Finding Funds For Oregon Students

1. Finding Funds For Oregon Students Oregon Student Access Commission Helping Students Plan and Pay for College

2. Oregon Student Access Commission (OSAC) Creating a College-Going Culture in Oregon • ASPIRE and Outreach • Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG) • Grants for foster youth, student parents, and more… • OSAC Scholarship Application www.OregonStudentAid.gov

3. Topics • Financial Aid Terms • Oregon Opportunity Grant Other Grants & Tuition Waiver OSAC Scholarship Program & Application Tips

4. Financial Aid Terms • FAFSA • Free Application for Federal Student Aid • Helps evaluate a student’s ability to pay for college • Calculates the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) • Reapply each year • Determines eligibility for financial aid www.fafsa.ed.gov www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov

5. Financial Aid Terms • Need-based aid • Determined by FAFSA &/or other statement of financial need • Merit-based aid • Determined by other factors: talent, academics, interest, etc. www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov

6. Financial Aid Terms, cont. • Grants • Eligibility based on need • No repayment • Scholarships • Eligibility based on EFC, remaining need, merit, or a combination • Work study • Awarded by the college using FAFSA information

7. Financial Aid Terms, cont. • Student Loans • Federal and Private Loans • Must be paid back • Federal Education Tax Credits • American Opportunity Tax Credit (modified Hope Credit): Up to $2,500 annually • Lifetime Learning Credit: Up to $2,000 per family per year for additional years • www.irs.gov

8. Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG) • FAFSA is the application for OOG. • Submit the FAFSA by February 1, 2013 to be considered for a 2013-2014 Opportunity Grant. • The OOG award is a flat amount of $2,000 for 2013-14 for eligible students at participating Oregon institutions. • Awards are made first-come first- served until the funds run out. • OSAC will notify OOG awardees by email of their award. www.fafsa.gov

9. Tuition & Fee Waiver for Foster Youth • HB 3471 passed in 2011 and effects the 2012-13 academic school year. • Waives tuition and fees for foster youth & former foster youth at Oregon Community colleges and universities. • OSAC gives these students priority awarding for the OOG. • Oregon DHS identifies eligible students and notifies OSAC & the schools. • Questions? Contact the school’s financial aid office or Peggy Cooksey 541-687-7443

10. Other State Grant Programs at OSAC • Chafee Education and Training Grant • Scholarships for the Children of Deceased and Disabled Public Safety Officers • Student Childcare Grant www.OregonStudentAid.gov

11. OSAC Scholarship Program • 450+ scholarships • More than $15 million awarded • Average award is $2,000 • 3,800+ awardees • One easy application • Apply online at: www.OregonStudentAid.gov

12. OSAC Scholarship Program Deadlines • Friday, February 15, 2013 • Priority deadline for Early Bird Review • Opportunity to correct errors • If error-free, enter a drawing for a $500 scholarship • 5:00 pm (PST) • Friday, March 1, 2013 • FINAL deadline • Oregon Scholarship Applications & all required documents must be received at OSAC by 5:00 pm (PST) www.OregonStudentAid.gov

13. Scholarship Application Features • Apply for multiple scholarships on one online application! • High school juniors can begin their application for submission their graduation year • Scholarship Application Worksheet • OSAC will send email after application is • received and again after review www.OregonStudentAid.gov

14. What’s new for 2013-14? Application Coming Soon!! • New Features • Guides users through the application process with skip logic • Actively filters out irrelevant scholarships • Customizes each user’s list of eligibility-based scholarships • Beginning now, students can begin personal statements, activities chart, and search for scholarships • Additional enhancements coming soon!

15. Scholarship Programs • Ford Scholars – For graduating high school seniors and community college transfer students pursuing a bachelor's degree at an eligible Oregon college • Ford Opportunity – For single parents who are "head of household" and without the support of a domestic partner, pursuing a bachelor's degree at an eligible Oregon college • Ford ReStart – For students, age 25 years or older, beginning or returning to full-time enrollment in an Oregon certificate or degree program • Ford Sons & Daughters - For dependents of employees of Roseburg Forest Products Co. who are 21 years old or younger by the application deadline; applicants may attend any eligible college in the U.S. www.OregonStudentAid.gov or www.tfff.org

16. Application Requirements • Applications require: • Student Profile • 4 Personal Statements • Activities Chart • Transcripts • Scholarship-specific essays and other documents may be required

17. Application Student Profile Page Your Personal “go-to” page • What can you do in your Student Profile? • Edit & print your application • Verify whether OSAC accepted your application • Check if you have been awarded a scholarship, and if awarded, accept/decline it online • Update your personal contact info, college choice and college major • Copy (refresh) prior year’s Oregon Scholarship Application data to updateand apply for the current year • Check your Student Profile often for messages from OSAC about your application!

18. OSAC Activities Chart You can: • Begin to add activities • Certify that you have no activity in a specific category, if applicable • Import your CIS Activities Activity list: • School Activities • Volunteer Activities (Community/Family) • Paid Work History • Include: • Dates • Hours (time spent) • Responsibilities/Accomplishments (115 characters)

19. Personal Statements 150 words for each statement: 1. Explain your career aspirations and your educational plan to meet these goals. 2. Explain how you have helped your family or made your community a better place to live. Please provide specific examples. 3. Describe a personal accomplishment and the strengths and skills you used to achieve it. 4. Describe a significant change or experience that has occurred in your life. How did you respond and what did you learn about yourself?

20. Transcripts • High school seniors submit transcripts that reflect grades through December/January • Additional requirements for home-schooled students • College students submit transcripts that includes all work through fall semester/term • Three options for submission: • School submits electronically (IDTS or OSAC secure web portal) • Student scan and upload to application • Student sends hardcopy (blacken first 5 digits of SSN) # 1 reason for a rejected OSAC application: A missing or incomplete transcript

21. How do students receive their scholarships? • Students • Accepts award through online OSAC Student Profile • Notifies OSAC w/any changes: address, school, etc • School • Verifies eligibility • Receives funds from OSAC at beginning of the term • Issues? Contact the financial aid office and then OSAC

22. What’s new for 2013-14? Application available November 1

23. Tip #1: Search Additional Scholarships • Colleges and universities (including departments) • Employers… and parents’ employers • Member organizations • Local civic organizations, foundations, high school • Military service, disabled veterans Do not pay for search tools – use the FREE ones!

24. Tip #2: Scholarship Search Engines • OSAC - www.OregonStudentAid.gov • Fastweb - wwww.fastweb.com • College Board – www.collegeboard.org • Peterson’s – www.petersons.com • College and Career Centers • Career Information Systems (CIS) www.OregonStudentAid.gov/aspire-web-links.aspx

25. Tip #3: What Selection Committees Consider • Academics • GPA, course rigor, transcripts, and test scores • Outside the Classroom • Volunteer activities, leadership, work, etc. • Life Experiences • Serving your community, helping your family • Tell your unique story using your four Personal Statements, Activities Chart, and transcript

26. Tip #4: Writing Essays or Personal Statements • Get inspiration from past activities • Answer the question • Consider the reader • Don’t repeat information (like your GPA) • Cute doesn’t cut it • Be clear and purposeful about your academic and career goals • Be honest

27. Tip #5: Don’t be Shy • In what ways are you unique? • What are your leadership qualities? • How do you take initiative? • Any special recognition? • Tie your past and present with your future • Put YOU on paper • Passion with a purpose

28. Tip #6: Get Help and Feedback • Friends and family • Office/job associates • Professors/teachers • Learning resource centers • Writing centers

29. Tip #7: Proofread • Read backwards to focus on spelling • Read out loud and silently • Print it out and read it • Read it slowly • Take a break and review again • Have someone else proofread your essay

30. Tip #8: The Interview • Remember your audience • Reread your Application & Personal Statements/essays • Practice your interview skills • Make a positive first impression • Establish eye contact • Display poised, confident body language • Dress appropriately • Be yourself • Shake hands firmly • Arrive early

31. Tip #9: Beware of Scams • Why pay for a service you can get for free • Must still do the work and getting a refund is not that easy • Services that “guarantee” scholarships are questionable • Report scams to the Federal Trade Commission • For more information: www.ftc.gov

32. OSAC Communications • Tip Sheets • How to analyze College Financial Aid award letters, What you need to know about student loans, and more! • Podcast Topics • The OSAC Scholarship Application, American Tax Credit, Avoiding Scholarship Scams, etc • Follow OSAC on Twitter and Facebook • Receive updates on new scholarships, tips during the scholarship season, reminders, and more! www.OregonStudentAid.gov

33. COLLEGE GOAL OREGON January 5, 12, 19, 26, 2013 FREE help completing the FAFSA at 20+ sites. Pick from one of four dates! www.CollegeGoalOregon.gov

34. Thank you for Attending Finding Funds for Oregon Students