Scholarships 101. Good luck preparing for college and finding scholarships and funding sources that best fit your needs and your future!

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1 Scholarships 101 Congratulations on your decision to further your education! You have taken a very important step in attending college finding a good scholarship program. This guide contains useful tips in applying for scholarships, as well as pointers to scholarships, college websites, and how to save money on textbooks. A wealth of scholarship and grant information can be found through Internet searches, high school guidance counselors, or college financial aid offices. Some scholarships and financial aid programs may not be widely publicized and may only be known locally, so it is essential that you take advantage of every possible resource when seeking scholarships and financial aid. Don t forget one of the most important steps you can take right now is to study hard and get good grades. SAT scores are a major consideration in awarding scholarships, so plan to spend at least 80 hours preparing for this critical exam. Good luck preparing for college and finding scholarships and funding sources that best fit your needs and your future! INTENDED FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY 1

2 Finding scholarship programs There are an abundance of scholarship opportunities available to students who are willing to take the time to look for them. Treat your scholarship search as a job the more effort and energy you commit to it, the greater the return. Tips for conducting searches Complete as many scholarship searches and applications as you can. There is a lot of money out there; finding it is half the battle. Check with your high school guidance office, the financial aid office of the college you plan to attend, and the reference section at your local library for scholarship information. Contact local business organizations and local chapters of national service organizations in your area regarding scholarship opportunities for local students (e.g., Rotary, Lions, Elks, and Soroptimist clubs). Scholarship and college websites There are a wide variety of websites that offer tips, tools and other valuable information on scholarships and financial aid programs. Following are some sites you should definitely explore: FastWeb.com Fast Web offers a scholarship search engine. After creating a customized profile, Fast Web will search its database to match your specific criteria. Your profile is secured by a password. You can view personalized awards based on your individual profile as well as your scholarship matches. It features articles about financial aid and explains FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), which determines eligibility for funding in general. CollegeScholarships.com College Scholarships provides free information on numerous scholarships in various areas of study as well as a great strategy for knowing how to win scholarships. This website offers new scholarships posted monthly, as well as scholarship essay samples. CollegeView.com College View offers virtual college tours, links to college websites, information about campus life, and much more including prerequisites for various schools. You will see information on choosing a career and how to search for scholarships and financial aid. CollegeBoard.org Sponsored by a non-profit organization, this site includes advice, scholarship searches, online applications, and information on the SAT and the CSS Financial Aid Profile, with tabs for students, parents, and educators. Log in to see these special features: Resister for SAT: Register online for the next SAT test date. SAT Practice: Get ready for the SAT with official practice tests and questions. It even provides an official SAT Question of the Day! My College Quick Start: Get feedback on your PSAT/NMSQT performance. View your scores online and access your free personalized college and career planning kit. College Matchmaker: Generate a list of colleges that match your preferences. 2 INTENDED FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY

3 Beware of scholarship scams* Offers for guaranteed scholarships, grants, and loans may look very attractive to those college students who didn t apply or qualify for financial aid. But before signing up, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns students to first do their homework. BBB reports that unethical scholarship companies are guaranteeing to match students with sources of funding, regardless of their academic qualifications, scholastic credentials, or family economic status. Some advertisements and sales pitches claim there are millions of dollars in unclaimed scholarship monies just waiting to be tapped. However, very few students, if any, receive such funds. In exchange for an up-front fee, which can range from $50 to several hundred dollars, students receive lists of possible scholarship sources. While the company making the offer may claim scholarships are guaranteed, prospective students should understand that only the sources actually granting the funds are able to guarantee approval. These scholarship companies do not assist students in obtaining scholarships or screen applicants. After purchasing the lists, it is the student s responsibility to research and contact each organization with a possible funding source. Although many ads offer money back guarantees or $200 savings bonds to students who don t receive any scholarship sources or funds, students who are unsuccessful, or not satisfied, may find that refunds are difficult, if not impossible, to obtain. The company may require students to prove, through documentation, that they were denied a scholarship by every source on the list. Scholarship scams can be hard to spot because promoters often imitate legitimate government agencies, grant-giving foundations, education lenders, or scholarship matching services. They may use words like national, federal, foundation, and administration in their titles. The scholarship service may make statements like: Guarantees a scholarship or your money back : Grants or scholarships are awarded on basis of performance or qualifications. No one can guarantee that you will get one. Claims you can t get this scholarship information anywhere else: Free scholarship information abounds in school libraries, with federal, state, and local governments, on the Internet, and with private companies. Wants a credit card or bank account number for an application fee or to hold scholarships: Never give your credit card or bank account number over the phone. Free money shouldn t cost anything. Most legitimate companies don t charge application fees. Says they ll do all the work: There s no way around it. You must apply for scholarships or grants yourself. Claims that you ve been selected or that you re a finalist for a scholarship or grant you never applied for: You ve got to go after grant or scholarship money. It won t come looking for you. If a company makes these types of claims, steer clear of them. Always check any scholarship services out with the BBB, state or county consumer protection agency, and Attorney General s office first. Many legitimate scholarship sources are available at no cost from your high school guidance offices, reference sections at local libraries, or from the financial aid office of the college you plan to attend. Furthermore, the US Department of Education indicates that if you are seeking federal student aid, you can apply directly on their website or request an application. INTENDED FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY 3

4 The US Department of Education provides all information, including applications, at no cost. You can visit their website at or call them directly at (800) *Copyright 2010 Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc. Completing scholarship and admissions applications When applying for scholarships you want to stand out from the other applicants. Showcasing your personal qualities, talents, and experience will give you an edge. Include extracurricular activities such as sports and leadership clubs. Be a volunteer. Being able to cite your community involvement is a big plus. Schools, churches and other community organizations typically have an ongoing need for volunteers of all ages. Demonstrate initiative and self-motivation. Take a college-level class to get a jump on your higher education. Seek out learning opportunities with local businesses and organizations. Create your own opportunities to make a difference for others. Organize a group of friends or family to address a need in your community. Demonstrate integrity. Be honest about every bit of information you provide on your application: grades, work experience, special talents, activities, financial situation, etc. Demonstrate your attention to details. Carefully review and follow directions so that you complete each application correctly. Thoroughly answer all questions. Be sure your application is neat and legible. Pay special attention to deadlines and send your application in early. Don t shy away from scholarships that require essays. People are often too intimidated (or too lazy) to spend time and energy writing an essay. This usually means that fewer students will apply for these scholarships. As a result, competition is lower and there s much greater opportunity to be noticed. Be selective about letters of recommendation. Ask respected individuals who have first-hand knowledge of your character, talents, and accomplishments. Seek recommendations from people such as teachers, professionals, coaches, and community and business leaders in your chosen career area or industry of interest. Tips for writing essays* Think of your essay as the face or cover of your application. A well-written essay will help you stand out among hundreds of applications and give you that edge you need to be noticed. A poorly-written essay does not give the reader the chance to know you, nor will he or she be compelled to continue reading. The most important part of your essay is the subject matter. Most applications will ask you to write about a specific topic. Plan to spend one or two weeks brainstorming the topic and content for your essay. A few examples include: Major accomplishments and why you consider them accomplishments. An attribute, quality, or skill that distinguishes you from everyone else and how you developed this attribute. Explain the most difficult time in your life. Include how and why your perspective on life has changed as a result of that experience. 4 INTENDED FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY

5 Without a topic you feel passionate about or one that brings out the defining aspects of your personality, you take the risk of falling into the category with the other 90 percent of applicants who write boring admissions essays. The most effective way to write an engaging essay is to draw from experiences that support the topic you select. Leaving a lasting impression on someone who reads essays a day will not be easy, but will be well worth the effort. *From Consider these points Have you focused on a topic that describes something of personal importance to your life, with which you can use vivid personal experiences as supporting details? Can you keep the reader s interest from the first word? The entire essay must be interesting and intriguing in order to grab the reader s attention. Will the reader remember your topic after reading hundreds of essays? What will the reader remember about you? What will your lasting impression be? Once you ve selected a topic, your goal is to persuade the reader that you are worthy and qualified for his or her scholarship. You want to impress upon the reader that you are more than a GPA and a standardized score you are a real-life, intriguing and interesting person with the desire to succeed. Essay content Following the simple guidelines below will help you write an efficient and memorable essay. Answer each essay question with detail and precision. Be original. Talk about your goals and what you have done to date to achieve them. Think about what makes you unique. Be yourself. The person reading your essay wants to learn about you and your writing ability. Write about something meaningful and describe your feelings, not necessarily your actions. Don t thesaurusize your essay. Did you use words that are not usually a part of your vocabulary? If so, get rid of them. You want to portray the type of person you really are. Use imagery and clear, vivid writing. Appeal to all five senses. Spend the most time on your introduction. You can generally expect a reader to spend 1-2 minutes reading your essay. You must use your introduction to grab his or her interest from the very beginning. However, don t summarize in your introduction. Ask yourself the following: Why would a reader want to read my entire essay after reading my introduction? Did I create mystery and intrigue in my introduction? It s not necessary or recommended that your first sentence gives away the subject matter. Raise questions that compel the reader to read further. Use transitions between your written thoughts within paragraphs, like a road map leading the reader to an inevitable conclusion. INTENDED FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY 5

6 Conclusions are crucial. The conclusion is your last chance to persuade the reader or impress upon the reader your qualifications. Does the ending give the reader a sense of completeness? Spend a week or so away from your draft and then review it again. Give your draft to others. Ask them to read your essay with the following questions in mind: What is the essay about? Did I use active voice verbs wherever possible? Is my sentence structure varied, or do I use all long or all short sentences? Do I use transitions appropriately? Do I use imagery often, and does this make the essay more clear and vivid? What s the best part of the essay? What about the essay is memorable? What s the worst or the weakest part of the essay? What parts of the essay need elaboration or are unclear? What parts of the essay do not support my main argument or are immaterial to my case? Is every single sentence crucial to the essay? This is an absolute MUST. What does the essay reveal about my personality? Does it accurately describe me? Could anyone else have written this essay? Revise, revise, and revise. You are only allowed so many words, so use them wisely. Proofread When you are satisfied with the structure and content of your essay, it is time to check grammar, spelling, and typos. You can fix obvious things right away a misspelled or misused word, a seemingly endless sentence, or improper punctuation. Keep rewriting until your words accurately and effectively convey exactly what you want the reader to know and understand about you. When proofreading, ask yourself these questions: Did I punctuate correctly? Did I use capitalization clearly and consistently? Do the subjects agree in number with the verbs? Did I place the periods and commas inside the quotation marks? Did I keep contractions to a minimum? Do apostrophes appear in the right places? If using this essay for multiple applications, did I replace the name of the proper school for each new application? Have I caught every typo? When using spell check, make sure that you check and re-check every change the computer makes. A word may be misused but spelled correctly in which case spellcheck won t catch the error. 6 INTENDED FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY

7 When you re finished proofing the essay, ask someone who is not familiar with it to read it for grammatical errors as well. For more information and tips regarding effective essay writing, visit Time to get started There are numerous scholarship and financial aid plans available for students; it is up to you to take advantage of these opportunities. To help you get started, we have created an application packet with several scholarships, including the California Grocers Association (CGA) in which The Save Mart Companies sponsors 10 $1,000 scholarships specifically awarded to team members and their dependents. These applications are time sensitive many are due as early as February so don t wait, go to the Education Connection on The Save Mart Connection to get your application packet today! Ways to save money on textbooks Textbooks are a key component of learning, providing a foundation for each course. However, textbooks can be very expensive. With this in mind, we would like to share these tips for saving money on textbooks. College bookstores offer new and used textbooks. Used copies tend to be very popular and go fast. If you plan on buying a used book, get the textbook information well in advance of the first day of class (ISBN number or title/author), and buy your book early. Students who procrastinate and order when class starts may go weeks without a book. Many websites offer significant savings on used textbooks, and some offer discounts on new textbooks. Some websites offer textbooks posted by individuals (similar to e-bay). In these cases the prices, service, and time required can be very inconsistent. You could receive your books right away or wait six weeks or more to receive the shipment. Find out before you pay. Be prepared to pay for books; set money aside before each semester. Website options CampusBooks.com A search engine for purchase, rental, e-books, and buy-backs. CheapestTextbooks.com A search engine that compares the book cost at multiple sites. You can rent books, or buy them new or used. DirectTextbook.com To save you money and time, this site searches over 200 online bookstores for cheap textbooks. They also offer help for used books, ebooks, rental, and selling college textbooks. Look for the link to online coupons. DealOz.com This website compares over 200 online bookstores for the best prices on new and uses textbooks, and helps connect you with buy-back searches. ValoreBooks.com Valore has an enormous selection of cheap used textbooks for sale from high quality booksellers as well as high textbook buy-back prices when you sell textbooks online. They now show rental options. Amazon.com Amazon offers textbooks for sale and has a sell-back program. From the main page (left side menu) click on Books and then Textbooks. INTENDED FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY 7

8 Purchasing an electronic textbook Instead of using a traditional textbook, students who are comfortable reading the material on a computer screen may find an ebook to be an excellent option. Using an ebook instead of a regular print book can cut the price by 30% to 50%. You can purchase the whole book, a chapter at a time, or even an audio book in some cases. Students register online, purchase the book using a credit card, and then receive a unique login and password to download the text, or to access it online. Visit EBooks.com for more information. If you have a portable device designed to read ebooks (such as an Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, or Apple ipad), check your device s designated ebook store to find electronic versions of textbooks for sale. Oftentimes these devices will only be compatible with ebooks purchased directly from their specific retailers. Renting textbooks Some firms lend books at varying rates, depending on the length of the loan. One text with a list price of about $180, for example, was quoted at $60 for a semester-long rental. A used version was selling online for $99. When renting, use the book's ISBN number (the code on the back cover) to ensure you get the right text. Be mindful of the due date to avoid late fees and note that you'll have to pay for damaged books. Where else can you rent textbooks? A growing number of college bookstores now rent textbooks. Many publishers are starting to rent directly to consumers. Check each publisher s specific website and click on their bookstore to see if a particular book is rentable. Online options: Chegg.com or BookRenter.com. Purchasing an unbound text Some publishers offer an unbound, 3-hole punch version of the text (a photocopy of the textbook from the publisher that complies with copyright laws). Students would need to provide their own 3-ring binder. This is less durable than a hardcover textbook, but may save up to 40% on the price of book. These purchases are typically not refundable or resalable. 8 INTENDED FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY