Pay for School: How to Find & Win Scholarships

Pay for School[Finding & Winning Scholarships]

Center for Career Connections & Women’s CenterScholarship Resource Program

AgendaWhat are Scholarships?

Where Do I Start?

Getting Organized & Prepared

Where Do I look for Scholarships?

Additional Sources of Funding at BC

International Students

Getting Some Money…

Scholarships rarely pay for non-academic expenses.

Get ready to work. Applications taketime…

We have other resources…Food HousingClothingChildcareand more!

Consider finding a part-time job or trying to access other resources to pay for

your expenses.

What’s in the Name?Scholarships, Grants, Prizes, FellowshipsScholarships: monetary assistance given for either achievement (usually academic) or need. Sometimes a combination of both. They do not need to be repaid but may carry requirements that must be maintained to keep them.

Grants: typically provided by the state or federal government. This does not need to be paid back and is usually given based on financial need. Grants are often given for graduate or postgraduate research. Sometimes people confuse the word “grants” for all levels of financial assistance.

Prizes: money that you win in a contest that is intended to be used for school (example: art contest, or an essay).

Fellowships: paid to an individual to aid in the pursuit of study or research, usually at the graduate or postgraduate levels.

Where to Start? FAFSA

APPLY for the (FAFSA)

[Free Application for Federal Student Aid]

If eligible, you may be able to fund your school with a grant or a low-interest loan

Some scholarships require a copy of your FAFSA report even if you are not eligible for financial aid.

Need help? Multicultural Services (MCS) can guide you through the application process.

Watch the tutorial from the financial aid website

FAFSA Deadlines

Summer 2010 March 1st,

2010 Fall 2010 (Priority

Funding) April 16,

2010

First: Get Organized

Watch all deadlines!

Enter them in your

calendar / planner

Give yourself 2-3 weeks

time to prepare your

materials.

Recycle your applications

Getting Prepared:Letters of Recommendation

TeacherEmployer

Community leaderAthletic coach

Club coordinatorAdvisor

CounselorReligious leader

Volunteer coordinatorNO FAMILY MEMBERS

Sample Le t te rs o f

Recommendat ion On l ine !

Who can you ask?

Personal | Professional | Academic

Getting Prepared:Letters of Recommendation

WHEN DO YOU START?

WHAT DO YOU ASK?

1. Start right away! Allow three weeks notice to receive them Do not pressure them, provide the option to say no Ask if they would be willing to alter the scholarship in the future

2. Ask them if they would be able and willing to write a “good” letter of recommendation for you

3. Help “coach” them Talking about your yourself, scholarships you are applying for, educational and

career goals, and any relevant extracurricular activities

4. Request that they addressed the letter to the “Dear Scholarship Committee”

5. Follow-up a week before the application is due Send a thank you note for their help Notify them if you win any awards

Essays & Personal Statements

Always positive

Make it personal & engaging

Show evidence

Check and double check your work!

Follow the directions

Visit the Writing Lab

Write a general essay

Research the donor

Check online for essay samples

PERSONAL STATEMENTGuidelines &

Tips

Essays & Personal Statements Tips

AcademicsLeadership

Community serviceExtracurricular activities

GoalsBackground & influencesPersonal achievementsPertinent social issues

Financial need

Sample Essays & Persona l

S ta tements On l ine !

Examples of Essay Topics

Additional Materials

Transcripts

Income Statement

s

FAFSA Award Letter

Portfolio / Work

Samples

Resume

Tip:Many scholarship

materials are similar to an application for a

university or graduate school. Hit two targets

at once!

Where to Look for Scholarships1. Bellevue College Scholarship Site

2. Bellevue College Foundation

3. Scholarship boards:

1. www.thewashboard.org

2. www.petersons.com

3. www.fastweb.com

4. Google & keywords

5. King Country Library

6. Check other schools

7. Professional associations

8. Religious & volunteer organizations, parent’s employers, etc.

Scholarship Scams

Fees for scholarships

You are the finalist! “But I never applied?”

Guaranteed scholarship searching

Free seminar

Too good to be true

CHECK the Federal Trade Commission

International & Non-Resident Scholarships

Bellevue College Foundation• FALL and SPRING – Foundation

International Students Scholarship Program• http://bellevuecollege.edu/isp/scholarship.html

External databases • http://www.iefa.org/search/• http://www.internationalscholarships.com/

Severe economic hardship• http://bellevuecollege.edu/isp/work.html#10

Directory: Funding for United States Study• http://www.iiebooks.org/funforunstat.html

Additional Sources of Funding

bellevuecollege.edu/fa/ | Bellevue College Financial Aid website.

Veteran's Benefits Links | Veteran's Benefits Information.

bellevuecollege.edu/we/ | Worker Retraining Program.

bellevuecollege.edu/workfirst | Language & Employment Skills Training.

bellevuecollege.edu/ceo/ | Career Education Options.

STEPP Links | Student Tuition Pre-Payment Plan (STEPP).

Phi Theta Kappa | International Honor Society at Bellevue College

Foundation | The Bellevue College Foundation

Frequently Asked Questions & Comments

There are no scholarships that I am eligible for

Are scholarships are only for the “really smart” or “really poor”?

How much money are most scholarships worth?

Do they cover living expenses?

Do I get taxed?

What happens to my financial aid when I win a scholarship?

Typically, what are the deadlines for scholarships?

Do I need lots of community service?

Where does the money come?

Do I have to be enrolled in the school?

How does community service increase my chances for receiving a scholarship?

Center for Career Connections & The Women’s Center

Résumés & Job Search Assistance

Internship & Job Postings

Career Exploration & Assessments

Interview Practice Sessions

Career Classes & Workshops

Coming Soon… Online Mentoring!