The Reality Check

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The Reality Check

• What you really need to know about scholarships
  and financial aidbefore you graduate!

Presented by Lauren Woodward, Scholarship Chair,
Varina High School October 9, 2007
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• In order to get to this

You will need some of this
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So now what?

• Reality
• Its senior year
• College/graduation is fast approaching
• Time to start applying to schools
• Time to start applying for scholarships

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Whats holding you back?

• Excuses, excuses
• It takes too long
• Im not smart enough
• Dont have the time
• No real money in scholarships
• Reality You cant win if you dont apply!!

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First, we must figure out

• What types of scholarships exist?
• Who gives out scholarships?
• How do you search for scholarships?
• How do you apply for scholarships?
• How do you win scholarships?

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What types of scholarships exist?

• Academic
• High academic achievements based on GPA, test
  scores, or field of study
• Essay Contests
• Require applicants to write an essay on a given
  topic
• Knowledge-based Contests
• Volunteering and Community Service

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What types of scholarships exist?

• Fellowships, research grants, and assistantships
• Usually awarded to graduate students
• Fine arts scholarships
• Outstanding achievements in the arts
• Pageants
• Mainly for women local, state, or national
  competitions

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What types of scholarships exist?

• Athletic Scholarships
• Tuition discounts or living stipends for
  promising athletes
• Other types
• Life experiences, religious affiliation,
  disability, illness, minority status, interest in
  major/career, leadership, cultural/political
  values

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Who gives out scholarships?

• Colleges
• Private organizations
• Scholarship-focused organizations
• Corporations
• Foundations
• Employers

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Who gives out scholarships?

• Unions
• Service Organizations
• Policy and advocacy organizations
• Business and professional associations
• Religious and social organizations

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How do you search for scholarships?

• Keep yourself organized
• Know due dates
• Have required materials available
• Review applications for special needs or
  pre-requisites
• List all scholarships you are applying for
• Keep a photocopy of all that you have submitted

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How do you search for scholarships?

• What are you eligible for?
• List the qualities and achievements that might
  make you qualify for certain scholarships
• Consider interests, values and beliefs,
  background, associations, location, work,
  minority or other group status

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How do you search for scholarships?

• VHS resources
• Scholarship Newsletter
• Put out at least once a month
• Hard copies in the School Counseling office or in
  the library
• Online at http//www.henrico.k12.va.us/hs/varinahs
  /guidance.html
• Applications/other info in the scholarship drawer
  in the College and Career Center in the
  counseling office

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How do you search for scholarships?

• Online searches
• Free scholarship search services match your
  qualifications with available scholarships you
  may be eligible for
• http//www.fastweb.com/
• Keep your profile up to date as grades change and
  test scores go up!

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How do you search for scholarships?

• Talk it up
• Counselors and teachers at school can help
  suggest scholarships that are appropriate
• College financial aid administrators
• GRASP representative
• School and public libraries
• Community leaders (many promote local
  scholarships)
• Friends and neighbors (students who have already
  graduated)

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How do you apply for scholarships?

• Are you eligible?
• You must match the requirements that the
  scholarship has for applicants
• What is the deadline?
• Applications must either be mailed/postmarked by
  a specific date or received by a specific date.
• Some must be returned to Ms. Woodward by a
  specific date (noted on newsletter).

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How do you apply for scholarships?

• Submit all scholarships as a complete application
• Some require a transcript or test scores
• Some require a recommendation letter
• Either apply online or by paper application (in
  drawer if from VHS)

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How do you apply for scholarships?

• Keep organized and re-use your resources
• Keep essays on file that can be adapted or
  re-used
• Request transcripts/rec letters in plenty of time
• Know your extracurricular activities year by year
• Fill out neatly or type without errors
• Get all required signatures

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How do you win scholarships?

• You must earn the award
• Match the scholarships criteria- and be better
  than the other applicants- either academically,
  artistically, athletically, or another quality
  that sets you apart from the other students
  applying

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How do you win scholarships?

• Qualities of a winner
• Diligence
• Determination
• Self-knowledge
• True involvement

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How do you win scholarships?

• The Winning Strategy
• Start early
• Check eligibility requirements
• Customize your application and research the
  scholarship
• Apply for less competitive or local scholarships
• Ask to be nominated
• Follow-up

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How do you win scholarships?

• How many should you apply for?
• Keep a balance of quantity and quality
• Apply to as many as you are eligible for but
  dont sacrifice the quality of the applications
  by becoming an application factory

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How do you win scholarships?

• Once you do win a scholarship, you must report
  the earnings to Ms. Woodward. You will be
  recognized at the end of the year!
• This also applies to money offered by colleges
  that you are not acceptingstill tell us!

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Up for the challenge?

• The Class of 2008 was awarded over 1.5 million
  in scholarship money the Class of 2009 is
  challenged to exceed that amount!

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References

• Kantrowitz, M. College gold The step-by-step
  guide to paying for college. Harper-Collins New
  York, 2006.