Preparing A Winning Application: How to Apply for RTC Foundation Scholarships

Preparing A Winning Application: How to Apply for RTC Foundation Scholarships

What this Workshop covers • Deadlines • How to find, complete and send application • How applications are reviewed • How applicants are notified of award • Scholar Expectations

What this workshop DOESN’T cover • Individual assistance or advice • Time to complete an application today

The Basic Stuff • Fall Quarter 2013 only • Application is online at: www.rtc.edu/Foundation • Must be emailed to scholarships@rtc.edu • Deadline is Monday, July 22 at 3pm: • NO EXCEPTIONS!

The IMPORTANT stuff • Must be current student at RTC • Cannot be entering 1st Quarter at RTC • Most scholarships are not for people in last quarter at RTC • Most require Academic Merit (3.0 gpa or better) • All evaluate financial need • The Foundation will decide which scholarship you are qualified to receive (it could be more than one!)

The Application • 8 pages: • Pages 1 & 2: Instructions • Pages 3 through 8: The Form • PDF that you can fill out and save to a PC • 9 sections to complete • Letter of Recommendation

Section I: Personal Information • Tells us who you are: • Student ID • Social Security Number • Address • RTC Student Email (make sure this is right!) • Demographics FILL THIS OUT COMPLETELY

Section II: Study Plans • Your training program • Will you receive a certificate or degree • When you started at RTC (the quarter and year) • When you anticipate graduating from RTC • Your Financial Aid Application Status FILL THIS OUT COMPLETELY

A Word about Financial Aid • I’m not your Financial Aid Expert • Your “Unmet Need” is evaluated for scholarship: • The amount of money you would still need after receiving financial aid to pay for ACADEMIC costs

Section III: Education History • List the schools you attended: • Location • Dates attended • What you studied: • High School is “High School Graduation Requirements” • Indicate if you graduated (yes/no): • Be honest FILL THIS OUT COMPLETELY

Section IV: Work Experience • List Employer, Address, Employment Dates and Wage • Most current first • Be thorough and accurate here FILL THIS OUT COMPLETELY

A Word about Work Experience • There is a separate section for volunteer experience • Not a deal-breaker if you don’t yet have work experience • Some legitimate work is unpaid: • Child care and raising a family • Working for the family business • Tutoring

Section V: Financial Information • List your annual income • Not hourly, not monthly • List other income sources • List Loans/Scholarships • IMPORTANT QUESTION: Is there any other financial information you would like the scholarship decision committee to consider? FILL THIS OUT COMPLETELY

Section VI: Community Involvement • List volunteer activities here: • Civic/non-profit • Faith or church • Armed Forces/National Guard/ROTC This is an important section. Don’t skip it. FILL THIS OUT COMPLETELY

Section VII: Future Goals This is the beginning of essay information: • Tell us more than “get a job” or “be a ___.” • Tell us about your long-range goals: • What you will do in short-term work • What you eventually want to do as a career FILL THIS OUT COMPLETELY

Section VIII: Program Experience • Just like “Future Goals,” be thorough and give complete answers. • Explain what led you to choose your program – personal and/or professional reasons. • Tell us if you have previous experience: • It is ok to not have past work experience, but highlight why you feel a connection to your program. FILL THIS OUT COMPLETELY

Section IX: Additional Information DON’T SKIP THIS SECTION OR THE RECOMMENDATION LETTER • Recommendation from Instructor: • Important!!!! • Can be a community member too • Choose ONE of the following questions to answer: • Two is not necessary • Be complete • Show us the impact

What Makes a Winning Application? • Follow the Directions. • Fill out the Form COMPLETELY. • Use Complete Sentences and Answers: • The people who read scholarships want to see that you put forth effort to apply. • If you write your response rather than type it, make it legible. • Don’t assume we don’t check it. We do. • Don’t’ assume we don’t read it. We do. .

After The Applications Close • Foundation sends applications with eligible resources to committee. • Scholarship Committee reads ALL applications: • Uses a metric to measure all the sections. • Completes a score chart on their own. • Committee convenes on July 31 to: • Compare scores • Discuss applications • Select recipients

Selection Notification • Foundation FIRST notifies Financial Aid and Registration offices of recipients: • Verify good standing with college • Prepare to process scholarships Takes a few business days to complete • Foundation SECOND notifies all applicants: • By email for congratulations AND regrets • By postal mail for congratulations Takes a few business days to complete

Processing Your Scholarship • FOUNDATION will tell Financial Aid and Registration for you • MUST tell Foundation staff how you want scholarship applied: • This quarter or future quarter • For books, tuition, fees, tools or bookstore NOT FOR PERSONAL EXPENSES

Scholarly Responsibilities • Attend a “You Won a Scholarship” workshop: • Complete Impact Statement • Complete a Thank You Card to Donor • Attend a scholarship reception • Participate as a volunteer or speaker at Foundation events THESE ARE MANDATORY. THEY WILL HELP YOU NETWORK AND ARE USEFUL TO YOUR RESUME!

Frequently Asked Questions • Why isn’t there just merit-based scholarships? • Why aren’t there scholarships for first quarter students? • Why don’t I tell you what scholarships I want to apply for? • What if I hate writing essays? • I applied in the past and didn’t get a scholarship…why? • Why can’t I use scholarship funds for personal costs? OTHERS????

GOOD LUCK! • Additional questions are only answered by EMAIL: scholarships@rtc.edu

Preparing A Winning Application: How to Apply for RTC Foundation Scholarships