Transcript The Ins & Outs of Scholarships

The Ins & Outs of
Scholarships
Amy Selof, Counselor
Esperanza High School
Sources for Scholarships
1.Universities & Colleges
Three Types
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Need based
Merit based (academic, athletic, music, etc.)
Special circumstance (alumni, memorial, etc.)
Information & application come
directly from schools
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Every school is different in what they are able
to offer
Sources for Scholarships
2. Private Organizations
•Includes businesses, clubs,
community groups
•Criteria varies
•Organizations set criteria
•Many resources available for finding
scholarships
Its about TIME….and patience!!
 Check your prospective schools.
 Visit the Scholarship Newsflash on the
Counseling page of esperanzahs.com often.
 Research community groups.
 Try internet scholarship searches.
 BE AWARE OF DEADLINES.
The Internet as a Source
 Can begin searching at any time; the
sooner the better.
New sites available on a regular
basis.
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Search engines are a good starting
point; but can be very broad.
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Our students have found success
with several sites.
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Quality Internet Sites
•
bigfuture.collegeboard.org
• My personal favorite
• Lots of awards listed
• scholarshipexperts.com
• studentscholarships.org
• fastweb.com
• must have major
• finaid.org
• scholarships.com
• scholarsamerica.org
• scholarshiphelp.org
Beware of Scholarship Scams
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If it costs money or they make guarantees,
chances are it is a scam.
Scholarships services have no better access
to information than you do.
NEVER give out personal information
(Social Security number, credit card
number, bank account information, etc.).

If it sounds too good to be true – it probably
is.
EHS Scholarship Newsflash

Updated scholarship information
and applications (when provided by organization)
listed on esperanzahs.com

Information sent to those who
register their email addresses

Students/Parents can register email
addresses 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 Myths
Myth #1 – Only students with high
academic achievement win merit
based scholarships.
Fact – Many of the best scholarships
are grade blind and emphasize other
talents.
Seven Scholarship Myths
Myth #2 – Star athletes are the big
scholarship winners.
Fact – Athletic prowess is just another
element of a student’s record.
Seven Scholarship Myths
Myth #3 – The student who has the
most extracurricular activities generally
wins.
Fact – Winning is about quality not
quantity. Winners distinguish
themselves by the devotion they have to
their activities.
Seven Scholarship Myths
Myth #4 – Entering scholarship
competitions is just like applying to
college.
Fact – College admissions officers
compare students to a standard
whereas scholarship contests directly
compare students to one another. Be
creative, but remain professional.
Seven Scholarship Myths
Myth #5 – Scholarship competitions
are conducted on a level playing
field.
Fact – Each contest has its own
biases. Try to determine what they
are looking for and develop your
strategy accordingly.
Seven Scholarship Myths
Myth #6 – The track record you
have already accumulated
determines whether you will win
scholarships.
Fact – Content strategies and
packaging strategies are just as
important as your record.
Seven Scholarship Myths
Myth #7 – Students should focus
their time and energy on only one or
two scholarship applications.
Fact – Applying for scholarships is a
numbers game; the more
applications you submit, the better
your chances.
In Summary
 Register your email address at
esperanzahs.com to get updated scholarship
information.
 Explore the EHS Scholarship Newsflash.
 Scour the internet for opportunities.
 Check out what your prospective schools
have to offer.
 Apply broadly and often – the worst you will
hear is “no”.
 BE AWARE OF DEADLINES!!
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING
Good Luck with your
scholarship search.
GO AZTECS!