Financial Aid & Scholarships

IRVINE HIGH SCHOOL

CLASS OF 2018

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“Making College Affordable”

Financial Aid Steps

Search for Scholarships

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

Cal-Grant GPA Verification-automatic

CSS PROFILE

Supplemental Financial Aid Forms

Net Price Calculator

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Scholarships-Where to find

them…

Naviance

School – IHS Nomination Scholarships

Local & Regional Organizations

Parent’s/Student’s work

Religious, service, cultural community

organizations

Family

On the internet

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NavianceLog into Naviance from irvinehigh.org using your username and 9-digit student number as your password

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Naviance

(continued)

From the

“Colleges”

Tab:

Select

“National

Scholarship

Search” to

link with the

Sallie Mae

free

Scholarship

Search

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IHS Advertised

ScholarshipsFrequently visit www.irvinghigh.org, then Counseling, then Financial Aid & Scholarships for a list of updated local and national scholarship opportunities.

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Scholarship website

examples…

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Tips for Writing Winning Scholarship Essays Start by going through all the scholarships you’re planning to apply for and determining if an essay is required. If you’re

not sure, contact the institution awarding the scholarship.

Make a list of deadlines for the applications, giving yourself a minimum of three to four weeks to work on the essay component.

Read the essay requirements carefully.

Approach the essay like you would any major writing assignment, developing a complete outline that includes the key points you want to make and addresses all requirements.

Compose your essay by detailing each of the key points you’ve included in your outline.

It’s always difficult to write about yourself. One suggestion is to tell your story out loud to yourself or to someone else who might even jot down notes for you as you speak.

Write in complete sentences using clear language, watching punctuation and grammar. Never use abbreviations or other shortcuts used in texting or social media.

Include your academic accomplishments as well as your contributions to your school life and community (including student council, leadership and volunteer activities). Make this more about the services you provided and the personal rewards rather than a bragging session.

Recite your essay to someone who has also reviewed the criteria so they can help you spot any mistakes or anything you’ve missed.

Have someone you know that has a good eye proofread the essay before your submit it. This is one case where your grammar and spelling need to be perfect.

Do a final check to make sure your essay addresses each requirement.

Ensure the essay and accompanying materials (application, envelopes, etc.) are all correctly addressed and postmarked.

Save the essay and adjust it as needed so you can re-use it for other applications. Be sure that relevant, key points are added for each application and remove others that aren’t applicable

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FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

Is the MAIN application for financial aid!

Required for state and federal aid

Highly recommend filling it out online at www.FAFSA.ED.GOV

Submission begins October 1st of the senior year

Information on how to prepare to fill out the FAFSA will be presented at Financial Aid Night on September 28th at NHS.

It is FREE to fill out; be aware of private companies who offer to fill it out for you for a fee

FAFSA Forecaster and other resources

Deadline – March 2nd – however, check with your colleges as to potential earlier deadlines

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FSA ID

The FSA ID is the

username and password you will use when your visit certain US Dept. of Ed. websites. This is also how you sign your FAFSA electronically.

Visit:

Studentaid.gov/fsaid

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Cal-Grant-

Free money for college! The Cal Grant Guarantee: Every high school senior

who has at least a 2.0 GPA, meets the basic requirements and applies on time is guaranteed a Cal Grant award to support attending a California college

GPA verification is required for Cal Grant consideration (students applying to any school in California should submit this form, in addition to the FAFSA)

Information is used in conjunction with the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to evaluate whether a student qualifies for a Cal Grant

Submission of your GPA is done automatically for you by IUSD unless you “opt out.”

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CSS PROFILE

Used by many private or independent colleges, in addition to the FAFSA, to determine financial need

Available on the web at www.collegeboard.com

Check the list of schools to see if any of the colleges to which you are applying require completion

Check with each individual campus for deadlines

Begin submission online on October 1st

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Supplemental Financial

Aid Forms

Private and/or out-of-state colleges

may ask you to fill out their own

forms

Contact the campus financial aid

office for more information

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Net Price

Calculator

Visit collegeboard.com to access the Net Price Calculator. It is also available at individual college websites as well.

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What can you do now and in the

upcoming months?

Log into your NAVIANCE account frequently to see updated scholarship information

Search & Apply for Scholarships!

Attend Financial Aid Night on Wednesday, September 28th at 6:30 pm in the Northwood High Theater

Talk with your family about how college costs will be covered

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Deadlines to Adhere to …

October 1st –FAFSA opens

October 1st CSS Profile Available Online

Note & Meet All Scholarship Deadlines

Individual Campus Deadlines will vary

Apply early!!!

March 2nd FAFSA Deadline – Make sure you check

with individual campuses to see if they have an

earlier deadline!!!

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