I.
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PROCEDURES
1. Check on the Counselor Corner web site to get updates on scholarships
available. The Scholarship database has brief descriptions and
criteria for past scholarships.
2. Available scholarship applications can be picked up in the
guidance office. Check for applications available on program web
sites.
3. It is important to review the scholarship requirements, criteria
and deadlines before you decide to complete the application.
4. A complete and neat application is a necessity. Type if possible
and make sure to proof the completed application. If an essay
is needed, spend some time in organizing your thoughts. Write
a rough draft before putting your final thoughts on the application.
A suggestion: You might ask your English teacher to check your
work.
5. Compile a list of your extracurricular experiences and activities
in high school (school, community, church), awards, volunteer
work, and work experience in the form of a resume. This will speed
up completing the application process because almost every scholarship
committee asks for this information.
6. If recommendations are needed from teachers, employers, counselors
and/or a character reference, please give them enough time to
write the best letter possible. Best practice is to give someone
writing a recommendation letter approximately two or more weeks
notice. Ask them to write a general endorsement so that you can
use it for different types of applications (college, job or scholarships).
Plan to give the person writing the letter a copy of your resume
so they know all about you. Remember to write a thank you note
to the person for writing the recommendation.
7. Return the completed application to your counselor one week
to two weeks before the deadline date. An official transcript
request must be completed and turned in with the application.
It is your responsibility to see that all supporting documents
(letters of recommendation) are provided with the application.
Your counselor will check the application organization, provide
an official transcript and send the application to the organization
sponsoring the scholarship.
PLEASE NOTE: Official transcripts must be sent
by the high school office. All transcript requests must have parent
signature. Requests to pick up the transcript is discouraged.
Transcripts requested in a sealed envelope are also discouraged
and need special approval by administration to be released.
8.
Envelopes addressed to the organization with required postage
are appreciated and should be turned in with the completed scholarship
application.
9. If you are awarded a scholarship, let your counselor know.
Send a thank you letter to the organization. The members of the
scholarship committee have usually donated their time and the
organization has raised the money in order to offer the scholarship.
They deserve your appreciation and acknowledgement.
10. Understand the difference between a postmark deadline and
a submitted deadline. DEADLINES ARE IMPORTANT!
IN SUMMARY:
1. Pick up the application or download from the internet.
2. Complete your resume and make several copies.
3. Request recommendations early.
4. Complete the application and transcript request form.
5. Return the completed application to the counselor or guidance
secretary.
6. Allow enough time to process the transcript properly.
7. Follow-up notification.
8. Watch deadlines.
9. Make a copy of the application before submitting it to the
office.
10. Send thank you notes.
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II.
TYPES OF SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships are the most commonly talked about form of financial
aid. Colleges, clubs, organizations, churches and corporations
award thousands of scholarships annually. Students with 5.0 grade
point averages, ACT scores over 30 and/or are athletes who have
accomplished state honors usually have no problem getting scholarships.
Good students with a 4.0 to 4.5 gpa may have a more difficult
time unless they have overcome a great obstacle, or have a specific
accomplishment or talent that puts them separate from the rest
of the students in their class.
Parents and students should be aware that:
1. colleges award most of the scholarships and are called institutional
scholarships.
2. private colleges generally award more scholarships than public
universities.
3. scholarships can be renewable which means it can continue for
four years.
4. some scholarships are for only one year.
5. local scholarships are easier to obtain and are for smaller
amounts ($100-$1,000).
6. national scholarships may have 120,000 applications and community
scholarships may have only 20 applications.
Scholarships are usually merit awards based on academics, athletics,
music, other talents, and can require community involvement, extracurricular
participation, and/or leadership experience. Most scholarships
are awarded by individual colleges. For these, you should contact
the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend. Scholarships
provided by private groups, organizations or community groups
are posted in the daily announcements and from the guidance office.
In Section III is a listing of private scholarships made available
to students in previous academic years. Check through this listing
and highlight the scholarships which have the criteria you meet.
The guidance office will have the majority of these applications
available during the school year. This booklet will help you get
a head start on which applications to request.
Another avenue for researching scholarships is through computer
data base programs. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission
(ISAC) provides a free scholarship searches at collegezone.com
or a national based search through fastweb.com.
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III.
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
Most scholarship applications will be available through the guidance
office during the school year. Some applications may require the
applicant to request an application. Check with a school counselor
if an application is not available. Read the daily announcements
to be notified when applications can be picked up.
