Scholarships
Scholarships
are funds awarded to students who distinguish themselves in academics,
athletics, extra-curricular activities, talent, leadership, or community
service. Financial need may or may not be a factor. They are also awarded in
fields of career interest and to ethnic or minority groups. Having a FAFSA on
file for many scholarship opportunities whether need or non-need is
necessary. Note: scholarships
are often determined by colleges directly from a student's application for
admission. Frequently, however, scholarships require a separate application on a
form provided by the college, university or organization.
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When looking
for scholarships:
·
If you are
in the top 15% or better of the class, consider colleges that are looking for
students whose grades and test scores place them in the top 25% of the class
profile. You are more likely to be offered a scholarship for attending.
·
If students
are athletically inclined, look into athletic scholarships. Coaches need back-up players as well as first stringers.
·
Check the
military offerings. The National Guard is known to be generous, and active duty requirements are relatively minimal.
·
Write to
colleges and ask about scholarships and request applications.
Meet with
the Financial Aid Officer during the campus visit. Look in the
college catalogues.
·
Enter
scholastic contests starting in freshman year.
·
Read the
Deerfield High School daily announcements and read the bulletin board postings,
newsletters, and scholarship listings available in the College and Career
Resource Center.
·
Utilize the
resources in the CCRC and schedule a Scholarship Search utilizing extensive data
bank computer programs.
·
Investigate
scholarships offered through ethnic or minority origin, religious organizations
and parents' places of business.
·
Ask
Financial Aid Officers whether receiving school or community scholarships add or
subtract from your Financial Aid Package.
·
A word of
caution about Scholarship Search Companies. Research has found that most of
these companies charge hefty fees for sources which typically do not generate
any funds. The best scholarship information is available, free of charge, at
Deerfield High School on a special scholarship data base and scholarship files
or try the website www.fastweb.com. You
may receive information from companies identifying themselves as Scholarship
Search Companies. Regardless of their claims about locating untapped education
dollars, do not pay anything before checking out the business.