We Need Money for College! How Can My Child Find Scholarships? Tips and resources to help you strategize and research scholarship opportunities…

Purpose College = $$$$$$ Financial Aid Anatomy of a Scholarship Resources & Organization Application Tips & Strategies

Types of Financial Aid Financial Aid: any grant or scholarship, loan, or paid employment offered to help a student meet his/her college expenses Scholarships & Grants = Free $$$ Work Study = Earned $$$ Loans = Borrowed $$$

P/T Jobs On Campus Off Campus Career Development Center Food Service, Library, Fitness Center, Bookstore Off Campus Babysitting, Retail, Waitress Career Development Center Financial Aid Office

Who Gives Scholarships? Foundations Businesses Employers Civic Organizations & Charities Colleges and Universities Golfers

Types of Scholarships Merit/Academic Need Based Community Service College Specific Workplace Major/Career Specific Demographic Athletic National Service Military

How Can I Find Scholarships? Parent + Student = Team College Financial Aid Office Fairfield Scholarship Foundation – April 2018 Fairfield County Community Foundation – Jan 2018 The College Place – CT Local newspapers, TV, Community/Civic Organizations, Professional Associations, Religious Organizations, Clubs, Apps, etc. Naviance Search Engines

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Search Engines www.fastweb.com www.cappex.com www.unigo.com www.BigFuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search www.studentscholarships.org

Search Engine Tips Use multiple search platforms Create a scholarship email account Search by keywords & use filters Be an alert consumer…sponsored ads

Increase Your Chances Start early Academics Activities Volunteer

How Scholarships Are Awarded Committee reviews and selects Reasons for success: Met the criteria outlined by the scholarship sponsors Approached the application process strategically and selectively

How Do I Apply? Research Self Sponsor Organize Create Spreadsheets/Folders/Worksheet Collect Required Information Essays Set Goals Meet Deadlines

Essay Tips FOLLOW DIRECTIONS!!! Read sponsor’s “Mission Statement” and “About Us” Write an outline Use clear, concise and simple language Impeccable grammar and spelling Be honest PROOFREAD!!!

Interviews Know the organization & their mission Why you? Dress for success Be yourself Thank you

Scholarship Scams Never pay Never give your SSN Federal & state governments only make scholarship offers via FAFSA No “Guarantees”

Additional Websites Federal Student Aid/US Dept. of Education www.studentaid.ed.gov US Dept. of Labor www.careerinfonet.org/scholarshipsearch Corporation for National Community Service www.nationalservice.gov FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Good Luck! Alice Gorman College & Career Center 203-255-7230 agorman@fairfieldschools.org or Your School Counselor Warner House Wright House Webster House 203-255-7225 203-255-7244 203-255-7238