1. Greater Essex County Parent Involvement Committee January 24, 2017
GECDSB
Greater Essex County Parent Involvement Committee
January 24, 2017

2. Financial Supports for Post-Secondary Students

3. Financial Aid Information Sources
Websites (OSAP, school board, high school, post-secondary institutions, scholarship “warehouses”)
Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, Remind)
Parental places of employment
Bulletin Boards in Student Services
Morning announcements
(Many awards go unclaimed or unchallenged!!)

4. OSAP Information Go to OSAP Website (osap.gov.on.ca)
Applications usually available May 1st

5. Board/School Websites
Go to

6. Go to your school website:
listed under Guidance/Student Services

7. Types of School Awards
At the school level (local donors for students at that school), there are generally two categories of awards:
1) Merit Awards – based mostly on specific criteria (academic achievement, pursuing specific programs/institutions, volunteerism, etc.)
2) Bursary Awards – based mostly on financial need (generally require financial information)
Separate Applications are submitted to the Student Services Department at each school.

8. University/College websites:
listed under Financial Aid

9. Scholarship Warehouse websites:
1) (University)

10. Scholarship Warehouse websites:
2) (College)

11. Scholarship Warehouse websites:3)

13. Scholarship Warehouse websites:
4) yconic.com

14. Social Media - Twitter, Facebook, Remind
Used extensively by teachers and coaches

15. Parental places of employment
Sources close to home:
Parental places of employment
(CAW, OSSTF, Skilled Trades, etc.)
Bulletin Boards in Student Services
(Posted or in binders, Grad Meetings)
Morning announcements
(Listen carefully)

16. Letters of Application
Many require applications
Read the criteria carefully to ensure eligibility
Emphasize in letter why student is deserving of award (volunteerism, achievements, interests…)
Wise to have a teacher proof-read letters
Spend several hours writing a good one, then it can be easily modified as needed
VERIFY due dates

17. Some Terminology: Entrance Award/Scholarship:
A scholarship or award given to a student entering his/her first year at a post-secondary institution. Often no application needed.
Grant: (often through OSAP)
A non-repayable sum of money that is given based primarily on financial need, but academic achievement may also be considered.
Loan:
Awarded as financial assistance that must be repaid.

18. Questions?