College Scholarships and Grants 2020-21: Planning, Applying, and Paying for Your Education

1. Helping you plan, apply, and pay for college

2. FINDING SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS 2020-21

3. What We’ll Talk About • Need and merit based federal and state financial aid programs (Scholarships and Grants) • Financial aid basics • Where to find scholarships • Private scholarship application and interview tips • CFNC.org tools and website information

4. There are many types of ScholarshipsNeed, merit or both! Examples of Merit Based Scholarships SAT/ACT scores – Many of these are for early applicants – due in the fall of senior year Community Service Talent, Sport, ROTC Specific Career Goal Characteristic Race Gender Disability Career choice Other

5. Merit Based AidNC Forgivable Education Loans for Service • Forgivable loan to qualified students who are committed to working in North Carolina in identified critical employment shortage professions! Comes out December 1! • Current target employment areas • Certain teaching fields • Nursing • Allied health • Medicine • Certain counseling fields • More information and applications at CFNC.org/FELS

6. Need Based Scholarships – Always basedon Student’s Financial Circumstances Scholarship may ask for EFC (Expected Family Contribution) or SAR (Student Aid Report) Student gets this information by completing FAFSA Parent and student’s current assets and prior prior year’s income. Some sponsors may have their own forms to determine need. Need may be subjective according to scholarship sponsor’s guidelines. Example: One sponsor may want family income to be less than $50,000.00, another $20,000.00 and yet another, $100,000.00.

7. FAFSA Application Process Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) fafsa.gov Signature FSA ID (fsaid.ed.gov)

8. FEDERAL Student Financial Aid Programsbased on FAFSA Results Federal Pell Grant Federal Supplemental Grant (FSEOG) For students with very low EFC TEACH Grant (Merit based)– For students who know they want to teach certain subjects – Otherwise, it becomes a loan. Some colleges do not offer. Self Help Aid (Work Study and Loans) Federal Work Study Federal Direct Loans Subsidized Stafford Loan – 4.53% interest rate Unsubsidized Stafford Loan (Not need based. All students can get unsubsidized loans) – 4.53% interest rate Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (Based on credit worthiness) – 7.08% interest rate

9. North Carolina Need Based Financial Aid Programs based on FAFSA Results UNC Need-Based Grant Community College Grant Need-Based Scholarship for Students Attending Private North Carolina Institutions NC Education Lottery Scholarship available at public campuses only All students attending NC Colleges must complete Residency Determination

10. Pay Tab on CFNC

11. Scholarships on CFNC for students who complete Financial Literacy 101!

12. Professional OrganizationsConnections under specific careers onCFNC “Plan for a Career”

13. Besides CFNC, where else? There is NO one site for scholarships! • NEVER pay for scholarship information! • High school counselor, college access advisor, high school websites (Many have spring deadlines) • Bulletin board, local websites, newsletters, local e-mail lists • Private scholarships – Local and regional – Always best bet! • Parent’s Employer • Churches • Civic Organizations – Rotary, Elks, Kiwanis, etc. • Community Foundations (Example CFWNC) • Booster Clubs • Alumni Associations

14. Other Places to Find Scholarships • College or university you plan to attend. Many have fall deadlines. Some are automatic when you apply. Some have outside applications. Ask for these from admissions, department heads, financial aid office. • Collegeboard.com, Studentaid.gov • Social Media – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram • Networking • National Scholarship search sites

15. National Scholarship Search Sites – Be careful! Questions? Call CFNC.

16. National Scholarship Search Sites –Be very careful! Private loans can raiserates quarterly – up to 18%! Check NC Assist.

17. Tips for Private Scholarships Research company or organization to understand goals/objectives. (Know your audience!) Know about sponsor and include this type of information in your essay Previous winners’ essays Can sometimes find info on website or news releases Find out who will be reading/judging applications - including the scholarship committee from your school! Gives you a clearer picture on what is expected Most scholarships have committees who judge Most civic organizations select and interview their own candidates

18. Apply for LOTS of scholarships Apply for small as well as larger awards Small Awards can pay big dividends If a student spends 80 hours applying for scholarships and wins $5000, that’s $62.50 per hour!

19. Preparing Your Scholarship Application • Read and follow directions, eligibility and deadlines!! • Check your grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. Then have someone else check it! Do not rely on “spell check”. • Complete application in full. If question does not apply, note on application. Otherwise, may appear you’re avoiding the question for some reason. • Calling or emailing about scholarships or questions? • Good manners, grammar, professional email account

20. Essays and Personal Statements • Type, double space, leave margins around outside • Engage the reader in the first sentence. • Use concrete details and events – who, what, when, where. Help reader visualize places, events and feelings. • Example – Don’t just say you’re a leader. Write about a life experience where you were a leader. • Reader should KNOW YOU when finished. • Judges may have hundreds to read – yours must stand out. • Avoid writing a list of awards, accomplishments and activities. These are already on your resume. • If writing is difficult, speak into a recorder (or use recording apps from smart phone). • “Do What You Are” on CFNC.org can help!

21. Do What You Are on CFNC

22. Scholarship Interviews • Get sample questions from counselor Common questions – • Background, school activities, volunteer work • Academic achievement • Details about the schools you’ve selected and why • Future plans • Financial aid package • Personal values • Practice, Practice, Practice! • First impressions (appearance, manners) do count! • Ask questions of the interviewer

23. Recommendation Letters • Use people who know you. (Not your parents or family members) • Ex. Band instructor, coach, scout leader, employer • Give these people your resume and if possible, ask that they include information from your essay theme or a story about you. • Give plenty of advance notice to writers of recommendation letters. • Always thank the person with note and/or small personalized gift. At least acknowledge with an e-mail! • If you receive the scholarship, let the person know. You may need them again in the future for other recommendations.

24. Prepare Your Resume • Your classes • Highlight classes where you did well or had special project • Your grades • Junior year most important • Clubs, sports, extracurricular activities • Leadership roles important. Progression is good also • Community activities and service • Leadership and passion • Work Experience – Shows time management. Supervisory or leadership experience should be highlighted.

25. Top Ten List for Senior Year • Look at college websites for financial aid and scholarship deadlines *Keep in mind some colleges have early deadlines for scholarships • Talk with your school counselor about scholarships • Apply for scholarships by the deadlines • Get RDS Completed before college applications • Complete your FSA ID • Fill out your FAFSA form early (after October 1) • Attend a financial aid workshop at your school • Visit CFNC.org for financial literacy education information • Stay organized – Create files for your scholarships & FAFSA information • Enjoy your last year of free laundry and home cooking!

26. Questions/Comments?