$cholar$hip $earching

Before you start the scholarship search Most scholarships are designed for high school seniors. Realize that scholarship searching and applying could take up a lot of time. Recognize and be sensitive to your limits. Read the eligibility requirements for each scholarship carefully, if you don’t match the requirements, move on to more worthwhile scholarships. Pay attention to and honor deadlines. Most applications are online so be sure of your internet connections, battery time, etc., before starting. Proof your work before submitting! The next step is to …

Create a “running resume” or list of your high school experiences: Name of high school, address, phone number, years of attendance Personal copy of high school transcript (grades, classes, GPA) School activities (grade levels of participation, leadership roles) Community activities (same as above but with contact information, as well) Community service (see above) Work experience (location, contact, hours worked, duties performed) Honors, awards, recognition (name, date received) References (actual letters or contact information)

Where to search: Individual colleges Admissions Office or Financial Aid Office Workplaces (student’s and parents’) May need to go through a corporate office Organizations to which the student or parent belongs South High Student Services webpage, Career Center, Counseling Center

Where to search, continued: Fastweb.com Safe site for first-time college attendees Over 650,000 scholarships in the database Create personal profile, receive matches and information on how to access applications Can change settings for the number of e-mail reminders you receive from Fastweb

Other considerations: Children of disabled veterans (Dependents Education Assistance Program) Check with local Veteran’s Services Validated enrollment in a Native American tribe Reciprocity arrangement with Minnesota Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP); State Board of Higher Ed Reduced tuition for students going to an out-of-state school for a program not offered in the home state (home state helps cover cost of education) Limited schools Programs supported by ND: dentistry, optometry, veterinary medicine

Other considerations, continued: Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) www.wiche.edu/wue Students in participating states are eligible to request to pay 150% of in-state tuition as opposed to out-of-state student tuition Not automatically awarded; limited numbers of students allowed so apply early; may only apply for certain majors at certain schools (ask the institution for their WUE process) Participating states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming Midwest Student Exchange (includes Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan)

Service-related Opportunities AmeriCorps Loan deferment Allowance while serving Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Peace Corps Public Service Loan Forgiveness Military service GI Bill

Final notes: If you don’t apply for scholarships, you won’t get any! Millions of scholarships go unclaimed every year because people don’t apply. Local scholarships may be smaller in amount but the competition is also smaller! Nobody likes to do essay contests, what might this mean for someone who does do the essay?! Some essays you may be able to recycle for other scholarships. Do keep in mind that you will be required to inform colleges of your awarded scholarships. Later: scholarships.com for students already in college