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| Federal & State Financial Aid Resources & Loan Programs |
Federal Student Aid
Programs/BenefitsThe federal government is the largest provider of financial aid. In fact, the federal government provides nearly 75 percent of all available student aid, according to the College Board. So it makes sense to know as much as possible about federal financial aid programs and to apply for federal aid before seeking out more exotic financial aid sources. Application for Federal Student Aid (Also known as the Pell Grant) Learn about eligibility and fill out the application on-line http://www.fafsa.ed.gov Federal Financial Aid Programs: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/what010.htm Federal Pell Grants Federal Stafford Loans Federal PLUS Loans Campus-Based Programs Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants Federal Work Study Perkins Loans Federal Student Aid Programs: These programs provide more than $60 billion a year in grants, loans, and work-study assistance. http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp Washington State Aid Programs http://www.hecb.wa.gov/paying/waaidprgm/waaidprgmindex.asp Includes State Need Grant, State Work Study, Washington Promise Scholarship, Educational Opportunity Grant, Washington Scholars, Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE), Health Professional Loan Repayment and Scholarship, American Indian Endowed Scholarship, Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship (all listed programs available for viewing from website listed above) Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board Financial Aid and Paying for College http://www.hecb.wa.gov/Paying/index.asp Listing of Washington State Private/Public Scholarships awarded to local students in 2002-2003 http://www.hecb.wa.gov/Docs/facts/schollocallist.pdf Petersons - Since 1966, one of the most comprehensive and heavily traveled education resource on the Internet. http://www.petersons.com
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Top 7 Reasons Students Do Not Apply for Scholarships (and why they should) I’m afraid my G.P.A. is not high enough. Most scholarships do not require a 4.0 GPA. Scholarships that do not have a minimum grade point average (GPA) eligibility criteria, usually require a 3.0 or 3.5. Some do not include the grade point average (GPA) as an eligibility criteria at all. Scholarships can be based on your interest in a particular career or academic major, the community you live in, your activities, or other criteria. THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE! My parents make too much money. Some scholarships are based on need or financial aid eligibility, but there are many MERIT-BASED scholarships which are not based on yours or your parents’ incomes or assets—they are based on your own academic achievements and promise for future success. I don’t know where to look for scholarships. You can find Information on scholarships at your library in the reference section, published in books at the bookstore, on flyers hanging in your college counselor’s office or the scholarship office at your local college, by calling or visiting local businesses, women’s clubs, and Chambers of Commerce, and checking with your parents’ employers and organizations they belong to. I don’t have the time to look for scholarships or fill out applications. Time is money, and in this case money well-spent. If it takes you a total of 10 hours to look for scholarship opportunities, complete and mail applications, and you receive only one $500 scholarship you have made $50 per hour—more than most of us make at our jobs! I can’t write a good essay. Writing an essay, especially if it is about yourself, is very difficult. In most cases, this is how a scholarship committee gets to know you so you need to represent yourself in a positive manner without boasting. After you have drafted an essay and you feel comfortable with it, have several people read it over for grammar, style , and content. You might leave out something about yourself that someone else believes is important, or you might be including something that does not seem relevant to the scholarship competition. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for advice from teachers, relatives, or friends. Sample essays are available in the C.S.U. Northridge University Scholarship Office. I’m embarrassed to ask people to recommend me. This is also a difficult task. The people you ask to write a letter should know you well and believe that you will be successful in college and in your future career. This is an opportunity to develop a relationship with a teacher or community member that may serve you as a mentor and to recommend you for college admission, scholarships, internships, education abroad, and jobs. You should start talking to them now, seeking their advice on what colleges you should consider, what majors and careers there are that suit your interests, talents, and abilities, etc. Ask them how they got where they are, what strengths or experiences served them best, and other questions to start a dialogue. Think of how you will feel someday when someone thinks enough of you to ask you to write them a letter of recommendation. Most people feel honored to be asked. I don’t feel worthy of a scholarship. We are all worthy of the opportunity to learn and grow, and to contribute the best we can to our community and society-at-large. Scholarships provide us that opportunity, and those who give the funds for scholarships recognize the benefit that will come to their communities, businesses, and country. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE NOT A HANDOUT—THEY ARE AN INVESTMENT IN HUMAN RESOURCES AND IN AMERICA’S FUTURE Source: California State University at Northridge |
