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MJHS Scholarhips Information
2006-2007
Steps
For Getting A Scholarship
1. Start Early
| The more time you give
yourself, the better off you will be. |
If possible, start the
process at least two years before you need the aid. |
| Always remember that you will
be applying for scholarships about a year before you will actually
receive the aid. |
2. Get Involved
Often scholarships are
awarded to students who are involved in activities both in school and
out of school. Well-rounded students have the best chance of
receiving scholarships. |
| Many clubs and organizations
have scholarships associated with them. Boding your research in
the beginning may help you obtain more scholarships. |
3. Do Research
Figure out what makes you a
special individual. This could include such things as academics,
volunteer work, athletics or your family background. |
| Consider unique circumstances or conditions that might make you eligible for aid such as being
a foster child, have asthma, being a single parent or have a disability. |
| Scholarship opportunities can
be found in many places including financial aid offices, libraries,
local civic organizations, your (or your parents') employers, local
businesses, your high school guidance offices, the internet or Student
Outreach Services (call 1-888-2OUTREACH). |
4. Send Away For Applications
And Information
| After you collect all the
information about the scholarships for which you are interested in
applying, you will need to contact the organization. |
| Most organizations will
require that you contact them through the mail to request applications
and other pertinent information. Some organizations will give
potential applicants their phone numbers and email addresses to expedite
the request for information. |
| Give the organization ample
time to send you the necessary paperwork. Be aware of all
deadlines associated with applying. |
5. Apply
One you receive the
application and understand all of the information that you are expected
to send to the organization, you will need to apply for the scholarship. |
| Many organizations require a
lot of information from a student such as a completed application, an
essay, recommendations, and/or a resume. Make sure you have given
yourself plenty of time to gather all of the required information. |
| Most scholarships will have
deadlines for applying. You may want to keep a calendar with all
of the deadlines listed so that you do not let any expire. |
| Before you send in your
completed application, make sue to double check the spelling a grammar.
Nothing is worse of a scholarship application than a common spelling
error. |
| Remember that the application
process takes time and it could be months before you are notified of any
awards. However be aware that some organizations will not send any
follow-up correspondence if you do not receive an award. |
| Always put your best effort
into each application. Be neat and organized - First impressions
count! |
Sample
Letter
Mr. Michael Beube
October 20, 2001
Office of Admissions
Richland Community College
One College Park
Decatur, IL 62521
Dear Mr. Beube
I have just worked with Discover's
College Selection Service and , as a result, am interested in your institution.
I would greatly appreciate you
sending me the following materials:
a catalog
an application form
financial aid information
athletic scholarship information
a view book
My personal profile, below, will
give you a general picture of my academic and extracurricular activities.
| Address: |
1234 SW Elm Road
Apache Junction, AZ 85888 |
| Social Security
#: |
010-10-1010 |
| High School: |
Junction Valley High |
| HS Counselor: |
Ms. Helen Rizbald |
| Graduation Date: |
05/02 |
| Test Scores: |
ACT/EACT: 24 |
| Class Rank: |
Top 50% |
| GPA: |
2.9 on a 4.0 scale |
| AP Courses: |
Biology |
| Main Activities: |
Bowling Club, 4H Club, track
team, peer tutor |
| Academic
Interests: |
Agriculture, education,
coaching |
| Comments: |
I am a hard worker, and I am
motivated to learn.
I will be the first member of my family to attend college. |
Thank you for your time. I
look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely yours,
Bert Laurenburger
Be
A Good College Consumer!
| 1. |
Consider all
information about a school before you enroll. |
| 2. |
Keep copies of all forms that
you submit to the school in a safe place. |
| 3. |
Read
and be aware of the implications of all forms before you
sign them. Remember--loans must be repaid and grants
are free. |
| 4. |
Financial aid applications
are available starting every January 1--the earlier you apply for
financial aid and scholarships, the more money you may receive. |
| 5. |
Notify your school and
lender(s) of any changes in your name, address, or enrollment status. |
| 6. |
Borrow only what you need.
Be realistic about what you can repay when you graduate. The
edsouth repayment calculator, which can be found here,
will help you realistically decide how much money you can afford to
borrow. |
| 7. |
Ask for help when you need
it. Write down the date and the name of the person who helped you. |
| 8. |
Have your academic and
financial aid transcripts sent from the school that you previously
attended to the school that your are going to attend. Typically
these are written requests. |
| 9. |
If you are denied admission
to a college or financial aid, you can appeal. You may also
decline any portion of your financial aid offer. |
| 10. |
If you have student loans you
will have a financial aid exit interview. |
| 11. |
Be certain to contact your
lender if you are having difficulty repaying your loans. They may
allow you to postpone or reduce your payments. |
| 12. |
Be aware--fees are taken out
of your student loans before any loan monies are disbursed. |
| 13. |
Depending on the cost of the
school, all of your financial aid may be used to cover tuition and fees. |
| 14. |
Be familiar with the policies
of the school regarding registration, withdrawals, refunds, and fee
payments. This information can be found in your college catalog. |
| 15. |
If you plan to transfer to
another school, you need to check with that institution to verify the
acceptance of the credits you are now taking. Some schools
participate in articulation agreements with other institutions to ensure
smooth transfer for students. |
| 16. |
When the need arises, look
for outside resources to help you understand the financial aid,
admissions, and scholarship processes. |
How
To Succeed In College
| Manage your time
wisely - Be organized, keep a planner,
and attend classes. |
| Develop good study
habits - Participate in study groups
whenever possible. One hour of studying in the morning is worth
two hours in the evening. Plan to study three hours for every one
hour that you are in class. Do not cram the night before a test. |
| Complete work
assignments - Turn in assignments that
are neat and legible. |
| Get involved on
campus - People who get involved in
campus activities are more likely to be successful and are happier with
their college experience. It also helps to establish friendships
and contacts for the future. |
| Know your resources
- Become familiar with your campus and its facilities. Take a
campus tour, get to know your professors, advisors, resident assistants
(RA's), and administrators. |
| Take care of
yourself - On the average, freshmen gain
fifteen pounds their first year--be sure to eat right and exercise.
Being well-rested helps your concentration and increases memory
retention--be sure to get a good night's sleep every night. |
| Take safety
precautions - Do not walk alone at night.
Always walk in well-lit, well-populated areas, and be aware of your
surroundings. Do not wear headphones if walking alone. Avoid
shortcuts and use security escorts whenever possible. |
| Set goals for
yourself - Set short-term and long-term
goals. This will help you accomplish tasks in an organized and
timely manner. |
| Learn to say
"NO" - Do not take on more
responsibilities than you can handle. Avoid a heavy course load,
too many extracurricular activities, too many social events, and too
many hours at work. Balance is the key! |
| Work on campus
- Students employed on campus tend to have higher GPA's and manage their
time more efficiently. They also develop important contacts for
future job references. |
| Get the POWER!
- Positive Outlooks Work for Everyone,
Really! Having a positive attitude leads to a more
confident and successful student. |
How
To Avoid Scholarship Scams
Just as there are
many scholarships, there are many scholarship scams. Although many sound
legitimate and official, BE CAREFUL. Remember one cardinal rule:
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
You should be suspicious of an
organization if they do any of the following:
| Request
payment of fee to apply for scholarships. |
| Insist on your
credit card or checking account number. If given a number, they
could charge unnecessary fees or drain your account. |
| Pressure you to
act fast. "This offer will expire..." |
| Request an
advance fee to apply for a low-interest educational loan. |
| Guarantee
scholarship winnings or search results. |
| Have loose
eligibility requirements. |
| Charge you for a
scholarship. |
| Use a mail drop
as a return address. |
| Do not include a
telephone number for inquiries of have only an answering machine at the
number given. |
| Send you a
notification that you were selected to receive a scholarship for which
you never applied. |
| Attempt to lure
you in with financial aid information in order to sell you something
else (i.e. life insurances annuities, etc.) |
Be cautious and remember that a
toll-free number and official looking stationary are not signs of legitimacy.
These things are easy to obtain. Before you send money to an
organization, it would be a good idea to verify their legitimacy by doing the
following:
| Contact your
college financial aid administrator or high school guidance counselor. |
| Check with the Better
Business Bureau, the State Attorney General's Office, and the State
Chamber of Commerce in your state and in the state where the
organization is located. |
| Contact the National
Fraud Information Center at 1-800-876-7060. |
| Call the Post
Office Inspector's mail fraud hotline at 1-800-654-8896. |
| Send email to SCAMS-L@finaid.org |
Take advantage of free sources of
scholarship information and search services which are available through your
local public library, the financial aid offices at many schools, and edsouth's
Student Outreach Services.
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