What types of Financial Aid are there?

Hey Seniors! We've talked a lot about the FAFSA and the federal Pell Grant, loans and work-study programs available with FAFSA completion. But there are OTHER options too! We've talked about Institutional Aid- money that is awarded to you by your school of choice. This can be need based, merit based and/or based on your chosen major/course of study. Get in touch with your College or University's Financial Aid Office and see what they offer! You may be able to search for Scholarships via their webpage too.

When should you be applying for Scholarships?

NOW! Even if you are a Junior or underclassmen...

There are scholarships for just Freshman.
NOW is the time especially if you are a Senior. Consider it your homework. Seniors, you should be spending a few hours a week researching scholarships, deciding which ones to apply for and then ACTUALLY APPLYING! As you near adulthood, this is a great test of your preparedness. No one can do it for you! Go get that $$$! 

Remember to look carefully at your scholarship options and avoid SCAMS!

Here are links to some of the Federal Grants:

• Federal Pell Grants  
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)  
• Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants  
• Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants  

Here's a great resource for SEARCHING for Scholarships! 

https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/training/find-scholarships.aspx

Don't forget the YESS Scholarship Resources page too!
http://yesscollegeandcareercorner.blogspot.com/p/scholarship-resources.html

Here are some ideas about other places to look for/ask about scholarships:

• your library’s reference section
• foundations, religious or community organizations, local businesses, or civic groups
• organizations (including professional associations) related to your field(s) of interest
• ethnicity-based organizations
• your employer or your parents’ employers

College and Scholarship Apps! It's your JOB!

Hey Seniors! The time is NOW for completing your college and scholarship applications! Think about the process as a part time job...that can pay off in $cholar$hip dollar$ as well as in higher earning$ over your lifetime once you graduate. Remember, this is true for certificates, associates degrees, AND bachelors degrees.

Commit to a few hours a week of work on your applications! Be sure to have a few trusted adults read your essays! Label your essays well as google docs. For example, "Emily Webster MSU Essay" so that your readers know it's your essay!

Remember to use your College App Info Sheet to help you complete your applications accurately. You should apply to at least 3 schools....one you're sure to get into, one you will likely get into and a REACH school...one that may be a bit harder to get into. But now is the time to try!


Click here to search for Scholarships!

Click here for Essay Writing Tips! 

Click here for some help deciding where to apply! 

Scholarship Essays!

Hey Team 2018! 

It's CERTAINLY time for you to be working on your scholarship essays! Here are some tips! 

1. Grab your reader's ATTENTION! 

Out of the First Lines below, which one would you be more likely to read??? 

• Example #1: Strong leadership skills are important for many reasons.
• Example #2: November 12, 2004, was the day I lost everything.

Think of how you can stand out from the pack and use YOUR unique voice! 

2. Edit and reuse your Essay (don't make MORE work!).

With a few edits, you can adjust your essay to be used for more than one application. Be sure that you are answering the specific question for each essay but keep in mind, there is usually overlap of topics! 

3. Keep your readers INTERESTED!

Be creative. Think outside the box. While your mom or dad may be your biggest role model, a lot of students will likely say that...Can you come up with a different answer? Or a unique approach? 

4. Follow the Essay Instructions.

The guidelines are there for a reason. Don’t write under the limit. Don’t write over the limit. Submit the application early...you will not get an extension. Be sure to answer the question(s). If they ask for the file as a .pdf, take the time to send it as a .pdf. 

5. Stay Focused on the TOPIC.

Be sure everything you write is connected to the topic. Do not go on a tangent just to add words to meet a word count. Readers are reviewing A LOT of essays and just need one reason to stop reading. 

6. Have a Point!

THESIS THESIS THESIS

You can look at your thesis as your one-sentence answer to the essay question. The rest of your essay should fully support your thesis statement and paint an intriguing picture for your readers. 

7. Check Your Essay for Spelling Errors.

In fact, have a friend and a teacher/counselor check your essays too. 

8. Use Correct Grammar and Punctuation.

Take your time to write, read, re-read and re-write as needed. Do your best and then seek help from someone you know is a good writer (see #7). 

9. Care About What You’re Writing.

When choosing your topic or thesis, be sure it is something that you personally care about sharing. You'll stand out as passionate! Bonus- It is easier to write about topics that you care about! 

10. Avoid Repetative Conclusions.

Don't just rewrite your thesis. Find a new way to restate it when wrapping up your essay. End with a STRONG, INTERESTING conclusion. Take your time when crafting this! 

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FAFSA Checklist!

On October 1st, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid opens for completion. Below is a list of the items you need to complete your application for FREE $$$$ for college including most technical schools (Emily Griffith Technical College).

Be sure to get these items together NOW so you are ready!

Here’s what you’ll need:

 Your Social Security card and driver’s license (if you have one).

Your parents income tax returns, W-2 forms and 1040 forms from 2016 if you are a dependent (and you are unless declared otherwise). 

• If you are employed, bring your tax returns, W-2 forms and 1040 forms from 2016! 

 Records and documentation of other nontaxable income received such as welfare benefits, Social Security income, veteran’s benefits, military or clergy allowances (if applicable). 

 Any additional applicable financial information, such as taxable work-study, assistant-ships, fellowships, grants and scholarship aid reported to the IRS, combat pay or special combat pay and cooperative education program earnings. 

 Records of any additional nontaxable income: Examples include: child support received, veterans’ non-education benefits, money received or paid on your behalf, etc. 

 Current bank and brokerage account statements, including records of stocks, bonds, mutual funds and other investments (if applicable). 

 Business or investment farm records (if applicable). 

 Records relating to any unusual family financial circumstances, such as anything that changed from last year or anything that distinguishes the family from the typical family in terms of unusual marital situations, living situations, separations, etc. Examples include: high non-reimbursed medical and/or dental expenses, unusually high dependent care costs (e.g., for a special needs child or an elderly parent), death, divorce, salary reductions, job loss and private K-12 tuition. 

 When filling out and submitting your FAFSA electronically, you’ll need an FSA ID to sign the form. If you don’t have one, you can create a FSA ID online. If you are applying as a dependent- again, you are unless declared otherwise – one parent is required to sign as well. To electronically fill out your FAFSA online, your parent should also apply for a FAFSA ID at the same site. 

 If you are a male, 25 years or younger, you must be registered with Selective Service. 

Check out this worksheet for further information.

(Checklist above pulled from the Fastweb site.) 

Senior Year 1st Semester Checklist!

Hey Seniors! I know you have A LOT going on...SAT prep and testing, homecoming, sports, clubs, enjoying the last year of high school, work, AP/Honors classes, concurrent enrollment, etc, etc.

Don't forget your Post-Secondary Planning! Check out the checklist below to help guide your planning, application and access process. As always, let me know if you have ANY questions!

FALL OF SENIOR YEAR! 

• Finalize your College/Post-Secondary Program Application List! Be sure to include some schools that may be harder to get in to as well as at least one school to which you will for sure be admitted. This list can include colleges, apprenticeships, military and/or technical schools. These are all GREAT post-secondary options. 

• Prepare for and complete the FAFSA. Use the search tool in the blog to find LOTS of information regarding what documents you need, creating a FSAID and other info about the process. 

• Stay focused on your grades and extracurricular activities. These remain important parts of your resume. Finish strong! 

• Keep track of deadlines! Consider using calendar reminders on your phone to alert you well ahead of deadlines (so you take time to work on applications) as well as the day applications are due. 

• Meet with your School Counselor. They will need to know what schools/programs you are applying to so they can send Transcripts, Score Reports, and other application items. Be sure to give them access to the required forms WELL in advance. Be sure to THANK them for their help. 

• Continue researching scholarships, add them to your College Research Spreadsheet, and complete these applications! 

• Ask for Letters of Recommendation NOW! Be sure you are giving your teachers, counselors, etc enough time to write you an AWESOME letter. If you wrote one for yourself last year, you an share it with them along with your resume to help them out! 

• Complete your College/Post-Secondary Program applications as soon as possible. Even if a school has a deadline in the spring, aim to complete your application by Thanksgiving Break. Put yourself at the TOP of the pile! 

• ASK for help! If you have questions, ASK them! It's ok to not know everything about the post-secondary process. It's a whole new world. If something doesn't make sense, ASK! This is a good habit to get into as you'll have LOTS of questions once you get to college. ASKING for help is part of being an adult, trust me! 

FAFSA and your FSAID!

In a few short weeks, you'll be able to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid! You can start to prepare NOW! Check out the resources linked below for more info and instructions on how to create your FSAID. Make sure you save this information in a secure location. A parent or guardian will also need to create an FSAID in order for you to submit your FAFSA!

Here's the link for creating your FSAID. Follow the directions carefully. I'd recommend taking a screenshot of your Security Questions and Answers so that you never get locked out of your account. Remember, do NOT use your school email address! Your parent or guardian will also need to make an FSAID to sign your FAFSA application. Ideally, they need an email address to do this. We can always set one up for them if they don't have one! It is essential that your name, SSN, and date of birth are entered exactly as they appear on your Social Security card otherwise you will get an error. 
Let me know if you need help with either process or have any questions (especially about Social Security cards and numbers)!

Prepare NOW to complete your FAFSA as early as October 1st. Check out this 12th Grade Checklist to guide your preparation and keep you on track. If you are not in 12th grade, this page has links to other great resources for you.

Is college right for you?

Not everyone wants to or even needs to attend a traditional college. There are so many post-secondary (after high school!) options. Let's figure out which one is right for you! Remember, you can complete a certificate program right after high school, head to work, and college is STILL an option in your future. It's a big decision with a lot of factors like money, family responsibilities and your own interests.

If you don't know much about your college options, here  is a quick slide show that will tell you about the different types like liberal arts, community colleges and technical schools.

If you know you want to attend college, check out the resources here. Take some time to answer the questions that will help you narrow down your choices. There are SO many great schools...but only a few are just right for you. You'll want to identify at least 4 that REALLY interest you. Don't forget to add them to your YESS College Research Sheet!

The Denver Metro area has a lot of great opportunities to earn certificates and advance your career even if you don't want to attend college. Look into Skilled Trade opportunities that interest you. Then look for local schools that provide training in this area AND/OR Apprenticeships. (What's an Apprenticeship? Find out here for DPS Students and here!) Did you know you can study Welding at the Community College of Denver? Check it out!  Emily Griffith also has A LOT of really interesting programs that won't take as long or cost as much as a college degree. BUT you can earn just as much money, depending on what you study. They have programs like Accounting, Clock Repair, Video Production and Editing, Real Estate and Practical Nursing. Have a look and see what interests you!
On the Lincoln Tech Denver Campus, you can check out programs ranging from Nail Technician to HVAC, and Medical Coding and Billing.

If you are more interested in an Apprenticeship, do some research at CareerOne Stop. Let me know what you find!

It's never too early to start your research so even if you are not a Senior, make sure you are using your YESS College Research Sheet! If you lost the link, email me at yess.emily@gmail.com and I can give you access!