Road to College Night

1. Road to College Night

3. Getting Ready • College is generally paid for by • Private funds • a.k.a- the Bank of Parents/Relatives • * Grants – based upon financial need • * Loans • * Work-Study • * Scholarships

4. FAFSA • Free Application for Federal Student Aid www.fafsa.gov • Application available January 1, 2015

5. Complete the FAFSA! www.fafsa.gov

6. What can you do now to get ready? 1. Visit FAFSA website 2. Obtain a FAFSA PIN 3. Gather forms And……..

8. After the fafsa is filed Your family’s financial information is analyzed using the federal need formula. You will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) which shows the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Your EFC is an indicator of your family’s financial strength. It is sent to your state scholarship agency as well as to the colleges you listed on the FAFSA. They use this number to determine your financial aid award. You’ll receive an award letter showing your “financial package,” which may consist of scholarships, grants, loans and work study. You can decline all or part of it. You’ll need to report information about private scholarships you’ve been awarded to the university’s financial aid office. Your financial aid award may then be adjusted.

9. Sample financial aid award letter Dear Rufus D. Lion, We have reviewed your financial aid application for the upcoming academic year 2014-2015 and are pleased to make the following offer of financial assistance based on the available information: Cost of Attendance (COA) Tuition and Fees         $31,400 Room and Board        $  8,500 Books and Supplies    $  1,000 Personal Expenses     $  2,500 Transportation            $     600 Total Cost of Attendance (COA)                 $44,000 Expected Family Contribution (EFC)$  5,468 Calculated Financial Need                         $38,532 To assist in covering your calculated financial need, you are offered the following financial assistance: FallSpringTotal Paws & Claws University Grant $ 10,000              $ 10,000                      $20,000 ABC Restricted Scholarship       $   5,000              $   5,000                      $10,000 Subsidized Stafford Loan           $   1,750            $   1,750                       $  3,500 Federal Work Study                 $   1,500             $   1,500                      $  3,000 Total Awards                             $ 18,250              $18,250                       $36,500

10. TYPES OF SCHOLARSHIPS College Local State National

11. Merit: Based upon academic index (grades, class rank, test scores, strength of transcript). Non-Merit: Examples: leadership, certain extracurricular activities, community service.

12. COLLEGE • The most common type of scholarship. • Check out a college’s website, catalog & financial aid materials for information on the scholarships it offers. • Awards can be offered on a university-wide basis or within a particular college or major. • Apply early – first come, first serve

15. Local Area businesses churches Kiwanis Rotary State Flinn Foundation Wood Foundation National National Merit Scholarship Corporation Gates Millennium Scholars Intel Science Talent Search

16. So how can I access Local, Stateand National Scholarships?

19. Subscribe to our College & Career Newsfeed by entering your e-mail. Every time we update these, you’ll receive info about new scholarships, college recruiter visits and more!

20. SCHOLARSHIP PROFILE Complete your scholarship profile by completing the Google Docs form located in the Student Advisor link. The Red Mountain Scholarship Committee is asked to identify worthy students for scholarships from a variety of state and local programs and organizations. Your profile provides us with a snapshot of you – your goals, accomplishments, interests and more. We are looking for well-rounded individuals with a strong emphasis placed on academics, leadership in school, community or church, service learning, and extracurricular activities

21. RMHS Scholarships Link includes: Set up a profile on at least one scholarship search site, such as www.fastweb.com. It will search a national database of scholarships for you.

22. More Ways of Searching for $$$ • Look for local scholarships on the library’s jobs and careers section • Look in the coupon section of the newspaper • Answer the optional questions on a scholarship matching service for twice as many matches • Look for near-miss matches • Pursue less competitive scholarships, such as small awards and essay contests, since they are easier to win, the money adds up and they help you win bigger scholarships

23. How to Apply for a Scholarship Start your research early Read eligibility requirements carefully Get organized - High School Transcript - PSAT, ACT, SAT scores - AP Scores - Resume - FAFSA PIN/ Forms - Letters of Recommendation Make a separate file for each scholarship and sort the files by application due dates. Don’t miss deadlines!!!!!

24. Stick to the word limit for the essay. If supporting materials are not requested in the application, don’t send them. • Answer the essay question orally and transcribe the recording • 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 • Proofread a printed copy of the essay for spelling and grammar errors

25. Keep copies of everything!

26. StackingScholarships Case: Jamie is awarded a merit scholarship for U of A for nearly the full cost of tuition. She also is awarded several other scholarships through U of A’s College of Engineering, her father’s company and some private foundations. This is an example of “stacking” – multiple scholarships that may cover a good portion of the estimated cost of attendance. You are required to report to the school’s financial aid office any scholarships outside of the merit scholarship you’ve received. The university may then choose to adjust your financial aid award.

27. The Application: Before you send the application in: Practice on a copy of the application form. Tailor your application to the sponsor’s goals. Make sure you filled in all the blanks. You can contact scholarship sponsors if you aren't sure how to fill out part of the application. Make sure your answers are readable. If you can, fill out the application online. If you have to write out the application, print neatly. If you're reusing material (such as a cover letter or an essay) from another scholarship application, make sure you haven't left in any incorrect names. Proofread your application. Run spell check and grammar check on the application. Also, have someone else read your essays to catch mistakes and give you feedback. Remember to sign and date your application. Use a professional email address, such as firstname.lastname@gmail.com Clean up the content of your Facebook account, removing inappropriate and immature material Google your name to see what shows up Make a photocopy of your application before mailing it Send the application by certified mail, return receipt requested or with delivery confirmation If rejected, ask for the reviewer comments

28. Tips for Letters of Recommendation • Ask the teacher whether he/she can write you a great letter of recommendation • The recommendation should be relevant to the scholarship sponsor’s goal • Provide the recommender with a copy of your accomplishments resume • Provide the recommender with all required forms • Give them two weeks notice • Thank the recommender for writing the letter

29. Most Common Application Mistakes • Missing deadlines • Failing to proofread • Failing to follow directions • Omitting required information • Applying for an award when you don’t qualify • Failing to apply for an award for which you are eligible • Failing to tailor the application to the sponsor • Writing a boring essay

30. Acing the Scholarship Interview • Practice, practice, practice • Videotape a mock interview and review the recording afterward • Wear appropriate business attire • Arrive 15 minutes early • Pay attention to the interviewer’s name • Be polite and send a thank you note afterward

31. If you have to pay money to get money, it is probably a scam • Never invest more than a postage stamp to get information about scholarships or to apply for a scholarship • Nobody can guarantee that you’ll win a scholarship • Do not give out personal information like bank account numbers, credit card numbers or Social Security numbers • Beware of the unclaimed aid myth

32. Telephone and Webcam Interviews • Conduct the interview in a quiet room • Use a corded phone, nor a cordless or cell phone, and do not use a speakerphone • Clean the lens on your webcam • Make sure there is nothing embarrassing within view of the webcam • Look at the webcam when you speak, not the video of the interviewer

33. Top Ten Scholarships for Age 13 and Under National Geography Bee National Spelling Bee National History Day Contest Jif Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Christopher Columbus Community Service Awards Dick Blick Linoleum Block Print Contest Gloria Barron Prize for Your Heroes Patriot’s Pen Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

34. Top Ten Scholarships for Community Service • Segal AmeriCorps Education Award • The Do Something Awards • Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship • Discover Card Tribute Award • Echoing Green Fellowship • The Heart of America Christopher Reeve Award • Kohl’s Kids Who Care Program • Samuel Huntington Public Service Award • National Caring Award • Youth Action Net

35. Top Ten Most Prestigious Scholarships • Marshall Scholarships • Rhodes Scholarship • Winston Churchill Scholarship Program • Harry S. Truman Scholarships • Henry Luce Foundation Scholarship • Morris K. Udall Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships • Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program • Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship • Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest • National Merit Scholarship Corporation

36. Top Ten Scholarships that Don’t Need an A • US Department of Education • AXA Achievement Scholarship Program • Horatio Alger Association Scholarships • Ayn Rand Institute • Girls Going Places Scholarship • Holocaust Remembrance Project Essay Contest • Americanism Essay Contest • AFSA National Scholarship Essay Contest • Red Vines Drawing Contest • Community Foundation Scholarships

37. Top Ten Most Generous Scholarships • Intel Science Talent Search • Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology • NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program • Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Competition • Davidson Fellows • Intel International Science and Engineering Fair • Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships • Collegiate Inventors Competition • Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship • Gates Millennium Scholars

38. Top Ten Most Unusual Scholarships • Scholarship for Left-Handed Students • Duck Brand Duct Tape Stuck at Prom Contest • David Letterman Telecommunications Scholarship • Zolp Scholarships • Patrick Kerr Skateboard Scholarship • Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year Award • National Marbles Tournament Scholarships • Klingon Language Institute Scholarship • National Beef Ambassador Program • Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship

39. Key Scholarship Resources • www.fastweb.com • www.finaid.org/scholarships • www.finaid.org/websearch • www.finaid.org/scholarshipscams • www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams • www.finaid.org/taxbenefits • www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf

40. After You Win a Scholarship • Understand your college’s outside scholarship policy and seek adjustments to the cost of attendance or defer a scholarship if necessary • If your scholarship is renewable, review the requirements for retaining eligibility • Tell the scholarship sponsors when you win a major award or other recognition • Understand the taxability of your scholarships • Amounts for tuition, fees, books, supplies tax-free • Amounts for room and board, transportation and other living expenses are taxable

41. If you have any questions please contact the Advising office at 480-472-8030.