agriculture students scholarship workshop

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Agriculture Students Scholarship Workshop Rachael D. Ashley, University of Idaho Joseph Maxwell, College of Southern Idaho

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Agriculture Students Scholarship Workshop. Rachael D. Ashley, University of Idaho Joseph Maxwell, College of Southern Idaho. Workshop Objectives. Identify different sources of financial aid Learn how to successfully search for scholarships Develop strong communication with professionals - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Agriculture Students Scholarship Workshop

Agriculture Students Scholarship Workshop

Rachael D. Ashley, University of IdahoJoseph Maxwell, College of Southern Idaho

Page 2: Agriculture Students Scholarship Workshop

Workshop ObjectivesIdentify different sources of financial aidLearn how to successfully search for

scholarshipsDevelop strong communication with

professionalsOrganize the things you need to know before

you begin the application processHow to make your application a WINNER!How to develop a game plan using “Rachael’s

10 Easy Rules for Getting Free Money!”

Page 3: Agriculture Students Scholarship Workshop

Different Sources of Money• Pay back: NO• Universities, Private organizations

(clubs, community groups), school and academic

Scholarships

•Pay Back: NO•Government programsGrants •Pay back: YES•Private and Federal loan programs

Student and Federal Loans

•Pay back: NO•http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

(FAFSA)

Page 4: Agriculture Students Scholarship Workshop

What the FAFSA?!Free Application for Federal

Student Aid

Fill-out with your tax, income, and home information

Determines a “need value”, which equals FREE MONEY from the government!

Many scholarships require your FAFSA information, so it’s a MUST to fill out

Page 5: Agriculture Students Scholarship Workshop

Sources for Scholarship SearchesWhere to search:Scholarship Search

Engineswww.fastweb.com

Government and Statewww.stateboardofed.edu

Your parent’s company/employer

UniversitiesFinancial Aid officeCollege of interest (ie:

CALS)Organizations

National FFA Organization

4-HFarm BureauGrange Idaho Agriculture

GroupsHigh School CounselorsWARNING: You should NEVER be charged for scholarship

searches!

Page 6: Agriculture Students Scholarship Workshop

Communicating with ProfessionalsMaking it a Success: Do Before-Hand:Personal is better!

Phone vs. e-mail conversationsFollow-up

Communicate if you have more questions

Find out what happened to your application

Use the contact person to learn more about the program Helps when you’re answering

the essay questions… hint, hint***Universities***

Set up a new e-mail address [email protected] Blue_eyed_chicken_luvn_gurrrrl

[email protected] a professional photo that

you can include in an application

Request your transcripts and ACT score reports early Don’t be stuck waiting on

someone else when you’re in a pinch for time

***Letters of Recommendation**

Page 7: Agriculture Students Scholarship Workshop

Using the Universities

ADVICE: Apply to more than one college! They will “compete” for you by awarding more scholarships

They have recommendations for programs with scholarships

Some University scholarships require an additional applicationAsk the college about this

Advice to make the process go smoothlyWorkshops and visitation

events on campus

Page 8: Agriculture Students Scholarship Workshop

Letters of RecommendationChoose a variety of people

that “make sense” to scholarship boards

What your references say reflects on YOU!

Give references SPECIFICS, such as: Type of scholarship What the program is looking

for Your leadership and relevant

experiences Professional vs. Personal

Page 9: Agriculture Students Scholarship Workshop

What to Know Before You Even TOUCH An Application!Leadership involvement

Clubs, organizations, sports, offices heldCommunity Service

Number of hours workedCareer objectives

The more specific, the more impressiveAwards and HonorsYour individual strengths and weaknesses

This helps when highlighting your best qualities and becoming aware of your challenging ones

Page 10: Agriculture Students Scholarship Workshop

Making Your Achievements Stand Out!Say What Matters:

Find what is important to the scholarship program (ie: community service and leadership), and focus your writing on those areas (ie: organizing your chapter’s PALS program)

NEVER repeat yourself! Use each essay section as a new opportunity to show yourself off!

Page 11: Agriculture Students Scholarship Workshop

Spice-it-Up“I did a service project for the Grange” OR “I

initiated a service opportunity for my chapter to show our appreciation for our local Grange”

POWER Words:InitiateFacilitate; leadFulfill a needInspire; compel; motivateI learned (this) from (that) experienceFocused; goal-oriented

Page 12: Agriculture Students Scholarship Workshop

If you’re going to remember anything about scholarships,

It’s the FACT that deadlines COUNT!

Watch for the difference between “postmarked” and “received by” dates

If you have to pull an all-nighter to get your application in on time, then do it. It might just be a $1,500 night!

Page 13: Agriculture Students Scholarship Workshop

Rachael’s 10 Easy Rules for Getting Free Money!

1. If an organization has a website, they probably have a scholarship

2. Prioritize your time: do easy applications FIRST

3. Apply to more than one school4. Recycle your essays (ie: describe your career

objectives…)5. Watch deadlines!

Postmarking counts…

6. Use descriptive words to spice-up your sentences

7. Read what they want you to talk about

8. Have lots of letters of recommendation, transcripts, and ACT reports on hand

9. Save your old applications and look back on them

10. There’s money out there- just apply!