RESEARCHING & APPLYING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS Contact: Carolyn Christmas Scholarship Coordinator

CONTENTS Researching TCC Resources Other Resources Applying Letters of Recommendation Personal Statement Content of Essay Scams Checklist

RESEARCHING  Scholarship criteria can be based on academic achievement, athletic or artistic talent, financial need, particular fields of study, or involvement in the community.  As you begin the scholarship research process, think about the ways your life, or the life of your family, touches the community. Do you (or close family members):  have connections based on national, cultural, or ethnic heritage?  belong to a religious organization?  belong to any community, civic, volunteer, or special interest group?  belong to a professional/social group or local chapter?  participate in any school activities?  have an employer or union offering scholarship funds?

TCC RESOURCES Visit the TCC scholarship web site at:   Select WAYS to PAY  SelectScholarship  SelectFoundation scholarships or External scholarships FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS Foundation scholarships are provided by the Foundation at Tacoma Community College. These scholarships are available to new and continuing TCC students. External Scholarships External scholarships are provided by independent donors. External scholarships can very often be used at institutions other than TCC including 4 year institutions. The categories are generally:  academic and financial need based awards  academic need based awards  financial need based awards  general scholarships  minority scholarships

OTHER RESOURCES

OTHER RESOURCES

APPLYING  One of the best ways to get started is to begin a portfolio, or some way of organizing records of your education, volunteerism, activity list, community service, certificates, campus involvement, transcripts, writing, accomplishments, and anything else you can find to showcase and record your accomplishments and experiences.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIO N Most scholarships will require you to submit one to three letters of recommendation, usually from faculty members, campus/community organizations, and/or employers. These letters will provide the scholarship selection committee with information about you from an outside source. The faculty recommendation may address your classroom performance, the campus/community organization may address your dedication to your greater community, and an employer recommendation may address your work ethic, productivity, dependability, etc. It is important to make time to build relationships with instructors and administrators, and participate in extracurricular activities! It is never too late to begin this process! Guidelines:  Request letters of recommendation at least a month before you need them so that each recommender has plenty of time to write you a great letter.  Provide a copy of the scholarship information so the recommender can compose an informed letter.  Provide information to each of your recommenders about your background. This is helpful if you do not have a long-standing relationship with this person or if the recommender just doesn't have much time to devote to their letter. This information may include:  a copy of your personal statement,  unofficial transcripts providing courses taken, grades earned, and GPA,  awards you have won,  campus activities you have participated in, including any positions you have held,  work experience,  volunteer work/community service,  an explanation of any hardships you may have experienced in seeking higher education, such as coming from a financial limited background, being the first one in your family to attend college, or living with parents who do not speak English. SEE FORM FOR THIS PURPOSE ON NEXT PAGE  Be sure to thank your recommender, in person or in writing. You never know when you may need another letter of recommendation! LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIO N Most scholarships will require you to submit one to three letters of recommendation, usually from faculty members, campus/community organizations, and/or employers. These letters will provide the scholarship selection committee with information about you from an outside source. The faculty recommendation may address your classroom performance, the campus/community organization may address your dedication to your greater community, and an employer recommendation may address your work ethic, productivity, dependability, etc. It is important to make time to build relationships with instructors and administrators, and participate in extracurricular activities! It is never too late to begin this process! Guidelines:  Request letters of recommendation at least a month before you need them so that each recommender has plenty of time to write you a great letter.  Provide a copy of the scholarship information so the recommender can compose an informed letter.  Provide information to each of your recommenders about your background. This is helpful if you do not have a long-standing relationship with this person or if the recommender just doesn't have much time to devote to their letter. This information may include:  a copy of your personal statement,  unofficial transcripts providing courses taken, grades earned, and GPA,  awards you have won,  campus activities you have participated in, including any positions you have held,  work experience,  volunteer work/community service,  an explanation of any hardships you may have experienced in seeking higher education, such as coming from a financial limited background, being the first one in your family to attend college, or living with parents who do not speak English. SEE FORM FOR THIS PURPOSE ON NEXT PAGE  Be sure to thank your recommender, in person or in writing. You never know when you may need another letter of recommendation! LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIO N Most scholarships will require you to submit one to three letters of recommendation, usually from faculty members, campus/community organizations, and/or employers. These letters will provide the scholarship selection committee with information about you from an outside source. The faculty recommendation may address your classroom performance, the campus/community organization may address your dedication to your greater community, and an employer recommendation may address your work ethic, productivity, dependability, etc. It is important to make time to build relationships with instructors and administrators, and participate in extracurricular activities! It is never too late to begin this process! Guidelines:  Request letters of recommendation at least a month before you need them so that each recommender has plenty of time to write you a great letter.  Provide a copy of the scholarship information so the recommender can compose an informed letter.  Provide information to each of your recommenders about your background. This is helpful if you do not have a long-standing relationship with this person or if the recommender just doesn't have much time to devote to their letter. This information may include:  a copy of your personal statement,  unofficial transcripts providing courses taken, grades earned, and GPA,  awards you have won,  campus activities you have participated in, including any positions you have held,  work experience,  volunteer work/community service,  an explanation of any hardships you may have experienced in seeking higher education, such as coming from a financial limited background, being the first one in your family to attend college, or living with parents who do not speak English. SEE FORM FOR THIS PURPOSE ON NEXT PAGE  Be sure to thank your recommender, in person or in writing. You never know when you may need another letter of recommendation! LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION  Most scholarships will require you to submit one to three letters of recommendation, usually from faculty members, campus/community organizations, and/or employers.  Suggestions:  Request letters of recommendation at least a month before you need them so that each recommender has plenty of time to write you a great letter.  Provide a copy of the scholarship information so the recommender can compose an informed letter.  Be sure to thank your recommender, in person or in writing. You never know when you may need another letter of recommendation!

PERSONAL STATEMENT  Personal statements are sometimes called ‘application essays’ or ‘goal statements’ but are always an essay that showcases your accomplishments. Depending upon the scholarship, you may need to write an essay that is more autobiographically focused or one that is more goal focused.  Each scholarship has its own requirements: you may be given an exact length, topic(s), or may be asked to answer some specific questions in your essay.  Personal statements are very important, especially when you are applying to a competitive college or scholarship, where all applicants will have high GPA’s and long lists of experiences.  A personal statement can be a place to ‘explain away’ interruptions in your transcript, low grades or withdrawals, low test scores, or any other obstacles or challenges.

CONTENT OF YOUR ESSAY  Recall experiences—write short paragraphs about the following:  a memorable accomplishment in your life  extracurricular activities you have been engaged in, what role did you play  work experiences have you had, what where your job responsibility  volunteer experience do you have, what did you do, where, and for how long .What type of personal adversity have you overcome, what steps did you take to overcome them, what future roadblocks do you envision along your educational journey  what skills and qualities do you see that you possess  what skills and qualities will help you in college  Map out your educational and career goals— write four short paragraphs:  what do you want to study in college  what are your career goals  what steps have you taken to prepare for this career

TIPS  Pay close attention to due dates. Most scholarships are annual, with due dates ranging from late fall quarter to early summer, and the funding is usually available the next academic year.  Pay close attention to items that are required.  Type all application forms, letters, essays, questionnaires, or any other information.  Proofread all materials It is always a good idea to have someone else look over the application. Also, make a copy of your application and all attachments for your records.

SCAMS If you see the following, it might illegal  any costs involved in scholarship searches  The term, “you’ve been selected……”  “guaranteed”  “you can’t get this information”  “we need your credit card number”  “we need your social security number”

CHECKLIST  Complete Financial Aid Application (FAFSA)  Complete scholarship application  Complete any financial need documents  Attach personal statement  Attach recommendations  Include all donor required documents  Have all your statements proof read  Sign and date all documents