SCHOLARSHIPS: WHAT TO WATCH FOR

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
(for the academic year 2008-2009)
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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
AGENDA

• PowerPoint Presentation
• Questions and Answers
• VSAC Scholarships for Vermonters Booklet (for the
  academic year 2008-2009)

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships

• Common Myths
• My grades arent good enough
• My family makes too much money
• Im not athletic
• Im not a graduating high school senior
• I applied last year, so I dont have to apply
  this year
• I havent chosen a major yet...

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships

• Statistics
• (2007-2008 academic yearprojected)
• 156 VSAC-Assisted Scholarship Programs
• 6,300 Applications Processed
• 2,900 Scholarships Awarded
• 6.6 Million Awarded

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships

• Grants/Loans vs. Scholarships

How are they different?
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Searching and Applying for Scholarships

• Competition

Be the BEST Applicant!
GRANTS/LOANS

• Meet eligibility requirements
• Funds available
• Apply
• Receive Grant/Loan

SCHOLARSHIPS

• Meet eligibility requirements
• Funds available
• Apply
• COMPETE with other applicants

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships

• Communication

GRANTS/LOANS

• WALK students through process
• ASK students questions
• REMIND students about whats missing

SCHOLARSHIPS

• EXPLAIN the process to students
• ANSWER students questions
• NO REMINDERS about whats missing

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships

• Eligibility Requirements

GRANTS/LOANS

• Demonstrate financial need

SCHOLARSHIPS

• Multiple eligibility requirements
• Unique/different for each scholarship

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Where do I look?
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Searching and Applying for Scholarships

• Start Locally
• Local High School
• Town Officials
• Employers
• Local Community Groups(Elks, Lions, Rotary,
  Places of Worship, etc.)
• Word of mouth!

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships

• In the VSAC
• Scholarships Booklet
• READ and FOLLOW instructions!
• 42 Other Scholarships
• 115 VSAC-Assisted Scholarships

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships

• At Your College
• or University
• Ask about
• Are there scholarships available THROUGH the
  Financial Aid Office?
• Are there scholarships available OUTSIDE the
  Financial Aid Office?
• Are there any UNIQUE scholarships?

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships

• At the VSAC
• Resource Center
• Books/DVDs
• Computers and Software
• Counselors (to assist)

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships

• Finish Globally!
• VSACs Favorite Web Picks for national
  scholarship searches

• www.vsac.org
• VSACs Scholarships Pathfinder(available through
  the VSAC Resource Center OR on-line)

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
What to watch out for
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Searching and Applying for Scholarships

• How Do Scholarships Affect Other Aid?

Check With EACH School

• How will receiving a scholarship affect other
  financial aid?

Carefully Consider

• Will it reduce LOANS ?
• Will it reduce WORK-STUDY ?
• Will it reduce GRANTS ?
• Will it reduce SCHOLARSHIPS ?

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships

• What About Scams?
• This scholarship is guaranteed or your money
  back.
• You cant get this information anywhere else!
• May I have your credit card or bank account
  number to hold this scholarship?
• Well do all the work.
• Theres a fee to apply for this scholarship.
• Youve been selected by a National Foundation!
• Youre a finalist(in a contest you never
  entered)

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Applying for VSAC-Assisted Scholarships
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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Unified Scholarship Application (USA)

• Completed by applicant
• Required for ALL VSAC-assisted Scholarships
• No blanks

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Attachment A Academic Certification (Att A)

• Completed by high (or home) school official
• ONLY if applicant is a graduating high school
  senior
• Certifies academic achievement

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Attachment B Financial Information (Att B)

• Completed by applicant
• Complete one column ONLY
• No blanks
• In lieu of Vermont state grant and FAFSA
• Certifies financial need

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Attachment C Recommendation Letters (Att C)

• Eight (8) POSSIBLE letters
• Letters written by someone APPLICANT designates
• Label properly!(applicants SSN, applicants
  name, letter , and letter name)

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Attachment E Essays (Att E)

• Eleven (11) POSSIBLE essays
• Essays written by APPLICANT
• Label properly!(applicants SSN, applicants
  name, essay , and essay name)

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Let's Get Started!
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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Step 1
Make sure you are eligible to apply for
VSAC-Assisted Scholarships.

• You must be a VERMONT resident
• U.S. Military Personnel must list VERMONT as
  their home of record.
• You may not owe a refund on an education grant OR
  be in default on any education loans.

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Step 2
Apply to VSAC for a Vermont state grant and file
a FAFSA

• As soon after January 1, 2008 as possible!
• MOST scholarships require applicants to
  demonstrate financial need
• Electronic filing (www.vsac.org)
• Paper filing (call VSAC)

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Step 3
Scan VSAC-assisted scholarships using the TOOLBARS

• SCH ID a code created by VSAC to identify each
  scholarship
• POSTMARK DEADLINE The date by which all
  required documents must be POSTMARKED for each
  scholarship

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Toolbars
Provides the most common eligibility criteria for
each scholarship listed
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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Student
indicates what type of student is eligible to
applyif blank, ANY student may apply
Applicant must be an independent, self-supporting
student who will either earn a high school
diploma or GED by the start of the upcoming
school year.
Applicant must be a student already enrolled in
and attending postsecondary school.
Applicant must be a high school senior who will
have earned either a high school diploma or GED
by the start of the upcoming school year.
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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
School
describes the type of educational facility you
must attend to be eligible to apply if blank,
there are NO REQUIREMENTS as to the type of
school you plan to attend.
Applicant must attend an accredited school
located within the state of Vermont and approved
for federal Title IV funding (i.e., Pell grants,
Stafford loans, PLUS loans).
Applicant must attend an accredited school
approved for federal Title IV funding (i.e., Pell
grants, Stafford loans, PLUS loans).
Applicant must attend either the University of
Vermont or Vermont Technical College.
Applicant must attend an accredited vocational or
technical school.
Applicant must attend Castleton State College,
Lyndon State College, Johnson State College,
Community College of Vermont, Vermont Technical
College, or the University of Vermont.
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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Program
indicates the type of college (or training)
program in which you must or may be enrolled if
blank, there are NO REQUIREMENTS as to the type
of program in which you plan to enroll.
Applicant must be enrolled in a certificate
program OR a degree program (undergraduate,
graduate, or professional).
Applicant must be enrolled in a certificate
program OR an undergraduate associates or
bachelors degree program.
Applicant must be enrolled in a certificate
program, a non-degree program OR an undergraduate
associates or bachelors degree program.
Applicant must be enrolled in a degree program
(undergraduate, graduate, or professional).
Applicant must already have received a bachelors
degree and be enrolled in a graduate or
professional degree program.
Applicant must be enrolled in an undergraduate
associates or bachelors degree program.
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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Enrollment
indicates the minimum enrollment required for
you to be eligible to apply if blank, there are
NO REQUIREMENTS as to the number of credit hours
you plan to take.
Applicant must be enrolled at least full time
(minimum 12 credits per term).
Applicant must be enrolled at least three-quarter
time (minimum 9 credits per term).
Applicant must be enrolled at least half time
(minimum 6 credits per term).
Applicant must be enrolled at least quarter time
(minimum 3 credits per term).
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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Duration
indicates whether the scholarship is for one
year only or may be renewed for two, three, or
four years.
Recipient will receive this scholarship for one
year only.
Recipient will receive this scholarship for the
first year and will have an opportunity to renew
it for a second year.
Recipient will receive this scholarship for the
first year and will have an opportunity to renew
it for a second and third year.
Recipient will receive this scholarship for the
first year and will have an opportunity to renew
it for a second, third, and fourth year.
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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Step 4
Identify the VSAC-assisted scholarships for which
you will apply.

• Read each description CAREFULLY
• Determine if you meet ALL eligibility
  requirements
• Ignore demonstrate financial need and
  demonstrate academic achievement
• Enter SCH ID and postmark deadline in Section I
  of USA

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Let's Practice!

• I am a high school senior
• I live in Whitingham, Vermont(Windham County)
• Id like to get a degree in something related to
  Architecture (i.e., Architectural Design,
  Architectural Engineering, etc.)

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships

• MAIL COMPLETED FORM TO NAME_____________________
  _________________
• VSAC Scholarships Program (last, first, middle
  initial)
• 10 East Allen Street ? PO Box 2000
• Winooski, VT 05404 SOCIAL SECURITY
  __________________________
• Toll-free 888-253-4819 ? Burlington area
  654-3798
• E-mail info_at_vsac.org
• 2008-2009 Unified Scholarship Application (USA)
• This form is required for every VSAC-assisted
  scholarship. It must be completed in full by the
  applicant to be considered by scholarship
  committee(s) do not leave any section blank.
• SECTION I SCHOLARSHIPS
• ? List the VSAC ID and postmark deadline of
  each VSAC-assisted scholarship for which you meet
  ALL eligibility requirements.
• ? Do NOT include any VSAC ID whose postmark
  deadline has passed.

DURFEE-U (page 23) GATES (page 24) GRANGER (page
24)
KILBOURN (page 26) THV (page 33)
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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Step 5
Identify required documents.

• Locate Required Documents Chart (pages 7-12)
• Familiarize yourself with documents (page 7)
• EVERY VSAC-Assisted Scholarship is listed
• FIRST in order of postmark deadline
• THEN by SCH ID
• Highlight each SCH ID entered in Section I of USA

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Step 5 (continued)

• Submit all required documents forthe 1st SCH ID
• Move to the next SCH ID
• Submit documents you did NOT already submit for
  the 1st SCH ID
• Repeat for every highlighted SCH ID

Let's Practice!
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Searching and Applying for Scholarships

• 2008-2009 Required Documents Chart (in order of
  postmark deadline)
• ? Required
• ? Required ONLY if you have not applied to VSAC
  for a Vermont state grant and filed a FAFSA.(If
  you are enrolled in a graduate or professional
  degree program, Attachment B is required.)

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Things to Think About
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Searching and Applying for Scholarships
Whats the Value of Applying for MULTIPLE
Scholarships?
Require Similar Information and Documents

• Application(demographics, high school,
  college/university)

• Recommendation Letter(s)

• Essay(s)

RE-cycle and RE-use
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Searching and Applying for Scholarships

• How are Recipients
• Selected?
• Selection criteria listed in order of importance
• Each criteria filters applicant pool further

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships

• Will I Be Notified?
• It depends on the scholarship!
• VSAC-Assisted Scholarships notified either way
• Generally 8-10 weeks AFTER postmark deadline has
  passed

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships

• FOUR Simple Steps!
• READ and FOLLOW instructions
• IDENTIFY all scholarshipsfor which you are
  eligible to apply
• SUBMIT all required documents on time
• CONFIRM receipt and completeness of documents!

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Searching and Applying for Scholarships

• REMEMBER
• COMPETITION BASED
• Be the BEST Applicant!
• SCHOLARSHIP SEARCHES
• Start LOCALLYfinish GLOBALLY!
• BEWARE
• Affect on other financial aid
• Scholarship scams!

You CAN do it!