College climb.Navigate your way to scholarship money to fund your child's education PAULA AND JESSE JAMES OF HACKENSACK, NEW Jersey, vividly recall the year that was full of frantic phone calls, applications and campus visits. Their 18-year-old son, Randy--now armed with nearly $25,000 in scholarships and financial aid--sits beside his mother, eager to discuss his admission to Lebanon Valley College History Lebanon Valley was founded on February 23, 1866, with classes beginning May 7 of that year and its first class graduating in 1870. Expenses at this time for a full year were $206.50 and remained relatively unchanged for the next 50 years. of Pennsylvania, in Annville. "Lebanon Valley offered me the best financial aid package," says Randy, who will suit up for the basketball and track teams this season. The substantial monetary assistance he received will enable him to enter his freshman year without any major financial headaches, no small feat since his school fees amount to $22,750 annually. "But I still have three more years to go," he sighs, as if wondering about paying for his remaining college years. The experts say Randy needn't worry because there is financial aid available for college-bound students. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the 1998 booklet Trends in Student Aid (The College Board, 800-323-7155, $12), student aid totaled $60.5 billion for the 1997-98 academic year. Of this amount, 34.3% represents federal, state and institutional grants--dollars children like Randy won't have to repay after college. But prepping students for one of the most challenging academic maneuvers--graduating from college without inheriting a mound of debt--isn't something that happens overnight. Getting past scholarship selection committees means employing the same strategies used to gain entrance to college. A competitive academic record, an assortment of extracurricular activities, extensive research and a strong application are essential elements in securing those sought-after scholarship funds. And although the process is as involved as it sounds, it's well worth the effort. Your assistance can make all the difference, so here are some ways you can help. STRESS ACADEMIC AS WELL AS EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Parents must "adopt an approach of early awareness," says Leah Y. Latimer, author of Higher Ground: Preparing African-American Children for College, (Avon Books, $12). She argues that parents must be proactive by preparing their children to become achievers at an early age. "My mom and dad were them, but they didn't have to encourage me too hard because I wanted to make good grades," says Joyelle Taylor, a 20-year-old accounting major who won a full scholarship to the business school at Texas Southern University (TSU Tsu (ts  ), city (1990 pop. 157,177), capital of Mie prefecture, S Honshu, Japan, on Ise Bay. It is a commercial and manufacturing center, with glass, machine, and food-processing factories. ), Houston. Your child's academic curriculum should contain three to four years of math, and at least one year of challenging electives. Children with high aptitudes should be enrolled in honors and advanced placement (AP) courses. Taylor graduated with a 4.25 GPA GPA abbr. grade point average Noun 1. GPA - a measure of a student's academic achievement at a college or university; calculated by dividing the total number of grade points received by the total number attempted (throughout her high school career, she took honors courses that are graded on a 5-point scale). Now a junior in college, Taylor is reaping the benefits of her high school academic achievements. She received a total of $33,250 in financial aid from private scholarships and grants. Although Taylor is probably the exception rather than the rule, she believes most students can do well. They just need to maintain high standards in school. Of course, parental participation is also key. "My mother has been very important because she's been on my back since sophomore year [about scholarship applications]," says Randy, who plans to major in journalism and communications. In addition to emphasizing good grades, Randy's mother got him involved in church as well as community outreach activities. His teachers also helped him become well-rounded by allowing him to participate in his high school's Youth and Government day. Under this program, Randy was assigned to assist the city manager--an official who oversees salaries and regulates the parks, sanitation and police departments. This experience gave Randy an edge over scholarship applicants who could only profile their grades. In fact, a student's extracurricular activities do impact the scholarship review process. "Your child could be the best bookworm bookworm, popular name for the larvae of several beetles that bore through books, e.g., the drugstore, spider, and deathwatch beetles. in the world--we look at academics--but we also want to see how he fits in with the people around him," emphasizes A.D. James Jr., executive director of student financial services The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. at Prairie View Prairie View may refer to:
Prairie View A&M University is located in the city. Geography Prairie View is located at (30.082131, -95. . James has sat on several scholarship boards. Twenty-eight-year-old Chris Vuturo, winner of $885,000 in scholarships and author of The Scholarship Advisor 1999 Edition (Princeton Review, $23) echoes the sentiment: "The numbers don't really tell the whole story. Don't just be a good student; get involved." In high school, Vuturo worked with terminally ill Terminally Ill When a person is not expected to live more than 12 months. Notes: Any gifts given out by the afflicted person at this time may be considered as a dispersion of the estate rather than a gift. children and says it helped him demonstrate leadership abilities and his concern for the community. But even the best grades and most diligent community involvement doesn't mean anything unless you're able to link your child to the right scholarship program. Here's how you can make a match: RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES AND APPLY You can start your search at your local library or on the Internet, but you should also refer to less commonly used sources. Some local businesses--banks, credit unions and doctor's offices, for example--have funds set aside for educational programs. Also, find out if your employer provides educational benefits to you and your children. Check bookstores for a selection of books and computer programs that detail specific scholarships--The Scholarship Handbook 1999 (The College Board, $24.95) is one example. For additional guidance, consult the advisors listed in the brochure of the college that your child wants to attend. They can tell you whether the institution has financial assistance programs. And don't forget to find out if corporations and local organizations (e.g., churches and Masonic lodges) have earmarked funds for educational purposes. Although Randy received significant financial assistance, he does admit that the 40 scholarship applications he completed between September 1998 and May 1999 were restricted to those programs his counselor identified. "I could've done a lot more for myself," he confesses. His mother says, "It was a combination of the counselor being pulled in too many directions and Randy's preoccupation with graduation." While some say guidance counselors guidance counselor Child psychology A school worker trained to screen, evaluate and advise students on career and academic matters are overworked, others say the practice of preferential treatment is also a factor. "They're overloaded and may service up to 400 students," says Yvonne Gittens, associate director of financial aid in student financial services at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, at Cambridge; coeducational; chartered 1861, opened 1865 in Boston, moved 1916. It has long been recognized as an outstanding technological institute and its Sloan School of Management has notable programs in business, in Cambridge. "However, there are a lot of guidance counselors who don't want to see minorities get ahead. They will hide things, simply because they don't want your child to have as much [opportunity] as others." So it's up to you to develop a relationship with your child's high school counselor A school counselor is a counselor and educator who works in schools, and have historically been referred to as "guidance counselors" or "educational counselors," although "Professional School Counselor" is now the preferred term. early on. Time is another important element where scholarship applications are concerned. Randy, who maintained a 3.3 GPA and scored 1080 on the SAT, began researching scholarship opportunities at the beginning of his senior year. Some experts say that was almost too late. "A lot of children start in the 11th and 12th grade," says James. He also states that students with a 3.5 GPA and a 1200 SAT score can receive a "free ride" to the more than $30,000 over four years that Prairie View charges for on-campus, out-of-state students. By gathering information by the beginning of the sophomore year, students will be able to do more thorough research and be better advised about the opportunities at the college of their choice. Regardless of which scholarships your child chooses to apply for, make sure applications are sent at least two weeks before the due date. All forms must be smudge-proof and the essay well written because "it's the most important part of the application," says Vuturo. "It's your best opportunity to show how you think, what you believe and how well you write and communicate." CHECK OUT FEDERAL FUNDING Once you've looked into the private resources, turn to the government. The U.S. Department of Education delegates $50 billion a year toward public and private schools of higher education higher education Study beyond the level of secondary education. Institutions of higher education include not only colleges and universities but also professional schools in such fields as law, theology, medicine, business, music, and art. . This assistance can come in the form of grants or self-help aid. Under the Stafford Loan A Stafford Loan is a student loan offered to eligible students enrolled in American institutions of higher education to help finance their education. The terms of the loans are described in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (with subsequent amendments), which guarantees Program, first-year full-time undergraduates can receive up to $2,625 a year if they're classified as dependent students, and $6,625 if they're independent students, at up to 8.25% interest. Perkins Loan recipients can borrow $3,000 per year at 5% interest. To determine eligibility for government financial aid, students must fill out the FAFSA FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid (US Department of Education) (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) after January 1 of their senior year in high school. The FAFSA, which determines how much federal aid applicants will receive, is best completed after tax returns are done because the 1040 form is used to substantiate To establish the existence or truth of a particular fact through the use of competent evidence; to verify. For example, an Eyewitness might be called by a party to a lawsuit to substantiate that party's testimony. the figures about income, assets and benefits. To receive the FAFSA, call 800-433-3243 or download it "Download It" is Clea's debut single. It was released in the UK on September 22, 2003 and missed the top 20 charting at #21. The single had average promotion, being performed in shows like Top of the Pops. at www.fafsa.gov. Once the FAFSA is submitted, a SAR (Segmentation And Reassembly) The protocol that converts data to cells for transmission over an ATM network. It is the lower part of the ATM Adaption Layer (AAL), which is responsible for the entire operation. See AAL. SAR - segmentation and reassembly (Student Aid Report) is sent to the applicant. This confirms information from the FAFSA and provides the Expected Family Contribution Expected Family Contribution (also referred to as EFC) is a term utilized in the college financial aid process. It is the estimate of the parents' and/or student's ability to contribute to post-secondary educational expenses. (EFC EFC Expected Family Contribution EFC Expect(ed) Further Clearance EFC Evangelical Fellowship of Canada EFC Evangelical Free Church EFC Eastfield College EFC Everton Football Club EFC Electronic Fee Collection ) number. The EFC is the amount of money you and your child are expected to contribute to the cost of education. Various criteria--taxable and nontaxable income nontaxable income Income items specifically exempted from taxation. On federal returns, the interest from most municipal bonds, life insurance proceeds, gifts, and inheritances is generally nontaxable income. , assets (i.e., checking accounts), benefits (i.e., alimony alimony, in law, allowance for support that an individual pays to his or her former spouse, usually as part of a divorce settlement. It is based on the common law right of a wife to be supported by her husband, but in the United States, the Supreme Court in 1979 payments) and family size--are taken into account to determine the amount a family can pay. For example, the Jameses' EFC is $3,000. This is based on their four-member household (which includes Randy's younger sister) and was calculated using such criteria as the combined salaries of Randy's parents ($45,900) and Randy's salary from his summer job--$1,295. Gift aid is free money that usually consists of grants and scholarships. The Pell Grant The Pell Grant program is a type of post-secondary, educational federal grant program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. It is named after U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell and originally known as the the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant program. , the largest federally sponsored program, awards free money--up to $3,125 a year based on the EFC, the cost of attendance and whether the recipient is a full-time or part-time student. At its peak in the late 1970s, the maximum Pell Grant funded three-quarters of the average cost of attending a four-year public college. Today it covers only one-third of such costs, according to the College Board. "Because the level of support generated from the federal and state government has not grown at the same rate as the cost of attendance, there is more money available in loans, partly due to [the addition of] unsubsidized loans, which are not need-based." says John Brugel, Ph.D., university director of financial aid at Rutgers University Rutgers University, main campus at New Brunswick, N.J.; land-grant and state supported; coeducational except for Douglass College; chartered 1766 as Queen's College, opened 1771. Campuses and Facilities Rutgers maintains three campuses. in New Brunswick, New Jersey This article is about the city in New Jersey. For the Canadian province, see New Brunswick. New Brunswick, also known as "the Healthcare City"[2] or "Hub City",[3] is a city and the county seat of the County of Middlesex, New Jersey, USA. . Work-study programs--on-campus jobs where students can work an average of 10 to 15 hours a week to help fund college expenses--offer an alternative if your child's financial aid package falls short. Recently, the federal government passed legislation approving a $64 million increase in the federal work-study program Noun 1. work-study program - an educational plan in which students alternate between paid employment and formal study didactics, education, educational activity, instruction, pedagogy, teaching - the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart . Now there are additional jobs for 1 million students. The program represents $2.7 billion (4.4%) of total student aid. The benefits for work-study participants are twofold: students receive financial assistance as well as real-life work experiences. For more information on government financial aid resources, order the Student Guide 1999-2000 at 800-4-FED-AID or download it at www.ed.gov/prog_info/ SFA/StudentGuide. ENJOY THE BENEFITS Randy James' financial aid package of $24,358 consisted of a $12,183 award from Lebanon Valley College; $6,750 in private scholarships from community organizations; a $2,625 Stafford Loan; a $1,500 Perkins Loan; and $1,300 for work-study. His fees, including tuition and room and board amount to $22,750. This means he has an additional to cover miscellaneous expenses. This package is long as he maintains a 2.5 GPA and participate in a multicultural event annually. "Once I signed my acceptance letter to Lebanon, I thought everything was gravy from there," says Randy. "But I failed to realize there is a lot more work to do [if you want to get a scholarship]." Randy's advice: "Start early and don't be lazy; whether it's 40 or 100 scholar-apply for each one." Application Checklist * Note application deadlines on a calendar. * Order multiple copies of your transcript and your test score reports. * Prepare lists of activities and awards. Keep them in a safe place. * Make copies of the application before and after it's completed. * Read the entire application prior to filling it out. * Type all parts of the application. * Ask relevant people that you're in frequent contact with, such as teachers and community leaders, to write recommendations at least one month prior to deadline. Give them a resume detailing academic, extracurricular and personal achievements. * Make copies of recommendation letters when you receive them. * Send thank-you cards to all references. * Have your essay proofread by an English teacher and your parents, then revise. * Proofread your completed application at least twice before you mail it out. Scholarship Resources WEBSITES www.srnexpress.com--A one-stop shop One-Stop Shop A company or a location that offers a multitude of services to a client or a customer. The idea is to provide convenient and efficient service and also to create the opportunity for the company to sell more products to clients and customers. for financial resources. www.fastweb.com--Students can register to hove scholarship information delivered via e-mail. www.finaid.org--Links to Websites that configure college finances. www.collegeboard.com--Provides tips on everything from registering for the SATs online to searching through the scholarship locator. www.ed.gov--Information about federal financial aid programs. BOOKS * The B Students (Or Lower) Complete Scholarship Book (Sourcebooks Trade, $18.95). * The Black Student's Guide to Sholarships: 700+ Private Money Sources for Black and Minority Students by Barry Beckham (Madison Books, $17.95). * College Costs & Financial Aid Handbook 1999 (The College Board, $21.95) * Financial Aid for African Americans African American Multiculture A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. See Race. 1999.2001 by Gail A. Shlachter (Reference Service Press, $37.50). scholarship round-up Here is a selection of "free" financial aid resources AIFS AIFS Australian Institute of Family Studies AIFS Arbitration Inter-Frame Space AIFS American Institute for Foreign Study, Inc (cultural exchange programs organizer) AIFS Australian Integrated Forecasting System MINORITY SCHOLARSHIP American Institute for Foreign Study River Plaza, 9 W. Broad St. (As of Nov. 1) Stamford, CT 06902 800-727-2437; www.aifs.com Criteria: Minorities must be involved in multicultural activities. Students who receive financial; aid can apply it towards study in Japan, South Africa South Africa, Afrikaans Suid-Afrika, officially Republic of South Africa, republic (2005 est. pop. 44,344,000), 471,442 sq mi (1,221,037 sq km), S Africa. and Western Europe Western Europe The countries of western Europe, especially those that are allied with the United States and Canada in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (established 1949 and usually known as NATO). . Award: $1,000 and up Award Years: Freshman through senior study Number of Awards: 6 (1 full scholarship and 5 merit grants) Deadline: October 15 for Spring April 15 for Fall FULFILLING THE LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP National Society of Black Engineers National Society of Black Engineers (commonly known as NSBE), founded in 1975 at Purdue University, is one of the largest student-run organizations in the US, centered on improving the recruitment and retention of African-American engineering students. 1454 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314 703-549-2207; www.nsbe.org Criteria: Applicant must be a member of the organization. Major or career interest in science or engineering. Community and on-campus activities considered. Award: Varies Award Years: Freshman through graduate study. Number of Awards: 75 Deadline: January 7 CHEMICAL SOCIETY MINORITY SCHOLARSHIP American Chemical Society The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a learned society (professional association) based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has over 160,000 members at all degree-levels and in Scholars Program 1155 16th St., NW Washington, DC 20036 800-227-5558 ext. 6048; www.acs.org Criteria: Must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Major or interest in chemistry; demonstrate academic achievement and financial need. GPA 3.0. Award: Up to $2,500 Award Years: Freshman through senior study Number of Awards: up to 200 Deadline: February 15 DURACELL/GILLETTE MINORITY SCHOLARSHIP National Urban League 120 Wall St., 7th Floor New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , NY 10005 212-558-5300; www.nul.org Criteria: Major in engineering, marketing or finance/banking, Must demonstrate financial need and academic achievement. GPA 3.0. Award: $10,000 over two years Award Years: Junior and senior study only Number of Awards: Up to 20 Deadline: January 15 EDUCATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SCHOLARHIP FOUNDATION 721 N. McKinney Road P.O. Box 5002 Lake Forest, IL 60045-5012 847-295-6650; www.honoring.com Criteria: Applicants must be U.S. citizens with minimum B average. Based on work experience and achievement test scores. Semifinalists must complete an easy. Award: $1,000 Award Years: Freshman through senior study Number of Awards: 250 Deadline: May 31 HERBERT LEHMAN SCHOLARSHIP 99 Hudson, St., Suite 1600 New York, NY 10013 Phone: 212-219-1900 Criteria: Students must have outstanding leadership abilities and community service. The enrollment in the college that the student has selected must be less than 8% African American. Award: $2,000 Award Years: Freshman through senior study Number of Awards: 30-40 Deadline: April 30 JACKIE ROBINSON Noun 1. Jackie Robinson - United States baseball player; first Black to play in the major leagues (1919-1972) Jack Roosevelt Robinson, Robinson SCHOLARSHIP Jackie Robinson Foundation The Jackie Robinson Foundation is a non-profit organization which provides scholarships to minority youths for higher education, as well as preserving the legacy of Baseball Hall of Fame member, Jackie Robinson. Scholarship Programs 3 West 35th St. New York, NY 10001 www.jackierobinson.org Criteria: Open to graduating minority high school seniors only. Applicants must demonstrate leadership, financial need and academic achievement. Award: Up to $5,000 Award Years: Freshman through senior study Number of Awards: Varies Deadline: April 1 KNIGHT RIDDER
Knight Ridder (IPA: /ˈrɪdɚ/) was an American media company, specializing in newspaper and Internet publishing. MINORITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 50 W. San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. St., Suite 1500 San Jose San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. , Ca 95113 408-938-7700; www.knightridder.com Criteria: Candidates are recommended through a Knight Ridder property in their local area, must demonstrate interest in journalism/newspaper; GPA 2.5. Award: $5,000 Award Years: Freshman through senior study Number of Awards: 3-4 Deadline: Mid-December to mid-January --T.A.S. |
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