What goes on an award letter? Federal Grants State Grants Institutional Grants Institutional Scholarships Private Scholarships*** Federal Work Studies.

What goes on an award letter?

Breaking down the award letter

Federal GrantsState GrantsInstitutional GrantsInstitutional ScholarshipsPrivate Scholarships***

Federal Work Studies

Federal Perkins LoanFederal Stafford Loans

What else?

Breaking down the award letter

Detailed Cost of Attendance

-

Expected Family Contribution

=

Financial Need

Hard Costs

Soft Costs

Grants

Cal Grant

Federal Pell Grant

University Grant

Scholarships

Institutional Direct

Private

Work Study

Money is applied to debt

Free Money

Federal Perkins Loan Federal Stafford Loan

Subsidized

UnsubsidizedParent Plus LoanPrivate Loans

Borrowed Money

Please refer to your hand out!

These are “out of pocket/not eligible for financial aid” costs that families will incur before students start school

CSS/ProfileCommitment DepositHousing DepositOrientation FeePlacement Exam FeeSummer Remedial Courses*Parking Decals

Out of Pocket Costs

ScholarshipsThe Ins and Outs of applying and

getting scholarships

STRATEGIESO It’s a numbers game

O Even among talented students, who wins involves a bit of luck, not just skill

O To win more scholarships, apply to more scholarships, but only if you qualify

O You can’t win if you don’t applyO One in four students never applies for financial

aidO It gets easier after your first 6 applications

O Essays can be reused and tailored to each new application

O Don’t miss deadlines

SEARCHINGO Start searching as soon as possible

O If you wait until spring to start searching, you will miss half the deadlines

O Use a free scholarship matching service like Fastweb

O Look for scholarship listing books at the library or bookstore, but check the publication date

SEARCHINGO Look for local scholarships on bulletin boards

near the guidance counselor or financial aid offices, or the library’s jobs and careers section

O Look in the coupon section of the newspaperO Answer the optional questions on a scholarship

matching service for twice as many matchesO Look for near-miss matchesO Pursue less competitive scholarships, such as

small awards and essay contests, since they are easier to win, the money adds up and they help you win bigger scholarships

TIPS AND TRICKSO Prioritize your applications by deadline and

the expected value of the scholarshipO Use a calendar and checklist to get organizedO Create an accomplishments resumeO Tailor your application to the sponsor’s goalsO Read and follow the instructionsO Make your application stand out from the

crowdO Ask to be nominatedO Practice on a copy of the application form

TIPS AND TRICKSO Use a professional email address, such as

[email protected] Clean up the content of your Facebook

account, removing inappropriate and immature material

O Google your name to see what shows upO Make a photocopy of your application before

mailing itO Send the application by certified mail, return

receipt requested or with delivery confirmationO If rejected, ask for the reviewer comments

A WINNING ESSAYO Answer the essay question orally and

transcribe the recordingO Use an outline to organize your thoughtsO Give examples and be specificO Personalize your essay and be passionateO Write about something of interest to youO Talk about your impact on other peopleO Proofread a printed copy of the essay for

spelling and grammar errors

LETTER OF RECCOMENDATION

O Ask the teacher whether she can write you a great letter of recommendation

O The recommendation should be relevant to the scholarship sponsor’s goal

O Provide the recommender with a copy of your accomplishments resume

O Thank the recommender for writing the letter

SCAMSO If you have to pay money to get money, it is

probably a scamO Never invest more than a postage stamp to

get information about scholarships or to apply for a scholarship

O Nobody can guarantee that you’ll win a scholarship

O Do not give out personal information like bank account numbers, credit card numbers or Social Security numbers

O Beware of the unclaimed aid myth

MISTAKES: AVOID THEM!

O Missing deadlinesO Failing to proofread the applicationO Failing to follow directions (essay length,

number of recommendations)O Omitting required informationO Applying for an award when you don’t qualifyO Failing to apply for an award for which you

are eligibleO Failing to tailor the application to the sponsorO Writing a boring essay

VARIOUS ENGINES