scholarship strategies

Scholarship StrategiesRevised 8/2013

Agenda

Scholarships: A Piece of the Financial Aid Puzzle

Research

Organize

Apply

Follow-Up

Cash In

Life

of a

Sch

olar

ship

Education Pays

Postsecondary education creates more job stability

High School Diploma Some College Average Unemployment Associate Degree Bachelor's Degree0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 8.37.7

6.86.2

4.5

Education Costs

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

Rising Costs of College

4-year public4-year private2-year public

Financial Aid Overview

Paying for College

Family Financing

=

Money: Financial Aid Hierarchy

Low/No Low

HighHigh

Private Loans

PLUS Loans

Unsubsidized Stafford Loans

Subsidized Stafford Loans

Perkins Loans

Self-Help Aid: Work Study

Gift Aid: Scholarships

COST

AVAILABILITY

Gift Aid: Grants

*Need-based

*Available to everyone*On financial aid award letter

Scholarships For You

FROM

TO

FOR

•School•Company•Organization•Individual YOU

•Academics•Athletics•Leadership•Involvement•Interests•Hobbies•Demographic•Field of Study•Family heritage•Income•School choice•Where you live•Where you’re from

•Contest•Raffle•Essay•Portfolio•Affiliation•Beliefs & passions•Participation•Extra-Curricular•Skill•Birthday

Agenda

Scholarships: A Piece of the Financial Aid Puzzle

Research

Organize

Apply

Follow-Up

Cash In

Life

of a

Sch

olar

ship

Research

PeopleHS

counselor, coaches, teachersFriends,

neighbors

Family

Civic leaders

Places

Public library

College you plan to attend

Community organizations/businesses

Things

Internet

Print Material

Research: People

People

HS counselor, coaches, teachers

Friends, neighbors

Family

Civic leaders

•Be personal•Be specific•Be prepared

Research: Approaching People

1. Your college goals2. Your efforts3. Personal tie-in4. Why them?5. Contact information

Hi Mr. Jones: I wanted to thank you for talking to me last month about your career. It was really interesting to hear about the specific steps you had to take to be trained in your field. Right now I’m in the process of starting my own professional journey with a college education. I’ve been applying to and researching different schools and have been looking for different scholarships that will help me pay for college. Since this is something you’ve been through before, I wanted to know if you might know of any scholarship opportunities I might be qualified for. Please let me know if any information comes your way. You can email me at ___. Thanks for the support. I’ll keep you posted on my progress!

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Research: Places

Places

Public library

College you plan to attend

Community organizations/businesses

Research: Things

Things

Internet

Print Material

TheWashBoard.org OregonStudentAid.gov Studentaid.ed.gov Finaid.org Scholarships360.org ScholarshipJunkies.com Collegeboard.com Scholarships.com Petersons.com Zinch.com ScholarshipExperts.com Fastweb.com

Research: 1079 Options

LatinoCollegeDollars.org Scholarshipsa-z.org CollegeSuccessFoundation.org Campanaquetzal.org Maldef.org ca-core.org Salef.org scholarshipsforhispanics.org migrant.net/migrant/scholarships.htm TALK TO THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU! CREATE YOUR OWN OPPORTUNITIES!

Look for scholarships that don’t

require a SSN

Research: Beware Of…

Pay sites “We’ll do the work for you!”

“Guaranteed” scholarship funds

Unsolicited mail“You’re a finalist!” (In a contest you never entered)

“You can’t get this information

anywhere else!”

No contact information

No list of previous winners

Asking for sensitive personal

information

Research: Aim High, Accept Low

Research: Scholarships That Fit

Agenda

Scholarships: A Piece of the Financial Aid Puzzle

Research

Organize

Apply

Follow-Up

Cash In

Life

of a

Sch

olar

ship

Information

Contacts:

• Who did I talk to?• When?• Scholarship

opportunities?• Follow-up?

Scholarships:

• What is it?• How much?• Requirements?• Due dates?• Source?• Status?• Follow-up?• Time allotment?

Application Materials:

• Transcripts• Letters of

recommendation• Essays• Work samples• Resume, activities

list• List of awards,

certificates, recognition

• Test scores

Organizing Contacts

Contact Name

Relationship Email/ phone/ addresses

Personal talking points

Affiliations? Date of contact

Follow-up Notes

Mr Jones neighbor Told me about his career

Boeing, Kiwanis

12/5/11 Will follow-up 9/1/12

said he would keep me posted

Aunt May Aunt maymay@email.com

Last year when we were talking about school

Running club 11/27/11 Easter Told me about running club scholarship, said she would talk to her friends

Organizing Scholarships

Scholarship Name

Amount Source Due date Requirements App Submitted

Status Follow-up Notes

Runners Scholarship

$500 Aunt May 3/15/12 *Essay (start 2/15/12)*Letter of rec (request 2/15/12)

*will hear back in June

*prefer females

Coach Potato scholarship

$1,000 theWashbBoard.org

12/15/11 *application (start 10/10/11)

12/1/11 Offered 2/1/12

*must submit transcript & proof of enrollment by 4/15/12*thank you letter sent 2/14/12

*will need to provide student ID number

Other Things

Copies of submitted applications Award notifications Notices of scholarships that have

already passed Notes on who did win

Application Materials:

• Transcripts• Letters of

recommendation• Essays• Work samples• Resume, activities

list• List of awards,

certificates, recognition

• Test scores

Agenda

Scholarships: A Piece of the Financial Aid Puzzle

Research

Organize

Apply

Follow-Up

Cash In

Life

of a

Sch

olar

ship

Application Formats

* Where did you hear about scholarship?* Who are you and why do you want to apply?* Contact info

Application Tips

1. Read the instructions2. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS3. Allow enough time for each piece4. Copy and paste with care5. Picture the ideal candidate6. Answer the questions directly with specific

personal examples7. Be careful with personal information8. Special circumstances: explain don’t complain

Additional Application Pieces

Letters of Recommendation

• Cover letter• Allow at least 3

weeks• What is the

scholarship for?• Let them know

your intentions• Provide them

with materials• Check in 1 week

before• Thank you note• Follow-up

Profile

• Complete as possible

• Highlight elements of the ideal candidate

• Be real

Essay

• Follow instructions

• Answer the question

• Revise work• Personal and

specific

Transcripts

• Includes test scores, proof of certification, etc

• Allow at least 2 weeks

Agenda

Scholarships: A Piece of the Financial Aid Puzzle

Research

Organize

Apply

Follow-Up

Cash In

Life

of a

Sch

olar

ship

Reasons to Follow Up

You are grateful

You acknowledge their generosity

You are a responsive and responsible person

Makes you visible

ThanksInformation and requirements

Status check

Next Steps

How you’ve put their $ to good use

Networking for future support and opportunities

Keep In Touch

Agenda

Scholarships: A Piece of the Financial Aid Puzzle

Research

Organize

Apply

Follow-Up

Cash In

Life

of a

Sch

olar

ship

Disbursement Instructions

Who needs what?

Where does the money go?

How can the funds be used?

Scho

ol R

ules

Scholarship Rules

Review: College Process Timeline

September October November December January Februar

y March April May June

APPLYING FOR

COLLEGE Timeline

Finding the Right

School

Applying for College Finalize housing, deposits, orientation, and classes

Attend College Fairs and college visits to your high

school

*Apply to a variety of colleges*

Review acceptance letters

Say ‘YES’ by May 1st

FINANCIAL AID

Timeline

Research the

Financial Aid Website of Colleges

List the documents required for Financial Aid

Understanding the Financial Aid

ProcessCompleting the FAFSA Compare Financial

Aid Packages Accept

Financial Aid

package

Complete documents (entrance counseling and loan forms)Complete CSS Profile (if applicable)

Verification if chosen for

verification, submit verification form & copies of your tax forms

SCHOLARSHIP Timeline Finding & Applying for Scholarships

Report all scholarships awarded to your college

Future Scholarship Applicants

• Academics• Involvement

Research

• Due Dates• Sources• Contacts

Organize

ApplyFollow-UpCash In

Life

of a

Sch

olar

ship

A nonprofit corporation, USA Funds® works to enhance postsecondary education preparedness, access and success by providing and supporting financial and other valued services.