Transfer Corner with Gina Myers
PAYING FOR COLLEGE; Financial Aid and Scholarships
Gina Myers | EvCC Counselor
Issue date: 2/13/09 Section: Features
Three financial aid and scholarships workshops have been presented at EvCC this quarter, one by Laurie Franklin, EvCC's financial aid director, one by Sharon Parks, assistant director of financial aid and one presented by a student sharing his success strategies for receiving scholarships. Why all the interest? It is time to apply for financial aid for many colleges for the next 09/10 school year. EvCC's priority filing date for next year is May 4.
Make a habit of applying for financial aid every Jan. or Feb. and list every school that you might attend. Your situation could change throughout the year. A mistake many students make when transferring is missing the "priority" date.
Consider private colleges if you'd like to go there or if you are interested in a major that is competitive at a public institution. Private colleges are expensive but you may be eligible for more aid. If you have questions about financial aid at the private schools versus public schools, ask them.
Don't wait until your taxes are done if it means missing the "priority filing date." You can update later. You will probably have to go through a special review but it's worth it.
Don't try to figure out if you are eligible. If paying for expenses while attending college seems difficult, apply! The financial aid methodology considers many different factors in qualifying you for eligibility. You may be surprised! One thing is for certain, if you do not apply you will not be eligible!
Scholarship decisions are made by regular people who are trying to get a picture based on your application. They are usually trying to assign points to some basic areas:
1. Answer their questions, relating your responses to their questions. Don't make them hunt for it. If this is a specific scholarship, target your experiences to their interest area.
2. Have clarity on your educational goals and how it relates to achieving your career goals. Struggling? Talk with a counselor in the Counseling, Advising and Career Center.
3. What is your involvement in community, school and volunteer activities? These are things that shape you and will give them a snapshot of who you are outside of grades, classes etc.
4. Any special circumstances or hardships? Basically, they want to see how you handle challenges and whether or not you have what it takes to complete your educational goals.
5. They may ask about your cultural understanding. This can be drawn from many broad areas such as ethnic background, customs, values, community or social environment in which you live.
6. G.P.A. - Grades are important but it's not all about your grades. If they ask for you transcript, explain any negative academic issues. They will see it, so explain it. These may not be asked directly but this is typically what they are trying to qualify in considering you as the best candidate for their scholarship.
NEXT WEEK: Admissions, your personal statement.
Make a habit of applying for financial aid every Jan. or Feb. and list every school that you might attend. Your situation could change throughout the year. A mistake many students make when transferring is missing the "priority" date.
Consider private colleges if you'd like to go there or if you are interested in a major that is competitive at a public institution. Private colleges are expensive but you may be eligible for more aid. If you have questions about financial aid at the private schools versus public schools, ask them.
Don't wait until your taxes are done if it means missing the "priority filing date." You can update later. You will probably have to go through a special review but it's worth it.
Don't try to figure out if you are eligible. If paying for expenses while attending college seems difficult, apply! The financial aid methodology considers many different factors in qualifying you for eligibility. You may be surprised! One thing is for certain, if you do not apply you will not be eligible!
Scholarship decisions are made by regular people who are trying to get a picture based on your application. They are usually trying to assign points to some basic areas:
1. Answer their questions, relating your responses to their questions. Don't make them hunt for it. If this is a specific scholarship, target your experiences to their interest area.
2. Have clarity on your educational goals and how it relates to achieving your career goals. Struggling? Talk with a counselor in the Counseling, Advising and Career Center.
3. What is your involvement in community, school and volunteer activities? These are things that shape you and will give them a snapshot of who you are outside of grades, classes etc.
4. Any special circumstances or hardships? Basically, they want to see how you handle challenges and whether or not you have what it takes to complete your educational goals.
5. They may ask about your cultural understanding. This can be drawn from many broad areas such as ethnic background, customs, values, community or social environment in which you live.
6. G.P.A. - Grades are important but it's not all about your grades. If they ask for you transcript, explain any negative academic issues. They will see it, so explain it. These may not be asked directly but this is typically what they are trying to qualify in considering you as the best candidate for their scholarship.
NEXT WEEK: Admissions, your personal statement.
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