HOW DO I PAY FOR COLLEGE? FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS Sharon Fender- Owen HS

COMPARING FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS Scholarships can be applied for all year long Scholarships can be applied for all year long They are awarded by many different groups: colleges, clubs (Rotary), special interest groups (Veterans) They are awarded by many different groups: colleges, clubs (Rotary), special interest groups (Veterans) Financial aid is applied for after January 1 and usually not later than May or June. The money is first come, first served, running out as the year progresses. Financial aid is applied for after January 1 and usually not later than May or June. The money is first come, first served, running out as the year progresses.

Scholarships and Financial Aid Scholarships are applied for after researching what is available from many different sources: Scholarships are applied for after researching what is available from many different sources: Colleges you might apply to Colleges you might apply to Online search sites Online search sites The Owen HS Scholarship list The Owen HS Scholarship list Family or interest affiliations Family or interest affiliations Financial Aid is applied for in 3 different ways: Financial Aid is applied for in 3 different ways: with the FAFSA (after Jan.1), with the FAFSA (after Jan.1), with the PROFILE-CSS (a more in depth assessment you pay for, required by certain colleges), with the PROFILE-CSS (a more in depth assessment you pay for, required by certain colleges), and with a college specific questionnaire which some colleges will request, usually right after you apply. and with a college specific questionnaire which some colleges will request, usually right after you apply.

FINANCIAL AID When applying to a specific college always check to see if there are separate forms to fill out for financial aid estimates. Some colleges require you to do a PROFILE-CSS financial aid form also, so be sure to check on that. The FAFSA is a free application for state and federal aid and is not available to complete online until after Jan. 1 of your senior year. You can be getting all of your tax info together in the fall to then complete the FAFA online asap after Jan.1. It is a first come, first serve basis so we encourage families to apply by the end of February. There will be a Financial Aid Night at OHS in January to help you understand how to do the FAFSA. There is also a FAFSA Day at UNCA one Saturday where they will sit down with you and your tax forms and complete the FAFSA online. The FAFSA folks will send the colleges listed the assessment of your family’s Expected Family Contribution to college cost.

Continued… Each college will then send you a letter specifying the financial aid you will be offered to attend their college. Each college will then send you a letter specifying the financial aid you will be offered to attend their college. They will usually first list scholarship and grant money, and then work study and loan money. They will usually first list scholarship and grant money, and then work study and loan money. You can then compare what each college offers. You have until May 1 to decide which offer you will take. You can then compare what each college offers. You have until May 1 to decide which offer you will take.

Scholarships “cast your bread upon the waters…” Finding scholarships takes persistence, organization, and ambition. Finding scholarships takes persistence, organization, and ambition. There are scholarships for both 2 year and 4 year programs. There are scholarships for both 2 year and 4 year programs. Over one third of the senior class at Owen have earned scholarships and grants (“free money”) for the past several years, totaling around $1.17 million dollars last year. Over one third of the senior class at Owen have earned scholarships and grants (“free money”) for the past several years, totaling around $1.17 million dollars last year. Scholarships come in many different forms. Some are for “talent” (like high grades, sports, dance, art, essays..), others are for different reasons: service, leadership, well- roundedness, expressions and examples of faith, desire to teach, nurse, etc. Scholarships come in many different forms. Some are for “talent” (like high grades, sports, dance, art, essays..), others are for different reasons: service, leadership, well- roundedness, expressions and examples of faith, desire to teach, nurse, etc. Scholarships might be divided into two categories: merit (accomplishment) and need, with overlap in many cases. Scholarships might be divided into two categories: merit (accomplishment) and need, with overlap in many cases.

The Scholarship Process Get organized Start a file with a calendar for due dates. Start a file with a calendar for due dates. Do your resume asap, keep it on a disk and updated. Make a copy for Mrs. Dillingham in Counseling. Do your resume asap, keep it on a disk and updated. Make a copy for Mrs. Dillingham in Counseling. Ask 2 teachers to write a recommendation for you: hand them your wonderful resume with a date at the top for when you will pick up your recommendation. Give them 1-2 weeks. Bring copies to Mrs. Dillingham. Ask 2 teachers to write a recommendation for you: hand them your wonderful resume with a date at the top for when you will pick up your recommendation. Give them 1-2 weeks. Bring copies to Mrs. Dillingham. Ask a community person (pastor, employer) for a recommendation with the same process. Ask a community person (pastor, employer) for a recommendation with the same process. Have some good photos of yourself. Have some good photos of yourself. Have a copy of your parents’ and your most recent tax forms(1040). Have a copy of your parents’ and your most recent tax forms(1040). Keep any essays or essay ideas available to use. Keep any essays or essay ideas available to use. Be very careful of your MySpace page and Facebook info! Be very careful of your MySpace page and Facebook info!

The Scholarship Process Start Searching The BEST scholarships are from the college you will go to…so check carefully with the colleges you decide to apply to. Some private schools can be cheaper than public schools! Some schools are doing a “no debt” program. Ask about that! The BEST scholarships are from the college you will go to…so check carefully with the colleges you decide to apply to. Some private schools can be cheaper than public schools! Some schools are doing a “no debt” program. Ask about that! Look for that GOOD MATCH for you! Look for that GOOD MATCH for you! What scholarships do they have? This may decide whether or not you apply there. What scholarships do they have? This may decide whether or not you apply there. Get specific information on what requirements are, when it’s due (put it on your calendar), and how to apply (online, paper, etc.). Get specific information on what requirements are, when it’s due (put it on your calendar), and how to apply (online, paper, etc.). Go to CFNC.org for NC colleges and Google for specific interest scholarships. Go to CFNC.org for NC colleges and Google for specific interest scholarships. Fastweb.org is a really good site, and other sites will be listed on the Deadlines list Fastweb.org is a really good site, and other sites will be listed on the Deadlines list

The Scholarship Process Information at Owen Every month a Deadlines List will be passed out and posted on the Owen website. READ this! Every month a Deadlines List will be passed out and posted on the Owen website. READ this! Applications for those listed plus late arrivals will be in the Scholarship Box in the Counseling Office. Check it often! Applications for those listed plus late arrivals will be in the Scholarship Box in the Counseling Office. Check it often! Read applications COMPLETELY before starting. You may find some requirement you don’t meet like “must be a NC school”… Read applications COMPLETELY before starting. You may find some requirement you don’t meet like “must be a NC school”… Listen to announcements for more info and read the school TV announcements. Listen to announcements for more info and read the school TV announcements. If the application file you want is empty come see me or leave me a note. I can make more copies! If the application file you want is empty come see me or leave me a note. I can make more copies! When in doubt – bug me!! It’s OK. When in doubt – bug me!! It’s OK.