HOW TO HELP PAY THE BILL FOR COLLEGE

MYTHS AND TRUTHS

Myth: Since most schools will offer you an aid package based on your need, there’s little reason to shop around

Truth: Colleges have very different ways of dealing with your “need.” They can manipulate their offers based on how much they want you to attend their school, offering more in grants and less in loans, for example. If you receive a better offer of aid from one of your schools, you should by all means let the other schools know and see if you can use that information to receive a better offer.

MYTHS AND TRUTHS

Myth:College costs consist of room, board, and tuition

Truth:When calculating college costs, you must add in tuition, room, board, fees, books, transportation, clothing, entertainment, and the 10% rule – take whatever you think a year will cost and add 10% to cover the numerous unexpected costs associated with college attendance, as well as inflation

MYTHS AND TRUTHS

Myth:Once you get a financial aid package from your chosen school, you can’t change it

Truth:Actually, you will be renewing your financial aid package each year, and it’s not unheard of for more money to become available, especially for high-achieving students

MYTHS AND TRUTHS

Myth:All scholarships are more-or-less legitimate, so it’s a good idea to apply to as many as fit your profile

Truth:There are many scholarship scams out there, so beware

WARNING SIGNS OF A SCAM

Application Fees Other Fees Beware of 900-number telephone

services Guaranteed Winnings Unsolicited Opportunities Mail Drop or Residence for a Return

Address

HOW MUCH WILL COLLEGE COST?

Tuition - payment for required courses, study abroad, exchange programs

Fees - registration, parking, activities, health, laboratory, many others

Books and Materials - computer, required texts and supplies Room - cost of dorm or apartment plus furniture, utilities and

telephone Food - meal plans, eating out, groceries Transportation - two to three trips home or, if you keep an auto

on campus, your gas expenses, insurance, parking fees, etc. Personal - clothes, laundry, recreation, medical and dental,

insurance Miscellaneous - catchall for anything that doesn’t fit in another

category - think about adding 10% of the total amount of above

The Net Price Calculator

Available since the 2011-2012 school year on every college website

Provides students and parents with the college’s annual cost of education

Also provides an easy estimation of what your financial aid package may look like

The Net Price Calculator will be fairly accurate, but does not substitute for actually going through the process of submitting your FAFSA Form

SOBERING FACTS

The cost of attending the most prestigious colleges for four years is nearing $200,000 - more than double the price of 20 years ago.

Tuition at public universities has risen more than 50% in inflation adjusted dollars in the past ten years.

As college costs have risen, government aid has failed to keep pace - as a result, student debt has ballooned.

The Cost

Private colleges/universities can cost $50,000 or more per year

Public colleges/universities may cost $20,000 per year

A local community college with a full-time course load may cost $10,000 or more

Types of Financial Aid

Educational Loans

Federal loans borrowed directly from federal government

Private student loans Repayment (federal and private)

typically begin within 6 months of graduation

Work Study & Part-time Employment

Work Study programs provide jobs for students with demonstrated financial need

Some students maintain a part-time job unrelated to a financial aid program

Grants

Considered gift aid – does not have to be paid back

Most all grants based on need There are federal and state grants Must submit the Free Application for

Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) US citizen Have a valid social security number Enrolled at least part-time

Federal Grants

Pell Grant Supplemental Educational

Opportunity Grant Academic Competitiveness Grant SMART Grant

NC State Grants

NC Community College Grant UNC-Need-Based Grant NC Legislative Tuition Grant State Contractual Scholarship Fund NC Educational Lottery Scholarship

Scholarships

Gift aid/free money Most sought after type of aid

SO HOW DO YOU WIN SCHOLARSHIPS?

You must be able to organize and prioritize You must be able to write about a variety of topics that may

or may not be exciting to you in a fluid and thoughtful way, demonstrating that you are a scholar or would like to be a scholar

You must understand yourself well enough to create a compelling portrait of who you are.

You must understand your audience well enough to be able to position your skills and strengths as deserving of their support.

Scholarship committees award funding to candidates they can understand and relate to and who distinguish themselves from other candidates by their ability to communicate their special-ness!!!

WHEN TO START LOOKING

You will not be able to apply for most until your senior year

You can begin searching as early as you wish – there are some opportunities available for juniors interested in a particular school

Explore the financial aid and scholarship pages on college websites you are interested in

Explore free scholarship search websites Learn what is out there so you will be ready your

senior year Read books, articles, start a college savings account as

soon as possible

Start With A Personal Inventory

Year in school, citizenship, state of residence, religion, ethnic background, disability, military status, employer, membership organizations

Do you want to be in a competition? What are you talents and interests? What subject do you plan to major in? What career do you plan to pursue? Do you want to apply for all types of aid or only scholarships? Research local scholarships first – check your email/school website Check the college aid section of your public library – scholarship handbooks Check out the national scholarships such as National Merit, Gates Millennium, Intel

Science Search, Coca-Colas Scholars, Ron Brown, etc. Check out your membership organizations, employers, religious, community service,

fraternal, military, union, and professional groups Check out fast food companies, department stores, supermarkets, awards related to

employment Use the internet for free scholarship searches Research Institutional Scholarships – automatic, merit, talent, financial need, intended

major, departmental, ethnicity, or a variety of other factors

COUNSELOR ANNOUNCEMENTS

Listen to counselor announcements about scholarships your senior year

All scholarships will also be listed on the school website

College Visitations College and Career Fairs Career Day

LOCAL COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS

Check out your school’s website Most contain information about local

scholarships and school based scholarships

THE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

Read the eligibility criteria carefully (GPA, test scores, other) Collect all supporting documents early (transcripts,

recommendations, resume, etc.). Ask the person writing your recommendation to address

your personal qualities that match the scholarship criteria with specific examples; If the recommender would not know about these examples, then you have to tell them in a letter

If you are asked to document your financial need, list all family obligations and then explain your situation honestly and completely

Be neat, thorough, and creative! There may be thousands of students competing for the same

scholarship - take it seriously and write essays with your most distinguished effort.

Don’t miss the application deadline!

PRESTIGIOUS ALL ENCOMPASSING SCHOLARSHIPS

Morehead-Cain: UNC Chapel Hill Danforth: Washington Univ. St. Louis Wells: Indiana University Jefferson: University of Virginia Emory Scholars: Emory University Reynolds Scholarship: Wake Forest Belk: Davidson College Cincinnatus: University of Cincinnati Brown: Centre College & Louisville Park Scholarship: NC State University Ramsey: University of Georgia And many, many others

SERVICE CLUBS

Altrusa American Legion American Red Cross Association of Junior Leagues Int. Boys and Girls Clubs Campus Outreach Community

League Circle K Civitan Elks Club Fraternal Order of Eagles Friends of the Library Kiwanis International Knights of Columbus Lions Club International National Exchange Club

National Grange Neighbor Works Optimist International Performing Arts Center Rotaract and Interact Rotary Club; Unsung Hero Ruritan Salvation Army Sertoma International Soroptimist International of the

Americas U. S. Jaycees USA Freedom Corps Veterans of Foreign Wars YMCA/YWCA Zonta International

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS

Assemblies of God Baptist Church Catholic Church Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Evangelical Lutheran Church

Judaism Methodist Church Presbyterian

Church Seventh-Day

Adventist Society of Friends United Church of

Christ

WORKER’S UNIONS

Air Line Pilots Association American Federation of School

Administrators American Federation of State,

County, and Municipal Employees American Federation of Teachers American Federation of Television

and Radio Artists Asbestos Workers International

Union Association of Flight Attendants Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco

Workers and Grain Millers International Union

Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers

Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers

Chemical Workers Union Council Communications Workers of

America Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics, and Allied Workers

Graphic Communications International Union

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Artists and Allied Crafts of the U.S.

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots

International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers-Communications Workers of America

WORKERS UNIONS - continued

International Union of Painters and Allied Trades of the United States and Canada

Iron Workers, International association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing

National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees

National Association of Letter Carriers

Office of Professional Employees International Union

Professional and Technical Engineers, International Federation

Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union District Council

Screen Actors Guild Seafarers International Union of North America

Service Employees International Union

Sheet Metal Workers International Association

Transport Workers Union of America

Union Plus United Food and Commercial

Workers Union United Mine Workers of

America United Transportation Union

Utility Workers Union of America

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

American Mensa Society Amnesty International BETA Club Boy Scouts of America Boys and Girls Club of America DECA Educational Theatre Association Family, Career and Community

Leaders of America 4-H Clubs Fraternity or Sorority Future Business Leaders of

America Future Farmers of America Girl Scouts of America

Interact Club Junior Achievement Key Club Leo Club Model United Nations Mu Alpha Theta National Forensic League National Foundation for Teaching

Entrepreneurship National Honor Society National Rifle Association Quill and Scroll S.A.D.D. Skills USA Students in Free Enterprise

THE POWER OF THE INTERNET

SCHOLARSHIP WEBSITES

www.adventuresineducation.org www.brokescholar.com www.cappex.com www.collegeanswer.com www.collegenet.com www.fastaid.com www.fastweb.com www.free-4u.com www.salliemae.com www.scholarships.com www.scholarships4you.com www.supercollege.com www.zinch.com

OTHER USEFUL WEBSITES

www.actstudent.org www.collegeboard.com www.petersons.com www.princetonreview.com www.cfnc.org

HITTING UP BIG BUSINESS

Best Buy Scholarship Burger King Scholars Program Cargill Community Scholarship

Program Coca-Cola Scholars Program Coca-Cola Two Year College

Scholarship Dell Scholars Program Dupont Challenge Glamour’s Top Ten College

Women Competition Guardian Insurance Company

Girls Going Place Scholarship Hitachi Yoshiyama Award Intel Science Talent Search KFC Colonel’s Scholars Program

Kohl’s Kids Who Care Program Microsoft General Scholarships Papa Johns Scholars Prudential Spirit of Community

Awards Sam Walton Community

Scholarship Siemens Competition in Math,

Science, and Technology Toshiba Exploravision Awards Toyota Community Scholars

Program Tylenol Scholarship USA Funds Access to Education

Scholarships

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Foundation

Actor’s Fund of America Air Traffic Control Association Aircraft Electronics Association American Angus Association American Association of Airport

Executives American Association of Critical-

Care Nurses American Bar Association American Concrete Institute American Criminal Justice

Association

American Culinary Federation American Dental Association

American Institute of Chemical Engineers

American Meteorological Society American Nuclear Society American Nursery and Landscape

Association American Society of Agricultural

Engineers American Society of Ichthyologists

and Herpetologists American Society of Mechanical

Engineers American Society of Travel

Agents Foundation

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS continued

American Society of Women Accountants Scholarship American Welding Society Foundation

Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association

Associated General Contractors of America Associated Male Choruses of America

Association for Women in Mathematics

Association for Women in Science Association of Food and Drug

Officials Association of State Dam Safety

Officials Broadcast Education Association Educational Foundation for Women

in Accounting Emergency Nurses Association Entomological Society of America

Executive Women International Golf Course Superintendents

Association of America Foundation Herb Society of America Industrial Designers Society of

America International Association of Fire

Fighters International Food Service Executives International

International Society for Optical Engineering

Iron and Steel Society Karla Scherer Foundation

Scholarship National Association of Chiefs of

Police National Association of Women in

Construction National Community Pharmacists

Association

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS continued

National Press Photographers Foundation

National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation

National Scholastic Press Association

National Society of Accountants National Society of Professional

Engineers National Speakers Association National Student Nurses’

Association Outdoor Writers Association of

America Physician Assistant Foundation Plumbing-Heating-Cooling

Contractors National Association

Public Relations Student Society of America

Radio and Television News Directors Association

Society of American Registered Architects

Society of Automotive Engineers Society of Exploration

Geophysicists Society of Nuclear Medicine Society of Plastics Engineers Society of Professional Journalists SWE Society of Women Engineers University Aviation Association Wilson Ornithological Society

AWARDS BASED ON ETHNICITY

Actuarial Scholarship for Minority Students

American Society of Criminology Fellowships for Ethnic Minorities

Armenian Students’ Association of America Scholarship

Asian American Journalists Association Scholarships

Bureau of Indian Affairs High Education Grant

Cherokee Nation Undergraduate Scholarship Programs

Council for Exceptional Children Ethnic Diversity Scholarship

Gates Millennium Scholars Program

Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund Hispanic College Fund

Scholarship Hispanic Heritage Awards

Foundation

Hispanic Outlook Magazine Scholarship Fund

Hispanic Scholarship Fund Japanese American Citizens

League Kosciuszko Tuition Scholarship

Program League of United Latin American

Citizens Scholarship Fund National Action Council for

Minorities in Engineering National Association for the

Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

National Association of Black Accountants Scholarship Program

National Association of Black Journalists Scholarship Program

ETHNICITY - continued

National Association of Hispanic Journalists Scholarships

National Association of Minority Engineering Program Administrators

National Black Police Association National Society of Black Engineers Native American Journalists

Association Scholarship Order Sons of Italy in America Organization of Chinese Americans Public Relations Student Society of

America - Multicultural Affairs Scholarship Program

Ron Brown Scholar Program The Sallie Mae Fund First in My

Family Scholarship

The Sallie Mae Fund American Dream Scholarship

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students in Health Professions

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers

The American Chemical Society Scholars Program

The Gillette/National Urban League Scholarship and Intern Program for Minority Students

The National Italian American Foundation

Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund

U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce

United Negro College Fund Scholarships

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR A DISABILITY

HEARING IMPAIRED Alexander Graham Bell Association Children of Deaf Adults, International EAR Foundation National Association of the Deaf National Fraternal Society of the Deaf Travelers Protective Association

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR A DISABILITY

VISUALLY IMPAIRED American Foundation for the Blind Association for Education and

Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired

Christian Record Services National Federation of Music Clubs National Federation of the Blind

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR A DISABILITY

PHYSICAL DISABILITIES Bank of America Chair Scholars Easter Seal Society Ethel Louis Armstrong Foundation Pfizer Spina Bifida Association of America Tourette Syndrone Online

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR A DISABILITY

LEARNING DISABILITIES International Dyslexia Association National Center for Learning Disabilities The P. Buckley Moss Society VSA Arts

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A SUPERSTAR ATHLETE SCHOLARSHIPS

Harness Horse Youth Foundation Ice Skating Institute of America National Amateur Baseball Federation National Archery Association National Athletic Trainers’ Association National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board - SAMMY

Milk Mustache National Rifle Association Nike Our World-Underwater Scholarship Society Stonehouse Publishing Company (Golf) Wendy’s Restaurants Women’s Sports Foundation

STRANGE AND OFFBEAT SCHOLARSHIPS

Collegiate Inventors Competition

David Letterman Scholarship

Duck Calling Contest Duct Tape Stuck at

Prom Scholarship Ghostbuster

Scholarship Klingon Language

Institute KOR Memorial Scholarship

Little People of America Scholarship Million-Dollar Name

National Candy Technologists Scholarship Program

National Potato Council Scholarship

Tall Student Scholarship

The Magic Scholarship Top Turkey Recipe

Scholarship

CONTESTS FOR WRITERS & POETS

American Fire Sprinkler Association Essay Contest

Ayn Rand Essay Contests Biography of the Year Scholarship

Challenge CosmoGirl of the Year

Scholarship Guidepost Young Writers Contest Holocaust Remembrance Project Humanist Essay Contest Inverness Corporation “Is All

Ears” Essay Contest John F. Kenneday Profile In

Courage Essay Contest L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the

Future

Mensa Education & Research Foundation Scholarship

National Council of Teachers of English Student Writing Awards

National Peace Essay Contest National Schools Project Young

Poets Contest Optimist International Essay

Contest Poetry.com Contest Scholastic Art and Writing

Awards Signet Classic Student Scholarship

Essay Contest The Laws of Life Essay Contest UNA-USA National High School

Essay Contest on the United Nations

CONTESTS FOR PERFORMING ARTS

American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers

Arts Recognition and Talent Search

BMI Foundation Awards Chopin Foundation Donna Reed Performing

Arts Scholarships Educational Theatre

Association Thespian Scholarships

Glenn Miller Scholarship Competition

Joseph S. Rumbaugh Oration Contest

Optimist Oratorical Grant William Tolbert

Whittenberg Scholarship for Excellence – Louisville Fund for the Arts

Young Artist Competition Young Concert Artists

International

CONTESTS FOR ARTISTS

Christophers Federal Duck Jr. Stamp Competition Images of Freedom Student Photography

Contest National Sculpture Society Scholarship Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Worldstudio Foundation Young Americans Photography

Competition

CONTESTS OF CHANCE

College Answer $1,000 Scholarship Drawing

eCampus Tours $1,000 Scholarship Drawing

Next Step Magazine Off to College Scholarship Sweepstakes Super College Scholarship U. S. Bank Internet Scholarship Program

GUARANTEED SCHOLARSHIPS

National Merit Scholarships Automatic Scholarships based on GPA and

Test Scores State Entitlement Awards

OTHER SCHOLARSHIP SOURCES

Parents Employer Parent’s or Grandparents

Military Service Student’s Employer Businesses Big and Small - check

with the Chamber of Commerce The College Financial Aid Office Career Service Offices Visit Your College Department’s

Administrative Assistant Contact Your Local Politician

Scholarship Books Dollars for Scholars - double your

scholarship dollars at www.scholarshipamerica.org

Scholarships based on Personal Challenges and Hardships

Turn Your Hobbies and Talents into Scholarships

Scholarship organizations love Leaders - check into Leadership Awards

Turn Your Community Service into Scholarship Dollars

Ace your College Application to Get More Scholarship Dollars

Negotiate with your college if they try to take away your scholarship money

INSIDER TIPS

Remember the 10% Rule – total costs of a college, then add 10% to account for unexpected expenses. Don’t get caught by surprise

Start Early – start working with the financial aid office even before being admitted. Money is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis

INSIDER TIPS - continued

Non-citizens be prepared. It is even more difficult to receive financial aid if you are not a U.S. Citizen because most colleges have little to no funds available for such students

Ask and Ask Again – If your financial aid package will not cover your costs, contact the financial aid office and ask them to review your application. You may not receive a bigger scholarship, but you might receive a loan on more generous terms or better on-campus employment

INSIDER TIPS - continued

Beware of Scams – any scholarship fund that requests an application fee, operates out of a residence, guarantees you a return, or has a name suspiciously close to an organization you know to be legitimate, is probably a scam. Research funds thoroughly before sending money

QUESTIONS?