Welcome To:Welcome To:

Beaverton School DistrictBeaverton School DistrictScholarship Information NightScholarship Information Night

Hosted by Aloha High School

Understanding Understanding

““The BasicsThe Basics””What is a scholarship?What is a scholarship?

A scholarship is an offering of FREE A scholarship is an offering of FREE MONEY based on a set of student skills MONEY based on a set of student skills or qualifications. or qualifications.

Where do scholarships come Where do scholarships come from?from?

$The academic institution The academic institution (college/university)(college/university)

$Community organizations/businessesCommunity organizations/businesses

$Private sponsors/donorsPrivate sponsors/donors

MOREMORE BASICSBASICS

$ Career and College Career and College MajorMajor

$ Institutional Institutional (from (from college)college)

$ High School High School SpecificSpecific

$ Clubs & Clubs & AssociationsAssociations

$ MeritMerit$ BusinessesBusinesses

$ Ethnicity, Race, & Ethnicity, Race, & GenderGender

$ MilitaryMilitary$ Community Community

OrganizationsOrganizations$ EmployersEmployers$ Credit Unions & BanksCredit Unions & Banks$ Personal & Family Personal & Family

StatusStatus$ Competitions & EssaysCompetitions & Essays

What types of scholarships are out What types of scholarships are out there?there?

GETTING STARTEDGETTING STARTED

Where should I look for scholarships?

$ The College & Career Center at your high schoolThe College & Career Center at your high school

$ Your High School Website Your High School Website and other school websites!and other school websites!

$ Financial aid offices at your school of choice (or their websites)Financial aid offices at your school of choice (or their websites)

$ Scholarship resource books at libraries or HS College & Career Scholarship resource books at libraries or HS College & Career CenterCenter

$ Community Service & civic organizations (Rotary, Elks Club, etc.)Community Service & civic organizations (Rotary, Elks Club, etc.)

$ Area employers and retailersArea employers and retailers

$ Free Websites (Fast Web, FinAid, etc)Free Websites (Fast Web, FinAid, etc)

$ Career Information System of Oregon…CISCareer Information System of Oregon…CIS

$ OSAC- Oregon Student Assistance CommissionOSAC- Oregon Student Assistance Commission

$ Facebook!Facebook!

$ Google, Google, Google!!!Google, Google, Google!!!

Oregon University Oregon University SystemSystem

Scholarships for the Oregon University Scholarships for the Oregon University System can be found on their websites. System can be found on their websites. Look on their scholarship page and/or Look on their scholarship page and/or their financial aid page. their financial aid page.

ANDAND

On their foundation websites!!!On their foundation websites!!!

GETTING ORGANIZEDGETTING ORGANIZEDStarting a “Scholarship File”

What goes in a “Scholarship File?”

$ Activities and Awards Sheet (OSAC activities Activities and Awards Sheet (OSAC activities sheet)sheet)

$ Essays WrittenEssays Written

$ Official and Unofficial TranscriptsOfficial and Unofficial Transcripts

$ SAT/ACT ScoresSAT/ACT Scores

$ Letters of RecommendationLetters of Recommendation

$ Any other document highlighting something Any other document highlighting something about you, such as published works.about you, such as published works.

SCHOLARSHIP TIPSSCHOLARSHIP TIPS

$An application submitted on timeAn application submitted on time$General qualification, criteria, and completenessGeneral qualification, criteria, and completeness$Community volunteer involvementCommunity volunteer involvement$Leadership & Personal DevelopmentLeadership & Personal Development$Extracurricular ActivitiesExtracurricular Activities$ApplicantApplicant’’s personal situations personal situation$The EssayThe Essay$References & RecommendationsReferences & Recommendations$Grade Point Average (GPA)Grade Point Average (GPA)$SAT & ACT ScoresSAT & ACT Scores

Top 10 things scholarship committees look at:Top 10 things scholarship committees look at:

MORE SCHOLARSHIP MORE SCHOLARSHIP TIPSTIPS

$ Always make a copy of your applicationAlways make a copy of your application$ Be honest about your grades, test scores, Be honest about your grades, test scores, experiences, memberships, qualifications, etc.experiences, memberships, qualifications, etc.$ Follow instructions CAREFULLY, including Follow instructions CAREFULLY, including word limits on essays.word limits on essays.$ Strictly observe deadlines, and send in Strictly observe deadlines, and send in applications early if possible.applications early if possible.$ Proofread, and let at least one other person Proofread, and let at least one other person read your application (including essays).read your application (including essays).$ Be creative about presenting yourself. Your Be creative about presenting yourself. Your essay and application represents you and essay and application represents you and should set you apart.should set you apart.$ Follow up to ensure your application was Follow up to ensure your application was received.received.$ Send thank you n0tes to everyone who Send thank you n0tes to everyone who helped you.helped you.

Scholarship WebsitesScholarship Websites

A Word About SCAMS….A Word About SCAMS….PHRASES WE WOULD CONSIDER “RED FLAGS

”

$ ““The scholarship is guaranteed or your money The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back.back.””

$ ““You canYou can’’t get this information anywhere else.t get this information anywhere else.””

$ ““I just need your credit card or bank account I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarshipnumber to hold this scholarship””

$ ““WeWe’’ll do all the work.ll do all the work.””

$ ““The scholarship will cost money.The scholarship will cost money.””

$ ““YouYou’’ve been selectedve been selected”” by a by a ““National National foundationfoundation”” to receive a scholarship. to receive a scholarship.

$ ““YouYou’’re a finalist!re a finalist!”” or or ““YouYou’’ve won!ve won!”” (before (before youyou’’ve applied)ve applied)

$ ““First come, first served.First come, first served.””

$ ““Millions of dollars go unclaimed.Millions of dollars go unclaimed.””

FINAL WORDSFINAL WORDS

To Students: Winning Scholarships To Students: Winning Scholarships is not easy! You are asking is not easy! You are asking someone to give you a lot of someone to give you a lot of money! Give it your best effort! money! Give it your best effort! Do your best work! Set a goal of Do your best work! Set a goal of how many scholarships you will how many scholarships you will apply for. Get organized and pace apply for. Get organized and pace yourselves.yourselves.

Parents: Remember--the students Parents: Remember--the students who are the most qualified to win who are the most qualified to win scholarships are also the busiest! scholarships are also the busiest! You can help out by searching, You can help out by searching, organizing, and gently reminding organizing, and gently reminding your students about due dates.your students about due dates.

REMEMBER…REMEMBER…

YOU YOU CANCAN’’T WIN T WIN

IF YOU IF YOU DONDON’’T T APPLY!APPLY!

Beaverton School District Beaverton School District College Financial College Financial Planning NightPlanning Night

November 13th,November 13th,7:00pm @ Westview7:00pm @ Westview

AndAndFAFSA/Financial Aid NightFAFSA/Financial Aid Night

December 4th,December 4th,7:00pm @ Sunset7:00pm @ Sunset

DONDON’’T MISS IT!!!!!!!T MISS IT!!!!!!!