2005 2006

High School Counselor’s Workshop

Locating and Applying for Scholarships

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Session Agenda

• Locating Possible Scholarships

• Application Submission

• Writing the Essay

• The Student Athlete

• Avoiding Scholarship Scams

• Assistance for Students with Disabilities

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Locating Possible Scholarships

• Register with or use a search engine:

•FastWEB www.fastweb.com

•Mach25 www.mach25.com

•CollegeBoard www.collegeboard.com

•Peterson's

Scholarship Search www.petersons.com

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The Local Connection

• What groups have offered scholarships to your students in the past?

• Compile a list from the last several years

• Create an application requirement list • Application requirements

• Deadlines

• Contacts

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Application Submission

• Table of contents

• Application Form

• Essay

• Letters of Recommendation

• Transcripts

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How to Submit

• Use some color!

• Submit originals or only first generation Xerox

• Bind materials together

• Mail flat (not folded) in a large envelope

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The Two Minute Decision

• Readers will know after reading the introduction whether the student warrants consideration.

• Individuality is important but not if the message is hard to understand

• Follow instructions!

• Is it easy to read?

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The Essay

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Essay Themes

• Major accomplishments

• Distinguishing attributes

• Cultural or artistic influences

• Challenging times in their life

• Extra curricular activities

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Essay Themes

• Struggles that led to success

• Struggles that led to failure

• What do you love?

• What would you most like to be doing?

• Where would you most like to be?

• Who would you like to meet?

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Essay Themes

• Moments when the light bulb came on!

• Educational plans

• Career aspirations

• Spiritual enlightenment

• Dreams for the future

• Where will you be in ten years, twenty, thirty?

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Writing the Essay

• Do not stray from the topic

• Keep anecdotes short

• Keep the audience in mind

• Religious

• Business

• Read by adult professionals

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Writing the Essay• You are trying to convince someone to

give you money

• Does the essay cover the topic?

• Does it answers any questions they may have?

• How does the scholarship fit in?

• Does it include the student’s demographics?

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The Essay Format

• Writing:

• clear and concise

• well organized

• logical

• flows well

• easy to follow

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The Essay Format

• Typed

• double spaced

• 12 point font

• standard size margins

• within the given length

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The Essay Format

• Writing style:

• An appropriately serious tone

• Sincere

• modestly confident

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Essay Recycling

• Essay Recycling

• Use, and reuse, and reuse, etc.

• Set up a library of paragraphs and essays

• Education and Career Goals

• Challenging Moments

• Extracurricular activities

• Continue to revise, improve and update material

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The Student Athlete

• The NCAA has rules for the handling of student athletes.

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The National Letter of Intent

• A binding agreement between school and a prospective student-athlete

• A one year scholarship

• If does not enroll, subject to penalties

• NLI is not an NCAA program

• Administered by the Southeastern Conference (SEC)

• (205) 458-3000 or www.nationalletter.org

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Breach of NLI Intent • Sign an NLI - committed to attend that

school for first collegiate year

• If does not attend that school, or attends for less than one year, and enrolls in another NLI participating college, there may be eligibility ramifications.

• Penalties may preclude athletic participation for two years and include two seasons of lost eligibility.

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School may Reduce/Cancel

• Student renders himself or herself ineligible

• Misrepresents any information on an application, letter of intent or financial aid agreement; or

• Commits serious misconduct

• Voluntarily quits the sport for personal reasons.

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School Cannot Cancel

• Based on a student-athlete's ability or performance

• Because of injury

• For any other athletics reason.

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Renewal/Nonrenewal • Aid based on athletics ability cannot be

awarded for more than one year at a time

• Decision to continue is made on a year-by-year basis

• School must notify student before July 1 whether the aid has been renewed

• Student has a right to a hearing

• Call or write the NCAA (317) 917-6222 or the Southeastern Conference with questions

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Avoiding Scholarship Scams

“If you must pay money to get money, it might be a

scam.”

Copyright (c) 2004 by FinAid Page LLC (FinAid.org).  All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

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• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

• Spend the time, not the money.

• Never invest more than a postage stamp to get information about scholarships.

• Nobody can guarantee that a student will win a scholarship.

Scholarship Scams Rules of Thumb

Copyright (c) 2004 by FinAid Page LLC (FinAid.org).  All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

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• Legitimate scholarship foundations do not charge application fees.

• If an offer seems suspicious, it's usually with good reason.

Avoiding Scholarship Scams

Copyright (c) 2004 by FinAid Page LLC (FinAid.org).  All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

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Assistance for Students with Disabilities

• Scholarships are extremely limited.

• Students must also pursue non-restricted scholarships

• Colleges and universities may also offer specific scholarships.

• Students should contact the financial aid office at each institution to which they are applying.

• Consult disability specific advocacy organizations

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• Students should contact the financial aid office at each institution to which they are applying.

• To inquire on scholarships

• To point out any special needs that may alter cost of attendance

• Consult disability specific advocacy organizations

Assistance for Students with Disabilities

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The HEATH Resource Center

www.heath.gwu.edu