The Ins & Outs of The Ins & Outs of ScholarshipsScholarships

Amy Selof, CounselorAmy Selof, Counselor

Esperanza High SchoolEsperanza High School

Sources for Sources for ScholarshipsScholarships

Three TypesThree Types– Need basedNeed based– Merit based (academic, athletic, music, etc.)Merit based (academic, athletic, music, etc.)– Special circumstance (alumni, memorial, Special circumstance (alumni, memorial,

etc.)etc.)

Information & application come Information & application come directly from schoolsdirectly from schools

– Every school is different in what they are Every school is different in what they are able to offerable to offer

1.Universities & Colleges

Sources for Sources for ScholarshipsScholarships

2.2. Private OrganizationsPrivate Organizations•Includes businesses, clubs, community groups•Criteria varies•Organizations set criteria•Many resources available for finding scholarships

Its about TIME….and patience!!Its about TIME….and patience!!

Check your prospective schools.Check your prospective schools.

Visit the Scholarship Newsflash on the Visit the Scholarship Newsflash on the Counseling page of esperanzahs.com often.Counseling page of esperanzahs.com often.

Research community groups.Research community groups.

Try internet scholarship searches.Try internet scholarship searches.

BE AWARE OF DEADLINES.BE AWARE OF DEADLINES.

The Internet as a The Internet as a SourceSource

Can begin searching at any time; Can begin searching at any time; the sooner the better.the sooner the better.

New sites available on a regular New sites available on a regular basis.basis.

Search engines are a good starting Search engines are a good starting point; but can be very broad.point; but can be very broad.

Our students have found success Our students have found success with several sites.with several sites.

Quality Internet Sites

• bigfuture.collegeboard.org• My personal favorite• Lots of awards listed

• fastweb.com• must have major

• finaid.org

• scholarships.com

• scholarshipexperts.com

• studentscholarships.org

• scholarsamerica.org

• scholarshiphelp.org

Beware of Scholarship Beware of Scholarship ScamsScams

If it costs money or they make guarantees, If it costs money or they make guarantees, chances are it is a scam.chances are it is a scam.

Scholarships services have no better Scholarships services have no better access to information than you do.access to information than you do.

NEVERNEVER give out personal information give out personal information (Social Security number, credit card (Social Security number, credit card number, bank account information, etc.).number, bank account information, etc.).

If it sounds too good to be true – it If it sounds too good to be true – it probably is. probably is.

EHS Scholarship EHS Scholarship NewsflashNewsflash

Updated scholarship information Updated scholarship information and applications and applications (when provided by organization)(when provided by organization) listed on esperanzahs.comlisted on esperanzahs.com

Information sent to those who Information sent to those who register their email addressesregister their email addresses

Students/Parents can register email Students/Parents can register email addresses on esperanzahs.comaddresses on esperanzahs.com

Hints for a Quality Application

• Make a list of accomplishments (start in 9th grade).

• Show confidence in your accomplishments.

• Obtain quality letters of recommendation.

• Tailor your application/essay to the organization's goals.

• Pay attention to details.

• Packaging is important; get creative, but keep it professional.

• Deadlines are crucial.

Seven Scholarship Seven Scholarship MythsMythsMyth #1Myth #1 – – Only students with high Only students with high

academic achievement win merit academic achievement win merit based scholarships.based scholarships.

FactFact – – Many of the best scholarships Many of the best scholarships are grade blind and emphasize other are grade blind and emphasize other talents.talents.

Seven Scholarship MythsSeven Scholarship Myths

Myth #2Myth #2 – – Star athletes are the big Star athletes are the big scholarship winners.scholarship winners.

FactFact – – Athletic prowess is just another Athletic prowess is just another element of a student’s record.element of a student’s record.

Seven Scholarship MythsSeven Scholarship Myths

Myth #3Myth #3 – – The student who has the The student who has the most extracurricular activities most extracurricular activities generally wins.generally wins.

Fact – Fact – Winning is about quality not Winning is about quality not quantity. Winners distinguish quantity. Winners distinguish themselves by the devotion they have themselves by the devotion they have to their activities.to their activities.

Seven Scholarship MythsSeven Scholarship Myths

Myth #4Myth #4 – – Entering scholarship Entering scholarship competitions is just like applying to competitions is just like applying to college.college.

FactFact – – College admissions officers College admissions officers compare students to a standard compare students to a standard whereas scholarship contests directly whereas scholarship contests directly compare students to one another. Be compare students to one another. Be creative, but remain professional.creative, but remain professional.

Seven Scholarship MythsSeven Scholarship Myths

Myth #5Myth #5 – – Scholarship Scholarship competitions are conducted on a competitions are conducted on a level playing field.level playing field.

FactFact – – Each contest has its own Each contest has its own biases. Try to determine what they biases. Try to determine what they are looking for and develop your are looking for and develop your strategy accordingly.strategy accordingly.

Seven Scholarship MythsSeven Scholarship Myths

Myth #6Myth #6 – – The track record you The track record you have already accumulated have already accumulated determines whether you will win determines whether you will win scholarships.scholarships.

FactFact – – Content strategies and Content strategies and packaging strategies are just as packaging strategies are just as important as your record.important as your record.

Seven Scholarship MythsSeven Scholarship Myths

Myth #7Myth #7 – – Students should focus Students should focus their time and energy on only one their time and energy on only one or two scholarship applications.or two scholarship applications.

FactFact – – Applying for scholarships is a Applying for scholarships is a numbers game; the more numbers game; the more applications you submit, the better applications you submit, the better your chances. your chances.

In SummaryIn Summary

Register your email address at Register your email address at esperanzahs.com to get updated scholarship esperanzahs.com to get updated scholarship information.information.

Explore the EHS Scholarship Newsflash.Explore the EHS Scholarship Newsflash. Scour the internet for opportunities.Scour the internet for opportunities. Check out what your prospective schools Check out what your prospective schools

have to offer.have to offer. Apply broadly and often – the worst you will Apply broadly and often – the worst you will

hear is “no”.hear is “no”. BE AWARE OF DEADLINES!!BE AWARE OF DEADLINES!!

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING

Good Luck with your scholarship search.

GO AZTECS!