Scholarships Pathways to the Future 2014 Dana Armstrong Counselor El Dorado High School

The question on many people’s mind… How can we afford college? There are 3 primary ways to obtain money for college  The government  The college or university you plan to attend  Private groups and organizations

FAFSA (  FAFSA filing period opens January 1 st and is open until March 1 st. Submit paperwork as soon as possible- the sooner the better! Cal Grant (  Complete Cal Grant GPA Verification Form and submit to registrar in Counseling Department by March 1 st. Our school does not submit these electronically- it is the student’s responsibility to send this form. Government Money

Colleges and Universities It is crucial to contact the Financial Aid Office at the school of interest…every school is different in what they are able to offer.  Need Based eligibility is based solely on the assets and income of the prospective student and his or her family.  Merit Based includes a variety of categories, such as academic, artistic, athletic, and more.  Special Circumstances

Private Groups and Organizations  Scholarships! Businesses, Clubs, Community Groups Criteria varies Many resources available for finding scholarships

The scholarship search is a significant undertaking…it takes time and patience Here are 5 things to jumpstart the process:  Check your prospective schools  Inquire with your academic advisor  Research local community groups  Try online  Be keenly aware of deadlines

Strategies for Winning Scholarships  APPLY!!! One in four students never apply for financial aid- you can’t win if you don’t apply  It’s a numbers game Even among talented students, who wins involves a bit of luck, not just skill To win more scholarships, apply to more scholarships…but only if you qualify  It gets easier after your first 6 applications Essays can be reused and tailored to each new application  Don’t miss deadlines

Searching for Scholarships  Start searching as soon as possible If you wait until spring to start searching, you will miss half the deadlines and many opportunities There are many scholarships available to students in 9 th -11 th grades, not just seniors  Use a FREE scholarship matching service, like Fastweb, Zinch, etc.- there are many trustworthy ones out there  Answer the optional questions on a scholarship matching service for twice as many matches  Look for scholarship listing books at the library or bookstores, but be sure to check the publication date  Pursue less competitive scholarships as well…any amount of money helps

Searching for Scholarships at El Dorado  Scholarship bulletin is updated often and includes numerous opportunities, ranging from large scholarships to scholarships targeted just for EDHS students  Students should visit the counseling page on the EDHS website regularly to explore scholarship opportunities  Most scholarship applications can be obtained directly online  Local Scholarships = great opportunities! Counseling Scholarships

School Determined Scholarships  A small number of groups allow the EDHS staff scholarship committee to select recipients  Student needs to fill out the “Local Scholarship” application senior year (available in late January)  Some Local Scholarships are for El Dorado students only, others are for students in the local area  Variety of factors are taken in to consideration when students are chosen, not just academics  Winners are announced at the Senior Awards ceremony in May

Tips on Winning Scholarships $ Prioritize your applications by deadline and the expected value of the scholarship $ Use a calendar and checklist to get organized $ Complete a “Brag Sheet” or resume (start this in 9 th grade) $ Obtain quality letters of recommendation if needed $ Read and follow the instructions- pay close attention to details $ Tailor your application/essay to the sponsor’s goals $ Make your application stand out from the crowd- packaging is important $ Recruit friends/family to review your application before submitting it $ Gather everything you need ahead of time (transcripts, test scores, letters of rec)

Writing a Winning Scholarship Essay  Answer the question orally and transcribe the recording  Use an outline to organize your thoughts  Give examples and be specific (good time to refer to Brag Sheet/resume)  Personalize your essay and be passionate  Write about something of interest to you  Talk about your impact on other people  Proofread a printed copy of the essay- involve others in this editing process

Beware of Scholarship Scams  If you have to pay money to get money, it is probably a scam  Never invest more than a postage stamp to get information about scholarships or to apply for a scholarship  Nobody can guarantee that you’ll win a scholarship  Do not give out personal information like bank account numbers, credit card numbers, or Social Security numbers  If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is

Most Common Application Mistakes  Missing deadlines  Failing to proofread the application  Failing to follow directions (essay length, number of recommendations)  Omitting required information  Applying for an award when you don’t qualify  Failing to apply for an award for which you are qualified  Failing to tailor the application to the sponsor  Writing a boring essay

There’s a scholarship out there for everyone… Check out scholarships.html

Summary  Visit the scholarship link on the EDHS website and check it often  Fill out as many scholarship applications as possible- think of it as a part time job  Fill out the FAFSA and Cal Grant paperwork- submit early  Search the internet  Research opportunities through the college or university you plan to attend  Explore the “Paying for College: Student Resource Guide” (available online)

Key Scholarship Resources         (go to “Info for Students” to view the “Paying for College” resource guide) 

 Athletics  Activities  Performing Arts  Academic Competition  Clubs BE CONNECTED! STAY INVOLVED!

Thank you for coming, good luck in your scholarship search, and GO HAWKS!!! “ It seems the harder I work, the more luck I have.” Thomas Jefferson