1. SCHOLARSHIPS Isle of Wight County Schools CLASS OF 2016

2. Why apply for Scholarships? - TO SAVE MONEY! - College prices are high! - You can leave college with less debt and student loans - Even seemingly small $500 scholarships can pay for books! - There ARE scholarships for 4 year AND 2 year colleges

3. Where Do I Find Scholarship Information? - On the IWCS Website - Posted in the Counseling Office - Listen to announcements - CHECK YOUR EMAIL! - Daily, please. - Look on the websites of colleges you apply to

4. Before You Start - Organize your accomplishments, after- school activities, clubs, sports, awards, volunteer hours, and work experience into a resume - Create a list of scholarships and deadlines - Choose scholarships that play to your strengths and apply to you!

5. Where are the Scholarship applications? ONLINE! The link will be posted Many require an online application GUIDANCE OFFICE! Available print outs will be in the office

6. Where do they go when I finish? One of these 3 places: 1. Submit online! 2. Mail to the specified address! 3. Turn them into the guidance office READ INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY!!

7. When Do I Look? ALL THE TIME! YOU CAN START NOW! Scholarship information will be updated as scholarship opportunities arise. KEEP CHECKING! LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS: Many are available February through May

8. Where Do I Look for More Opportunities? www.studentadvisor.com/sch olarships www.studentadvisor.com/sch olarshipsstudentaid.ed.gov/sa/ http://www.fastweb.com/ bigfuture.collegeboard.org/sc holarship-search Scholarships.com www.scholarshipexperts.com www.scholarshippoints.com

9. Scholarship Apps - Scholly - SAIL Simple Scholarship Search App - ScholarshipAdvisor App - Scholarships.com App

10. PAY ATTENTION TO… DEADLINES!! Criteria for applicants ALL of the directions PROOFREAD! Scholarship committees may THROW OUT your hard work if it is not 100% complete with ALL components and ON TIME! *Follow the instructions on the IWCS page. THIS is the due date you MUST follow if the scholarship is done through your high school*

11. What do they WANT from me??? - Common components include… 1. Application 2. Transcript 3. Essay 4. List of extracurricular activities 5. Community Service 6. Awards 7. Letters of Recommendation

12. TELL YOUR COUNSELORS AND RECOMMENDERS ONE TO TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE IF YOU ARE ASKING FOR A WRITTEN RECOMMENDATION! GIVE AT LEAST 1 WEEK IF YOU NEED A TRANSCRIPT! Make sure to fill out the TRANSCRIPT REQUEST FORM!

13. Who do I ask for a Recommendation? GIVE ADVANCE NOTICE! Provide your recommender with a written request Provide your recommender with a resume Know the scholarship and your strengths when you’re choosing a recommender - Teacher - Community leader - Coach - Club Sponsor - Counselor

14. COMMON MISTAKES

15. INCLUDE ALL THE COMPONENTS THE SCHOLARSHIP REQUIRES

16. MAKE EVERYTHING AS NEAT AS POSSIBLE!

17. PROOFREAD

18. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE!

19. How to Put your BEST application forward - START EARLY! - Know the scholarship’s mission and show how you fit with the mission - Don’t be afraid to brag - Focus on your leadership and service - Demonstrate why YOU would be a good investment of scholarship money - PROOFREAD!

20. REMEMBER! Scholarship sponsors think of scholarship recipients as a representation of their organization! Compose your application as if you are!