Scholarship+and+Financial+Aid+Information

= = = General Information and Overview = Financial Aid Overview - our memo Your First Financial Aid Step - figuring out your expected family contribution (EFC) - what colleges expect you to pay, and what you can afford

Why College Savings Usually Won't Hurt Financial Aid Chances

A College Plan for the People - an editorial on why it's wiser to spend less for college and more (possibly) for grad school.

A Need-Blind Admission Controversy - it's not so much the controversy you need to know about, it's the bottom line: if you have high financial need, you need to have strong high school courses and grades to be competitive for admission and financial aid. Related: Colleges That Meet 100% of Demonstrated Need and Schools That Meet 100% of Financial Need An article about A Great New Financial Aid Website: Edvisors How Four Types Of Families Approach Paying For College - quick analysis of a Sallie Mae report. Top Colleges That Enroll Rich, Middle Class, and Poor - An interesting article if you're curious about the economic diversity of various colleges. A Quiet Revolution In Helping Lift the Burden of Student Loan Debt - good news for today's borrowers.

"The Real Deal on Financial Aid" - from Muhlenberg College. Read this candid discussion of merit aid from a college's perspective. Don't miss this key point: "If money is a factor in your college search and it will impact your final choice, you should make sure to apply to colleges where you are clearly in the top third to top quarter of the applicant pool."

A College Financial Aid Guide for Families Who Have Saved Nothing- Wondering where to start? There's a step by step guide in this article.

SimpleTuition: an online student loan comparison that provides a free, informative way to compare, sort, choose, and apply for student loans. www.SimpleTuition.com

Deciphering Misleading Financial Aid Letters - what to look for when comparing financial aid offers.

LendEDU.com - a site run by UD students that provides an overview of paying for college and a method for comparing student loan interest rates, among other resources.

Public University Honors Programs - a great way to find strong programs at affordable prices

Educational Opportunity: California's Upward-Mobility Machine - an analysis of data from the recently (summer 2015) published College Access Index, including Top Colleges Doing the Most For Lower-Income Students - a good place to look if true socioeconomic diversity is important in your college search.

For the Poor in the Ivy League, a Full Ride Isn't Always What They Imagined - a helpful article in considering the expenses beyond tuition and the emotional cost of attending college where most classmates are significantly wealthier. = = = Net Price Calculators (NPCs) =

A New Tool to Measure College Costs - an article about a site that lets you compare the net price calculators of several colleges at once.

Why You MUST Use Net Price Calculators - not all NPCs are created equal, but this article explains how to make the best use of them and what to look for in the weaker versions.

An article on College Abacus, which allows you to compare several colleges' net price calculators in one place. = = = FAFSA Information =

Who Should Complete the FAFSA? - whether the students' parents are divorced, married, never married, or a same-sex couple, this article explains who needs to fill out the FAFSA.

Avoid These FAFSA Mistakes FAFSA Presentation - from U.S. Dept. of Education. FAFSA Digital Tool Kit - a page of helpful links for FAFSA users

FAFSA4caster: provides a free financial aid estimator that you can use before you officially apply for financial aid using the FAFSA; part of the official FAFSA website. [|www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov] Upcoming FAFSA changes

How To Get Help With the FAFSA

Q&A: Financial Aid Applications

= = = = = ** Handouts and Presentation from November's Financial Aid Program: ** Financial Aid Program Presentation 2015 College Cost Comparison Chart Helpful Hints and Practical Ideas Choosing a College and Paying For It - Myths and Facts Questions You Should Ask Before Applying = Financial Aid Resources on the Web =Financial Aid Appeal Letters - Samples= If your financial aid offer is not what you had hoped, here are three sample letters to help guide you in communicating with the financial aid offices at colleges: Financial aid appeal - low offer compared to other schools

Financial aid appeal - EFC not met

Financial aid appeal - unique circumstances = = = **Scholarships** =

10 Things You Need to Know About Private Scholarships - especially #1: they're not the biggest source of college funding (merit aid or grants from individual colleges are).

Scholarships.com: provides a free database of over 2.7 million scholarships and grants as well as student loan information.

= = =**Specific Scholarship Contest Information:**= To apply, follow the directions at each link. If you need to be nominated by a school official, or want more information on scholarships, see Jessica Smith or Kathleen Martin for help. Please remember that the most significant sources of college funding are need-based grants and merit aid - see more on this topic above!

Horatio Alger Scholarships - need-based, $7000 (state winners) to $22,000 (national) scholarships. Deadline: October 25, 2015

The Committee of 100 is offering a $3,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior who is a resident of New Castle County and who intends to major in business, economics, or a related field. The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of academic excellence as well as well-rounded involvement in extra-curricular and community activities. The Committee of 100 may offer additional scholarships based upon need, special circumstances, unique accomplishments, and/or a compelling story. Deadline: April 2.

raise.me - students can earn micro scholarships (less than $1000) for their achievements in high school, such as good grades and participation in activities.

Del-One Credit Union - two $1000 scholarships. Must be member or child of grandchild of Del-One and attend college in Delaware. Deadline: March 15.

John L. Buzzi Memorial Scholarship - $1000 scholarship. Must attend college in DE, NJ, PA, or NY and have an interest in water resources. Deadline: March 31.


 * Jack Curran Memorial Scholarship** - $1000 scholarship for student who is a resident of New Castle County and has been admitted to college. Deadline: March 27.


 * Trustees of New Castle Common Scholarship Fund -** $2400 per year, renewable, awarded on the basis of financial need and scholastic ability. Must have at least a 2.5 GPA and be a resident of the City of New Castle. See Ms. Smith for details. Deadline: July 1.


 * William H. Heald Scholarship** - $3000 - $4000 awarded annually (renewable) to **male resident of New Castle County attending UD**. See Ms. Smith for more info. Deadline: January 31.

Guide to Scholarships for New Americans and Minorities - a long document with many lists of scholarship possibilities inside.

American Association of University Women (Wilmington, DE branch) offers scholarships totaling $60,000 to high school seniors (or graduates) or are college-bound women and Delaware residents. They require an extension application, including your financial information, essays, and recommendations. Deadline: March 1.

AXA Foundation Scholarships - up to $10,000 and $25,000. Deadline: December 15.

Delaware Scholarship Compendium website and the compendium itself - a collection of scholarships for which DE residents are eligible. Non-Delawareans, check out these listings anyway - some are national scholarships that don't require DE residency.

Console and Hollawell Legal Scholarship - $1000 to be awarded to a student pursuing pre-law or related field. Must have 3.0 GPA. Deadline : July 15, 2016.

Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program - $1000 renewable for students with 2.8 GPA, leadership abilities, and community service.

Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship Program: $6000 scholarships awarded annually to minority high school students who demonstrate financial need and leadership potential. [|http://www.jackierobinson.org/about/effect.php#Scholarship]

Bank of America Scholarships: Bank of America Joe Martin Scholarship program is a competitive scholarship program available for college or vocational schools to dependents of associates who have been employed by Bank of America for at least 1 year. Dependents of deceased, disabled, or retired associates also are eligible. Scholarship awards are based on academic achievement, leadership, contributions to school and community, character, and financial need. [|http://about.bankofamerica.com/en-us/global-impact/joe-martin-scholarship.html#fbid=kdWe6-L3bo_]

McDonald’s - The Ronald McDonald House Charities: Scholarships are for those applicants who live in the U.S., where there are participating local chapters. The applicant must be a high school senior and under 21 years of age. The scholarships are available for either four-year or two-year colleges. [] Deadline: January 20, 2016.

Gates Millenium Scholars: The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS), funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was established in 1999 to provide African American, American Indian/Alaska Natives, Asian Pacific Islander Americans, and Hispanic American students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education in all discipline areas, and a graduate education for those students pursuing studies in mathematics, science, engineering, education, or library science. Requirements for scholarship consideration are the following: must be a citizen, national or legal permanent resident of the United States, have attained a cumulative high school GPA of 3.3 on an unweighted 4.0 scale or have earned a GED, must be Pell Grant eligible. []