Finding Fund $ for Oregon Students Oregon Student Assistance Commission

Topics  Financial aid terms  OSAC outreach and resources  Oregon Opportunity Grant and other public grants  OSAC eApp scholarships  Scholarship tips

Financial Aid Terms OSAC Programs and $$$ for Oregon Students Section 1

Financial Aid Terms  Free Application for Federal Student Aid also known as the FAFSA  Calculates the family and/or students Expected Family Contribution or EFC  Need-based aid  Determined by FAFSA &/or other statement of financial need  Merit-based aid  Determined by other factors: talent, academics, interest, etc.

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

 Remaining Need Calculation  School’s cost of attendance minus (EFC) = Remaining Financial Need  Federal and Private Student Loans  May be listed as financial aid and must be paid back  Federal Education Tax Credits  American Opportunity Credit (modified Hope Credit): Up to $2,500 annually  Lifetime Learning Credit: Up to $2,000 per family per year for additional years Financial Aid Terms, cont.

Oregon Student Assistance Commission (OSAC) The state student financial aid agency  ASPIRE, Outreach and Information  Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG) and grants for for foster youth, student parents, and more…  eApp Oregon’s common application for scholarships

ASPIRE  Provides one-on-one mentoring to extend and enhance the reach of the guidance counselor  Welcomes ALL students  Offers ALL postsecondary educational options  Statewide at sites that serve high school students For a list of participating sites:

ASPIRE is Expanding Apply Now! Three ways to ASPIRE! 1.Traditional ASPIRE: At a school or site that serves high school students 2.eASPIRE: Online mentoring 3.Getting Ready to ASPIRE: Mentoring for middle school students Expansion funds provided by GEAR UP and College Access Challenge Grant  Apply at  Volunteer to be an eMentor

2011 College Goal Oregon Event January 15, January 22, or January 29 Students get help to complete a FAFSA  22 sites around Oregon including universities, community colleges, tribes, high schools, and YMCAs  Communities select from one of the three dates  Check the website for your closest event and date  You can help  Apply to be a site  Volunteer for a College Goal Oregon event

FAFSA Fridays Program of College Goal Oregon  December 17 7:00 pm  January 7 7:00 pm  January 14 2:00 pm  January 21 7:00 pm  January 28 2:00 pm  February 4 2:00 pm  February 11 7:00 pm  February 18 2:00 pm  February 25 7:00 pm  March 25 2:00 pm  April 297:00 pm  May 272:00 pm  June 247:00 pm An overview of financial aid and a FAFSA application demonstration. Financial Aid professionals are online to chat with participants! To register Webinar Dates:

OSAC Communications Timely Tip Sheets - w ww.GetCollegeFunds.orgw ww.GetCollegeFunds.org  How to Analyze College Financial Aid Award Letters, What You Need To Know About Student Loans and more! Podcast Topics  Avoiding Scholarship Scams, The OSAC eApp Scholarship Application, American Tax Credit and more! Join us on Twitter and Facebook  Receive updates from OSAC (great tips during scholarship season)

Oregon Opportunity Grant  File your FAFSA early to apply  Indicate the Oregon college you plan to attend in the first position on your FAFSA  Maximum award depends on type of school (2- year or 4-year public or 4-year private nonprofit) and if enrolled full-time or half-time

Other Public Programs at OSAC  Federal Chafee Grants for Former Foster Youth** – Up to $3,000 annually. Oregon Dept of Human Services approves eligibility. Deadlines: August 1 (fall); November 1 (winter); February 1 (spring); May 1 (summer)  Deceased and Disabled Public Safety Officer Scholarship** – For children of public safety officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Awards up to full tuition & fees, depending on institution.  Student Childcare Grant** – Award based on age and number of children. Applications available mid-January.  Oregon Youth Conservation Corps Scholarship – Vouchers for education expenses, must have participated to be eligible. ** Visit for details and applicationswww.getcollegefunds.org

OSAC Scholarships

What’s New  Streamlined look with pop-up instructions  Available early AND high school juniors can begin their eApp  Easier search and sort functions – similar to an online shopping cart  Add scholarships directly to your eApp  Change a “test” eApp into a “regular” eApp

What’s New  After submitting you will receive an that your eApp was received, and again after it’s reviewed  Use Scholar Snapp to export eApp data to other online scholarship applications  Remember: Your work is automatically saved

Sections: 1.High School by County 2.Academic and Career Interest 3.Specific Populations & Miscellaneous 4.Member Organizations / Employers OSAC Salutes Donors: Index Scholarship Search Workbook

Workbook Toolbar

Scholarship Search Online Links to:  Start or return to your application  Catalog  Deadlines  PDF of the workbook/worksheet/paper app  eApp instructions  Transcript, eligibility and residency info  Your e-Student Profile  GPA calculator  Scholar Snapp  Scholarships awarded to date

What you can do in the catalog not embedded in your application  Review specific requirements for each scholarship.  Click on SET FILTERS button to customize your search You cannot add scholarships to your application from here. Start your application and use the catalog embedded in your application!

What you can do in the Scholarship List embedded in your application! Set your basic search criteria: Notice that your name and eApp number appear and dropdown boxes are prefilled Click continue after setting your Basic Search Add Scholarships by Name Review and refine your search Search Employer Member Programs only (recommended) For each scholarship in your list you can either remove it or add it to your application Click continue after setting your Basic Search

Your eApp Home Page 1.Check your status 2.Correct errors – messages appear in red 3.Print a copy 4.Submit after 11/1/2010 (AFTER you submit you cannot add more scholarships. You can only change your contact info, college choice and college major!)

What you can do in your e-Student Profile  Edit applications  Print your application  Verify whether OSAC accepted your application  Check if you have been awarded a scholarship, and if awarded, accept it online  Update your contact info, college choice and college major  Copy (refresh) prior year’s eApp data to update e-Student Profile Home Page Your personal go-to page! Check often! Primary source of notifications from OSAC about your eApp!

OSAC Activities Chart You can:  Begin to add activities  Certify that you have no activity in a specific category  Import your CIS Activities Activity list: A.School Activities B.Volunteer Activities (Community/Family) C.Paid Work History Include:  Dates  Hours (time spent)  Responsibilities/Accomplishments (15 words)

Personal Statements Limit statement to 1,000 characters 1.Explain your career aspirations and your educational plan to meet these goals. 2.Describe a challenge or obstacle you faced in the last ten years. What did you learn about yourself from this experience? 3.Describe a personal accomplishment and the strengths and skills you used to achieve it. 4.Explain how you have helped your family or made your community a better place to live. Please provide specific examples.

Transcripts  OSAC application requires: –Graduating high school seniors submit transcripts that reflect grades through December/January –College students submit transcript that includes all work through fall semester/term  If sending a hard copy, blacken first 5 digits of SSN for security purposes # 1 reason for a rejected OSAC application: A missing or incomplete transcript

Transcripts

Find help at the bottom of most pages  Return to your e-Student Profile  Logout  Get Help with current page  eApp Instructions  FAQ’s  eApp feedback form and help with technical problems  Ask the OSAC “wise guy” for non-technical help  Review OSAC privacy policies

OSAC Scholarship Deadlines Tuesday, January 18  eApp Review begins Wednesday, February 16  Priority deadline for Early Bird Scholarship –Opportunity to correct errors –If error-free, drawing for $500 scholarship Tuesday, March 1  FINAL deadline –eApp and paper apps must be received at OSAC –Postmarks are not accepted Check your e-Student Profile for application status

Finding Funds for Oregon Students Section 2 Scholarship Tips

The Ford Family Foundation Scholarship Programs  Ford Scholars – For graduating high school seniors and community college transfer students pursuing bachelor’s degrees at eligible Oregon colleges  Ford Opportunity – For single parents, heads of households, without the support of a domestic partner, pursuing bachelor’s degrees at eligible Oregon colleges –  Ford ReStart – For nontraditional students, age 25 or older, to begin or return full-time in an Oregon certificate or degree program  Ford Sons & Daughters - For dependents, age 21 or younger, of Roseburg Forest Products employees Details at or

Tip: Keep Searching  Colleges and universities (including departments)  Employers… and parents’ employers  Member organizations  Local civic organizations, foundations, high schools Do not pay for search tools – use the FREE ones!

Tip: Writing essays  Get inspiration from your activities chart  Answer the question  Consider the reader  Don’t repeat information (like your GPA)  Cute doesn’t always cut it  Be clear & purposeful about your academic/career goals

Tip: 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

Tip: Get help and feedback  Friends and family  Office/job associates  Professors/teachers  Learning resource centers  Writing centers

Tip: What scholarship committees consider  Academics  GPA, course rigor, and test scores  Outside the classroom  Volunteer activities, leadership, work, etc.  Life experiences  Serving your community by helping your family  Tell your unique story using your transcript, short essay answers, and activities chart

Tip: The Interview  Remember your audience  Reread your application & essays  Practice your interview skills  Make a positive first impression  Establish eye-contact  Display poised, confident body language  Dress appropriately  Be yourself

Tip: 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:

Tips to Remember!  Use all your resources to maximize $$  Follow the instructions  Meet deadlines  Spell check & proofread  Order correct transcript(s)  Reflect your best work  Submit all required documents and keep copies for yourself  Check your e-Student Profile regularly

More Scholarship Resources  OSAC  Fastweb  College Board  Peterson’s  Common search engines:  Google  Bing  College and Career Centers

How to learn more from OSAC  “Opportunities” booklets- order online   Get College Funds – Oregon state financial aid and programs:  College is Possible –Information about going to college:

Other Resources  FAFSA – Application for Federal and State aid:  FAFSA Forecaster – Get an early estimate of your eligibility for Federal student aid:  College Navigator – Find information about colleges including net price:  College financial aid office  Federal student aid information center

Thank You for Attending Finding Fund$ for Oregon Students