Finding Fund$ for Oregon Students

1. Finding Fund$for Oregon Students

2. Topics 1. Financial Aid Terms • Funds for Oregon Students • Opportunity Grant • OSACeApp Scholarship 3. Scholarship Tips

3. Financial Aid Terms • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) • Calculates the family and/or students Expected Financial Contribution (EFC) • Need-based aid • Determined by FAFSA &/or other statement of financial need • Merit-basedaid • Determined by other factors: talent, academics, interest, etc.

4. Financial Aid Terms, cont. • Grants • Eligibility based on need • No repayment • Scholarships • Eligibility based on EFC, remaining need, merit, or a combination • No repayment • Remaining Need Calculation • School’s cost of attendance minus (EFC) = Remaining Financial Need

5. Financial Aid Terms, cont. • Federal and Private Student Loans • May be listed as Financial Aid and must be paid back • Work study • Awarded by the college using FAFSA • Federal Education Tax Credits • American Opportunity Credit (modified Hope Credit): Up to $2,500 annually • Lifetime Learning Credit: Up to $2,000 per family per year for additional years

6. Oregon Student Assistance Commission(OSAC) The state student financial aid agency 2009-10 • Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG) • Scholarship Administration • Targeted programs for foster youth, student parents, rural health practitioners, and more… • ASPIRE (Access to Student Assistance Programs in Reach of Everyone) www.GetCollegeFunds.org

7. 2009-10 Last year 1,400 ASPIRE Volunteers helped students at 115 ASPIRE sites

8. OregonOpportunity Grant • File your FAFSA early to apply • Indicate the Oregon college you plan to attend or those you are considering on your FAFSA • Maximum award depends on 2-year or 4-year school and if full or half time student • Get an estimate of your grant and your EFC www.fafsa.ed.gov

9. Estimators www.GetCollegeFunds.org www.FinAid.org www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov

10. OSAC Scholarships www.GetCollegeFunds.org

11. What’s New • Complete the entire application (eApp) online! • Workbook & worksheet - no paper application • Extra documents are not required to be submitted with eApp • Export eApp data to other online scholarship applications • Join Twitter.com/OSAC

12. Scholarship Search • Review the Workbook listings of scholarships • Search the online catalog (www.GetCollegeFunds.org)

13. Scholarship Search Workbook Sections: • High School by County • Academic and career interest and specific populations • Member Organizations / Employers • Index of Donor Named Scholarships

14. WorkbookToolbar

15. Scholarship Search Onlinewww.GetCollegeFunds.org

18. Additional Information & Document Required

19. Apply for Scholarshipswww.GetCollegeFunds.org

20. Start your eAppe-Student Profile

21. E-Student Profile Student Access to eApp Data • Update your eApp to complete it before submitting to OSAC • Print your application • Verify whether OSAC accepted your application • Check if you have been awarded a scholarship, and if awarded, accept it online • Update your personal information • Copy (refresh) prior year’s eApp data to update Check regularly! Primary means of receiving OSAC notifications about your eApp!

22. List Scholarships

23. OSAC Activities Chart Enter each Activity under the categories: A. School Activities B. Volunteer Activities (Community/Family) • C. Paid Work History • Include: • Dates • Hours (Time spent) • Responsibilities/Accomplishments • (15 words)

24. OSAC Activities Chart

25. OSAC Activities Chart

26. Personal Statements • Explain your career aspirations and your educational plan to meet these goals. • Describe a challenge or obstacle you faced in the last ten years. What did you learn about yourself from this experience? • Describe a personal accomplishment and the strengths and skills you used to achieve it. • Explain how you have helped your family or made your community a better place to live. Please provide specific examples. 150 words or 1,000 Characters

27. Transcripts • OSAC application requires: • Graduating high school seniors submit transcripts that reflect grades through December/January • College students submit transcript that includes all work through fall semester/term • If sending a hard copy, blacken first 5 digits of SSN for security purposes # 1 reason for a rejected OSAC application: A missing or incomplete transcript

28. Transcripts

29. OSAC Scholarship Deadlines Tuesday, January 19 • eApp Review begins Tuesday, February 16 • Priority deadline for Early Bird Scholarship • Opportunity to correct errors • If error-free, drawing for $500 scholarship Monday, March 1 • FINAL deadline • eApp and paper apps must be received at OSAC • Postmarks are not accepted Check your e-Student Profile for application status

30. Let’s go online! • OSAC www.GetCollegeFunds.org • Fastweb www.fastweb.com • College Board www.collegeboard.com • Scholarships.com www.scholarships.com • Many other scholarship search sites • Not endorsing those listed above, but have proven to be legitimate sites

31. The Ford Family FoundationScholarship Programs • Ford Scholars – For graduating high school seniors and community college transfer students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in Oregon • Ford Opportunity – For single parents, heads of households pursuing bachelor’s degrees at eligible Oregon colleges • Ford ReStart – For age 25 or older, nontraditional students to begin or return full-time in an Oregon certificate or degree program • Ford Sons & Daughters - For dependents of Roseburg Forest Products employees Details atwww.GetCollegeFunds.orgor www.tfff.org

32. Tip: Keep Searching • Use a scholarship search engine on the web or CIS • Colleges and universities (including departments) • Employers… and parents’ employers • Member organizations • Local civic organizations, foundations, high schools Do not pay for search tools – use the FREE ones!

33. Tip: Writing Essays • Get inspiration from your activities chart • Answer the question • Consider the reader • Don’t repeat information (like your GPA) • Cute doesn’t always cut it • Be clear & purposeful about your academic/career goals

34. Tip: Don’t be shy • In what ways are you unique? • What are your leadership qualities? • How do you take initiative? • Any special recognition? • Tie your past and present with your future • Put YOU on paper • Passion with a purpose

35. Tip: Get help and feedback • Friends and family • Office/job associates • Professors/teachers • Learning resource centers • Writing centers

36. Tip: What scholarship committees consider • Academics • GPA, course rigor, and test scores • Outside the classroom • Volunteer activities, leadership, work, etc. • Life experiences • Serving your community by helping your family • Tell your unique story using your transcript, short essay answers, and activities chart

37. Tip: The Interview • Remember your audience • Reread your application & essays • Practice your interview skills • Make a positive first impression • Establish eye-contact • Display poised, confident body language • Dress appropriately • Be yourself

38. Tip: Beware of Scams • Why pay for a service you can get for free? • Must still do the work and getting a refund is not that easy! • Services that “guarantee” scholarships are questionable! • Report scams to the Federal Trade Commission • For more information: www.ftc.gov

39. How to learn more … • College financial aid office • High school counselor / ASPIRE program • Federal student aid information center • 1-800-433-3243 • www.finaid.org • “Opportunities” booklets

40. Resources • GetCollegeFunds.org • ASPIREOregon.org • CollegeGoalOregon.org • Collegenightinor.org • OregonOpportunities.gov • OSAC – 800-452-8807 • ASPIRE Program – 541-687-7400

41. Final Tips to Remember! • Use all your resources to maximize $$ • Follow the instructions • Meet deadlines • Spell check & proofread • Order correct transcript(s) • Reflect your best work • Submit all required documents and keep copies for yourself • Check your e-Student Profile regularly

42. Thank You for AttendingFinding Fund$for Oregon Students

43. Up to 120 scholarships annually Minimum 3.00 GPA(lower GPA requires special recommendation by counselor/teacher) Apply as a high school grad or a community college student transferring to a 4-year school. May attend any public/private, non-profit college based in home state Must plan to earn bachelor’s degree Award is 90% of unmet need, after other aid and family/student expected contribution Scholars who graduate with a college GPA of 3.60 or higher may apply for graduate school scholarship Ford Scholars Program

44. Similar to Ford Scholars Program - except… • For single parents - men or women heads of household • without financial support of a domestic partner • Can apply at any time during college career • Up to 50 scholarships awarded annually Ford Opportunity Program

45. Similar to Ford Scholars Program - except… At least 25 years old as of the scholarship deadline; with high school diploma or GED Seeking technical certificate, associate’s or bachelor’s degree Preference given to applicants with limited or no college experience Up to 50 scholarships awarded annually Ford ReStart Program

46. For dependents of mill employees Age 21 or younger as of the scholarship deadline Any Title IV eligible public, private, technical school in the U.S. Not need-based, $3,000 or $5,000 award Average of 58 awarded annually Sons and Daughters of Employees of Roseburg Forest Products Co.