Applying for Scholarships

The Facts:
     Scholarships are one type of financial aid.  There are thousands of scholarships available.  However, most of these scholarships have very specific eligibility criteria. (e.g., a student must go to a particular college:  be in the top 5% of his/her class and have an ACT Assessment score of at least 28; belong to a particular ethnic group, race or religion; have overcome a great obstacle; have great leadership skills; have a specific major, etc.).
          When it comes to academic scholarships, students generally must have an outstanding GPA (3.5 or better), a high test score on the ACT (27+),  excellent recommendations, and involvement in extracurricular and/or community activities.  To receive an athletic or talent scholarship, a student must truly be outstanding.
          It takes a great deal of time and hard work to apply for scholarships.  However, if you do not apply you have no opportunities at all.  There really are thousands of scholarship opportunities out there, funded by professional and business associations, civic clubs, unions  and employers.  But you have to look for them.  There are many scholarship searches available for free.  There is no need to pay to have a scholarship search completed.  If you do not have internet available at home, there are many opportunities at school.  One computer in the counselor's office is dedicated for student use.
                 COMMENT:  The better your grades, the more activities in which you participate, the more documented volunteer service hours, and the more leadership roles you have during high school, the better chance you'll make a big impression on these grantors.  Many scholarship donors look for students who have academic promise and are involved in the school and community.
                   Some scholarships base most of their consideration upon the type of volunteer work you have done.  If the scholarship is due in November, it is too late to begin the type of project for which they are looking.  If you need some ideas about a project to compete for a scholarship such as the Discover Card Tribute program, the counselor, librarian, advisors, and other community members are happy to help you decide on a worthy project.  Don't wait too long.                    
                   Deadlines are high priority.  You need to plan.  No scholarship should be turned in at the last minute.  You are invited to bring your application to the counselor's office to get help and make sure it is put together well, edited correctly, and mailed in time. (Someone should proofread your application.  Any English teacher, the librarian, or the counselor will gladly offer this service.)  Deadlines are most often based on the scholarship being in the donor's possession.
                   References are also quite important.  Students should ask a number of adults to write a letter of reference.  Check with the adults as to how they would like to handle copies.  Give an envelope for each letter, address it, and put a stamp on it.  If the scholarship is for academics, the reference should be a recent teacher/s.  Most scholarships want to know what relationship the reference is to the student.  ASK EARLY.  Early is at least two weeks.  Some teachers may have a number of references to write.  Be sure to thank your reference writer.  Remember to remind the reference writer at least three days prior to the deadline in case he/she has forgotten.  This will give them time to write a great letter and mail it or give it to you before the deadline.  (There are still adults who will write letters for you at the last minute if you have a good reason for the tardiness of the request--so if you are in a bind, check with the counselor, she will help you locate one.)
                    You always want to make a great impression.  This application is all the reader knows about you.  Committee members read many applications.  Be courteous and "put your best foot forward"  Scholarships always make a better impression and are easier to read if they are typed.  If you need a typewriter or help with the typing, ask the counselor.   
 
A Fairy Tale or Sob Story?
Many high school students are deluged with mail from companies claiming to secure scholarship and grant money.  Some of these companies may be legitimate, but few experts recommend them because these services are already available through  scholarship searches and college admission and financial aid departments--at no cost!                
         Beware  
of an alarming increase in scholarship scams, companies asking students to pay in advance for scholarship and grant search services. Watch out, too, for companies that charge for help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.  Help for completing FAFSA is available free at any financial aid office and the counselor's office.

• Colleges and universities will offer the most scholarships.  Usually these are in the form of tuition waivers.

• Private colleges and universities may offer great amounts in scholarships, but tuition and other fees is usually greater

• One-year scholarships are only for one-year.  This is a great recruitment tool, but is often misunderstood by the student who finds himself/herself without scholarship money the second year.

• A renewable scholarship can become a four-year scholarship; however, there is usually an application that needs to be completed to receive it again.

• Outside scholarships must be reported to the college's financial aid office.  It is true that the college may reduce the need-based aid that they've already awarded.  Many students who receive scholarships do not realize that it does reduce need. 

• Smaller, local scholarships are often much easier to get than those which are state and nationally sponsored by large companies or organizations.

*A student must report outside scholarships to the college's Financial Aid Office.  Many students who receive outside scholarships also receive federal and state student aid (grants, student loans, and work-study).  It's possible that a student who is awarded a private scholarship may have his/her aid package reduced. 

If the student's total financial need has been met, the college is required to reduce any need-based award.  Some colleges try to reduce the self-help portion of the package (student loans and work-study).  Other colleges reduce institutional grant aid, especially if they've awarded the grant to help meet the student's financial need.  Since most colleges are unable to meet the student's full financial need, many aid packages are not affected by outside scholarships.
                                                                                                      American Education Services (aesnews@aessuccess.org)

Scholarship List  This list is only a partial list of all scholarships available, but it is a list of those most often awarded to AHS students and includes those which are community-based.  Check the individual scholarship applications and Calendar for important dates.

    Scholarship information information received by the Guidance Office is listed in this website under Calendar by deadline date as it is received.  It is also announced on the intercom in the morning and afternoon.  This is not an
inclusive list.  Additional websites useful for College/Career Planning are:
    www.ucango2.org
    www.okcollegestart.org
    www.okhighered.org
    www.careertech.org
    www.collegeprep.okstate.edu
    www.actstudent.org
    www.planstudent.org (for 10th grade students and parents)
    www.collegeboard.com
    www.princetonreview.com
    www.fafsa.ed.gov
    www.fafsa4caster.gov
    www.fastweb.com
    www.students.gov
    www.occf.org
    www.brokescholar.com/college
    www.legion.org/needalift
   Explore quality up to date career information from any computer using the link below, the username and
   password.
                   www.okcis.intocareers.org 
                   USERNAME:  alvahs    PASSWORD:  okcis89

Honor Resume  This is a great way to put your scholarship information in order.  Reference writers and counselors love to have a resume to check over before writing.  The more information the student can give the reference writer, the better prepared the writer will be.  Don't assume everyone remembers everything about you.  However, the honor resume has many uses and has been designed by the counselor but feel free to adapt it to your needs.

Essays  Remember how many times you rewrite essays for a grade in class?  Start early enough to polish your essay.  You are not doing this for a grade but it does have to potential to earn you a scholarship.

100 Words Every High School Graduate Should Know  The editors of the American Heritage dictionaries have compiled a list of 100 words they recommend every high school graduate should know.  "The words we suggest," says senior editor Steven Kleinedler, "are not meant to be exhaustive but are a benchmark against which graduates and their parents can measure themselves.  If you are able to use these words correctly, you are likely to have a superior command of the language."

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