College Funding and Resources: Scholarships, Financial Aid, and More

1. “Finding $$$ for College y Recursos Para La Universidad” Presenter: Andrea Huerta and Daisy Banuelos National College Resources Foundation (NCRF)

2. We will answer What is a Financial Aid Literacy Where are the scholarships Opportunities at the HBCUs Leadership and community service Tips on writing your essay What is Need Blind-Need Base

3. What is Financial Literacy in the Financial Aid World? “The ability to use knowledge and skills to manage financial resources effectively for a lifetime of financial well being.” 2008 Annual Report, President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability

4. What is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Spanish FAFSA • An application completed and filed by a student who wishes to receive federal student aid. • The application collects household and financial information used by the federal government to calculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to meet higher educational costs.

5. Financial Aid Resources to help pay for college Federal Student Aid Deadline June 30, 2019 California State Aid Deadline March 2, 2019 Dreamers are eligible for State, institutional, and Private scholarship

6. Middle Class Scholarship • The Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) is a program that provides undergraduate students with family/single incomes up to $171,000 and a maximum annual household asset amount of Must be enrolled at a UC or CSU

7. California Dream Act – What is it? Often referred to as AB 540 Comprised of 5 bills and made into law Exempts certain students from paying nonresident tuition at California public colleges • AB 540 (passed in 2001) • AB 130 and AB 131 (passed in 2011) • AB 2000 (passed in 2014) • SB 68 (passed in 2018)

8. When To Apply: • October 1 – March 2 • Who Can Apply? • Undocumented Students • With or without DACA • TPS Status • U Visa Holders • Ineligible for Federal Financial Aid • Additional Requirements • You must apply for and qualify for an AB 540 nonresident tuition exemption in order to be eligible for grant aid • Males 18-25 yrs. must register for Selective Service https://dream.csac.ca.gov/

9. What is a Scholarship • A scholarship is money paid to you, or on your behalf, to help pay for tuition, books, housing or other education-related expenses. Scholarships are awarded to student for various reasons.

10. Avoiding Scholarship Scams • Students and parents do not pay for advice for scholarship opportunities • Many scams are targeted toward families who are not familiar with the process and who are 1st generation students, low-income, or athletics • Parents always want the best opportunities and think that these scammers are professionals • If you pay for scholarship opportunities, then it may be a scam www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/LSA

11. What do Scholarship Judges and organizations look for? • Keep in mind that they are real people • They are judging on a rubric • They know the difference between a student writing the essay and adult writing the essay • Presentation and delivery is very important • Avoid fancy fonts, colors, and design • Postmark vs. deadline – apply on time • Tell a story in your writing • Turn a challenging life situation into a learning experience and how did it help you grow

12. Start Early • Searching for scholarships takes preparation and planning for your future. You must decide how much time you want to put into your scholarship search. • Use these tools to create your portfolio. These are a couple of the best tools that will help you search for scholarships and colleges that fits your profile. • Make sure you create a free account in your freshman year of high school • www.cappex.com (11 BILLION worth of scholarships • www.nces.ed.gov\collegenavigator • www.tuitionfundingsources.com (7 million scholarships worth 41 BILLION) A deeper look at college’s cost: Visit • collegesscorecard.ed.gov • www.cappex.com • https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best- • https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/

13. What is the term “Rolling Admissions” • Rolling admission will accept you up to the first day of school ( does not include Ivy Leagues) • Admission at some of these universities accept students from January through July • You will have an opportunity to be accepted after November from the previous year • No deadlines ( limited schools) Learn more by visiting the schools website

14. I didn’t get excellent grades; can I still go to college or get a scholarship? • YES! What are excellent grades? A’s and B’s What are good grades? B’s and C’s What are decent grades? C + What are struggling grades? C’s and D’s What are failing grades? “F’s What type of grades do you think you’ll need for a scholarship or admission to your dream college

15. Top ten tips in winning a scholarship application • Apply only if you are eligible • Complete the application in full • Follow directions • Neatness counts • Write an essay that makes a strong impression with passion • Start early (August to December) • Watch for deadlines • Make sure your application get where it needs to go • Keep a back-up file in case something goes wrong • Give a final “over-look” and ask someone to edit for you • Don’t forget about community services and leadership

16. Writing your Essay • Tell us about yourself, family, where are you from, etc…. • Tell us about an academic or extracurricular interest • Tell us why and how the scholarship will benefit you • Show us an imaginative side of your personality • Sensory detail- use an experience to set the scene in which you will illustrate something about yourself, topic, or situation • Write about something that means a lot to you, and support your thoughts with reason and examples • Essays are usually from 300 to 500 words and Ivies 650-1,000 • Participate in an Essay workshop to help you develop skills or other resources that are made available. • Check your grammar and ask someone to edit your essay

17. Personal Statement Essay • Most scholarships require either a personal statement, topic essay, or prompt question essay with the application • It is very important to start early and prepare writing your personal statement as early as possible. • This will give you enough time to revise, revise, and revise. • It will allow you to produce the perfect personal statement and/or essay without being rushed. Download the planning kit from www.cappex.com

18. Letters of Recommendations • You will need to provide letters of recommendation to validate your abilities, interest, personality, extracurricular, and academic performance. • Don’t just ask anyone to write your letter of recommendation. It should from someone who knows you character

19. Letter of Recommendations • Request at least 6 weeks in advance • Follow up 2 weeks after your request • Try to obtain at least three recommendations • Provide the requested information for recommendation • Make many copies and keep the original for your special scholarship or for your files • Keep a USB drive to store all of your letter recommendations and other college stuff • Make sure your letters are clean copies

20. Your recommendations should be from • A Teacher • A Science teacher if majoring in the sciences • Your high school counselor • Someone from your school administration who knows your talents, ability, and background • A community organization • Your church (pastor) Note:Make sure your letters are on agency letterhead

21. Most scholarships awarded are to students who have community service • Community Service Scholarships are offered by many corporations and private foundations to encourage service-learning. • Encourage your college-bound student to participate in volunteer activities that could qualify them for more opportunities for community service awards.

22. Leadership • Leadership opportunities are very important when applying for scholarships that offer full rides and/or waive the tuition and fees for admission. Being involved in leadership usually open the doors for a substantial amount of scholarship support. • Leadership and community service differ from each other.

23. Volunteering in your community • Looks good on a college application and for scholarship eligibility This come across as a well-rounded person. • Lets you try out careers Volunteering in a specific field will let you know if this is really what you want to do. • Is an American tradition No matter what your talents, there are unlimited ways for you to serve your community

24. Community service awards • Target All-Around Scholarship:Target awards over six hundred All-Around Scholarships each year — including one $25,000 scholarship • Presidential Freedom Scholarships:  Each high school in the country may sponsor up to two students — juniors or seniors — to receive a $1,000 scholarship in recognition of outstanding leadership in service to their community. • Bonner Scholars Program: At 25 colleges, the Bonner Foundation supports as many as 1,600 students who receive up to $4,000 per year for four years.  In return, award recipients are asked to serve their communities in a lasting and meaningful way, by committing 10 hours each week to volunteer service activities and by completing at least one full-time summer service internship.  • For a list of these scholarships go to the following: http://charityguide.org/volunteer/fifteen/community-service-scholarships.htm

25. National and Community Service • AmeriCorps, a program of national and community service, provides funding for education in exchange for service • Participants can earn up to two education awards of up to $4,725 each. • Participants must be at least 17, U.S. citizens, and residents. • For more information, students may call 1-800-942-2677, visit www.americorps.org or email quesitons@americorps.org

26. Search within your community • Elk’s Lodge Scholarship and Rotary Club • The San Diego Foundation Community Scholarship • PG & E Scholarships • AMAE ( mid-January) • www.peocalifornia.org (only for women) Scholarships • Delta Sigma Theta Inc. Sorority AA Recognition • Sororities and Fraternities • Association of Mexican American Educators (AMAE) • The Latino College Expo and The Black College Expo • Check with your counselors or school website

27. Raise Me – Earn Scholarships while in high school 9th-12th

28. Create your profile • Discover Colleges- Learn more about which colleges could be a great fit for you, see the micro-scholarships they’re offering, and share that you’re interested by hitting the “Follow” button (for each school). • Add your Achievements- Complete yourRaiseMePortfolio by adding each of your course grades, club involvement, sports, volunteer activities, and more. • Earn scholarships for your – Achievements-For each achievement, you'll earn a micro-scholarships from colleges you’re Following, the sum of which you'll be awarded when you attend that college.

30. Reserve Officer’ Training Corps (ROTC) • Navy • Marines • Air Force • Army Military scholarships at 4-year universities

31. Tips for Athletic Scholarships • Make sure you file with NCAA-(National Collegiate Athletic Association) Clearinghouse in high school • ACT or SAT enter 9999 for NCAA as one of the college choices • Update your portfolio: awards, game tapes, newspaper clippings, etc. (make a highlight tape) • All coaches have email addresses: sell yourself by sending information via email. Know your stats and positions. • Make sure you understand the difference between Division 1,2 & 3 ( scholarships are only awarded to D-1 & 2) • Ask your coach to write a letter of recommendation on your athletic skills and highlights

32. Types of Athletic Scholarships • Football • Basketball • Baseball • Wrestling • Soccer • Golf • Lacrosse • Hockey • Swimming • Track & Field • Tennis • Volleyball • Softball • Cheerleading • Gymnastics

33. Band & Choir scholarships • Earning a marching band scholarship generally depends on three things: • strong track record of band or choir experience from your • high school • A great audition • Perhaps, most importantly, finding a college or university • that offers such scholarships

34. Scholarships from employers • Some employers offer incentives by providing college tuition benefits for their employees and their children. • Bank of America • Coca Cola • Fed-Ex Check with your employer to see if they offer tuition remission

35. Private scholarships • A student also might qualify for a private grant or scholarship for academic achievement, religious affiliation, ethnic or racial heritage, community activities, athletics ability, or hobbies and special interest. www.federalStudentAid.ed.gov/scholarship • www.meritaid.com Offers a free scholarship search based on these and other criteria

36. Scholarships List Create an account with Cappex and apply to the thousands of scholarships in the various categories • Scholarships by Ethnicity • African American Scholarships, Scholarships for Hispanics… see more scholarships • Scholarships by Gender • Scholarships for Women... see more scholarships • Scholarships by College Major • Scholarships by State www.meritaid.com or www.cappex.com

37. The Black Common App

38. Technology Update: Board Workshop

39. Other scholarship opportunities at HBCUs • Morgan State has the highest federal grant from DOE to produce more NASA engineers, scientist and aviators • Offer paid internships while in college 19 Land grant schools offer USDA scholarships or 1890 scholarships • Merit aid for STEM majors • Lincoln University offer in-state tuition to San Joaquin Valley students (12,000 year) Tuition, Room & board • Summer internships • Southern University is the only HBCU system in the nation (5 campuses) and will offer in-state tuition to students with 2.8 cumulative GPA.

40. U.S. Department of Agriculture(Land Grant Universities) • Alabama A & M • Alcorn State University • Delaware State • Florida A & M • Fort Valley State • Kentucky State • Langston • Lincoln University • North Carolina A & T • Prairie View A & M • South Carolina State • Southern University • Tuskegee University • Univ. of Arkansas Pine Bluff • University of Maryland Eastern Shore • Virginia State University • West Virginia State University

41. What is Need Blind, Need Base Colleges & Universities Ivy League schools Baby Ivy League and other prestigious schools • Brown • Harvard • Yale • Columbia • Dartsmouth • Cornell • Princeton • UPENN • Bates • Amherst • Wesleyan • Middlebury • MIT • Vassar • Stanford • West Point Need Blind- Need Base, families income less than $ 65,000

42. Sample from Princeton Estimate your Princeton Financial Aid Eligibility by using the Financial Aid Estimator

43. Fly-in Programs at the Ivies • Schools may receive around 900 applications for 100 slots. • Prospective students may be asked a couple of questions about their household income and estimated need for financial aid, so schools can determine if the student is low-income. • Prospective students who are accepted into fly-in programs are likely, but not guaranteed, admission into the college if they apply.

44. College Fly-in Programs • Columbia • UPENN • Dartmouth • MIT • Amherst • John Hopkins • Vasser • Emory • Carnegie Mellon • Bowdoin • Colgate • Washington (St Louis) • Vanderbilt • Swarthmore • Wellesley • And others Conduct your research and look for these opportunities.

45. Other Scholarship websites • www.meritaid.com • www.fastweb.com • www.coca-colascholars.org • www.chci.org • www.uncf.org • www.littleafrica.org • www.hispanic.fund • www.hsf.net • www.scholarshiphunter.com • www.shell.com • www.maldef.com • www.scholarship.com • www.dreamersroadmap.com • www.adelantefund.org • www.collegescholarships.com • www.gmsp.org • www.aacn.nche.edu • www.apsanet.org • www.xerox.com • www.thurgoodmarshallfund.org • www.salliemae.com • www.jackieRobinson.org • www.blackExcel.org/link4.htm • www.scholarshipamerica.org • www.apiasf.org • www.cappex.com

46. DreaMers Roadmap http://www.dreamersroadmap.com/scholarships/

47. Great Resources www.csac.ca.gov www.cappex.com www.californiacolleges.edu www.collegeview.com www.Knowhow2go.org www.studentaid.gov www.fafsa.gov

48. DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) • DACA is an executive order that benefits those who immigrated as children and meet several guidelines. DACA recipients are eligible for work authorization and can get a Social Security Number and, in most cases, a Driver’s License. • For more information visit:https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/consideration-deferred-action-childhood-arrivals-dacahttps://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/consideration-deferred-action-childhood-arrivals-daca • Additional information is available here. Technology Update: Board Workshop

49. Questions and Answers!

50. CONTACT Bridget Hurtado Site Coordinator (310)886-9624 bhurtado@mylusd.org WWW.THECOLLEGEEXPO.ORG Technology Update: Board Workshop