University at Buffalo Office of Financial Aid. Your Scholarship Search

Transcription

1 University at Buffalo Office of Financial Aid Your Scholarship Search Presented by: Jennifer Pollard

2 Scholarship funds are available to new and continuing University at Buffalo students True or False Scholarships are determined by: Academic achievements Athletic skills Artistic or performance talent Community involvement My employer Sitting back and hoping someone discovers me

3 What sets me apart as I compete for scholarships? Passion Affiliations Talents Employment Academic performance Career interests Inherent traits Unique experiences Leadership skills Diligence Creative expression Communication skills Financial need References

4 UB offers nearly $4M annually to prospective freshmen Presidential Scholarships cover full tuition, fees, housing and books for four years of undergraduate study. UB s most academically competitive freshman applicants compete for these prestigious awards, which includes participated in the Honors College. The most competitive candidates are interviewed in person. A separate application is required and is available through the Honors College. Provost Scholarships are awarded to hundreds of high-achieving prospective freshmen, based on rigorous academic criteria. No additional application is needed. Daniel Acker Scholarships are four year scholarships awarded to academically talented freshmen who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education. Students participate in a scholars program. No additional application is needed.

5 NY State Scholarship Opportunities

6 What is the value of outside scholarships awarded to UB students for the Fall 2014 semester?*

7 ANSWER: $1,275,478 in outside scholarship funding

8 Significant UB scholarship sources Community Foundation Greater Buffalo $91, (Fall 2014) UFCW Union Local One: $104,000 Say Yes Buffalo: $112,000 (Fall 2014) Say Yes Syracuse: $28,000 (Fall 2014) Northrup Grumman: 10 recipients $36,000 New York Blood Center: 3 recipients $670 Niagara Falls Education Foundation: 3 recipients $3,000 Moog Inc. 3 recipients $3,200 McDonald s: 3 recipients $1,500 Macy s Inc.: 3 recipients $500 Liverpool $$ for Scholars: 12 recipients $5,500 Jolly boys: 3 recipients $3,000 Ibero-American Action League: 4 recipients $2,250 Ronald McDonald House Charities: 5 recipients $24,000 Great Lakes Educational scholarship: 4 recipients $5,000 GEICO: 4 recipients $4,250 Federal Law Enforcement Foundation: 4 recipients $2,000 Fairport-Perinton $$ for Scholars: 6 recipients $4,000 Dash s Markets: 5 recipients $5,000 American Red Cross High School Challenge: 14 recipients $6,400 Tops Markets: 8 recipients $8,000 USBC Smart Scholarship: 9 recipients $#11,154 Guenther Scholarship Fund: 4 recipients $4,000 Horatio Alger Foundation: 4 recipients $4,000 Westchester Golf Association: 6 recipients $12,000

9 How do I search for scholarships I am eligible for? Research local ethnic organizations who sponsor scholarships (Polish, Irish, etc.) Religious organizations Clubs, organizations, businesses that grandparents & parents are members/worked Unions from student and parent employment Community organizations affiliated with the field of study you will pursue i.e. Culinary- Taste of Buffalo Local stores and businesses i.e. Chambers of Commerce

10 Prepare for success Create an alias account strictly for your search Do not pay for scholarship searches Do not send money to a scholarship organization Develop your keyword search list Create a tracking system Write an essay Practice interviewing Write thank you s once scholarships are awarded Notify your institution of your scholarships Some scholarships require FAFSA

11 Popular Scholarship Search Services College Answer College Board Scholarship Search College Scholarships College Scholarships.com College Toolkit Fast Web Scholarship Search FinAid GoCollege.com Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Mach 25 MyFreeDegree NYS Higher Education Services Corp (HESC) Peterson s College Bound Scholarship 360 Scholarship Coach Scholarship Experts Scholarships4School Scholarships.com

12 Writing Effective Essays Read the instructions carefully and make sure you understand them. Organize your thoughts. Outline how you meet every aspect of the criteria required in the instructions. Develop your narrative by elaborating on each of the points in your outline. Use clear, concise and simple language. State your accomplishments with a tone of humility, supporting your claims with facts and outcomes. Describe yourself authentically. Make sure your grammar and spelling are impeccable. Go back to the instructions to confirm that you have addressed every point. Ask someone with strong writing and editing skills to proofread your work.

13 Mastering Scholarship Interviews Videotape a mock interview with a friend Do background research on the interviewers in advance, if possible Prepare key messages you d like the committee to remember about you Relax and be yourself Keep answers to the point and succinct Be personal and enthusiastic Dress, look and act professionally Interaction before, during and after

14 Myths About Scholarships (and urban legends of who gets $$ and why) by Mark Kantrowitz Publisher of websites: FinAid and FastWeb

15 MYTH: Only straight A students win scholarships

16 FACT: Students with better grades and test scores are more likely to win scholarships, but money goes to B and C students. Not every scholarship considers academic qualifications. Truth be told, the A students are also the students more likely to be searching.

17 MYTH: My child will get a full-ride scholarship

18 FACT: There are some full-ride scholarships out there. However, nationally only 0.3 percent of students win enough money to cover their cost of attendance. Two-thirds of the students who win scholarships receive less than $2,500. At UB: There are approximately 100 Presidential Scholars (full-ride) in the undergraduate population.

19 MYTH: Scholarships are just for high school seniors

20 FACT: Students can apply for some scholarships as early as kindergarten and can continue to apply for some after beginning college. At UB: We have numerous scholarships for continuing students and you can continue to apply for outside awards.

21 MYTH: (Across the nation) $6.6-billion in scholarships went unclaimed last year

22 FACT: Claims like this one are based on an outdated and unrelated study about employer tuition assistance. There are a handful of scholarships that go unclaimed, but that s because they can t be claimed, no one meets the criteria.

23 MYTH: Colleges will just reduce other aid if a student has a scholarship

24 FACT: It s important to know a college s outsidescholarship policy. Most schools try to ensure that students keep some financial benefit for winning a scholarship. At UB: Your loan or loans will be reduced first if you earn a scholarship

25 MYTH: Applying for scholarships is more work than it s worth

26 FACT: Searching and applying for scholarships is easy with sites like FinAid and FastWeb. Small scholarships and those requiring essays tend to be easier to win, as fewer students apply. The bottom line is if you don t apply for a scholarship, you re not going to win it. (Kantrowitz) UB: $1.27 million received as of October 14, 2014

27 Scholarship Scams Flags that might suggest you have connected with a scholarship scam: There is a fee to apply for the scholarship. Most scholarship applications require your time to apply, not your money! Free seminars that are really pitches for financial aid services, expensive loans or other pay as you go products. There are no costs to apply for real scholarships! Read more about how to protect yourself from scholarship scams and about scams in general FinAid Guide to Scams

28 UB Scholarship Information financialaid.buffalo.edu/aid/scholarships Disclaimer UB does not routinely screen, approve, review, or endorse the content, products, or services that may be offered on the external websites provided. In no event shall UB be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any such content, goods or services available on or through any such site or resource. Please be advised that some of the links use social media applications and use of these websites is subject to privacy rules and policies of those website operators.

29 Questions?