|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
The Four Steps to College | College Access | Scholarships | College Visitation and Transition Programs | Colleges to Check Out The Four Steps to College Planning for college can be confusing, but there is help available at Elon and other North Carolina and national organizations to follow these key steps to going to college. Push yourself – Working a little harder today will make getting into college even easier. Find the right fit – Find out what kind of school is the best match for you and your career goals. Put your hands on some cash - If you think you can't afford college, think again. There's lots of aid out there. Following is a list of links to organizations dedicated to college preparation, scholarships, financial aid packages and other college access opportunities. Tips for Filling out the FAFSA: When you are figuring out how to pay for college, don't forget about the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). There are several resources that may be helpful to you when you fill out this form including the following: College Foundation of North Carolina: The CFNC is a state-wide program to assist North Carolina students in planning, applying, and paying for college. Their website includes a high school planner, test preparation information, special calculators to help students determine the loans they / need and a repayment schedule, loan applications, applications to North Carolina colleges and universities, a scholarship database, and virtual campus tours among other resources for college-bound high school students. Questbridge National College Match Program: This program helps outstanding low-income high school seniors to gain admission and full four-year scholarships to some of the nation’s leading colleges. QuestBridge works with selective colleges that are actively seeking high-achieving students regardless of family income. You may be concerned about tuition costs, but top-ranked colleges offer generous financial aid packages that cover 100% of demonstrated financial need, making them very affordable for students from low-income backgrounds. U.S. Department of Education's College.gov: This website aims to motivate students with inspirational stories and information about planning, preparing and paying for college. Designed with students’ input and participation, College.gov was created by the U.S. Department of Education to be a go-to online resource for credible information about college that also provides real life experiences of peers who are already attending college. For more information: karla.verbryckblock@ed.gov. KnowHow2GO.org: Young people in all socio-economic groups have college aspirations. In fact, eight out of 10 expect to attain a bachelor’s degree or higher, according to the U.S. Department of Education. But despite their aspirations, low-income students and those who are the first in their families to pursue higher education are severely underrepresented on college campuses. Studies show these students often lack the guidance they need to prepare for postsecondary education. In order to turn these students' college dreams into action-oriented goals, the American Council on Education, Lumina Foundation for Education and the Ad Council launched the KnowHow2GO campaign in January 2007. This multiyear, multimedia effort includes television, radio and outdoor public service advertisements (PSAs) that encourage 8th through 10th graders to prepare for college using the four simple steps listed above. Academic Support Programs: The Elon Academy staff has compiled a list of academic support programs that can be useful to students, parents, high school counselors, and teachers. Fair Test: The National Center for Fair and Open Testing is an organization that works to end the misuses and flaws of standardized testing and to ensure that evaluation of students, teachers and schools is fair, open, valid and educationally beneficial. At this website, you can find a list of schools that are Test Optional meaning they do not require ACT or SAT scores for admission. You can also find extensive information about the biases in testing and strategies for overcoming them. Classes and Careers - An Online Education Resource: Classesandcareers.com provides information about online education including receiving financial aid and choosing the best online university for you. **See additional information and resources at our College Access and Success Policies and Resources page. Rules of Thumb 1. If you must pay money to get money, it might be a scam. The Federal Trade Commission cautions students to look for tell tale lines: * "The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back." The scholarships listed below are legitimate scholarships that Elon Academy staff have researched. This list is not a complete list of all scholarships available, but it should help you get started. Scholarships for North Carolina students at Elon: This website provides a list of scholarships available for North Carolina students who are attending or will attend Elon. The list includes eligibility information and links to applications and/or more information. Alliance/Merck Ciencia (Science) Hispanic Scholars Program: This $2,000 scholarship supports Hispanic students who major Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (the STEM majors). You must register on their website and use the online application to apply. The application is due February 15, 2010. Best Buy Scholarship: This scholarship supports students with solid grades, involvement in volunteer efforts in their schools and communities, and/or with a work history. Students must be planning to attend a college, university or technical school in the fall immediately following their high school graduation. 9–12th grade students from private, public, alternative or home schools are eligible to apply. Grants are a one-time award, so if you were a winner in the past, you aren't eligible to apply again.To apply, a student must be a member of Best Buy's @15 program. You can register for the program here. The application is due February 1, 2010. Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation: This foundation is one of the largest business-supported, merit-based scholarship programs of its kind in the United States. It gives 50 national scholarships of $20,000 each and 200 regional scholarships of $10,000 each. Additionally, it awards 400 scholarships to students attending two-year degree granting institutions in the amount of $1,000 and $2,000 awards. The application process has been closed for 2010. It is likely that the next round of applications will be due on or around October 31, 2010. FreshBrain Scholarships: FreshBrain provides teens with an innovative place to explore with technology, connect with others and create with technology. They also offer multiple scholarships for students interested in pursuing technology-related education. These scholarships are announced periodically and have different criteria for eligibility, so be sure to check the website regularly for new opportunities. Gladys Outlaw Gallop Scholarship: The Burlington Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.will award two Gladys Outlaw Gallop Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each. This scholarship is open to all students who meet the scholarship guidelines. The student must: (1) be a US citizen, (2) be a legal NC resident, (3) be an Alamance County high school senior, (4) have a GPA of 2.5 or higher on an unweighed scale of 4.0, (5) be involved in school and community activities, and (6) have plans to enroll full-time at an accredited four-year university or college the fall immediately following graduation. The university/college must be a public or private, not for profit institution from which the applicant can receive his/her bachelor’s degree. Each applicant is required to write a 500 word essay detailing his/her future aspirations and must secure two letters of reference: one explaining school extracurricular and volunteer service activities; the other explaining community and volunteer service activities. Applications are to be postmarked on or before March 31, 2010. You may contact Harlece Jeffries at harlecej@yahoo.com or at 336.226.8936 with questions or concerns. For more information and to complete your application, please download the scholarship packet and the application. KFC Colonel's Scholarship: This scholarship supports high school seniors with entrepreneurial drive, strong perseverance, and demonstrated financial need, who want to pursue a college education at an accredited public institution in the state in which they reside. Qualified students must be high school seniors (graduating between 12/1/09 and 8/31/10) who: are enrolling in a public college or university within their state of legal residence, have a high school cumulative GPA of at least 2.75, will pursue a bachelor's degree, are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and demonstrate financial need. The application is due Februrary 10, 2010 before 5:00 p.m. Native American Health Education Fund: This fund, administered by the Triangle Community Foundation, provides scholarships for Native American students who are interested in pursuing a career in a health-related field. Application deadline is June 15, 2010. Navy League Foundation Scholarships: The Navy League Foundation offers scholarships for students with family members who are or have been in the Navy. To qualify for the scholarship, students must: be direct descendants or dependents of Navy personnel, be U.S. citizens, graduate from high school by the end of the 2009-2010 school year, enter and accredited college or university in Fall 2010, maintain at least a 3.0 average GPA, and demonstrate financial need. Applications are due March 1, 2010. North Carolina Hispanic College Fund: The North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals, through the Triangle Community Foundation, provides scholarships annually through the North Carolina Hispanic College Fund to high achieving, recent graduates of NC high schools who are of Hispanic/Latino background. To be eligible, students must be Hispanic, Latino, or Latina; graduate from a North Carolina high school or GED program; demonstrate excellence in academic, athletics, performing arts, and/or service to humanity; and must enroll in a degree program at a community college or 2 or 4 year college or university. The application process is closed for 2010. Applications will likely be due in January for 2011. North Carolina Jaycees Five Outstanding Teenagers Scholarship: The North Carolina Jaycees, through the Triangle Community Foundation, sponsor a scholarship for North Carolina high school seniors who are well rounded in the areas of scholarship, leadership, and community service. To be nominated a student must be a high school senior during the current high school year; have an overall grade point average of 3.0 and provide a high school transcript; be a North Carolina resident; and exemplify the well-round youth in scholarship, leadership, and community service. Individual community Jaycee chapters request candidates for high schools in their community for this scholarship. The Ron Brown Scholarship Program: The RBS is a national program benefiting academically-talented, highly motivated, African American high school seniors and awards them $40,000 towards college costs. For more information contact Robyn Hadley, Executive Director of the "What's After High School Initiative," 609 Ray Street Graham, NC 27253 (336) 570-6644 ext. 683. USA Funds Access to Education Scholarship: This $1,500 scholarship supports students who will be enrolled in a two-year or four-year college or university for the Fall 2010 semester, demonstrate financial need, and are U.S. citizens or qualified non-residents. Up to 50% of the awards will be targeted for students who are members of an ethnic minority group or who have a documented physical disability. The application is due February 15, 2010. College scholarships for adult women: Since 1978, the Jeannette Rankin Foundation has awarded scholarships to help over 450 women who are over the age of 35 attend college. Applications are available here for the 2010 school year and are due March 1, 2010. National, State, and Local Scholarships Database: Navigating college scholarships and financial aid can be a difficult process, but in the end a very rewarding one. The following database is a listing of national, state, and local scholarships, in a variety of disciplines, to help students and families identify and apply for scholarships. Scholarships are listed by name, year student may apply, award amount, any specific requirements for applicants, date the application is due, and website. College Visitation and Transition Programs Wesleyan College Travel Assistance Program: If you are interested in visiting Wesleyan College, the admissions office offers travel assistance, particularly for students of color who live outside the Northeast. The program pays all expenses for the trip including round-trip travel expenses, meals, and housing. Visit the website for the travel assistance application form. Oberlin College Multicultural Visit Program: If accepted into Oberlin's program, the admissions office will pay all expenses for students of color to visit Oberlin's campus. The trip includes a stay in residence halls, a tour of the campus, visits to classes, admissions and financial aid workshops, and meetings with current students, professors, and admissions staff. Visit the website for application materials. UNC Charlotte UTOP Program: The University Transition Opportunities Program (UTOP) began in 1986 to facilitate the underrepresented student's transition from high school to college. By involving incoming UNC-Charlotte freshmen in a rigorous five-week summer collegiate experience, UTOP builds upon the scholastic abilities of the students through college courses and contact with University academic support services. Harvard University Secondary School Program: This summer program allows students to take courses and live on Harvard's campus for a summer. QuestBridge (see above) will work with the Harvard Secondary School Program (SSP) to select students based on academic accomplishment and financial need. Students selected for Harvard SSP through the QuestBridge College Prep program will not need to submit a separate SSP application. However, because admission through QuestBridge is highly selective, students interested in attending the Harvard SSP regardless of QuestBridge's scholarship offer should consider applying directly to the SSP as a backup option. Colleges and College Databases To Check Out If You... This list is not a comprehensive list. It is meant only to help you get started in your college search. These schools are listed because other Elon Academy scholars have identified these schools as possibilities for them. We encourage you to investigate other colleges not on this list to ensure that you find the right college for you. The ACT and SAT scores listed for each college are average scores for admitted students. We list them here to give you a sense of whether or not you would be likely to be considered for admission. However, test scores are only one part of the evaluation process. Colleges and universities accept students who have both lower and higher test scores. Additionally, "test optional" schools do not require you to submit test scores to be considered for admission. These schools may be a good choice for you if your test scores do not reflect your academic potential. Need Significant Financial Assistance to Attend College and/or Are a First Generation College Student College for Every Student: CFES focuses on developing school-college partnerships to assist underserved students in going to college. They maintain a list of their college partners - colleges that are committed in particular to admitting and supporting first generation college students. Berea College (ACT 20-30; SAT 1410-1980) Struggle with Standardized Testing or Maintaining a High GPA Fair Test "Test Optional" Colleges Database: Some schools do not require SAT or ACT scores for admission. This database lists over 800 such colleges. Are an Undocumented Student Elon Academy Resource Page for Undocumented Students: This resource page lists university policies concerning undocumented for various North Carolina colleges and universities. It also contains information about scholarships for undocumented students. Barry University (ACT 18-22; SAT 1290-1590)
|
|
