Science and Technology Careers, Scholarships

Guest Blog by Katie Heino, Senior, Alverno College

Ever wonder how you can make a difference in the world, but maybe you feel like you’re too young or do not have enough experience?  Well think again, because this is the perfect time to participate in programs that will help you to learn more about potential career interests.

Whether you are a freshman in high school or a senior excitedly awaiting graduation, there are so many opportunities to get involved, especially in extracurricular activities.  In recent years, high schools have been modifying their curriculum to provide more science and technology programs.  In addition to these courses, students have the option to participate in robotics, engineering, and other clubs that ultimately strengthen their critical thinking, problem solving, and team work skills. 

The following programs are examples of those that offer students the opportunity to explore potential career interests in science and technology:

1. Do you ever find yourself digging out a telescope on clear nights and looking up into space with fascination? If you answered “yes,” visit  http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/9-12/index.html, where you will find innovative programs, like DEVELOP. This program offers students the chance to work with professionals on an Earth science research project. If you’re interested the application deadline for this program is February 28^th.  In addition, check out other career building options, such as internships and summer camps.
2.  If you are energy savvy and passionate about reducing your carbon foot print, then a career in alternative energy might catch your interest. Visit the http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/publish/us/en/products/building_efficiency/market/k-12/igniting_creative.html to learn about student scholarship programs, like The Igniting Creative Energy Challenge, which offers students the chance to share their innovative energy ideas through creative submissions which are considered for a scholarship.  Early bird deadline is February 18, standard deadline is March 4.

Keep in mind, any extracurricular activity you participate in represents your willingness and initiative to learn beyond the four walls of a classroom, and this is a plus, when it comes to applying for scholarships, higher education, and even a future job.

Write Your Way into the New Year

By Katie Heino, Senior, Alverno College

Researching scholarships is an art.  It requires knowing your strengths and ultimately, what works best for you.  With that said, pinpointing your strengths will help you to know which scholarships have the most potential.

If you happen to be a person who enjoys writing, there are plenty of opportunities for you to express yourself.  Most scholarships are based on applications and submitting information, like your GPA and ACT/SAT scores.  However, an essay contest truly allows scholarship providers to learn more about your personality and your ability to express personal beliefs.

As you delve into writing, keep these tips in mind:

1. Know Your Competition. Scholarships that require you to write an essay based on your response to a novel or a particular situation can be time consuming.  However, knowing your competition will help you to budget your time more effectively and know if it is worth your time. For example, the Ayn Rand Institute offers scholarships that involve reading a novel and in response, writing an essay.  It is very competitive, but if you have the time—go for it.
2. Use School as a Resource. Visit your school’s financial aid or career center.  Professionals working in these departments have the networking skills to help you research and they probably have a list of scholarships available.  Also, if you happen to know a teacher who is willing to edit your work, this could be very beneficial.
3. Read Carefully. Essay contests are crafted so that the writer keeps-on-track and so that the judge’s time is not being wasted.  Make sure you follow key criteria, such as word count or page limits, font, margins, and how it should be submitted (email, etc.), because simple mistakes can cost you big points.
4. Save, Save, Save. Keep a large box in your basement or closet to store all of your accomplishments, especially if your work has been published or is chosen as a winning piece for a writing contest.  They look great in a portfolio when you are looking for a job someday!

In addition to writing essays, if you enjoy creating artwork, taking pictures, blogging, and other communication, visit websites such as The Alliance for Young Artists and Writers and the Young Voices Foundation, to find other opportunities.   Normally, I do not recommend paying a fee to apply for a scholarship, but this practice is very common in these types of “award” contests and some students don’t mind paying the $5.  Use your own judgment.

 

 

National Scholarship Month – List of Scholarships

Here is a list of scholarship providers that I met while attending the National Scholarship Providers conference.  You will notice the diversity of the providers.  Even if these aren’t a match for you personally, I hope it inspires you to get creative when searching for scholarships.

American Library Association (ALA)  – http://www.ala.org/ala/educationcareers/scholarships/index.cfm (Want to be a librarian?  Scholarships for earning your master’s degree in library and information science. Check them out.)

Bright Prospect – www.brightprospect.org (“posse” system for attending college, based in California)

Charlie Wootan Grant – http://www.aie.org/wootan/ (For low-income students – application process not until 2011, but bookmark the page now)

Evan Scholars Foundation  – http://www.wgaesf.org (I have written about them before…scholarships for golf caddies)

Greenhouse Scholars – www.greenhousescholars.org (for under-resourced students in the Colorado area)

Hispanic Scholarship Fund – www.hsf.net (aggressive goal to have a college degree in every Latino household)

Junior Achievement – www.ja.org (chapters around the world, some have scholarships – and, involvement in JA can build the skills that lead to other scholarships…)

National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation – www.nraef.org (variety of scholarships for students in culinary arts)

National Society of Collegiate Scholars – www.nscs.org (I was a panelist at their annual conference a few years ago – very bright, energetic group of members)

Pride Foundation – www.pridefoundation.org (scholarships to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and straight-ally leaders and role models from Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Washington)

The Washboard.org – www.thewashboard.org (actually a ‘smarter’ listing of scholarship matches, provided for students in Washington state)

Tourism Cares – www.tourismcares.org (from the tourism industry: to preserve the travel experience for future generations – who knew?)

The 10/20 Project – www.the1020project.org (not quite a scholarship, I admit, but a chance to support homeless people who could possibly be on the path to higher education after they get themselves situated…)

The Terry Foundation – www.terryfoundation.org (Winner of the National Scholarship Provider of the Year Award! – Congratulations!)

Don’t see a scholarship for you?  Look at the list and think about similar organizations that might be located in your city or town. Do your research locally and you’ll be amazed at what you find!  Good luck!

The Scholarship Lady

A New Approach: The Three-Year Bachelor Program

 Guest Blogger Katie:

Some colleges are introducing a three-year bachelor program for various majors. 

This opportunity is becoming more popular and you might encounter it as you are planning for your college career.  Just like other opportunities, it is important that students determine what their dreams and goals are in order to better understand if a three-year bachelor program is the right path to take.  Here are a few questions to ask yourself, when considering this type of program:

1. Am I prepared to work at a faster pace? For some students, this means they have found a way to overcome the standard four-year time frame. However, make sure that you are prepared to handle more homework and closer deadlines.
2. Will I be able to attend school in the summer?  With more classes to complete in a condensed time frame, you may need to take classes over the summer.   Make sure that you do your research to learn more about how much credits cost over the summer because some courses are more expensive.  You can visit your college’s website or contact the financial aid office to learn more about summer courses.
3. How much money will I save?  College can be very expensive, especially with tuition, room and board, textbooks, and other expenses.  So if you can find a way to erase one year of tuition, it might be beneficial in the long run.  You can read more articles about earning your degree at a faster pace by visiting the Inside Higher Education website at http://tinyurl.com/25qzprr.

Take advantage of this new approach. Contact the college that you are interested in and see if they offer these types of programs in your desired major.

Use Your Summer to Plan for Jobs and Scholarships

Guest Blogger Katie:

In today’s economy, finding scholarships can be a challenging task.
If you are planning your last year of high school, or your fall semester in college, then you are probably asking yourself, “What are my plans this summer to pay for my college expenses?” As a student, particularly in today’s uncertain economy, you will be forced to think outside of the box, in order to find scholarships, to build upon your resume, and to find job opportunities.
Here are a few tips that will point you in the right direction.

1. Visit job fairs. Some high schools and colleges host their own job fairs to help students learn more about employers and available positions. Keep in mind that some companies encourage their employees to embrace higher education by offering scholarships. For example, Culver’s offers its VIP Scholarship Program to its employees.

2. Volunteer. Although not a paid position, volunteering can provide endless opportunities that will “pay off” in the future. More scholarship providers are asking questions like, “Do you have any volunteer experience?” Make sure that you have an answer to this question. If your answer is “no,” don’t worry. You still have time to pursue these opportunities. There are plenty of organizations, like the American Red Cross (www.redcrossyouth.org), that offer a variety of programs based on your interests.

3. Network. You have to do your research and sometimes that means just bringing it up in conversation. It is amazing what you can learn by meeting new people through networking. For example, I recently learned about the organization, AmeriCorp, and how it provides individuals with the chance to make a difference and at the same time raise money for their education. You can learn more about this organization by visiting www.americorps.gov.
Stand out among your scholarship competitors by spending your summer planning your future.

Tags: Summer Jobs, Summer Scholarships, the ScholarshipLady

Links for Parents of College Students or College-Bound Students

As a special tribute to parents, our team compiled this list of parent-focused resources and websites to help you help your sons and daughters.   (Alert:  The Scholarship Lady is not an employee or affiliate of any of these organizations.  I am merely providing these as an informational resource.)   Check out these resources:

College Parents of America is a membership organization that provides good advice and insight into college preparation and college success strategies for families.  Go here:

http://www.collegeparents.org/cpa/index.html

This one’s a link to over 40 other links useful for parents. It includes links on financial aid/scholarships, where to find cheap textbooks, career advice, and discount deals for students.  The Scholarship Lady was interviewed for one of their articles.

http://www.wisebread.com/college/college-resources

This site offers a wealth of articles from college parents who share their experiences with other parents. It also contains short videos to watch, a blog, and a “pick of the month” link to an e-book course on money management.

http://collegetipsforparents.org/

College Parenting is a free magazine that parents can subscribe to. They can pull up an e-version of the magazine to flip through, and the site contains several links to campus life information and scholarships.

http://www.collegeparenting.com/

This is another site, geared toward parents, that offers online, specialized guides on specific universities.

http://www.universityparent.com/

A section of CollegeBoard.com is designed specifically for parents. It provides links to scholarship sites and offers a free e-newsletter to parents.

http://www.collegeboard.com/parents/

This is a mental health guide for parents to refer to while their student is in college. Parents can quickly find a doctor located near their student and may join an online discussion forum regarding college health and wellness.

http://www.revolutionhealth.com/conditions/mental-behavioral-health/college-health/parents/mental-health

This one is a section of the U.S. Department of Education site designed just for parents. It includes access to an archive of “Education News Parents Can Use,” videos dating back to 2002. In addition, the site gives links to financial aid/scholarship sites, FAQs, and tips for parents.  http://www.ed.gov/parents/landing.jhtml?src=ln

Tags: College Admissions, college advice, college parents, Financial Aid, scholarship advice, The Scholarship Lady

15 Changes to the FAFSA and What it Means to You

Yay for you if you will be completing the FAFSA this year (as opposed to previous years).  The Scholarship Lady is psyched about the streamlined FAFSA.  Based on the changes, I predict a long-term reduction in parent and student stress, more familial bliss, more time to spend on the better things in life and more opportunities for college-bound students.  Wait, what’s the FAFSA, you ask?  The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  If you need money for college, completing the FAFSA is in your best interest and nearly all students –98%–complete it online.  I participated in a training yesterday and here are highlights and changes of how the FAFSA has improved:

1. New url for the site:  www.fafsa.gov.  The old url still works but this is a shorter address in hopes of preventing students from going to “un”official sites that charge a fee to complete the FAFSA for you.  NEVER pay a fee to complete the FAFSA.  It’s free.

2. Color coded tabs for student and parent sections so it is clear who fills in the required information.  Parents = purple.  Students = Blue.

3. More detailed information such as graduation and retention rates of the colleges you select.  Hey, you should know what you are paying for, right?

4. Fewer questions, based on the profile you enter.  For example, if you are not married, you will not see the questions about married students.  That makes sense and saves you time.

5. More help functions that are tailored to you and how you answer the questions.

6. Removal of Veteran’s benefits questions because they no longer affect eligibility for other federal aid (could change in the future – don’t know)

7. Quick, live estimate of Pell Grant eligibility, based on the information your provide.  No matter waiting and wondering.

8. Virtual keyboard and scrambled SS# to better protect your identity.

9.  Status bars/indicators so you know where you are in the process.

10. Fewer questions about assets for low-income students…again, that makes sense.

11. Transfer (pre-population) of parent information to a sibling’s application.

12. Skip or re-direct on questions about homeless students or dependent students whose parents refuse to provide financial information.

13.  Revised definitions of homeless, degree of homelessness, independent status, dislocated workers (including dislocated homemaker, which is an extremely important job!) to identify and expand financial aid opportunities for more people.

14. Matching process through Department of Defense for additional aid for students (dependents) who had a parent killed in Iraq or Afghanistan since 9/11/01.

15.  Coming in Summer 2010….drumroll please….IRS data retrieval tool to lift information from your parents’ tax forms and SAVE YOU TIME!!!

Sources:  Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corp Training and ed.gov blog http://www.edgovblogs.org/duncan/2010/01/a-simpler-application-for-student-aid/

Tags: dislocated workers, FAFSA, fafsa tips, Financial Aid, independent students, pell grant, The Scholarship Lady