WORKSHOP

TOPICS

• Why should I apply for scholarships?

• How do I find scholarships that I’m eligible for?

• How do I identify and avoid scholarship scams?

• How can I target my efforts to be most time-efficient?

• How can I improve my chances of winning?

• What do I have to do to apply?

WHY APPLY?

Two types of scholarships:

– Merit-based

• Awarded to students who have special

academic, athletic, or other talents as a

reward

– Need-based

• Awarded to students who have financial

need, with less emphasis on academic

performance

My grades aren’t very good…

I wouldn’t qualify for a

scholarship.

Many scholarships are never

awarded due to lack of applicants

– Nationally, private scholarships

totaling $100 million fail to get

distributed annually

Scholarships are too

competitive. I would never

get selected.

Maybe now….but maybe not always

– Financial aid has credit-based

limitations

• Supports up to 150% of credits needed to

complete degree (135 cr for 90-cr AA/AS)

– And duration-based limitations

• Receipt of the Federal Pell Grant is

limited to 6 years

– Education costs are significantly higher

at a 4-yr college/university

I don’t need scholarships.

Financial aid covers all of my

education expenses.

The College Board 2014

23% full

need met

28% full

need met

19% full

need met

9% full

need met

Options for covering unmet need

1. Full payment by cash, check or credit card

2. Monthly payment plan to university (if available)

3. Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Student (PLUS) –

subject to credit approval, requires repayment with interest

4. Private loan taken out by the student - subject to credit approval,

requires repayment with interest

• Average student loan debt for recent college graduates = $29,400

(CNN Money 12/4/13)

5. Scholarships!!!

May require part-

time employment

which challenges

academic

performance

Scholarships may or may not impact

financial aid

– 34.673.5 Code of Federal Regulations

• Scholarships are considered resources and

can reduce one’s financial aid award dollar-

for-dollar

– Each college/university has its own

policies

• Most, including OC, use scholarships to

cover “self-help” needs (loans) first

A scholarship award will just

reduce my financial aid so why

go through the effort to apply?

+ Scholarships

– Do not require repayment

– Can reduce loan amounts

– Strengthen your “Honors/

Awards” section

• College/university admissions

• Employment

• Additional scholarship awards

– Distinguish you from others

who are equally qualified

Financial Aid + Loans

– Loans require

repayment with

interest

– “Financial Aid

Recipient” or “Loan

Recipient” is not

an honor that you

list on your resume

WORKSHOP

FINDING SCHOLARSHIPS

Internet Search Engines

– The WashBoard, www.thewashboard.org

– Pathways to Science,

http://www.pathwaystoscience.org/Undergrads.asp

– Sallie Mae College Answer, www.collegeanswer.com/registration

– CollegeNet, www.collegenet.com/mach25/app

– FastWeb, www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships

– MyFSA, http://studentaid2.ed.gov/getmoney/scholarship/

scholarship_search_select.asp?9733

– CollegeBoard, http://apps.collegeboard.org/cbsearch_ss/welcome.jsp

The WashBoard

– Visit http://www.thewashboard.org

– Register as a scholarship “Seeker”

– Complete and save “My Profile”

• A more complete profile results in a better eligibility

match but may be too limiting

– Under “My Academic Info,” indicate which college(s)

you are considering

• Select “Olympic College” to find OC scholarships

that you are currently eligible for

– View “My Matches” to view

potential scholarships

• Select “College Matches”

to view OC scholarships that

you are eligible for

– Select “View/Apply” to apply

• Complete any additional

steps required for specific

scholarships

– Check back often in January-

April for updated scholarship

listings

Other Scholarship Sources

– Professional organizations (see handout)

• Society of Women Engineers, http://societyofwomenengineers.swe.org/

– Military organizations

• Scholarships for Military Children, www.militaryscholar.org/sfmc/index.html

– Local community/religious organizations

• Soroptomist Women’s Opportunity Award,

www.soroptimist.org/awards/awards.html

– Transfer college/university (Presidential/academic awards)

– Prior sponsors (renewable awards)

WORKSHOP

IDENTIFYING SCAMS

• Suspect application requirements (scholarship vs. prize)

– List the top 10 reasons you should get this scholarship…

– She won $50,000 twerking scholarship (CNN 1/16/14)

• “Red flag” phrases

– The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back

– You can't get this information anywhere else

– I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this

scholarship

– We'll do all the work

– You're a finalist (in a contest you never entered)

TARGETING

YOUR EFFORTS

• Apply for multiple scholarships to increase your odds

• Make sure you qualify for the scholarship

– If application requirements specify a 3.7 or higher GPA

and you have a 3.5 GPA, don't bother applying

• Limit the competition

– Most competitive scholarships have a selection ratio of 1 in 400

– Least competitive awards have a selection ratio of 1 in 10

– More specific eligibility requirements = smaller pool of candidates

and better odds for success

WORKSHOP

THINKING LIKE A

REVIEWER

Consider your Audience

– What are the sponsor’s goals, mission, motives and desired

outcomes for providing student support?

• Industry vs. memorial

– How do YOU contribute to these goals,

mission, motives and desired outcomes?

– What distinguishes YOU from all

other eligible scholarship applicants?

Make a Good First Impression

– Google yourself

– Review social media sites (Facebook, MySpace)

– Review your contact information

• Email address/Twitter handle

• Ringtones

• Provide email/phone that

you routinely check

WORKSHOP

THE SCHOLARSHIP

APPLICATION

• Read instructions carefully

• Type your application

• Proofread for grammar/spelling

• Ensure application is complete

– Recommendation letters

– Transcripts - Official OC take 3-5

business days and costs $5 per copy

– Resume

• Deadlines are firm – no excuses!

Scholarship Application

• Application form

• Personal statement/essay(s)

• Letters of recommendation

• Transcripts

• Resume

• Interview (if required)

WORKSHOP

WRITING YOUR

PERSONAL STATEMENT

• Answer the question that is asked

• Answer all parts of the question

• Have someone help you identify your

strengths with these topics in mind

• Have someone review your statement

– Substance

– Grammar and spelling

– Technical vs. conversational writing

Topics

• Open-ended

• Defined

– Goals

– Leadership

– Community service

– Creativity

– Challenges/

hardships

– Cultural

understanding

GOALS

I want to graduate

with a Bachelor of

Science degree and

work as an Civil

Engineer.

My father works as a General

Contractor. As a child, I would often

visit construction sites with him. It was

that exposure that sparked my interest

in Civil Engineering. I plan to…

GOALS

Through participation in football, I’ve

learned valuable team-building skills

but once in college, my focus shifted to

my academic education.

I really enjoy playing football

and other team sports but

my college schedule doesn’t

allow much time for that.

GOALS

I want to be a doctor

who performs

research that leads

to new drugs to

reduce the effects of

Alzheimer’s.

I want to be a

doctor.

GOALS I plan to complete my Bachelor’s

degree and enter the Biomedical

field where I can make real

progress in preventing disease.

I am currently trying to

finish my Bachelor’s

degree. Then I hope

to get a job in the

Biomedical field.

GOALS

I want to make a

lot of money.

I want to earn a good salary so that I can adequately

support my family and repay my student loans.

Summary: when describing your goals…

– Share appropriate personal information to distinguish you from

other candidates

– Convey that education is your priority

– Be specific when describing your goals—let reviewers imagine

you in that role

– Be confident and don’t be afraid to set high goals

– If money is a motivator, express it in a more noble way

• Support family

• Achieve fiscal responsibility

• Give back to community

LEADERSHIP / COMMUNITY SERVICE

One of my best qualities is leadership.

During my first quarter in college, I

initiated and currently serve as President

of a new student club on campus.

One of my best

qualities is

leadership.

LEADERSHIP / COMMUNITY SERVICE ...had to design and build all sets in a week.

This accelerated schedule taught me the

value of teamwork and how to successfully

complete tasks under pressure.

I volunteered as a

stage manager for

a play and had to

design and build all

the sets in a week.

LEADERSHIP / COMMUNITY SERVICE

I participated in

my church

youth group for

four years.

As part of my church youth group, I worked

one day per week in a soup kitchen. I

served 31,200 meals to homeless people

during my four years of participation.

LEADERSHIP / COMMUNITY SERVICE

I have frequently volunteered at

various community service and

outreach events through my church.

I believe _______

is wrong and

frequently

volunteer at

various anti-____

______ events.

Summary: when describing leadership/community service…

– Be specific—support your statements with concrete examples

– Relate knowledge and skills developed through leadership

and community service to your future path

– Don’t just list activities—include outcomes

– Avoid divisive or controversial topics

CHALLENGES / HARDSHIPS

In high school, I was diagnosed with dyslexia.

I’ve worked hard to modify my learning

strategies to accommodate this condition and

as a result, have excelled in school.

In high school, I

was diagnosed

with dyslexia. As

a result, I have

always struggled

with school.

Summary: when describing challenges/hardships…

– Focus on how you’ve overcome obstacles rather than the obstacles

themselves

– Stay focused on the impacts to your education

CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING

I don’t see

color.

The college environment

brings together students from

a variety of backgrounds and

cultures. Our common goal to

obtain an education

supersedes and provides an

appreciation for our

differences. Programs such

as OC MESA help to

demonstrate that cultural

differences don’t have to stand

in the way of achieving

educational or career goals.

Summary: when describing culture, diversity, discrimination…

– OK to admit that we all have perceptions and biases

– Provide examples of how you’ve learned to accommodate

those perceptions and biases—participation in OC MESA is a

good example!

– Consider how your own culture has shaped you and will allow

you to contribute

SOLICITING

LETTERS OF

RECOMMENDATION

• Choose people who are relevant to the sponsor's goals

– Ask a science teacher to write a letter of recommendation

for a science scholarship

• And viewed as unbiased

– Teachers/professors, employers, coaches,

church leaders, community service directors, etc.

– Never ask a family member to write a letter

on your behalf

Make the process “painless”

– Be courteous when asking

– Provide a summary of the award purpose

– Provide a summary of your academic and

extracurricular accomplishments

– If mailed directly to the sponsor, provide a

stamped and addressed envelope

– Allow plenty of time—one week minimum, two weeks preferred

– Follow-up to confirm submittal… but don’t nag

WORKSHOP

TAILORING YOUR RESUME

Resume Components

• Contact information

• Objective statement

• Education

• Specialized courses

• Leadership/awards

• Relevant experience

• Transferrable skills

• Service activities

• Employment history

• Contact information should be consistent

with application

• Objective statement should reflect sponsor’s

goals, mission, motives

• Activities/accomplishments described in

application/essays should be consistent

with resume

• Adjust your historical timeline based on

peer competition

• Visit www.olympic.edu/STEMInternships for

additional resume tips and template

ACING THE INTERVIEW

Tell me about yourself.

I was born and raised in Ohio,

about 60 miles north of Dayton. I

never met my grandfather, but I

have good memories of my

grandmother and of how she could

play the piano at the old house…

I was born and raised in Bremerton, attended

Bremerton High School, was active in sports,

and currently attend Olympic College where I

am pursuing a nursing degree. I plan to

continue with my education to obtain a BSN…

Why did you chose your particular major?

My current

major is

engineering but

I’m also really

interested in art.

My father works for Boeing so ever since

I was a child, he’s encouraged hands-on

design hobbies that gradually instilled in

me a passion for engineering and design.

Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can't locate

the U.S. on a world map. Why do you think this is?

I personally believe that U.S. Americans are

unable to do so because, uh, some, uh, people

out there in our nation don't have maps and,

uh, I believe that our education like such as in

South Africa and, uh, the Iraq, everywhere like

such as, and, I believe that they should, our

education over here in the U.S. should help the

U.S., uh, or, uh, should help South Africa and

should help the Iraq and the Asian countries,

so we will be able to build up our future.

Miss South Carolina Teen USA 2007

Do you have any questions for me?

Is this

scholarship

renewable?

I noticed that your scholarship limits

eligibility to students in need of “a second

chance.” What motivated that decision?

Summary: when responding to interviewer questions…

– Don’t share life story, focus on why you are the

best candidate

– Be confident in your academic/career direction,

don’t mention uncertainty

– Take a deep breath and think about your answer before

responding. When you don't know the answer to a question, say

"I don't know" or ask for a clarification

– Prepare “thoughtful” questions for the interviewer. Don’t ask

question already answered in application materials

QUESTIONS

Dr. Jodi L. Carson, Director

OC MESA Program

ST Building, Room 108

Phone: (360) 475-7499

Email: jcarson@olympic.edu