show me the money: Scholarship Dos and Don’ts Brian Pollastrini Elmhurst College

Quick Facts About The Cost of College According to the College Board, the average college tuition for the 2015-16 year was $32,405 for private colleges, $9,410 for state residents at public colleges and $23,893 for out of state residents at public colleges. The average cost of college has increased dramatically over the last 40 years and continues to rise. The average federal student loan debt in 2014 was $26,507. The Department of Education awards over $100 billion each year in student loans and grants. People with a college degree earn an average of $21,100 more per year than people with only a high school diploma.

Cost of Attendance Tuition Fees (technology, network, parking, etc.) Room and Board Books and Supplies Transportation Personal/Miscellaneous

Cost of Attendance at Elmhurst College Tuition - $35,250 Fees – Orientation $75, Academic Technology $250, Residential Network $150, Parking $100 Room and Board - $9,928 Books – about $1,000 Transportation – about $1,000 Personal/miscellaneous - varies

Do Well In School! - Merit Scholarships Merit scholarship is the largest source of financial aid for many students. These scholarships are mainly based off your transfer GPA and other academic factors. Many colleges offer scholarships for transfer students who belong to Phi Theta Kappa.

Elmhurst College Merit Scholarships Transfer Excellence Scholarship (3.5 GPA) – up to $16,000 Transfer Achievement Scholarship (3.0 GPA) – up to $12,000 Transfer Recognition Scholarship (2.5 GPA) – up to $10,000 Transfer Heritage Scholarship – up to $8,000 Add On: Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship and 3.5 GPA – up to $2,000 Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship and 3.75 GPA – up to $4,000

Other Institutional Scholarships Athletic Scholarships Diversity Scholarships Religious Affiliation Scholarships Legacy Scholarships Major Specific Scholarships

Other Elmhurst College Scholarships American Dream Grant – up to $2,000 United Church of Christ Scholarship – up to $2,000 Legacy Scholarship – up to $2,000 Art and Theatre Talent Scholarship – up to $2,000 Music Scholarship – up to $20,000

FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid The FAFSA determines your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), the minimum amount you will be expected to contribute toward your education. The difference between a college’s total costs and your EFC is your need. Most college grants and loans are based on need whereas scholarships are based on academic credentials. You can file FAFSA for 2017-18 academic year on October 1st.

What Can I Get From The FAFSA? Grants Pell Grant (federal) MAP Grant (state) Loans Subsidized Loans (interested deferred) Unsubsidized Loans Work Study Institutional Grants Some colleges, like Elmhurst, offer additional grants based on need

The FAFSA and Elmhurst College If you submit your application and FAFSA by November 1st, you will be considered EARLY ACTION. Early Action applicants will get their admission decision and a financial aid package by December 1st. Admits will receive a ‘Bluejay Box’ If you apply after November 1st, Elmhurst College will process applications on a rolling admission basis. We suggest applying as soon as possible!

Outside Scholarships Different companies and organizations offer scholarships for college students as well. Scholarships will have different requirements, an application, an essay, letters of recommendation. Check with different colleges to see if there is a limit to the amount of outside scholarship you can bring in. The Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship is the largest transfer scholarship in the country. It is $40,000 for 3 years.

Tips On Winning A Scholarship Start searching for scholarships as soon as possible. Continue searching for scholarships even after you are enrolled in college. Tailor your application to the sponsor’s goals. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Proofread a printed copy of your essay and the application for spelling and grammar errors. Also, have someone else read your essays to catch mistakes and give you feedback. Read eligibility requirements carefully. If you have a question about whether you qualify for a certain scholarship, contact the scholarship sponsor. There’s no point in applying for a scholarship you’re not eligible to receive. Keep copies of everything. Don’t miss deadlines.

Outside Scholarships http://www.fastweb.com/ http://careerinfonet.org/scholarshipsearch/ScholarshipCategory.asp?searchtype=category&nodeid=22 http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/websearch.phtml

Scholarship Resources for Undocumented Students City Colleges of Chicago Foundation Scholarship http://www.ccc.edu/services/Pages/Scholarships.aspx  Get Ready for College http://www.getreadyforcollege.org/pdfGR/ScholarshipsUndocumented.pdf Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) Illinois Dream Fund http://www.illinoisdreamfund.org/ http://www.maldef.org/assets/pdf/1415_MALDEF_Scholarship.pdf Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) Latino College Dollars http://www.icirr.org/content/immigrant-student-scholarship-guide http://www.latinocollegedollars.org/ Scholarships for Hispanics Fastweb! http://www.scholarshipsforhispanics.org/ http://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships The Dream.US http://thedream.us/scholars/ Genesco Migrant Center http://www.migrant.net/migrant/scholarships/index.htm

More About Elmhurst The average student award at Elmhurst College is $25,960. The average debt for Elmhurst College graduates is 17% less than the national average for private schools. It is very comparable to in state residents of public schools. Elmhurst College is very proactive with covering the MAP grant for eligible students in the wake of the state budget crisis. You can use the Net Price Calculator tool on our website to get an estimate of your financial aid opportunities at Elmhurst College.

Brian Pollastrini Admission Counselor Elmhurst College 630-617-3097 brian.pollastrini@elmhurst.edu

https://bigfuture. collegeboard https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/college-costs/college-costs-faqs https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types