How to maximize your chances of winning a scholarship:

• Searching for Scholarships

• Getting Organized

• Advance Preparation

• Meeting the Sponsor’s Goals

• Writing the College/Scholarship Resume

• Writing Winning Essays

• Acing the Scholarship Interview

• Published monthly and available in the Counseling Office and on the Hart High School website under Departments/Counseling at www.harthighschool.org

• Contains important information for seniors regarding college searches, testing dates and career websites

• Monthly listing of scholarships available

• Additional scholarship offerings are announced in the Daily Bulletin

• Daily announcements on Hart TV

• As the name implies, it is available daily on the website at www.harthighschool.org

• Located in the Counseling Office

• Updated weekly with current scholarships

• Students may pick up scholarship info from the files

NavianceA web-based resource that supports

college and career planningHow to log on:1) Go to www.harthighschool.org

2) Click on Departments,Counseling and scroll down to Naviance. Click on link.

3) Enter student ID number in username

4) Enter student 6-digit date of birth in password

Minimum eligibility requirements for Class of 2016:

• You must be a resident of the Santa Clarita Valley.

• You must have attended at least the 11th and 12th grades in the William S. Hart Union High School District.

• You must be graduating with the Class of 2016.

• You must have at least a 2.0 GPA and plan to continue your education.

• You must provide a typed essay of approximately 350 words addressing the writing prompt that will appear on the 2015-2016 application form.

• If selected as a recipient, you will be expected to write a thank-you/acknowledgment letter to the donor.

• Apply at: www.scvsf.org beginning December 1, 2015.

• The scholarship that SCV ACSA offers is awarded to one student at each of the Hart District High Schools.

• To be eligible, students need to have attended Santa Clarita Schools during their elementary, junior high school and high school years.

• The application requirements consist of a completed application, a letter of recommendation from current school staff and an essay describing how an elementary or junior high teacher positively effected their progress and growth as a student.

• The applications are available in the spring from counselors and can be returned to counselors as well. The scholarship coordinator for SCV ACSA communicates with the counseling departments early in the Spring Semester

• FastWEB – www.fastweb.com

• Scholarship Experts – www.scholarshipexperts.com

• CollegeBoard – www.collegeboard.org

• Google – just google it

FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid• Free Online Application • One form for scholarships, grants and aid• Requires info from your federal tax forms• Application for Fall 2016 opens Jan.1, 2016• Apply at: www.fafsa.ed.govFinancial Aid Workshop – Dec. 8, 2015 6:30pmEnglish/Cafeteria Spanish/Library

Be alert for services that solicit money in exchange for guaranteed scholarships. Watch out for pitches that boast:

• "You're a finalist!" or "You've won!" a contest or scholarship you never entered. Be wary, especially if they ask you for a credit card or bank account number to hold your "winnings." Don't believe it. You must apply for scholarships first to receive them.

• "First come, first served." While you do need to get your application in before the scholarship deadlines, the "first come, first served" rule does not apply to scholarships.

• "Millions of dollars go unclaimed." Legitimate scholarship awards are predetermined. Sponsors work very hard to find the most qualified applicant and award the scholarships.

• "It's guaranteed!" Scholarship searches can guarantee search results. They can't guarantee you the scholarship money.

• "We'll do the work for you ... for a fee." The fee may be nominal and the offer may come from someone who sounds official. So make sure you do your research before paying anyone to do a search for you.

•If the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

• Put each application's materials in a separate file folder

• Attach a checklist to the front listing: - required materials - date you requested and sent the materials - deadlines - contact info

• Keep a photocopy of your entire application • Keep a master checklist of all the scholarships to which

you are applying

• Well-Rounded Background You should certainly pursue hobbies, extracurricular activities, community service and volunteer work, but only if you are passionate about them. Quality is more important than quantity.

• Take Challenging Courses Take Math and Science all 4 years and try AP/Honors courses in your area

of strength.

• Pursue Excellence Don’t be satisfied with average performance. Work hard to perform to the

best of your ability.

• Be A Leader Aim to stand out and be noticed in everything you do. You may not be a

natural born leader, but you may lead by example.

• Every scholarship has a sponsor and every sponsor has a unique set of goals. Be sure to tailor your application to their goals. If you are unsure of what their goals are, consider why they are sponsoring the scholarship and what kind of applicants they are looking for.

• Create a one-page resume of your greatest accomplishments. This will help you when you are filling out applications and sometimes you can even include the resume with your application.

• Read the directions carefully

• Write an outline for your essay

• Give concrete examples of your experiences, don't exaggerate

• Proofread your essay

• Ask a teacher or parent to proofread your essay

• Type your essay

• Practice

• Be punctual

• Dress for Success

• Be decisive

• Be relevant • Be positive

• Be polite

• Expect the unexpected

• Prepare your own questions

• Organize your surroundings and your time.• Participate in extracurricular activities.• Search, Search, SEARCH• Watch for scholarship scams.• Double check the eligibility requirements.• Identify and Meet the sponsor’s goals. • Write an Accomplishments Resume. • Use concrete examples in essay.• Watch the deadline like a hawk. • Proofread your application one more time.