Scholarships & Financial Aid

Scholarships & Financial Scholarships & Financial AidAid

Searching for scholarshipsSearching for scholarships

Helpful hints for winning themHelpful hints for winning them

Financial Aid: How to fileFinancial Aid: How to file

WHAT IS A SCHOLARSHIP ?WHAT IS A SCHOLARSHIP ?

A scholarship is a gift of A scholarship is a gift of money donated by a money donated by a foundation, group, foundation, group, corporation, individual corporation, individual or government to assist or government to assist a student in funding a student in funding his/her education. his/her education. These monies do not These monies do not have to be paid back.have to be paid back.

TYPES OF SCHOLARSHIPSTYPES OF SCHOLARSHIPS

NEED BASEDNEED BASED• Scholarship is based Scholarship is based

on a student’s on a student’s demonstrated demonstrated financial need as financial need as determined by determined by completing the Free completing the Free Application for Application for Federal Student Aid Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or other (FAFSA) or other income informationincome information

MERIT BASEDMERIT BASED• Scholarship is based Scholarship is based

on a student’s on a student’s performanceperformance– academicacademic– athleticathletic– performing artsperforming arts– otherother

• Can be need based Can be need based or non- need basedor non- need based

WHERE TO LOOKWHERE TO LOOK

JVS Student JVS Student ServicesServices

Home School H.S. Home School H.S. Guidance Dept.Guidance Dept.

Colleges, Colleges, Universities & Universities & Technical SchoolsTechnical Schools

Internet web sitesInternet web sites Libraries/book Libraries/book

storesstores

Lorain County JVS Student Lorain County JVS Student

ServicesServices

Receives scholarships from many local, Receives scholarships from many local, regional, state and national organizations regional, state and national organizations and businessesand businesses

Also solicits/automatically receives some Also solicits/automatically receives some local high school scholarship applicationslocal high school scholarship applications

All scholarships reproduced and placed All scholarships reproduced and placed in “Blue Box” and sorted by deadline; in “Blue Box” and sorted by deadline; criteria listed on label criteria listed on label

Personalized help if desired (internet Personalized help if desired (internet searches, essay advice, etc.)searches, essay advice, etc.)

High School Guidance High School Guidance OfficesOffices

Announce, post or print Announce, post or print scholarship information; scholarship information; may have a special file may have a special file drawer accessible to drawer accessible to studentsstudents

Many communities have Many communities have excellent local excellent local scholarshipsscholarships

Will help student provide Will help student provide transcript, GPA and other transcript, GPA and other required informationrequired information

College, Universities & College, Universities & Tech SchoolsTech Schools

College Viewbook lists College Viewbook lists requirements & deadlines; requirements & deadlines; many occur before regular many occur before regular admission deadlinesadmission deadlines

Ask admissions officer Ask admissions officer about scholarship, about scholarship, fellowship and internship fellowship and internship opportunities:opportunities: academic academic - performing arts -- performing arts -underrepresented groups - underrepresented groups - athletics - otherathletics - other

InternetInternet

www.finaid.orgwww.finaid.org – – links to fastweb.com, links to fastweb.com,

College Board’s FUND College Board’s FUND FINDER, FINDER,

SRN ExpressSRN Express Yahoo: type in “scholarship Yahoo: type in “scholarship

search engines” or search engines” or “scholarships for culinary “scholarships for culinary students” (hidden gem: students” (hidden gem: www.cookingwww.cooking schools.com ?) schools.com ?)

Collegeanswer.com (sponsored Collegeanswer.com (sponsored by SallieMae)by SallieMae)

Don’t: Pay any $$ or provide Don’t: Pay any $$ or provide confidential information such as confidential information such as your social security numberyour social security number

Ohio Career Information Ohio Career Information Services (or OCIS)Services (or OCIS)

Usually available through a school’s Usually available through a school’s media center; can be accessed in school media center; can be accessed in school library or from home via school’s library or from home via school’s website.website.

Requires user name: LorainJVS and Requires user name: LorainJVS and password: ohiocis03.password: ohiocis03.

Website: www.ocis2004.ode.state.oh.usWebsite: www.ocis2004.ode.state.oh.us Has scholarship sort and school sort, Has scholarship sort and school sort,

plus many other terrific services.plus many other terrific services.

OCIS: Getting StartedOCIS: Getting Started

www.ocis.orgwww.ocis.org – click on “what’s new” – click on “what’s new” Click on link (http: …)Click on link (http: …) Enter info: Lorain JVS… ohiocis03Enter info: Lorain JVS… ohiocis03 Click on Financial Aid…or Financial Aid Click on Financial Aid…or Financial Aid

SortSort Financial Aid: select cluster areasFinancial Aid: select cluster areas Financial Aid Sort: more detailed search!Financial Aid Sort: more detailed search! Click on scholarships found for infoClick on scholarships found for info

POSSIBLE SOURCES...POSSIBLE SOURCES...

Private FoundationsPrivate Foundations IndustryIndustry EmployersEmployers Clubs & Clubs &

OrganizationsOrganizations ChurchesChurches Community & Civic Community & Civic

GroupsGroups Federal & State Federal & State

GovernmentsGovernments

CHOOSING SCHOLARSHIPSCHOOSING SCHOLARSHIPS

Read scholarship Read scholarship descriptions carefullydescriptions carefully

Narrow your choicesNarrow your choices Time is of the essenceTime is of the essence Use credible referencesUse credible references Take advantage of Take advantage of

every possible every possible opportunityopportunity

Pay close attention to Pay close attention to detaildetail

PREPARING A SCHOLARSHIP PREPARING A SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONAPPLICATION

Read all instructions Read all instructions carefullycarefully

Prepare thoughtful essay(s)Prepare thoughtful essay(s) Proof several timesProof several times Make & keep a copyMake & keep a copy Collect requested Collect requested

informationinformation• TranscriptsTranscripts• Letters of referenceLetters of reference• Completed FAFSACompleted FAFSA• ACT Score required?ACT Score required?

REMEMBER...REMEMBER... Searching for and completing Searching for and completing

scholarship applications scholarship applications requires hard work, but the requires hard work, but the pay -off can be significant.pay -off can be significant.

You don’t have to have a 4.0 You don’t have to have a 4.0 GPA to win scholarships.GPA to win scholarships.

You can’t win unless you You can’t win unless you apply.apply.

Ask for help if you need it.Ask for help if you need it.

Winning that Winning that Scholarship!Scholarship!

The Application: Making a The Application: Making a Good Good First ImpressionFirst Impression

Copy application; make a draft then Copy application; make a draft then transfer information to the originaltransfer information to the original

Where possible, word process - especially Where possible, word process - especially essays. Use word count for proper essays. Use word count for proper length.length.

Proofread: grammar and spell check; Proofread: grammar and spell check; have another person proofread it too.have another person proofread it too.

Be honest regarding grades, activities, Be honest regarding grades, activities, etc.etc.

Writing a Winning EssayWriting a Winning Essay

• Essay “do”sEssay “do”s

Create an outline firstCreate an outline first Grab the reader; Grab the reader;

finish strongfinish strong Be specific; examplesBe specific; examples Passionate, positive Passionate, positive

and persuasiveand persuasive Unique; set apart?Unique; set apart?

• Essay “don’t”sEssay “don’t”s

Re-use an old Re-use an old essayessay

Stop at a first draftStop at a first draft Exceed the lengthExceed the length Avoid the topicAvoid the topic Use passive voice; Use passive voice;

boring toneboring tone

Recommendation LettersRecommendation Letters

Select wisely: knows Select wisely: knows you well; positive you well; positive viewview

Teacher, supervisor, Teacher, supervisor, coach, counselor, club coach, counselor, club advisor (no friends or advisor (no friends or family members!)family members!)

Allow 2-3 weeksAllow 2-3 weeks

Ace the InterviewAce the Interview

Prepare answers to Prepare answers to possible questionspossible questions

Dress for successDress for success Be on timeBe on time Eye contact; smile; Eye contact; smile;

speak clearlyspeak clearly Thank you note to Thank you note to

committee can’t committee can’t hurthurt

Financial Aid: How to File Financial Aid: How to File and What You Might and What You Might ReceiveReceive

What is Financial Aid?What is Financial Aid?

Source of money Source of money provided to help a provided to help a student afford student afford educationeducation

Student can Student can attend a college, attend a college, university or university or technical schooltechnical school

Types of Financial AidTypes of Financial Aid

FREE MONEYFREE MONEY• GrantsGrants• ScholarshipsScholarships• Work StudyWork Study

LOANS must be LOANS must be repaid after college repaid after college (student loans) or (student loans) or during college during college (parent loans)(parent loans)

Cost of AttendanceCost of Attendance

Tuition and feesTuition and fees Books, supplies Books, supplies

and equipmentand equipment Room and boardRoom and board TransportationTransportation Necessary Necessary

personal spendingpersonal spending

Sources of AidSources of Aid

Federal government (70%); Federal government (70%); colleges and schools (25%); state colleges and schools (25%); state government (5%)government (5%)

Other sources: employers, Other sources: employers, community groups, foundations, community groups, foundations, unions, religious organizations...unions, religious organizations...

How to apply for Federal How to apply for Federal and State Aidand State Aid

Free Application for Federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)Student Aid (FAFSA)

Don’t file until after January 1Don’t file until after January 1

Can file on-line or mail: aim for Can file on-line or mail: aim for 2/15/05. Definitely recommend on-2/15/05. Definitely recommend on-line filing if possible!!line filing if possible!!

Automatic Consideration Automatic Consideration for:for:

Federal Pell Grant (EFC of $4000 or less)Federal Pell Grant (EFC of $4000 or less) Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant

(if you are Pell-eligible)(if you are Pell-eligible) Work study (a job at school)Work study (a job at school) Student loan of $2625 for first yearStudent loan of $2625 for first year Parent (or PLUS) LoanParent (or PLUS) Loan Ohio Instructional Grant (OIG)Ohio Instructional Grant (OIG) (Plus schools often require it for their (Plus schools often require it for their

monies)monies)

What Happens Next?What Happens Next?

Student Aid Report Student Aid Report (SAR) to parent (SAR) to parent and studentand student

Will contain EFC, Will contain EFC, which determines which determines much of aid givenmuch of aid given

Colleges or schools Colleges or schools will send FA Award will send FA Award Letter to studentLetter to student

What can you do to What can you do to prepare?prepare?

Go to www.studentaid.ed.gov and get Go to www.studentaid.ed.gov and get a PIN or Personal Identification Number a PIN or Personal Identification Number for you and a parent ; allows you to for you and a parent ; allows you to electronically sign the FAFSA/ make electronically sign the FAFSA/ make corrections. corrections.

Do taxes as soon as possible in 2005; Do taxes as soon as possible in 2005; transfer numbers to FAFSA.transfer numbers to FAFSA.

Ask for help if you need it from your Ask for help if you need it from your guidance counselor.guidance counselor.

How can you get help with How can you get help with FAFSA?FAFSA?

Financial Aid Night at JVS in January, Financial Aid Night at JVS in January, letter to be sent to parentsletter to be sent to parents

One-on-one appts at JVS (mostly days)One-on-one appts at JVS (mostly days) Financial Aid Service Centers in February Financial Aid Service Centers in February

(at LCCC; 4-7 pm, 2 dates to be (at LCCC; 4-7 pm, 2 dates to be announced)announced)

College Goal Sunday in late Jan or early College Goal Sunday in late Jan or early Feb; at LCCC 1-4 pm, date to be Feb; at LCCC 1-4 pm, date to be announcedannounced

EFC or Expected Family EFC or Expected Family Contribution: How to Obtain Contribution: How to Obtain an Estimatean Estimate

www.finaid.orgwww.finaid.org …Calculators…Expected …Calculators…Expected Family Contribution…enter information Family Contribution…enter information (do not enter home equity)(do not enter home equity)

Click on “calculate” – your EFC will Click on “calculate” – your EFC will appearappear

If it is $4000 or lower, you may be If it is $4000 or lower, you may be eligible for a Pell Grant depending on eligible for a Pell Grant depending on school costschool cost

Don’t panic – you can borrow to help Don’t panic – you can borrow to help cover the EFC. cover the EFC.