Funding College Through Scholarships Thousand Dollar Hour ~ Hannah Rivard: Author, Speaker, Consultant

Overview 1. Mindset 2. Timeline 3. Finding 4. Choosing 5. Applying 6. Tips & Tricks

Mindset: Determination Scholarships will help fund college. Scholarships will fund college.

Mindset: Time Commitment Scholarships are not extracurricular They are the best-paying job you will ever have! $5000 = $10/hr$5000 = $1000/hr 500 hrs5 hrs DO THE MATH!

Mindset: Career Goals Know why what you are doing heart passion 1. Is your heart passion change the world 2. Will change the world You do not have to be in a “humanitarian” field Any profession can be used to impact the world

Mindset: Career Goals “Vocation is where our greatest passion meets the world’s greatest need.” ~Frederick Buechner "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ~Howard Thurman “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.” ~Frederick Buechner

Timeline: Scheduling Start: junior in high school Deadlines: spring and fall Continue: grad school and fellowships

Timeline: Organizing What are you paying? Spreadsheet: Expenses 1. Tuition 2. Room 3. Meal plan 4. Books, supplies, and equipment 5. Fees 6. Travel/vehicle expenses (for commuting or visiting home)

Timeline: Organizing What do you need? Spreadsheet: Scholarships 1. Name 2. Deadline 3. Amount 4. Website 5. Materials 6. Progress

Timeline: Organizing Who is helping you? Spreadsheet: References 1. Employment 2. Academic 3. Leadership 4. Spiritual/religious 5. Hobbies

Finding: Overview Zinch Google Other Search Engines Time Commitment = Searching for a Job! Time Commitment = Searching for a Job!

Finding: Search Engines Names: Scholarships.com, Fastweb.com, Schoolsoup.com Constantly new ones – keep looking Forms: Doing well is time consuming Doing badly is a waste of time

Finding: Search Engines ProsCons Many applicantsUnrelatedMistakesTime consumingObscurePopularRespected

Finding: Zinch Search engine DOUBLES DOUBLES YOUR SCHOLARSHIPS! D O U B L E S Y O U R S C H O L A R S H I P S ! College connector Social media

Finding: Google Secret to success Involve- ments LikesSkillsRelatesWantWon Relatives 1. Search for: 2. Search for their synonyms

Finding: Google Minnesota Legion, army, Vietnam War, veteran, Cargill, mechanic low-income family, scoliosis, left handed, curly hair, only child African aid, traveler, study abroad Evangelical Free Church, Christian, Protestant, Hispanic, Republican, conservative FFA, NRA, Sigma Tau Delta 4-H, bird calling, hunting, rock climbing, reality TV honors student, 3.5 GPA, private school football, sports, linebacker, quarterback music, piano, violin, band, orchestra, 1 st chair violin, green, organic, conservationist

Choosing: Specific: You are qualified Go for it! Questionable: You are qualified (kind of-sort of) Consider it! Generic: You are qualified (and so are 15,000 others) Skip it!

Applying: Essay 1. Obvious 2. Comprehensive 3. Perfect 4. Applicable 5. Unique 6. Philosophical 7. Concise 8. Persuasive 9. Interesting 10. Supported You Must Be:

Applying: Honors/Activities By… You Do That… 1. Asks for honors/activities 2. Never gives enough room 3. Want it in a specific format 1. Asks for honors/activities 2. Never gives enough room 3. Want it in a specific format 1. Keep track of them 2. Use extra sheets 3. Customize the handout 1. Keep track of them 2. Use extra sheets 3. Customize the handout 1. Knowing every award, activity, honor, club position, leadership activity, and club involvement 2. Giving unofficial positions official names 1. Knowing every award, activity, honor, club position, leadership activity, and club involvement 2. Giving unofficial positions official names The Application…

Frodo Baggins' University and High School Resume for Year XYZ Shire Conservation Scholarship Activity No. Yrs Involved Description or Special Awards/HonorsOffices Held COLLEGE Academics Shire University Honors Program GPA bracket Dean's List, Highest Honors2 In the grade bracket Communications Department Teaching Assistant2 Manage homework, tutor students, create exams, grade homework, plan/run events, organize instructional materials. Leadership Entrepreneur: Baggins Ring-Destruction Business ( Designed website and blockbuster movie trilogy around my Rings of Power destruction skills and accompanying community buildingGroup Leader Mentor: Fellowship of the Ring1 Coached new group memebers in how to relate safely to Rings of Power Honors Program1 Mentored new student in Gandalf's Honors Program Volunteer/Member Rivendell Protectionist Club2 Weekly meetings and bi-annual events and performances promoting ustainable use of Rivendell resources Other/short-term volunteering2 Various organizations: Hobbit Happiness (teaching gardening to disadvantaged Hobbits), Read with Bill (reading program with ponies and dwarves), etc. Fine Arts Shire University Theatre/Performance:2 3 showcases/plays/performances, 4 student films, 3 tech crews (spotlight, costume, hair/makeup), 3 Word of Witness dramatized chapels, 2 improv skits, 1 dance, 1 music videoLead Local On Camera Industry:2 3 full-length feature films, 10 photo shoots, 8 training classes/workshops, 1 industrial, 5 voiceovers, 2 films (only 2 projects paid; rest were volunteer)Lead Animals Shire Sheepherding Youth of America4 #3 youth sheep herder in the Shire, competing against 30+ students every year in guiding 10 sheep through a maze while I was blindfolded at night Nazgul-training clinic assistant and coordinator (Nazguls Naturally, Art of Nazguls)3 Help keep clinics running smoothly, handing out paperwork, organizing lunch, cleaning up, etc. Invited Opportunities: Middle Earth Sheep Expo Invited to bring my sheep and give demonstrationsExhibitor Clinician Asked to teach blindfolded sheep herding clinicsClinican Apprenticeships Invited to apprentice with three international sheep trainers Athletics/Other Mines of Moria Mining Expo2 Attender Gardening, hiking, hallucinating2 PRE-COLLEGE/HIGH SCHOOL Note: Because I was homeschooled my academic activities were often through outside programs. Academics National Merit Super-Shire Scholar Program Finalist1 MEOS (Middle Earth Official Saviors) Awards (speech, projects, drama, animals) blue ribbons (local and state), 60+ (reserve) champions and honorable mentions Communication Arts: Interpretive Reading5 9 Championship/Reserve Championships (including State), 1 State Honorable MentionLocal, Regional, State Communication Arts: Creative Writing5 4 Championship/Reserve ChampionshipsLocal, Regional Shire Area Scholars at Home 10 Participated in activities, meetings, field trips "There and Back Again" Book Quizzing2 International Tournament Team Champion (2x)Co-Captain 2 International Tournament Top 5 Quizzer (2x) Fine Arts Writing Foundation for the Nazgul Breeders' and Exhibitors' Contest1 National Champion Sheep Herders International Essay Contest5 National Champion Photography Photography, Shire County Fair8 County Champion Photography, MEOS State Fair4 Blue Ribbon Winner Nazgul Photography Contest3 National Reserve Champion

Applying: Reference Letters Choose stand-out references by: 1. Making sure they’re good writers themselves 2. Getting as “high-level” references as possible 3. Consolidating 4. Giving them your information 5. Giving them scholarship information 6. Giving them specifics 7. Giving them time

Applying: Deadlines What is the deadline? Is it postmark or arrival? What if you miss it? 1. Do not give up 2. Write an explanation 3. Ask to submit The Three Questions:

Tips & Tricks: Taxes Tax-free money? Yes, if… 1. You are a degree candidate at an eligible educational institution 2. The money is used to pay “qualified education expenses” No, if… 1. All those expenses are paid for 2. You’re using the money for “non-qualified education expenses”

Tips & Tricks: Taxes How can taxes help? Education credit 1. Reduces the taxes you owe 2. $2,500 American Opportunity Credit 3. $2,000 Lifetime Learning Credit Tuition and fees deduction 1. Reduces the income you’re paying taxes on 2. $4,000 tax deduction per return Only can claim one credit or deduction per student per year!

Overview 1. Mindset 2. Timeline 3. Finding 4. Choosing 5. Applying 6. Tips & Tricks

Can The question is not, “ Can I pay for college?” Will The question is, instead, “ Will I pay for college?” possible Because it is possible. © Hannah Rivard of Thousand Dollar Hour

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