READY–SET–LAUNCH Get SMART about Scholarships!

1. READY–SET–LAUNCH Get SMART about Scholarships! Based on the popular new eBook: Get SMART About Scholarships Get Paid for College while you’restill in High School by Rondalynne McClintock. M.Ed

2. What is a Scholarship Search? • Personal campaign to gain free money for college • Billions of dollars of scholarship funds for high school students are available each year • Unlike other types of Financial Aid, many scholarships are merit-based versus need-based • Scholarships can be awarded on the basis of interests, nationality, talents background, and more!

3. Types of Scholarships and Awards • School Specific Awards • Private Scholarships • Essay Contests • Basis for Scholarships: • Academics • Athletics • Career plans • Service • Leadership • Heritage/Ethnicity/Gender • Club/Hobby • Religious Affiliation • Ability/Talent • First Generation Students There is something for everyone!

4. School Specific Scholarships • Research Schools that offer Merit Aid: • Check out www.meritaid.com • College websites • Tuition-free schools • WUE (http://wue.wiche.edu) • Investigate Criteria: • Academic • Community Service • Talent--music, drama, art, athletics • Ethnicity, First Gen, etc. • Donor specific requirements • Build Your Test Scores – Resources: • Number2.com - http://www.number2.com • Unigo - http://www.unigo.com Get “College” Smart! Don’t forget to check to see if the scholarship is renewable and the associated criteria.

5. Athletic Scholarships: What you need to know NOW! • First you are a student, second an athlete! • You must register with the NCAA and adhere to their requirements • It is your responsibility to manage your college athletic recruiting • It’s not your coach’s job! • Colleges seldom “scout” • You need a personal recruitment plan to get in front of college coaches Check out rules for student athletes at www.ncaastudent.org

6. Examples of ScholarshipJudging Criteria: • A hard worker • Someone that overcomes obstacles • A team player • Someone who perseveres • An individual who takes initiative • A person of passion and enthusiasm • A responsible person • A displayer of civic duty  • A person with a purpose • A person of character Decide which apply to you and keep them in mind when developing your essay themes Adapted from How to Go to College Almost for Free by Ben Kaplan

7. Get Ready! Get “Deep” Smart Build your plan for the future Include: • College Degree/Education • Career Aspirations: Explore Careers Early • Interests and Extracurricular Activities : Look for opportunities • How do you want to make your mark on your community, industry, or area of interest? Your plan can change. You just need to have one! Would you buy stock in a company that didn’t have a business plan?

8. Get Ready! Develop your Resume Make a list of your activities, accomplishments, and skills. Include: • Classes that you’ve taken • Special Talents/Hobbies • Extracurricular Activities • Jobs and Volunteer efforts • Books you’ve read and Articles you’ve written • Organizations • Honors/ Awards • Skills you’ve developed such as leadership or public speaking You can include future efforts in your plan! Remember to keep updating your list for future reference!

9. Get Ready! Create your Personal Inventory • Ethnicity • Parents’ Employers • Religion • First Generation Student • Personal Hardship • Military Service • Single Parents • Twins • Physical Characteristics You’d be amazed at the crazy criteria for some scholarships!

10. Get Ready! Build Your Team • Develop your “First Team” • What is a “Second Team?” • Students competing with you Resources: http://www.guardianlife.com/womens_channel/girls_going_places/girls_going_places.html Girls ages 12 to 19 http://www.thinkquest.org/en/ Groups aged 19 and under, 15 & under, and 12 and under Get “Team” Smart!

11. Get Set! Organize for Success Get together everything you will need to begin your campaign: • Stationary Supplies: large envelopes, stamps, files • Professional email address (no foxykitty@yahoo.com) • Cleaned up Myspace and Facebook pages • Copies of your transcript • Important information such as your high school address, counselor’s name, GPA • List of personal references from teachers, employers, coaches, directors, and those that are familiar with your skills and interests The more applications you fill out, the more scholarship money you are likely to be awarded! Get “Tool” Smart!

12. Get Set! Begin your Search There are lots of Scholarship Resources Available: • High School Website or Counseling Office including CHS awards • Parent’s Employer • Neighborhood Businesses • Other Local High School and Community College Websites • Church or Religious Community • Service Organizations such as Lions Club or Rotary Club • Colleges of Interest • Professional Organizations • Online Searches Get the word out that you are launching a campaign! Tell teachers, counselors, friends, neighbors and others that might hear about potential scholarships.

13. Get Set! Get “Internet” Smart Online Scholarship Search Engines Learn to search the internet. Get “Internet” Smart! There are hundreds of sites to choose from. Here are a few to get you started! www.FASTWEB.com www.scholarshipexperts.com www.meritaid.com www.finaid.org www.collegescholarships.org www.gradefund.com www.scholarshipcoach.com Consider Using Social Networking such as FACEBOOK to gain scholarships! Note: Scholarships should not charge you anything to apply. . Consider creating an email address just for scholarships, you may get lots of email!

14. Launch! Essay Development • Paint a picture of yourself, using your themes • leader, activist, artist, scientist… • Show passion, not laundry list • Be consistent in application, essay and recommendations • Review requirements and rules Sometimes you can leverage a school essay for essay contests! Draw from your completed LAUNCH WORKSHEET for themes for your essays!

15. Examples of ScholarshipJudging Criteria: A hard worker Someone that overcomes obstacles A team player Someone who perseveres An individual who takes initiative A person of passion and enthusiasm A responsible person A displayer of civic duty  A person with a purpose A person of character Decide which apply to you and keep them in mind when developing your essay themes Adapted from How to Go to College Almost for Free by Ben Kaplan

16. Launch! Sit down and fill out your first scholarship application Use your essay and resume from your earlier efforts Obtain the required recommendations Advertise your success Join with other students to form a scholarship club Use a system to track your scholarship efforts Use the Scholarship Tracker form for deadlines and important information

17. Start Your Scholarship Search Today Get Smart! • Get Ready! • Build a Plan for Your Future • Develop your Resume • Create Personal Inventory • Set! • Organize for Success • Research Target Scholarships • Launch • Apply, Apply, Apply!

18. Questions & Answers Learn from our Trials & Tribulations!

19. READY–SET–LAUNCHHow to Get Your Scholarship Search Off the Ground! Based on the popular new eBook: Get SMART About Scholarships Get Paid for College while you’restill in High School by Rondalynne McClintock. M.Ed Available at: www.e-junkie.com/shop/product/62210.php Thank you for your participation!