Scholarships 101

1. Scholarships 101

2. Workshop Goals • To gain a greater understanding of the scholarship process. • To understand when a scholarship is right for you and you are right for it. • To avoid the pitfalls and traps associated with applying for scholarships. • To successfully apply for and receive scholarship funds.

3. What do you need to begin your search for scholarships? • Access to a computer • A little planning • A lot of research • Time to prepare applications

4. What Kind? • Academic • Activity • Skills • Personal Characteristics • Interests • Major • You Never Know

5. Where to Look? • High School – Guidance Counselor • Colleges and Universities – check the EMCC Scholarship website often • Library or Chamber of Commerce • Internet – Updated Frequently • Clubs – Whether or Not a Member • Religious Organizations • Employer – Yours and Your Parents • Newspaper

6. The Basics • Apply Early and Often – see College websites and scholarship information for deadlines, usually late Fall, early Spring of the year before you are to start school • Apply ONLY if You Meet the Criteria • Complete the Application • Neatness, Spelling and Grammar COUNT!

7. The Scholarship Essay Erin Blomstrand English Professor Estrella Mountain Community College erin.blomstrand@estrellamontain.edu

8. The Scholarship Essay • Various Names • Requirements and question(s)/prompts vary • Opportunities to explain: • Personal information • Educational goals • Professional history • Admission committees rely heavily on essays • Provides reasons why you should be awarded the scholarship • Measures your ability to communicate, and think clearly and critically • Indications of your ability to judge

9. What is Your Purpose? • Persuade the committee that you are the best candidate for the scholarship • To set you a part from other applicants, test scores, and grade point averages

10. Who is Your Audience? • What impression do you want your readers to have of you after reading your essay? • Unknown • Conduct an Audience Analysis Inventory • Adapt your writing to your audience

11. An Action Plan: Application Question(s)/Prompt • Read the application question(s)/prompt • Re-read the application question(s)/prompt • Break down the application question(s)/prompt: • Describe your most meaningful achievements and how they demonstrate your leadership ability, your contributions to public service, and your long-and-short-term goals as well as how your education has contributed to who you are today.

12. An Action Plan: Prewriting • Utilize various prewriting techniques to help you reflect • Techniques like: • Free writing • Graphic organizer • Listing • Discussion/Interview

13. An Action Plan: Drafting • Return to the application question(s)/prompt • Write a draft in which you answer the question(s)/prompt • Ignore: • Length • Spelling • Grammar • Logic • Transitions • Focus on getting onto paper what is in your head

14. An Action Plan: Revision • Re-read the application question(s)/prompt • Read your draft for • Content • Structure • Consistency (logical progression of ideas) • Make necessary changes

15. An Action Plan: Proofreading/Publishing • Submit your revised draft to EMCC Writing Center or to a friend for review • Double check grammar, spelling, and punctuation • Double check application question(s)/prompt, length, and anything else required in essay • Save essay in a Word format such as Rich Text Format (RTF) that is easily opened

16. Congratulations! You have completed an essay that can be used for future scholarships or applications!

17. Common Scholarship Components • Scholarship application – online or paper • Personal Essay (s) • Letters of recommendation • Academic transcripts

18. How do I know if I am eligible? • Read the application! - Must you attend a particular school (or type of school) to receive the scholarship? - Is there a GPA requirement? - Is there a class level requirement (freshman, sophomore, etc.)? - Is the scholarship based on your college major/area of academic emphasis?

19. How do I know if I am eligible continued… • More questions to ask yourself… - Must you be a member of a particular organization or working in a particular field to apply? - Is there a need requirement? Is completing the FAFSA a requirement? - Is the scholarship targeted to students with a particular background?

20. Letters of Recommendation Marylyn Bradley Professor, Estrella Mountain Community College

21. Letters of Recommendation • They are commonly required as part of the scholarship application process. • Like your personal essay, they provide a way for the scholarship committee to get to know about you and your achievements. • They can make the difference in attracting extra attention to your scholarship application.

22. Who Should You Ask? Choose someone who: • Has worked with you closely. • Has worked with you long enough to write from real knowledge. • Is relevant to the scholarship you have chosen. • Has a positive opinion of you and your abilities. • Has an personal style that is warm and supportive.

23. Possible sources for letters of recommendation • Advisors or counselors • Leaders of organizations where you have volunteered • Mentors • Religious leaders • Teachers • School principals and administrators • Employers • Read the scholarship rules for specifics.

24. When Should You Ask? AS SOON AS POSSIBLE • Start early • 2-3 weeks of lead time is best. • 48-72 hours minimum. • Ask politely and formally. • This is a significant favor that you are asking. • Allow time for follow-up.

25. When Should You Ask? • If you’re mailing the application, • Check back 2-3 days before the letter is due to be mailed to make sure it is ready. • If the letter is to be sent directly by • the writer, • Check back 2-3 days before the letter is due to be mailed to make sure it has been mailed or faxed.

26. How to Help Get Better Letters Give your letter writer information • Your contact information • The deadline for each letter you need • The type of scholarship for which you're applying • Any special forms • Self-addressed stamped envelopes

27. How to Help Get Better Letters Give your letter writer information • Information you would like emphasized in the letter • Course of study • Career interests • Campus or community activities • Honors and awards received • Personal characteristics • Any other information you consider relevant.

28. “Good Examples” Show How Well The Writer Knows the Applicant: I had the pleasure of directing plays in which John played major roles during each of his three years at ABC High School. Over the last three years I coached Jane as she worked her way up from JV to varsity tennis champion.

29. “Good Examples” Describe qualities observed in the applicant: John's discipline and dedication were extraordinary — not only did he never miss a practice; he came early to warm up and always worked out for an additional hour after school. Jane made herself available to other actors and actresses for impromptu rehearsals and practices, thus inspiring the rest of the cast to even greater efforts and success.

30. “Good Examples” Rankstudents vis-a-vis other applicants: He was in the top 10% of his class. She has the best analytical skills of any high school senior I have taught in recent years. Offer mild criticism in positive tone: The only fault I have encountered in him is his shyness. His natural modesty sometimes hides a young man of remarkable strength and broad interests. Detailed – Engaging – Positive - Relevant

31. The Importance of ‘Thank You’ • More than just good manners • Share results whether successful or not • May result in other benefits or referrals later

32. But it sounds like a lot of work… One way to think about the time spent researching scholarship opportunities is to consider you are getting paid for this research.

33. Cost and Benefits • If you spend ten hours finding and applying for a scholarship and you receive a $500.00 award, you just made $50.00 an hour! • Even if you don’t get awarded a scholarship, you will have refined your research and writing skills. • Once you have completed one application, you can often “recycle” your essays. • You can save yourself additional time by asking your references if you can use their letters of recommendation for multiple scholarships.

34. Cost and Benefits • If you spend ten hours finding and applying for a scholarship and you receive a $500.00 award, you just made $50.00 an hour! • Even if you don’t get awarded a scholarship, you will have refined your research and writing skills. • Once you have completed one application, you can often “recycle” your essays. • You can save yourself additional time by asking your references if you can use their letters of recommendation for multiple scholarships.

35. Don’t waste your money on scholarship search services that promise to help you tap into vast amounts of unclaimed financial aid funds. There are many web sites that provide the same information for FREE. One recommendation…

36. Maricopa Foundation Scholarship • Available in Late January • Has an Early Deadline – March 30 • Pool for Many Scholarships • http://www.maricopa.edu/resdev/scholarships/apply.php

37. Scholarship Search Engines • Alternative way to search for scholarships • Online Scholarship Database • Usually takes 15 minutes to sign up • Your matched with scholarships you qualify for • Free service!

38. 1-2-3 Steps to Signing-up • Select a Search Engine to register with • Enter your personal profile • Family information • Educational goals • Specific information about you • Receive lists of scholarships you qualify for

39. Recommended Search Engines • www.collegeanswer.com • Free Preparing for College and Scholarship Search Engine • www.fastweb.com • Free Scholarship Search Engine • www.supercollege.com • Free Preparing for College and Scholarship Search Engine

40. You can start right away! • Please go to the following website: • http://www.estrellamountain.edu/ • Click on Quick Links • Choose Scholarships • Select EMCC General Scholarship Application • http://www.estrellamountain.edu/scholarships/general.asp