Fort Gordon School LiaisonScholarships
Student Guide to Financial Aid is the most comprehensive resource on student financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education. Grants, loans, and work-study are the three major forms of student financial aid available through the Department's Student Financial Assistance office. Updated each award year, The Student Guide tells you about the programs and how to apply for them. Contact information: Federal Student Aid Information Center 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or www.collegenet.com.
Top Ten Tips for a Winning Scholarship Application
1. Apply only if you are eligible.
2. Complete the application.
3. Read and follow all instructions.
4. Submit a clean and neat application.
5. Submit a well-composed essay that makes a definite impression.
6. Be aware of and meet all deadlines.
7. Mail application to the proper address with the proper postage affixed.
8. Give your application materials a final review.
9. Seek assistance if you feel you need it.
10. Make sure you're proud of and satisfied with, your application submission.
Top Ten Reasons an Application Will Not Win a Scholarship
1. Applicant mailed the envelope without the application enclosed.
2. Applicant submitted an incomplete application.
3. Applicant forgot to include their name and/or address.
4. Applicant submitted an illegible or unintelligible application.
5. Applicant sent the application with insufficient postage- returned "postage due."
6. Applicant submitted irrelevant or inappropriate supporting documentation.
7. Applicant submitted a dirty or stained application.
8. Applicant applied for an award when falling short of the minimum requirements.
9. Applicant made a number of spelling errors.
10. Applicant was rude or abusive to the judges.
Top Ten Financial Aid Tips
1. Prioritize your efforts, beginning with the federal government. Explore the private sector for additional financial aid programs. Visit web sites to locate the private sector financial aid for which you can apply.
2. Contact each school to explore the financial aid possibilities. Write to the school's financial aid office as soon as you apply for admission. Applying for financial aid should not affect your chances of being accepted.
3. Be prepared. Students and parents should file their income tax returns early. You'll need information from income tax forms to complete your financial aid applications.
4. Get to know your financial aid administrator (FAA). The help of the FAA will be valuable if questions arise later on in the year.
5. Submit a FAFSA even if you think you will not qualify for federal aid. Being rejected for federal aid is sometimes a prerequisite for private awards. Some schools require you to fill out their own application as well as a profile.
6. Apply for aid as early as possible. Deadlines vary, but your application for Federal Student Aid can be sent any time after Jan 1. An early application will help get the best financial aid package possible.
7. Take advantage of tuition prepayment discounts. Many colleges offer up to a 10% discount for early payment.
8. Money from grandparents may avoid gift tax liability if paid in your name directly to the school.
9. Investigate company-sponsored tuition plans. Many employers will invest in the education of their employees or children of employees.
10. Apply for financial aid each year you are in school. Even if you receive aid during one year, you must reapply to get it for the next year. Use the Renewal FAFSA form to reapply for aid and save time. See your FAA for assistance.
Top Ten Questions for your Financial Aid Administrator (FAA)
1. Will my request for financial aid have any impact on my ability to be admitted to this college?
2. Will the college meet my full financial aid need, and will it meet my full financial aid need for all four years of my enrollment?
3. Describe your financial aid program, including requirements for need-based aid, merit-based aid and scholarships.
4. What application materials are needed to apply for financial aid, and does the college require its own form in addition to the FAFSA?
5. Where can I find additional sources of financial aid?
6. What are the deadlines for submitting financial aid forms?
7. Are there state financial aid programs that I should know about?
8. When will I be notified of my financial eligibility?
9. Once my financial aid package is awarded, will additional scholarships reduce the amount of financial aid I can receive?
10. Does this college participate in a tuition payment plan that allows installment payments for each semester's bill?
- Adapted from Scholarships.com
SCHOLARSHIPS!
SCHOLARSHIPS!
SCHOLARSHIPS!
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Scholarship---Go to: www.vfw.org Every year, hundreds of thousands of students participate in the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition and the Patriot's Pen Essay Contest, garnering more than $3.4 million in scholarships and incentives.
Army ROTC Scholarship at North Georgia College & State University---Go to: www.northgeorgia.edu Army ROTC awards approximately 70 scholarships to new cadets. Army ROTC scholarships pay tuition and fees or room and board, and a monthly stipend ($300 for freshmen, $350 for sophomores, $450 for juniors, and $500 for seniors) and $1,200 per year for books. They’re awarded on merit: academic achievement, extracurricular activities, personal interviews, and physical fitness. If you are selected to receive a scholarship, you will have a commitment to serve four years in the Regular Army as an officer after graduating from North Georgia.
*For Georgia residents who are eligible for the HOPE Scholarship, the Army ROTC Scholarship will be used to pay for room and meals.
Children's Scholarship Handbook---Go to: www.federalhandbooks.com
American Patriot Freedom Scholarship---Go to: www.homefrontamerica.org established in 2006 to offer appreciation to those families who have dedicated themselves to protecting the American Virtues that all Americans enjoy. This May, the program will reach a new milestone – $ 95,000 in scholarships to assist our military children in realizing their academic goals. Each year, military dependent children from around the world submit their essays to the American Patriot Freedom Scholarship Program, hoping to receive one of twenty-five $ 1,000.00 scholarships.
Ron Brown Scholarships---Go to: www.RonBrown.org. The award: Leadership, community service, and all fields. The deadline is usually in January. This is one of most prestigious scholarships and it's very, very competitive. See site for deadline details.
Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship---Go to: www.JackieRobinson.org The award: $6,000 per year. Number of winners about 100. It's renewable. Academic merit, leadership, community service, and all fields. Deadline is usually in April. See site for deadline details.
United Negro College Fund Scholarships---Go to: www.uncf.org. The UNCF is one of our major scholarship gateways. The awards are of varying amounts, and there are a great many under different names and requirements ( Grandmet, Duracell, for example). See site for deadline details.
NACME Scholarships---(National Action Council For Minorities in Engineering). Go to: www.nacme.org. The award amounts to $20,000, and many are awarded. This is our major engineering scholarship gateway. You must be an engineering student. The deadline is usually in February. Go to the web site for details, or contact from aid officials at your college.
Gates Millennium Scholarships---Go to: www.gmsp.orgThe Gates Millennium Scholarship is to promote academic excellence and to provide an opportunity for thousands of outstanding students with significant financial need. The scholarship will cover room, board and tuition for at least 1,000 high school students a year. See site for deadline details.
NSBE Scholarships---(National Society of Black Engineers). Go to: www.nsbe.org. Award amount: Generally range from $1,500 to $3,000 for members of NSBE. Number of awards varies. This is primarily for engineering students, and others majoring in related disciplines. Deadlines vary. See site for deadline details.
American Institute Of Certified Public Accountants Scholarships (AICPA). Go to: www.aicpa.org For undergraduates studying accounting at a U.S. college with at least 30credits completed. Awards up to $5,000 with about 300 winners annually. Deadline is in July. Go to web site for GPA requirements and details.
Coca-Cola Scholars Scholarships---Go to: www.coca-colascholars.orgThis is a major competition with hundreds of over 250 awards going to "scholars," with academic, leadership, and talent qualities. The award amount is from $4,000 to $20,000. See site for deadline details.
Ambassadorial Scholarships---Go to:www.rotary.org This is the prestigious "Rotary" organization scholarship for students who can speak another language and want to study abroad in the "host" country of that language. Award amounts are from $10,000 to $23,000 for a 3-month to full year of study abroad. You should have completed at least 2 years of college work. See site for deadline details.
Ronald McDonald House Charities and the United Negro College Fund---Go to: rmhc.org Students must be studying at a HBCU, which is a member of the UNCF. The award is from $1,000 to full tuition. Approx. 60 students are selected. See site for deadline details.
Xerox Technology Minority Scholarship---Go to: www.xerox.comand type in "Scholarship" in the search engine. This is a good scholarship for strong minority scholarships for students studying in areas like chemistry, engineering, physics, and "tech" areas. The award amount is up to $4,000 for undergraduates and more for graduate students. See site for deadline details.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Scholarships---Go to: www.akaeaf.org The above link is to the Chicago headquarters and that gateway of scholarships. Note that there are over 700 AKA Chapters, and you would be wise to contact sorority in your local vicinity. Scholarship opportunities abound. See site for deadline details.
*Note: all of our Greeks (listed in our Black Excel college guide)offer scholarships, and you should contact your local chapters.
NCAA Scholarships (National Collegiate Athletic Association)---Go to: www.ncaa.org This is the major NCAA sports association with which student-athletes are associated. Awards are given in all sports categories, amounts from $3,000 to $12,500. Awards are also available for sports-related study (such as sports journalism). Deadlines vary, as do the number of awards each year.
Harry S. Truman Scholarship---Go to: www.truman.gov The is one of the most prestigious scholarships, shaped for students who intend to pursue a career targeted to public service or government. Graduate study should be a goal, with a portion of the funds directed there. You must be at least a junior, and your college must nominate you. A "nomination package" must be created. The awards can reach as high as $30,000 over the years. Generally about 80 students are selected. See site for deadline details.
National Association of Black Journalists---Go to: www.nabj.org offers 10 scholarships. It's a $2,500 award. Students should be attending a four-year University. They must present three letters of recommendation from a school adviser, dean or a faculty member. Also, a 500-800 word article on a Black journalist must be presented. A grade point average of 3.0 is desirable. Eligible students must be majoring in journalism-print, photography, radio or television. One of those should be a career goal. See site for deadline details.
Hispanic College Fund Scholarships---Go to: www.hispanicfund.org Major site for Hispanic students majoring in usiness-related areas, A to Z (accounting, human resources, communications, and more). The award amount varies. Over 140 awards granted. See site for deadline details.
Arts Recognition And Talent Search Awards---Go to: www.youngarts.org These awards are granted to high school or college students (17, 18 years of age) who show talent in dance, voice, music, art, photography, jazz, visual arts, writing, or other creative areas. You must audition or submit a portfolio or tape. The award is to be used for freshman year in college. Award amounts from $100 to $3,000. See site for deadline details.
Society of Women Engineer Scholarships---Go to: societyofwomenengineers.swe.org These scholarships are targeted for women who are majoring in engineering or computer science. Award amount is from $200 to $5,000, and at least 90 are granted. See site for deadline details.
American Institute of Architects Minority Disadvantaged Scholarship---Go to: www.archfoundation.orgThis is a scholarship for minority students enrolling in architecture programs. Awards are from $500 to $3,000. Generally 20 students are selected. See site for deadline details.
Non Commissioned Officers Association---Go to: www.ncoausa.org Children and spouses of members of the Non Commissioned Officers Association. Awards not limited by race, color, creed, national origin or sex. For undergraduate study at accredited colleges and universities. Children of members must be under age 25 to receive initial grant. See site for deadline details.
Military Officers Association of America---Go to: www.moaa.org Applicants for all of our programs must be planning to attend accredited colleges or universities during the 2010-2011 school year as full-time students. All loans, grants, and scholarships are designated for students seeking their first undergraduate degrees. No loans, grants, or scholarships are applicable for graduate study. See site for deadline details.
There is one online application for all scholarships, grants, and interest-free loan programs.
OTHER LINKS
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid
http://www.scholarshipcoach.com/
http://www.salliemae.com/http://www.accessgroup.org/ -- Information on financial services for college students
http://www.ed.gov/thinkcollege/ -- US Department of Education
http://www.college-scholarships.com -- 2001 Colleges, College Scholarships and Financial Aid Pages.
http://www.uscg.mil/mwr/hqrec/CGESScholarshipProgram.asp-- This page is a listing of scholarships on the Institute's Web site
www.wilsonfund.org-- Wilson Scholarship Fund
www.apa.org/mfp -- The American Psychological Association
High school seniors go to;
www.fastweb.com and complete the student profile for scholarships
Scholarship Scams, Information on how not to get scammed from the Federal Trade Commission.
United States Army Cadet Command Headquarters http://www-rotc.monroe.army.mil/
US Department of Education at http://www.ed.gov
The National Collegiate Athletic Association at http://www.ncaa.org
Mach 25 Scholarship Search, at http://www.collegenet.com
Peterson's Student Edge at http://www.studentedge.com/studentedge/default.aspx
Embark has useful tools to plan for both undergraduate and graduate education. This site covers finding a school, completing applications, and applying for financial assistance. Registration to use this site is free. http://www.embark.com
College View offers hundreds of virtual tours, financial aid and scholarship information, and profiles of over 3,800 colleges. ttp://www.collegeview.com/