how to earn scholarships
DESCRIPTION
Show students how they can be better candidates for college scholarships by taking the tough classes, building a quality activities resume, earning good grades, and performing well on the ACT/SAT.TRANSCRIPT
There are things you can do NOW that will help you
get scholarships later!
How to earn SCHOLARSHIPS
for college
KnowHow2GO to college follow the four steps!
Find an adult to help you plan for college.
Take courses in high school that will prepare you for college – and get involved!
Explore your career interests and research colleges that fit those interests.
Money is available to help you pay for college, but you have to apply!
KnowHow2GO
What will college cost?
Range of costs to attend college in Nebraska2-year community college 4-year public college 4-year private college
$10,200 - 13,600 $13,100 - 19,000 $28,400 - 45,200
Tuition & Fees Room & BoardBooks & Supplies
What will college cost?
per year
Save for college!
Do the math on this example to see how it adds up:
Candy bar $1.25Chips $1.002 sodas $3.00
7 days
4 weeks
12 months
Daily Total
4 yrs of high school
$5.25
$36.75
$147
$1,764
$7,056
Ways to pay
Financial Aid
Money to help pay for college
Loans
GrantsWork-Study
Scholarships
GrantsMoney you don’t repay – based on
financial need
LoansMoney you borrow
to help pay for college
Work-studyMoney you earn
from a job provided through the college
ScholarshipsMoney you don’t
repay – based mostly on talents
Why talk about scholarships now?
Some are available before your senior year Need time to build your resume Some scholarship competitions require
planning and/or practice– Writing– Art– Band
Why bother applying?
Time is money – just like a job If you…
– spend 10 hours applying for scholarships– and earn $1,000 in scholarships – you just made $100 an hour!
How to earn scholarships
Take challenging courses Earn good grades Get involved Prepare for the ACT/SAT Write an excellent essay
Take challenging classes
• Same curriculum as regular classes• More in-depth and faster-paced• Can boost your GPA
Honors Classes
• Same information as a college course• Earn college credit if you take the AP
test and score well
Advanced Placement
• Experience college coursework• Earn college credit through a
participating college
Dual Credit
Earn good grades
Start now – grades 9-12 count!
– establish good habits now Strive for the honor roll Make school your top
priority
Earn good grades:Importance of your GPA
GPA = Grade Point Average Determines your class rank “Indicator of potential” Used for merit-based scholarships
Earn good grades:Study tips
Study at the same time and place daily Use a planner or app to record
homework assignments and test dates Break large assignments into smaller
tasks Complete difficult homework first Take notes while you’re reading
Get involved
School activities– Clubs and organizations– Fine arts– Sports
Community activities and service Part-time job
Explore careers
Make new friends
Increase scholarship chances
Have fun Work with caring adults
Get involved: Why?
Prepare forthe ACT/SAT
Take the ASPIRE (pre-ACT) and the PSAT (pre-SAT) exams during your sophomore or junior years, if offered
Find ACT and SAT practice tests at actstudent.org and collegeboard.com
Take the exams your junior year and again when you’re a senior
Scores often used to award scholarships
Write an excellent scholarship essay
Answer the essay question directly Be honest and original while telling a
compelling story Clearly state why you deserve the
scholarship Be organized and concise Check grammar and spelling
Myth or reality?
Only the best students get scholarships
There’s too much competition for scholarships to bother applying
Top students get “full-ride” scholarships
Scholarships can pay for my college books
“You’ve been selected.”
“The
scholarship is
guaranteed or
your money
back.”
“May I have your credit card number?”
“The scholarship will
cost some money.”
Scholarship Warning
“You’re a finalist.”
Reliable places to look for scholarships
EducationQuest.org – ScholarshipQuest – over 2,000 local and state
awards• You’ll also find links to national scholarships
School counselor The college(s) you’re interested in attending Clubs, groups and organizations Library
EducationQuest Resources:MyEducationQuest
ScholarshipQuest
Jane Student
ScholarshipQuest Results
Jane Student
Activities Resume
Activities Resume
Kearney Lincoln OmahaEducationQuest.org
Kearney – 308.234.6310 or 800.666.3721Lincoln – 402.475.5552 or 800.303.3745Omaha – 402-391-4033 or 888.357.6300