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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