SCHOLARSHIPS How do I get one? 07/02/2012

Types of Financial Aid Grants – Federal and State awarded on financial need based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) Scholarships – Private aid awarded on specific competitive criteria (i.e. grades, major, affiliations, work, financial need etc.) Loans – Government supported and private loans that must be paid back with interest. 07/02/2012

COST OF OBTAINING A SCHOLARSHIP Is free money always free? Time Effort Privacy Restrictions 07/02/2012

TIME Recommend 1hour* per week for college career *may need to spend 1-3 hours per week for the first three months of your scholarship search 07/02/2012

EFFORT Type All Applications Write Quality Essays Projects and Portfolios Tracking System Thank You Cards Attendance at Special Functions 07/02/2012

PRIVACY student and parent tax information (most scholarships require a FASFA to be filed) release of and mailing information (most free scholarship searches require access to mailing and ) participation/qualifications (scholarships require proof of participation or qualification of criteria) 07/02/2012

RESTRICTIONS DEADLINES – vary greatly and are FIRM Qualifying criteria Income Geographic 07/02/2012

HOW TO GET STARTED WITH A SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH? Know thy self Know thy family Join Participate 07/02/2012

KNOW THY SELF Decide on a major and/or career Know what you like and dislike Hobbies Special skills and talents Future goals 07/02/2012

KNOW THY FAMILY Genealogy Parents affiliations professional and personal Parents employment history Parents military record Church affiliation 07/02/2012

JOIN IN! Join school groups and clubs Join community groups Join church activities Encourage parents to join groups/clubs 07/02/2012

PARTICIPATE!!!!!! DO NOT BE A LOG JAM FOR AN ORGANIZATION –If you join --- participate Aspire to a leadership role in the organization 07/02/2012

WHERE DO I FIND SCHOLARSHIPS? Collegeprowler.com/ 07/02/2012

TRACKING SYSTEMS Journal tracking Index card tracking Database tracking NOTE: Track name of scholarship, deadline date, date you submitted application, etc. 07/02/2012

ESSAYS THAT KNOCK’EM DEAD Written following standard grammar and punctuation Easy to follow flow Discuss goals and philosophy Connect your goals with organization’s mission Research organization 07/02/2012

CONTESTS Prize money Artifact for portfolio Demonstrates your abilities/talents Provides you experience in competitions NOTE: many contest have small fees – always research contest to ensure authenticity. 07/02/2012

PORTFOLIO Demonstrates you are willing to go above and beyond Enables you to provide additional artifacts of your skills/talents Electronic portfolio allows for easy use (my portfolio or facts.org) 07/02/2012

CAUTIONS Social networks Web persona Do not exaggerate 07/02/2012

GOOD LUCK! 07/02/2012