Finding Fund$ for Oregon Students

Topics

1. Financial Aid Terms 2.

Funds for Oregon Students

 

Opportunity Grant OSAC eApp Scholarship

3. Scholarship Tips

Financial Aid Terms

  

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

– Calculates the family and/or students Expected Financial Contribution (EFC)

Need-based aid

– Determined by FAFSA &/or other statement of financial need

Merit-based aid

– Determined by other factors: talent, academics, interest, etc.

Financial Aid Terms, cont.

  

Grants

– – Eligibility based on need No repayment

Scholarships

– Eligibility based on EFC, remaining need, merit, or a combination – No repayment

Remaining Need Calculation

– School’s cost of attendance minus (EFC) = Remaining Financial Need

Financial Aid Terms, cont.

  

Federal and Private Student Loans

– May be listed as Financial Aid and must be paid back

Work study

– Awarded by the college using FAFSA

Federal Education Tax Credits

–

American Opportunity Credit (modified Hope Credit):

Up to $2,500 annually –

Lifetime Learning Credit: family

Up to $2,000 per per year for additional years

Oregon Student Assistance Commission (OSAC)

The state student financial aid agency

2009-10

 Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG)  Scholarship Administration  Targeted programs for foster youth, student parents, rural health practitioners, and more…  ASPIRE (Access to Student Assistance Programs in Reach of Everyone)

www.GetCollegeFunds.org

2009-10

Last year 1,400 ASPIRE Volunteers helped students at 115 ASPIRE sites

Oregon Opportunity Grant

    File your FAFSA

early

to apply Indicate the Oregon college you plan to attend or those you are considering on your FAFSA Maximum award depends on 2-year or 4-year school and if full or half time student Get an estimate of your grant and your EFC

www.fafsa.ed.gov

Estimators

www.GetCollegeFunds.org

www.FinAid.org

www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov

OSAC Scholarships

www.GetCollegeFunds.org

What’s New

 Complete the entire application (eApp) online!

 Workbook & worksheet - no paper application  Extra documents are not required to be submitted with eApp  Export eApp data to other online scholarship applications  Join Twitter.com/OSAC

Scholarship Search

1.

Review the Workbook listings of scholarships 2.

Search the online catalog ( www.GetCollegeFunds.org)

Scholarship Search Workbook

Sections:

1.

2.

3.

4.

High School by County Academic and career interest and specific populations Member Organizations / Employers Index of Donor Named Scholarships

Workbook Toolbar

Scholarship Search Online

www.GetCollegeFunds.org

Additional Information & Document Required

Apply for Scholarships www.GetCollegeFunds.org

Start your eApp e-Student Profile

E-Student Profile

Student Access to eApp Data

– Update your eApp to complete it before submitting to OSAC – Print your application – Verify whether OSAC accepted your application – Check if you have been awarded a scholarship, and if awarded, accept it online – Update your personal information – Copy (refresh) prior year’s eApp data to update

Check regularly! Primary means of receiving OSAC notifications about your eApp!

List Scholarships

OSAC Activities Chart

Enter each Activity under the categories:

A. School Activities B. Volunteer Activities (Community/Family) C. Paid Work History • • •

Include

: Dates Hours (Time spent) • Responsibilities/Accomplishments (15 words)

OSAC Activities Chart

OSAC Activities Chart

Personal Statements

1. Explain your career aspirations and your educational plan to meet these goals.

2. Describe a challenge or obstacle you faced in the last ten years. What did you learn about yourself from this experience?

3. Describe a personal accomplishment and the strengths and skills you used to achieve it.

4. Explain how you have helped your family or made your community a better place to live. Please provide specific examples.

150 words or 1,000 Characters

Transcripts



OSAC application requires:

– Graduating high school seniors submit transcripts that reflect grades through December/January – College students submit transcript that includes all work through fall semester/term  If sending a hard copy, blacken first 5 digits of SSN for security purposes

# 1 reason for a rejected OSAC application:

A missing or incomplete transcript

Transcripts

OSAC Scholarship Deadlines

Tuesday, January 19

 eApp Review begins

Tuesday, February 16

 Priority deadline for

Early Bird Scholarship

– Opportunity to correct errors – If error-free, drawing for $500 scholarship

Monday, March 1



FINAL deadline

– eApp and paper apps must be received at OSAC – Postmarks are not accepted

Check your e-Student Profile for application status

Let’s go online!

      OSAC www.GetCollegeFunds.org

Fastweb www.fastweb.com

College Board www.collegeboard.com

Scholarships.com www.scholarships.com

Many other scholarship search sites Not endorsing those listed above, but have proven to be legitimate sites

The Ford Family Foundation

Scholarship Programs



Ford Scholars

– For graduating high school seniors and community college transfer students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in Oregon 

Ford Opportunity

Oregon colleges – For single parents, heads of households pursuing bachelor’s degrees at eligible 

Ford ReStart

– For age 25 or older, nontraditional students to begin or return full-time in an Oregon certificate or degree program 

Ford Sons & Daughters

- For dependents of Roseburg Forest Products employees

Details at www.GetCollegeFunds.org

or www.

tfff.org

Tip: Keep Searching

     Use a scholarship search engine on the web or CIS Colleges and universities (including departments) Employers… and parents’ employers Member organizations Local civic organizations, foundations, high schools

Do not pay for search tools – use the FREE ones!

Tip: Writing Essays

 Get inspiration from your activities chart  Answer the question  Consider the reader  Don’t repeat information (like your GPA)  Cute doesn’t always cut it  Be clear & purposeful about your academic/career goals

Tip: Don’t be shy

 In what ways are you unique?

 What are your leadership qualities?

 How do you take initiative?

 Any special recognition?

 Tie your past and present with your future   Put YOU on paper Passion with a purpose

Tip: Get help and feedback

 Friends and family  Office/job associates  Professors/teachers  Learning resource centers  Writing centers

Tip: What scholarship committees consider

  

Academics

– GPA, course rigor, and test scores

Outside the classroom

– Volunteer activities, leadership, work, etc.

Life experiences

– Serving your community by helping your family – Tell your unique story using your transcript, short essay answers, and activities chart

Tip: The Interview

    Remember your audience Reread your application & essays Practice your interview skills Make a positive first impression – Establish eye-contact – Display poised, confident body language – Dress appropriately – Be yourself

Tip: Beware of Scams

   Why pay for a service you can get for free?

Must still do the work and getting a refund is not that easy!

Services that “guarantee” scholarships are questionable!

 Report scams to the Federal Trade Commission

For more information: www.ftc.gov

How to learn more …

  College financial aid office High school counselor / ASPIRE program  Federal student aid information center – 1-800-433-3243 – www.finaid.org

 “Opportunities” booklets

Resources

 GetCollegeFunds.org

 ASPIREOregon.org

 CollegeGoalOregon.org

 Collegenightinor.org

 OregonOpportunities.gov

 OSAC – 800-452-8807  ASPIRE Program – 541-687-7400

Final Tips to Remember!

        Use all your resources to maximize $$ Follow the instructions Meet deadlines Spell check & proofread Order correct transcript(s) Reflect your best work Submit all required documents and keep copies for yourself Check your e-Student Profile regularly

Thank You for Attending Finding Fund$ for Oregon Students

Ford Scholars Program      

Up to 120

scholarships annually Minimum

3.00 GPA

counselor/teacher) (lower GPA requires special recommendation by Apply as a high school grad or a community college student transferring to a 4-year school. May attend any public/private, non-profit college based in home state Must plan to earn bachelor’s degree Award is

90% of unmet need

, after other aid and family/student expected contribution

Scholars who graduate with a college GPA of 3.60 or higher may apply for graduate school scholarship

Ford Opportunity Program Similar to Ford Scholars Program - except…  For single parents - men or women heads of household  without financial support of a domestic partner   Can apply at any time during college career Up to 50 scholarships awarded annually

Ford ReStart Program Similar to Ford Scholars Program except…   At least 25 years old as of the scholarship deadline; with high school diploma or GED Seeking technical certificate, associate’s or bachelor’s degree  Preference given to applicants with limited or no college experience  Up to 50 scholarships awarded annually

Sons and Daughters of Employees of Roseburg Forest Products Co.

     For dependents of mill employees Age 21 or younger as of the scholarship deadline Any Title IV eligible public, private, technical school in the U.S. Not need-based, $3,000 or $5,000 award Average of 58 awarded annually