how to earn scholarships

There are things you can do NOW that will help you

get scholarships later!

How to earn SCHOLARSHIPS

for college

KnowHow2GO to college follow the four steps!

Find an adult to help you plan for college.

Take courses in high school that will prepare you for college – and get involved!

Explore your career interests and research colleges that fit those interests.

Money is available to help you pay for college, but you have to apply!

KnowHow2GO

What will college cost?

Range of costs to attend college in Nebraska2-year community college 4-year public college 4-year private college

$10,200 - 13,600 $13,100 - 19,000 $28,400 - 45,200

Tuition & Fees Room & BoardBooks & Supplies

What will college cost?

per year

Save for college!

Do the math on this example to see how it adds up:

Candy bar $1.25Chips $1.002 sodas $3.00

7 days

4 weeks

12 months

Daily Total

4 yrs of high school

$5.25

$36.75

$147

$1,764

$7,056

Ways to pay

Financial Aid

Money to help pay for college

Loans

GrantsWork-Study

Scholarships

GrantsMoney you don’t repay – based on

financial need

LoansMoney you borrow

to help pay for college

Work-studyMoney you earn

from a job provided through the college

ScholarshipsMoney you don’t

repay – based mostly on talents

Why talk about scholarships now?

Some are available before your senior year Need time to build your resume Some scholarship competitions require

planning and/or practice– Writing– Art– Band

Why bother applying?

Time is money – just like a job If you…

– spend 10 hours applying for scholarships– and earn $1,000 in scholarships – you just made $100 an hour!

How to earn scholarships

Take challenging courses Earn good grades Get involved Prepare for the ACT/SAT Write an excellent essay

Take challenging classes

• Same curriculum as regular classes• More in-depth and faster-paced• Can boost your GPA

Honors Classes

• Same information as a college course• Earn college credit if you take the AP

test and score well

Advanced Placement

• Experience college coursework• Earn college credit through a

participating college

Dual Credit

Earn good grades

Start now – grades 9-12 count!

– establish good habits now Strive for the honor roll Make school your top

priority

Earn good grades:Importance of your GPA

GPA = Grade Point Average Determines your class rank “Indicator of potential” Used for merit-based scholarships

Earn good grades:Study tips

Study at the same time and place daily Use a planner or app to record

homework assignments and test dates Break large assignments into smaller

tasks Complete difficult homework first Take notes while you’re reading

Get involved

School activities– Clubs and organizations– Fine arts– Sports

Community activities and service Part-time job

Explore careers

Make new friends

Increase scholarship chances

Have fun Work with caring adults

Get involved: Why?

Prepare forthe ACT/SAT

Take the ASPIRE (pre-ACT) and the PSAT (pre-SAT) exams during your sophomore or junior years, if offered

Find ACT and SAT practice tests at actstudent.org and collegeboard.com

Take the exams your junior year and again when you’re a senior

Scores often used to award scholarships

Write an excellent scholarship essay

Answer the essay question directly Be honest and original while telling a

compelling story Clearly state why you deserve the

scholarship Be organized and concise Check grammar and spelling

Myth or reality?

Only the best students get scholarships

There’s too much competition for scholarships to bother applying

Top students get “full-ride” scholarships

Scholarships can pay for my college books

“You’ve been selected.”

“The

scholarship is

guaranteed or

your money

back.”

“May I have your credit card number?”

“The scholarship will

cost some money.”

Scholarship Warning

“You’re a finalist.”

Reliable places to look for scholarships

EducationQuest.org – ScholarshipQuest – over 2,000 local and state

awards• You’ll also find links to national scholarships

School counselor The college(s) you’re interested in attending Clubs, groups and organizations Library

EducationQuest Resources:MyEducationQuest

ScholarshipQuest

Jane Student

ScholarshipQuest Results

Jane Student

Activities Resume

Activities Resume

Kearney Lincoln OmahaEducationQuest.org

Kearney – 308.234.6310 or 800.666.3721Lincoln – 402.475.5552 or 800.303.3745Omaha – 402-391-4033 or 888.357.6300