YOUR. g. DIVISION OF STUDENT SERVICES Elizabeth Faison, Director Leon Washington, Supervisor of Counseling Services

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1 YOUR Scholarship Guide g DIVISION OF STUDENT SERVICES Elizabeth Faison, Director Leon Washington, Supervisor of Counseling Services OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS Birgitt Brevard, Community Outreach & Engagement Specialist 1

2 Table of content Scholarships 3-4 Finding scholarships that are right for you 5 Checklist for juniors and seniors 6-7 Five things you need to know for your application 8 Winning that scholarship 9 Finding scholarships on the Internet 10 Financial Aid 11 Major Scholarship Search Engines 12 List of scholarships Page

3 Scholarships To some students and parents, the word scholarship is just another one of those confusing college terms: student loans, FAFSA, tuition and fees, EFC, grants, and work study. Little do they realize that knowing more about the scholarship process could save them thousands of dollars when trying to cover the cost of their education. What are scholarships? Scholarships come in a variety of forms, but are generally considered to be free money for college. Unlike loans, scholarships do not have to be repaid to the scholarship provider. Some scholarships are awarded directly to the student in the form of a check, while other scholarships are written out to the student s college or university. Several different types of providers issue scholarships: clubs and organizations, charitable foundations, businesses, schools, universities, government agencies, and others. How do students find scholarships? Finding scholarships can be a very time- consuming process. Some students choose to peruse through pages and pages of award information in scholarship books or in files found at local libraries. But other students use reputable and accurate scholarship search services on the Internet to save time in the searching process. Using online resources is a good idea if the website offers updated, current data and some type of quality matching technology. Students can also ask their high school counseling counselors about any local or state awards that they may qualify for, and should be sure to contact the financial aid office at the college or university they plan to attend to learn if they qualify for any awards provided by the school. Finally, students should ask their parents and friends to be on scholarship alert for them, always checking local newspapers and bulletin boards for local scholarship listings. Who can get scholarships? It is a common misconception that scholarships are only for straight- A students. In reality, there are all types of scholarships for all types of students, including those with less than perfect academic records. Some scholarships are for athletes; others are for students planning to study in particular fields; and others for community service. Some scholarship providers just want to reward students for living in a certain city or state! Students also mistakenly believe that only college- bound high school seniors can apply for awards. Scholarships are available for all levels of college study, from undergraduate to graduate study (masters and doctoral degrees.) Every student who plans to attend an institution of higher education should search for and apply for scholarships. This applies to all students, including high school students, non- traditional students (older and/or returning), current college students, and graduate students. 3 Page

4 Scholarships cont d Now, some students have ideas about why they won t get scholarships. They think that there are no scholarships out there for students with less than outstanding grade point averages or with poor standardized test scores. They claim that their parents make too much money or that they won t be attending traditional colleges. They say that they are not minority students and aren t enrolled in a lot of extracurricular activities or involved in their communities. They even argue that they are not planning to attend college immediately after graduation, which they feel makes them ineligible to apply for any scholarships. The list of reasons goes on and on... Although some of these reasons may sound pretty legitimate and you have probably heard at least one of them before (maybe even inside your own head), they are false! Not every scholarship provider is looking for an academically gifted or actively involved student. Many scholarships are not based on financial need or minority status. There are scholarships available to students who want to attend non- traditional schools, like cosmetology schools, modeling academies, technical institutions, etc. And if you want to take a break between high school and college, do so...you will still be able to find scholarships for non- traditional, returning students when you are ready to return to school (just be sure to go back, okay?). College students (and future college students) take note: Don t psych yourself out before you start searching for scholarships. Scholarships are out there in all shapes and sizes to help you pay for college, and the only real reason you won t get any is if you decide not to search and apply for them! 4 Page

5 Finding scholarships that are right for you When trying to find a scholarship, it is important to think about the answer to this question: What makes you unique? We all have traits that make us who we are. Many scholarship providers are looking for students who have interests in different programs, subjects, or hobbies. Not all scholarships are based on scholastic achievement. Perhaps you are good at sports, or can paint, sing or write. Whatever your interests are, utilize them to search for those scholarships designed just for you. In today s world, if you are willing to spend some time looking for scholarships that match your unique background and qualities, it is likely that you will find programs matched to your personal information. The only problem is that you may need some help in researching these awards and finding scholarships that you can then actually apply for. You can always turn to those who know you best to help you when thinking of ways to find scholarships. Ask your teachers at school, your school counselors, and your financial aid advisors for their advice in finding scholarships. Find out if they know of any programs that would benefit you based on your unique background and abilities. Ask them if there are any professional, religious, or com- munity organizations out there that would be aligned with your interests and areas of study, and then contact those organizations to find out about any scholarships or grants that they might offer to student members. And although there are several books available at bookstores or libraries that contain huge lists of scholarships, it would take you a long time to go through these lists to determine which scholarships you are eligible to apply for. Many students, parents and educators have turned to the Internet to help them with the scholarship search process. Internet scholarship search services usually ask users to fill out a profile, and then they match users with scholarships that match their skills and interests. Find an Internet scholarship search service that has a large database of updated scholarships and one that can accurately match you to scholarships that fit your unique talents and abilities. Chances are good that there are scholarship providers out there searching for someone with your unique traits. Use your unique abilities to help finance your education. 5 Page

6 Checklist for juniors and seniors So you re planning to get some scholarships to pay for college once you finish high school, right? But just how do you go about finding and securing scholarships? By following the suggestions below, and by carefully monitoring the scholarship application process, you should be receiving scholarship notification letters and buying college textbooks before you know it. Keep in mind, however, that this is a process; it isn t like taking one test and getting an A. It requires diligence, double- checking, and follow- up. When you are a high school JUNIOR: Take the SAT and/or ACT. Many scholarship providers will ask you to submit standardized test scores to apply for their scholarships. Keep your grades up! Remember that some scholarship providers will require you to have a certain grade point average to apply, or they will ask you to submit a transcript of grades. Consider college options. Think about how much it will cost to attend the college of your choice and how much money you will need to receive in scholarships or grants to afford to attend. Keep an eye on your local papers and community bulletin boards for local scholarships. Research your scholarship and grant options. Utilize the Internet to help you with the scholarship search process. It will save you time and headaches. Send away for scholarship information and applications with early deadlines. It s never too soon to do so since some scholarship and grant applications need to be received during your junior year of high school. Make an effort to be involved in your community or in extra- curricular activities at school. Join a club, do a service project, or sign up for a committee at your church. Many scholarship providers will want to see evidence of your leadership and commitment to service when they review your applications next year. 6 Page

7 Checklist for juniors and seniors cont d In the FALL of your SENIOR year: Sign up to re- take the SAT or ACT. Believe it or not, you CAN improve your test scores by taking them a second time, and better scores could affect your ability to get scholarships! Continue to search for scholarship opportunities using an Internet scholarship search service at least once a month. Take time to fill out the entire profile on the site, making sure to ask your parents about their work experiences and association/union memberships for optimal results. Attend a financial aid or scholarship presentation. These are offered at schools, libraries, and college campuses. At many of these events, you can find out about important scholarships, such as local or institutional awards. Complete and submit the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) immediately (it can be submitted anytime after January 1st in your senior year). Many need- based scholarships will require you to submit this important form when you apply. Call fed- aid; the online address is The FAFSA form can also be obtained from high schools, colleges, and local libraries. In the SPRING of your SENIOR year: Verify that you have submitted all required financial aid forms and scholarship applications in a timely manner to the financial aid offices of the colleges you ve applied to. Be sure to send in all of your scholarship applications on time; several scholarships have spring deadlines. Check back regularly with the scholarship search service you are using to look for more awards during the spring and summer months. Finalize your college choice, and sign and return financial aid and/or scholarship forms to the university you plan to attend. Now celebrate! You are about to enter one of the most amazing times of your life, and one that will change you forever. Make the most of your college experience, and remember to study. It is important to maintain a competitive, cumulative grade point average so you can remain eligible for scholarships throughout your college career. 7 Page

8 The five things you need to know for your application Applying for a scholarship is not a hard task, but there are some important items that you should have ready to submit when you apply. Here are the top five most requested application materials: 1. The application These forms will probably require you to submit detailed information about yourself, such as your contact information, year in school, personal background, college plans, intended major, etc. Make sure you follow the scholarship providers rules about filling out these forms. Sometimes you will have to make several copies of each form or apply online, type out your responses in 12- point font, etc. 2. A transcript of grades Even if the scholarship you are applying for does not require you to have a certain grade point average or SAT score, many scholarships providers still like to see your most recent transcripts. This will give them the opportunity to see how well you are doing in school, your attendance record, class schedule, courses completed, etc. 3. Letters of recommendation Most scholarship providers require their applicants to submit a few letters of recommendation. Why? Because they want some outside perspectives about the students who are applying for their scholarships. When you find out you need a letter of recommendation, you may be tempted to run to a family member (How could your grandma ever say anything bad about you??) or a friend, but your first choice should probably be a teacher, employer or some other professional associate, as this person will be able to write a more objective (and therefore more credible) letter. 4. An essay (or two) I know, I know...we hear from students all the time who tell us how much they dislike writing essays, but the essay section of the application is very important. It gives you the opportunity to voice your opinions, point out your strengths, and distinguish yourself from the other applicants. Look on the bright side: You may spend a lot of time writing those essays now, but you will build up a reservoir of essays that you might be able to use for future scholarships, college applications, classes, etc. 5. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Most need- based awards require students to submit the FAFSA as a part of the scholarship application process. You need to fill out the FAFSA after Jan. 1st and before March 1st of your senior year. The FAFSA is available from high school counseling offices, college financial aid offices, via the web at or by calling Hope this helps you get prepared for the scholarship application process. Just remember...no matter what you need to submit to apply for those scholarships, be sure to submit everything on time! If you miss the deadline, you can count on missing the opportunity to win that scholarship. 8 Page

9 Winning that scholarship Searching for and finding scholarships are only the first half of the process. You still need to apply for each scholarship you are trying to win. Applying for scholarships can be time consuming and takes dedication and motivation. But the thousands of dollars you could receive make the effort worthwhile. Below are some hints to help you apply for and win scholarships. Be proactive. No one is going to track you down to give you a scholarship; you need to do the legwork yourself. So when you find awards with eligibility criteria that you can meet, contact the provider and request a scholarship application packet. Whether you have to request the application via , phone or by sending in a self- addressed stamped envelope, do it. There s just no other way to get the ball rolling than to be proactive and assertive in requesting information for yourself. Be timely. Almost all scholarship providers set deadlines, and you MUST adhere to them. Make sure you have all materials submitted before the deadline. If the scholarship deadline is approaching and you have not yet even received the application packet that you requested four weeks earlier, follow- up with the provider and request the application packet again. You do not want to miss a deadline, as most scholarship providers do not consider late applicants. Be organized. Good organizational skills can really pay off - literally! Keep your applications ordered by deadline date and give yourself plenty of time to complete them and send them in well before the due date. Keep letters of recommendation and transcripts on hand so you don t have to obtain new ones every time they are required for an application. Make copies of your completed applications before sending them in, and file them in folders labeled with the deadline date and the mailing address and phone number of the scholarship provider. Call before the deadline to see if your scholarship application was received. If it got lost in the mail (the postal service is not perfect!), you still have an extra copy you can send in. Be persistent. The scholarship search process doesn t just happen overnight. You must be diligent about looking for new scholarships to apply for. Plan to spend several hours each month reviewing the scholarship programs with deadlines approaching, preparing application packets, and getting the applications in the mail on time. And then the cycle should begin again - finding scholarships, sending away for application information, and applying in an organized, timely manner. Be positive. Finally, believe in yourself and in your chances of winning a scholarship. Hard work and time spent on the scholarship process will pay off eventually. Keep your chin up and think about how great the reward will be if you can land even one of the scholarships you re trying for! After all, your education depends on it! 9 Page

10 Finding scholarships on the Internet Okay, so you are ready to tackle that daunting task of finding scholarships to pay for college. And you want to use the Internet to expedite the search process. But there are so many scholarship search services out there - which ones should you use? How do you know what qualities and features to look for in a scholarship search service? Should you use a fee- based service or a free one? And how do you avoid getting scammed while looking for awards? Use the following guide to determine what to look for and to assist you in finding the service that will best fit your scholarship search needs. Profile Matches Are Key: First and foremost, find a scholarship search service that has sophisticated matching technology. A good scholarship search service will match the personal information you provide to them with scholar- ships that you are eligible to apply for. This will minimize the time you spend browsing through lists of awards, and will give you more time to actually work on the application process itself. Beware of simple keyword search services or services that only ask a few questions about your background. Many such services will return hundreds of scholarships for you to wade through, wasting valuable time that you simply don t have. Look for services with easy- to- use, thorough profile pages that generate results closely matched to your profile. Up-to-Date Scholarship Information: Secondly, find a scholarship search service that provides accurate and up- to- date scholarship information. Reading requirements for scholarship programs from two years ago will not help you at all; in fact, using outdated information will simply slow your progress in actually securing scholarship funding for college. Remember, you need to find a service that offers scholarship information for the current academic year. Don t waste your time on websites with outdated contact lists, broken application links, and discontinued programs. The Privacy Policy: Do not become part of a spamming list! When you fill out a profile with a scholarship search service, the service collects and stores your very personal information; such collecting of profile information is necessary for accurate scholarship matching. Make sure you read the privacy policy for any service you use so you know what happens to that personal information once you enter it into the website. Some websites actually make money by selling your information to third parties that want to advertise to you. Be very careful about giving out your personal information to companies without credible, clearly stated privacy policies - the last thing you need is an inbox full of spam and a mailbox full of unwanted solicitations. An Easy Process: Make sure the service is set up to save you time. If you take the time to fill out the profile, make sure the information is saved so you don t have to start from scratch each time you want to look for more scholarships. Also, make sure there is a way to edit and update your profile, in case you change your major or improve your test scores or change your mind about the college or university you want to attend. Search services with such customer- oriented features will save you time and frustration in the search process, and that s what you should be aiming for - saving time, avoiding scams, and finding money to pay for college! 10 Page

11 Financial Aid What is Financial Aid? Financial Aid is any type of monetary assistance offered to a student for advanced training and post- secondary education. Monetary assistance may be in the form of grants, scholarships, work- study jobs or loans offered to help a person meet college or training expenses. How is a person s financial need determined? A student s financial need is the total cost of the college- approved student s budget minus what the family is able to pay. The family s contribution is determined by the U.S. Department of Education based on its analysis of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Do students need to complete the FAFSA? Yes. Students seeking financial assistance are required to complete the FAFSA. Will families have to provide their financial information and tax information on the FAFSA? Yes. In order to qualify for financial assistance, tax information must be used in completing the FAFSA form. All personal and financial information will be kept in strict confidence. Should students and parents wait until the senior year to seek information about college preparation and scholarships? No. Early awareness and preparation is best! 11 Page

12 List of Major Search Engines College Board Scholarship Search - CollegeNet s Scholarship Database - FAFSA On The Web (Your Key Aid Form & Info) - FastWEB Scholarship Search - Federal Scholarships & Aid Gateways - FinAid: The Smart Students Guide to Financial Aid (Scholarships) - FinAid: The Smart Students Guide to Financial Aid - Free4-u: Gateway to 10 Free Scholarship Searches - Guaranteed Scholarships - Maryland Higher Education Commission - Wired Scholar: PGCPS Scholarship Website You can find a list of multiple search engines and local scholarships on PGCPS' Scholarship Website by visiting: If you have additional questions about the scholarship website, please feel free to contact the Office of School Counseling at Savings Plans College Savings Plans of Maryland - Advanced Placement Courses - You can save money on college courses when your student enrolls in Advanced Placement (AP) courses and scores a 3 or above on the AP exam. Colleges and universities accept these courses students have taken in high school as college credit. This equals a savings to you! Middle College Program - Academy of Allied Health - This program allows 9th graders to earn all credits on the campus of Prince George's Community College. At the end of four years, they have earned both a high school diploma and a two- year associate's degree in Allied Health. This program cuts your college expense in half! For more information regarding these programs, ask the School Counselor at your child's school. 12 Page

13 List of Scholarships Offerings Caution: Please be advised that some of the scholarship funds may not be available. Check the availability of funds on these websites. 25 Scholarship Gateways from Black Excel - Actuarial Scholarships for Minority Students - Aid & Resources For Re-Entry Students - American Psychological Association (APA) Scholarships and Fellowships - AmeriCorps - Astronaut Scholarship Foundation - Athletic Scholarships - Ayn Rand Essay Scholarships - Baptist Scholarships - Black Alliance for Educational Options Scholarships - Burger King Scholarship Program - Coca Cola Scholarships - Coca-Cola Two Year College Scholarships - College Fund/UNCF - Development Fund for Black Students in Science Scholarship - Easley National Scholarship Program - Gates Millennium Scholarships (major) - GE and LuLac Scholarship Funds - Graduate Fellowships For Minorities Nationwide - HBCU Packard Sit Abroad Scholarships (for study around the world) - index.html Historically Black College & University Scholarships - Holocaust Remembrance Scholarships - Intel Science Talent Search - International Students Scholarships & Aid Help - Jacki Tuckfield Memorial Graduate Business Scholarship (for AA students in South Florida) - Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarships - Johnson and Wales University Page

14 List of Scholarships Offerings cont'd Junior Achievement Scholarship Program sponsored by The Walt Disney Company Foundation - Kettering University, Flint, MI - Marine Corps Scholarships - Maryland Artists Scholarships - McDonald s Education Scholarships (with UNCF) - scholarships/ Methodist Scholarships - Microsoft Scholarship Program - Minority Health Program - Minority Scholarships (doctoral students in accounting) - Miss Maryland Teen USA - N. Donald Edwards Scholarship-University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT - NACME Scholarship Program - National Assoc. of Black Journalists Scholarships (NABJ) - National Peace Essay Contest - National Scholarships at all levels - Northwood University Business Club Scholarship - Northrop Grumman Engineering Scholar - Operation Enterprise - Presidential Freedom Scholarships - Project Excellence Scholarships - Rhodes Scholarships at Oxford - Ron Brown Scholar Program (major Scholarships) - ROTC Military Scholarships (Navy, Army, Marines, Air force) - Sallie Mae s free Online Scholarships - Saul T. Wilson Scholarships (Veterinary) - Scholarships and Fellowships - Scholarships On The Net (1,500) - ScienceNet Scholarship Listing - Siemens Westinghouse Competition - Sports Scholarships and Internships - State Farm Insurance Achievement Scholarships - State Farm Insurance Hispanic Scholarships - Student Inventors Scholarships - Student Video Scholarships - video-contest-scholarships/ Target Scholarships Page

15 List of Scholarships Offerings cont'd The Achievement Foundation, Inc. Joseph Francomano Scholarship - The Hispanic Scholarship Fund - The ROTC Scholarships - Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund program Tylenol Scholarships - Undergraduate Scholarships (National Institutes of Health Scholarships) - United Negro College Fund Merck Science Initiative - University of Maryland - William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship for Minority Students - Xerox Scholarships for Students Page