portfolios is it required? } Applications can be sent early - whenever possible don t wait until the last second to send it. } Proofread it again } Make a copy of your entire application
} Missing Deadlines } Not proofreading } Failing to follow directions (essay length or number of required recommendations) } Omitting required information } Failing to tailor the application to the sponsor
} Some scholarships may require an interview } Review the application you sent } Wear appropriate business attire } Arrive 15 minutes early } Pay close attention to the interviewer s name } Be polite and send a thank you note } Phone interviews } Webcam Interviews
} If invited attend the scholarship award event } Understand your colleges outside scholarship policy } If the scholarship is renewable, review the requirements for retaining eligibility } Scholarship money should be sent to college } Check your email! They will not text you! } Understand the taxability of your scholarships