Project Achieve: An Innovative Educational Student Support Service

1. Project Achieve:An Innovative EducationalStudent Support Service Scholarship Information http://www.unomaha.edu/achieve/

2. What You Need to know • How to organize your search • How to find scholarships • What are the keys to success when you apply

3. Vocabulary • Scholarship/Grant-money you receive for school that you DO NOT need to pay back. • Loan-money that you HAVE TO pay back.

4. Who do you go to for help?? • Project Achieve Advisor • Financial Aid Office • UNO Advisor • UNO Writing Center • New Student Orientation

5. Federal Financial Aid • Number one source of assistance that does not have to be paid back. • Apply by filling out Free Application for Federal Students Aid (FAFSA) online at http://www.fafsa.edu.gov • Grants are awarded based on need. • Filling out FAFSA also qualifies you for state grants. • Important website: http://studentaid.ed.gov

6. “Scholarships 101” Finding Scholarships

7. Planning Your Search • Identify the sources you will use. • Keep track of the information you gather. • Manage your time accordingly. • How much time are you willing to devote to your scholarship search? • How much money do you need to get?

8. Organizing Your SearchUse “The Mechanics of Scholarship Writing” workshop to: • Complete Personal Data Sheetfor writing essays and answering questions. • Track Scholarship applications and deadlines. • Request recommendations. • Create a game plan. • www.scholarshiphelp.org

9. Two Methods for finding Scholarships! • “Networking” • Internet searching

10. “Networking” • Finding scholarships through talking to people with who you have some connection.Ex. Employers, Unions, Churches, Military, Local businesses, Clubs, etc. • Advantages -Less competition -Personal connections • Disadvantages -More work finding them

11. Internet Searching • Using Internet databases to match information about yourself with possible scholarships. Ex. www.fastweb.com • Advantages • Many scholarships (500,000+) • Can search any time of the day and/or night • Disadvantages • Highly competitive (lots of applicants) • Impersonal

12. Institutional Scholarships • Each institution has a system for awarding scholarships to students planning to attend their institution.Ex.UNO’s Scholarship Page-http://www.ses.unomaha.edu/finaid/ • Check with the financial aid office at the Institution(s) you are planning to attend. • Some scholarships are awarded through individual departments/colleges within a university so check with them also.

13. Project Achieve TRIO Scholarships & Grants • TRIO Grant Aid -Eligible to students who are freshmen and sophomores, are active in Project Achieve programs and who have received a Pell-Grant as part of their financial-aid package. Information about the grant-aid are e-mailed to eligible students to come by the Project Achieve Office to fill out the grant-aid application. • Project Achieve/William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation Scholarship-Eligible students include freshmen through seniors who have achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or better and have a financial need. A minimum of ten ($750.00) scholarships will be awarded for fall semester. Official scholarship notification and instructions are e-mailed to students during the month of February.

14. Private Scholarships • Many organizations and individuals set up scholarships. • Requirements for getting these scholarships will vary. • Think of organizations you or your parents might be involved with and ask about scholarships. Ex. Lions Club, Churches, Unions, Rotary, Fraternities, Sororities • UNO scholarships: http://www.ses.unomaha.edu/finaid/

15. Tools You Can Use • Scholarship search materials in Project Achieve Office, Financial Aid Office, and Individual Colleges on campus. • “Scholarships 101” • Set up your “game plan” • Successful application • Scholarship search engines • Letter to request scholarship information

16. Websites for Scholarship Searching • Scholarship Search Websites: • www.fastweb.com • www.educationquest.org • www.fafsa.ed.gov • www.ses.unomaha.edu/finaid/ • www.finaid.org • www.collegenet.com • www.attheu.com • www.collegeboard.org • www.students.gov • www.petersons.com

17. Scholarship Scams-Make sure you read the fine print! • “This scholarship is guaranteed or your money back” • “The scholarship service will do all the work” • “The scholarship will cost some money” • “You can’t get this information anywhere else” • “You’re the finalist”…in a contest you never entered or “You have been selected by a national foundation to receive a scholarship” • “The scholarship service needs your credit card or checking number in advance”

18. What Is Your Timeline? • Getting scholarships takes time. • Many scholarships are due by March 1st or before • Plan time for: • Searching • Writing essays • Requesting references • Gathering materials and organizing (transcripts, etc.)

19. Writing Applications & Essays • Pull information from Personal Data Sheet • Research the organization giving the scholarship • What are they looking for? Sample Announcement • Give them a reason to like you (Brainstorm) • Have at least one person edit your essay • Answer the question! • Find something unique to tell about yourself (Ex. Experience you had that helped you decide to go into your field of study) (Sample Personal Statements) • Actions verbs- Use them!

20. Reference Letters • Request references from people who can write you a good letter • Prepare a Reference Letter Data Sheet • Give two weeks for the person to prepare the letter • Make that date at least one week before you intend to mail your application • Send a thank you letter immediately and update them when you receive notice

21. It’s hard work but it pays!! Good Luck!! Happy Hunting!!

22. Project Achieve:An Innovative EducationalStudent Support Service Scholarship Information http://www.unomaha.edu/achieve/