Post-Secondary Planning“Lets Talk Money”

Mealy Mountain Collegiate Guidance

Happy Valley-Goose Bay

Outline

• Different Types of Awards• Organizing Yourself • Searching for Awards• Completing the Application• Interviews• Resources

Funding Opportunities . . .

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Financial Strain over 4 year Degree

Fin

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cial S

train

2nd Year 3rd Year 4th Year1st Year

How do you pay for Post-Secondary?

Family Support • Parents/Guardians, Relatives, College Trust

FundSavings• Part-time job, summer

work, birthday and award money

Financial Aid• Student loans,

scholarships, and bursaries

Student Loans

• A student loan is money provided by the government of Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada, which must be paid back.

• The distribution of student loans reflects financial need and parent income.

• DO NOT BE AFRAID TO APPLY, EVERYONE HAS FINANCIAL NEED WHEN IT COMES TO POST-SECONDARY!!!

Student Loans - Applying

• New student loan applications become available in June each year.

• Fill out the application ASAP, to allow plenty of time for processing for September

• Complete the application online (preferred)

• Complete other documentation as soon as you can.

Awards, Scholarships, Bursaries

Award• An award is a general term referring to awards that may or may not

include a financial award, based on recognition in a certain area. Scholarships• Financial aid awarded based on academic merit, volunteer,

leadership, and athletics, among other things. A scholarship is money which does not need to be repaid. Sometimes, financial need will be considered.

Bursaries• Financial Aid awarded based on financial need, which does not

need to be repaid.

There are two sources of scholarships and bursaries.– University/College Awards – Awards from public and private sources outside the university.

University/College Awards

Entrance Awards- Usually smaller awards - Usually offered on a one-

time basis (1st year)- Usually offered based

solely on academic standing.

- Some universities have a scholarship application to apply for all scholarships and some are guaranteed with a certain average.

Special Renewable Awards

- Larger “big money” awards.

- Certain amount given each year provided you maintain a certain average

- Usually involve a separate application.

University Scholarships

- Search your university website

- Deadlines are February/March

- Send in a resume, and cover letter anyway.

Public and Private Source Awards

• Includes Awards which are Local, Provincial, National, International and Global.

• May look at academic standing or financial need.

• May consider various criteria including:– Involvement in a certain organization– Having a certain ability/disability– Parents working with a certain organization– Playing a certain sport

• Some may be renewable but a lot more are for one year only.

School Scholarship Program

- Over $45,000 to give away. - Information Presentation in

January/February- Some separate application

scholarships can be received in guidance now.

- Applications will be available in March/April

- Applications will be due in April. - Some require a separate

application. - All others use the same

application. - Will need references (look early)

Outside Scholarships

- Check the search sites provided at the end of this presentation.

- Check the scholarship listing handout.

- Check your employment- Check your

parents employment. - Try random google

searches.

Applying for Awards . . .

Organizing Yourself

• The key to applying for scholarships is

• Searching for awards takes time but applying for them becomes easier and easier with the more you do, as long as you are organized before. you begin.

ORGANIZATION.

Before you begin. . .

• Before you begin applying you need to get together some basic materials:

•Resume•References and Reference

Letters•Cover Letter•Mailing Materials•Transcripts•Midterm Report Marks

Resumes

• When applying for scholarships and bursaries, ALWAYS include a resume, unless it specifically states not to.

• A scholarship resume is very different from a job resume. Include everything, it can be 5 pages. This is your chance to brag.

Resumes• Include information on:

– Education– Work Experience– Community Involvement– School Involvement– Awards, Achievements and Certifications– Skills– Interests/Hobbies– Reference Contact

• Consider:– Conferences attended– Fundraising efforts– Clubs and Teams you have been on– Tutoring and Mentoring– Leadership Initiatives

Resumes

• The sections you include will depend on your type of involvement.

• Always include the dates of your involvement

• Include your name and page numbers at the top of each page.

• BE SURE IT IS ORGANIZED!!!!

• Sample Resume

GETTING STARTED!!!

Begin by brainstorming all your involvements on the “Writing an Effective Resume” Sheet. Don’t even worry about the year first, just write what you have done. Stick to the last three years (grade 9)

Click icon to add picture

Reference Letters

• You should have three people who will act as references on your behalf. – Community– School – Work

• Collect their contact information for your resume• Approach people ASAP and ask them if they will be a

good reference. • Ask them to type a general letter and save it. • Forward them information when applying for a specific

scholarship so they can properly address it and “tweek” it slightly.

• Be sure to give them as much time as possible.

Click icon to add pictureFINDING REFERNCES!!!

Think of up to five people you could ask to be a good reference for you for scholarships. List these on the “Finding References” Sheet. This weekend, contact three of them and complete the contact information sections.

Cover Letters

• When applying for scholarships and bursaries, ALWAYS include a cover letter, unless it specifically states not to.

• Needs to be concise – 1 page only• Format

– Paragraph 1 Brief introduction to self and how you came across the opportunity

– Paragraph 2 More in-depth discussion of yourself and why you are the person for the award (may be more than 1 paragraph)

– Paragraph 3 Numbered list of the items you have included with your application

– Paragraph 4 Closing remarks, thank you for opportunity, and reminder of contact information.

• Sample Cover Letter

Mailing Materials

Have on Hand:- Large Envelopes- Stamps (Know how

many to add to a sample package)

- Paper – (Ivory, Linen can spice up your application)

Beginning the Process . . .

Searching

• Searching can be time-consuming and frustrating so take your time and do it bit by bit.

• When searching, organize those you will apply for in the scholarship schedule.

• Use the deadlines dates and the materials you will need to gather to judge which will take more time to complete.

Search Sites

• www.studentawards.com• http://www.scholarshipscanada.com/• www.schoolfinder.com

• http://www.scholarshipexperts.com/logout.htx?partnerid=1001• 

http://www.aie.org/Scholarships/index.cfm•YOUR UNIVERSITY

WEBSITE!!!!

Completing the Process . . .

The Application

• Always type and print the application or use the online format if you can, rather than write by hand.

• If you have to write by hand use black ink and never use pink, red, green, purple, orange, etc.

• Read the entire application and have someone else read it before submitting it.

• Leave at least a week for mailing.• Send it in so you track it.

Essays

• Many scholarships and bursary applications involve writing essays or answering essay questions.

• This section is very important as it provides information regarding your involvement, but also indicates your writing ability, which is essential to succeeding in post-secondary.

• Take your time on these, and revisit them. • Have a teacher and a parent/guardian look

them over.

Essays

• In writing scholarship essays, they key thing is to be sure you are answering the question completely.

• If there are several parts to a question, highlight each part a different colour in the question and the answer to check.

• Grammar, punctuation, paragraphs, and Spelling are Key!!

• Do not go over the limit length, but don’t go too much under it either.

Sample Essay

Scholarship Interview

• Some scholarships (in particular big university scholarships) require an interview.

• The interview may be by phone or in person.

• If you have an interview, see me and we will set up mock interviews.

Sample Essay

What I’ll Send YOU!!

• Sample Resume Template• Sample Cover Letter Template• Scholarship Schedule• Scholarship Listing and

Search Sites• Presentation• Tips and Hints on Applying for

Scholarships• Sets of Sample Essays• Examples of skills for Resume

QUESTIONS!!!