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Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Thursday, July 1st, 2010
This year, the Gates Millennium Scholarship Program awarded 4-year scholarships to 1,000 minority students,
 Nichols College in Dudley Massachusetts making it the nation’s largest minority scholarship program. The award was established in 1999 with a $1 billion grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The scholarship’s format is very unique. It does not offer predetermined awards. Instead, it selects the nation’s best and brightest minority students and grants them awards based on individual financial need.
The scholarship is open to all students who:
· Are nonwhite.
· Have an unweighted GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or have obtained a GED.
· Will enroll for the first time as a full-time, degree-seeking student in an accredited US college or university.
· Have an exemplary record of community service, extracurricular participation, and leadership.
· Meet federal Pell Grant eligibility.
· Submit application materials by the scholarship’s deadline.
To apply for the Gates Millennium Scholarship, visit the scholarship website. Read through the “nominee instructions,” and create an account. The application consists of three parts:
· Nominee Form. This asks questions about you and your finances.
· Nominator Form. One of your educators should fill-out this form. It asks for information about your academic qualifications and habits.
· Recommender Form. Any non-relative familiar with your participation in community service and extracurricular activities should fill-out this form. It asks about your leadership abilities and community service experience.
All necessary forms can be completed online, and the application deadline is usually in January.
This scholarship can be an excellent resource for qualified minority students, and anyone who meets the above criteria should apply.
Technorati Tags: college scholarships, ethnic scholarships, gates millennium scholarship program, hispanic scholarships, minority scholarships, private scholarships, scholarships for hispanic women
Tags: college scholarships, ethnic scholarships, gates millennium scholarship program, hispanic scholarships, minority scholarships, private scholarships, scholarships for hispanic women
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Monday, April 12th, 2010
During the last few months, newspapers have been filled with articles about how the recent healthcare reform bill will affect different groups of Americans. They mention the elderly, the young, the rich, the poor, the majority, the minority, the Democrats, and the Republicans. However, many of these reports fail to mention college students, who will be affected by a piece of legislation attached to the healthcare bill. This legislation will have an immediate impact on students and could make a lasting mark on the student loan industry.
Most changes included in the bill (called the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act or SAFRA) will save college students money. Primarily, SAFRA discontinues the program that allowed private banks to offer federally backed student loans, mandating that all federally backed student loans be taken directly from the government. However, private, nonprofit organizations will still be allowed to service the loans. This will reduce the amount of fees that students have to pay while maintaining a similar level of customer service. The act also caps the maximum monthly loan payment that the government can demand after the recipient graduates at 10% of his or her income. The Congressional Budget Office has stated that these changes will save the government about $61
billion over the next 10 years. Under the legislation, most of these savings will go toward raising the size of the maximum Pell grant from $5,550 to $5,975 by 2017 (it will begin to rise in 2013 by a yearly amount that is based on changes in the Consumer Price Index). Without this legislation the maximum Pell grant would have fallen to a mere $2,150 by 2011.
Though SAFRA will help the average student, many claim that its provisions will make student loans tougher to repay. There’s no question that federal student loans are slightly cheaper when taken directly through the government. However, private banks were able to compete with the government by offering repayment
incentives and missed-payment forgiveness. SAFRA will eliminate these things by removing private banks from the government-backed student loan market, but
little evidence exists to suggest that this will significantly raise the overall student loan default rate, especially since the bill lowers the cap on the monthly payment that the government can demand.
Students will need to make a few changes in order to adapt to the new legislation. All recipients of federal student loans will need to sign a new Master Promissory Note with the Department of Education (parents will also need to sign a new one for any student loans under their names). Many colleges have already begun to hold workshops that explain how to do this. Anyone who took a
federally backed student loan through a private bank should also thoroughly review his or her repayment plan to ensure that it has not been affected.
Though SAFRA will have an immediate and lasting impact on the student loan market, it will not significantly affect financial aid eligibility requirements or the amount of aid that college students receive. However, those who have or may need student loans should review applicable guidelines and sign a new Master Promissory Note.
Additional Information:
House of Representatives Website
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Monday, April 12th, 2010
You should consider academic, social, and financial factors (probably in that order) when deciding whether to apply to a school. However, as acceptance letters begin to arrive in March, financial aid will become one of the major considerations you utilize in making final college plans. That is why it’s important to know some basics about financial aid awards. Though two schools
may require equal family contributions, one may have inflated its aid package with unsubsidized student loans and work study programs. Knowing the precise
makeup of your financial aid options will allow you to choose a better college and avoid hassle after school has begun.
You likely submitted some financial information to each school shortly after applying; thus, they all have a rough idea of what your family can afford.
Because the schools that accept you won’t make unreasonable financial demands (they want you to enroll) and obviously don’t want to throw money away by
helping the financially capable, all of your financial aid awards will probably demand similar family contributions. These awards can differ greatly, though, in their ratios of gift aid to self-help aid.
Any sort of “free” financial aid, primarily grants and scholarships, constitutes gift aid. Grants are often tax exempt and have few requirements. Scholarships
have more requirements and may be taxable; however, the amount of the tax is usually negligible and most students can easily meet the requirements (for
example, enrollment in four classes and a GPA better than 2.0). Self-help, on the other hand, is barely financial aid at all. It is more like an institution-endorsed payment plan that helps you find a work-study program or
appropriate student loans. You will be required to pay back self help aid through work or loan payments.
You should also consider a school’s cost of attendance (COA) when evaluating financial aid offers ($15,000 goes a lot further toward a COA of $17,000 than $16,000 does toward a COA of $30,000). The estimated cost of attendance takes into account tuition, room and board, and some estimate of other living expenses. Subtract the amount of gift aid a school offers from its estimated
COA and look primarily at this figure when considering a school’s financial aid package. It represents the amount of money that you and your family will actually have to pay the institution.
Picking a school can be as difficult as applying. However, with the above information, you can easily discern the real amount of financial aid schools
are offering. This adds clarity to the process and helps you pick the best college.
Additional Resources:
IRS Guidelines: Taxable Income for Students
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Monday, April 12th, 2010
Are you a US military veteran who served on or after September 11th, 2001? If so, you, your spouse, and your children may be eligible to receive extensive
college financial aid benefits.
On June 30th, 2008, congress passed the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008, which, among other things, significantly expanded federal tuition
assistance to military veterans. Under this act, any military veteran with 90 or more days of active duty service on or after September 11th, 2001 is eligible to receive some sort of financial assistance for college, and those who served for more than 36 months are eligible for full benefits. These include:
• Tuition assistance for up to 36 months of post-secondary education. At most, this amount can be equal to the tuition of the most expensive public university
of the state in which the recipient attends college. This means that someone with 36 months of active duty military service can essentially attend any public college in America for free. Additionally, the new GI Bill offers
financial assistance to cover part of the cost of more expensive private school tuition.
• Monthly housing stipends. The amount of the payments varies by location and is based on the estimated cost of living.
• A yearly $1,000 stipend for books and supplies.
These benefits are payable for up to 15 years after one’s release from active duty service. Additionally, those who have served or plan to serve for 10 or more years may transfer any or all unused benefits to their spouse or children.
Any veteran interested in using his or her GI Bill benefits should take action right away in order to simplify the process and ensure fast payment. For eligibility or application information, visit www.gibill.va.gov or text
“GIBill” to 99702.
Military service can offer great financial incentives for college students.
However, in order to take full advantage of these benefits, one must take action by checking eligibility requirements, making college plans, and promptly applying for assistance.
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Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
The college fair has always had its share of flaws. It’s loud; it’s crowded; the booths run out of brochures; all of the presentations happen at the same time; only local universities attend; the most popular colleges leave too early; it’s too far away from home. However, the next generation of college fair has arrived. At www.collegeweeklive.com, students have convenient, online access to virtual college fairs that include over 200 colleges and universities from across the world.
Virtual fairs are usually held once every few months, and each lasts about two days. They feature live Q&A sessions with admissions representatives, digital college brochures, keynote presentations on topics ranging from financial aid to standardized testing, and many other interactive events. Additionally, the website frequently hosts regional fairs, such as the upcoming “Texas Day,” and presentations by individual colleges. Unlike the videos on other college admissions websites, most of collegeweeklive.com’s presentations utilize a videoconference-type format that allows viewers to interact directly with the presenters. The website also keeps a temporary archive of all of its events for students who are unable to view them live. Access to both live presentations and archives is free, and the site has minimal technical requirements (the interface is an Adobe Flash application that can operate on almost any web browser). The registration process also allows students to opt-into receiving news and scholarship offers from College Week Live’s partner college admission websites.
With more than 25,000 students attending its last virtual fair, www.collegweeklive.com is a fast-growing source of college admissions information. It is a convenient way for prospective students to either discover new colleges or narrow their existing list of schools before making campus visits.
Technorati Tags: campus tours, college selection, college visit, collegeweeklive.com
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Wednesday, January 27th, 2010
Are you interested in becoming a teacher? Are you willing to teach in a high-need subject area in a low-income school? If so, you may be eligible for the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant. The TEACH program was created in 2007 to help provide highly qualified teachers to low-income schools for the most needed subjects. The grant is a non-need based program (meaning you can qualify no matter what your income), provides up to $4,000 each year and can be renewed each year for a total of $16,000 for undergraduate students and up to $8,000 for masters students.
The grant is provided to students who intend to teach in either a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students. Low-income, for the TEACH grant, is defined as any school receiving Title I funding or on an Indian reservation. You can search for which schools are identified as “low-income” in your area by visiting: www.tcli.ed.gov.
Recipients of the TEACH grant must also work in a high-need or teacher shortage field. These fields are defined as subject shortage areas, not geographic areas (unlike some other programs). The TEACH program defines national high-need fields as: Bilingual Education or English Language Acquisition, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Reading Specialist, Science and Special Education. However, recipients can also work in state-wide or local high-need subject areas, which often provide a much broader list of subjects. You can see a complete list of state-by-state subject need areas here: www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/pol/tsa.doc.
TEACH grant applicants must work as a highly qualified teacher in a high-need subject at a low-income school as defined above for at least 4 years within the first 8 years after finishing college or grad school. Here are the other eligibility requirements to receive a TEACH grant:
- Must complete a FAFSA (though you do not have to demonstrate financial need)
- Must be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Must be enrolled in a school that participate in the TEACH program (which is most of them)
- Must be enrolled in coursework that is necessary to becoming a teach or building your knowledge in the field you want to teach
- Much sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve (which just says that you understand the conditions of the program)
- Must meet certain academic achievement requirements, which usually means maintaining a minimum 3.25 GPA in High School or in your first year of college OR scoring above the 75th percentile on a college admissions test
It’s important to be sure that you want to be a teacher before taking the TEACH grant, because if you do not fulfill the service requirements of the grant or you decide you do not want to be a teacher, the TEACH grant will be converted into an Unsubsidized Stafford Loan- meaning you will have to repay the cost of the grant with interest. But if you are sure you want to teach and you are willing to spend a few years as a teacher in a high-need subject at a low-income school, the TEACH grant can be a great way get money for college without having financial need or extremely high test scores and grades. You can find out more about the TEACH grant by visiting: https://teach-ats.ed.gov/ats/index.action.
Technorati Tags: college financing, college funding, college scholarships, education, FAFSA, financial aid, Grant, scholarships, stafford loan, TEACH grant, teacher, teaching
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Monday, December 7th, 2009
 Latinos and Latinas are American’s largest and fastest growing minority group. According to the US Census Bureau, Hispanics made up 15% of the total US population in 2008. Yet unfortunately Latino/as have the lowest high school completion rate and college attendance rate of any racial or ethnic group. Latino/a students face a number of barriers in their educational careers including language, social, cultural, citizenship and - perhaps most importantly - economic challenges. As a subcategory, Hispanic women additionally face their own unique social concerns and cultural challenges which affect their ability to attend college. Because of these institutional obstacles, however, numerous private, public and college-based scholarships have been created to help close the gap is Hispanic college attendance rates, many of which are designed specifically for Latinas. An abundance of college funding sources see the wisdom in helping to end the under-education of Latino/a youth - the fastest growing segment of the American workforce - and in working to increase female representation in college. Below are some of the most popular scholarship opportunities for Latino/as and Hispanic women.
In addition to the number of specific sources for Latino/a scholarships, you can find more opportunities at www.latinocollegedollars.org, a scholarship database solely for Hispanic students.
General Scholarships and Resources for Latino/a Students
The Hispanic Heritage Foundation is an organization that indentifies and supports young Latino/a leaders in the classroom and community. The Foundation has honored more over 1,500 students and awarded more than $3,000,000 in educational grants. The Foundation’s website also provides a list of many other scholarship opportunities available to Latino/a students.
www.hispanicheritage.org
The Hispanic College Fund is both a scholarship program and an organization designed to support Latino/a students on their path through school. Since 1993, HCF has given away $15 million in scholarships to over 5,000 Hispanic young people. Applicants must be a US citizens or a permanent resident residing in the 50 states or Puerto Rico, must have a minimum GPA of a 3.0, must plan to enroll as a full-time undergraduate student during the following year in the US.
www.hispanicfund.org
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund provides the Hispanic community more college scholarships and educational outreach support than any other organization in the country. In its 34 year history, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund has awarded close to $280 million in scholarships to more than 90,000 students in need. Two-thirds of these students were the first in their families to go to college.
www.hsf.net
The Gates Millennium Scholars program is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and has sponsored over 13,000 students since its creations. Applicants must be African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian and Pacific Islander American, or Hispanic American, US citizens or legal permanent residents or nationals, have a minimum GPA of 3.3, will be enrolling for the first-time at a U.S. accredited college or university as a full-time, degree-seeking, first-year student in the following year, have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular or other activities, and must meet the Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria.
www.gmsp.org
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities represents over 450 colleges and universities which are committed to higher education for Hispanics. The organization also funds a number of program specific scholarship for students who attend one of its member schools. Scholarships amounts depend on field of study and the largest scholarship is over $3500.
www.hacu.net
The ASPIRA Association, Inc. provides information about a number of educational opportunities and scholarships for Puerto Ricans and other Hispanics.
www.aspira.org/manuals/scholarships
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Inc. offers scholarship opportunities to Latino students in the United States who have a history of performing public service-oriented activities in their communities and who demonstrate a desire to continue their civic engagement in the future. There is no GPA or academic major requirement. Students with excellent leadership potential are encouraged to apply. Scholarships are one-time awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. The CHCI also provides extensive information about other scholarships, internships and fellowships for Latino/a youth.
www.chci.org
College Board’s National Hispanic Scholar Recognition Program provides annual awards for outstanding Hispanic high school students who are U.S. citizens. Students must take the PSAT/NMSQT test in the fall of their high school junior year during which they must affirm their Hispanic heritage - this is the initial screening and the first opportunity for students to qualify for the program. Students who score well are then asked to complete an application form. Award is based on recommendations, SAT scores, extracurricular activities, community service, high school academic transcripts and records, and personal attributes.
www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about/scholarships.html
Cuban-American Scholarship Fund a scholarship program for undergraduate or graduate students of Cuban descent with a GPA of at least 3.0. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal residents of California. Maximum award amount is $2,000.
No website available.
Latin American Education Foundation has provided over $5 million in scholarships to Hispanic students or students involved in the Hispanic community. Applicants must be Colorado residents, have at least a 3.0 GPA, and commit 10-community service hours during year of funding.
www.laef.org
League of United Latin American Citizens: National Educational Service Centers, Inc. provides scholarships in variable amount to Latino/a students through their local branches.
www.lulac.org
McDonald’s Hispanic American Commitment to Education Resources (HACER) Program has awarded $1.3 million in scholarships to Hispanic high school graduates entering college.
www.rmhc.org
Jose Marti Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund provides undergraduate scholarships of $2,000. Applicant must be Hispanic, a resident of Florida, US Citizen, and have at least a 3.00 GPA.
www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org
The Sallie Mae Fund First in My Family Scholarship Program, developed in partnership with the Hispanic College Fund, offers scholarships to Hispanic-American students who are the first in their family to attend college, and have financial need. The program is open to Hispanic Americans who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled as full-time undergraduate students at approved, accredited institutions who have a minimum GPA of 3.0 Scholarships range from $500 to $5,000.
www.thesalliemaefund.org
The Adelante Fund Scholarship Program sponsors several scholarship programs with amounts ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. Criteria vary by scholarship but most require a minimum 3.0 GPA, Hispanic heritage and either US citizenship or legal permanent resident status. See website for more information.
www.adelantefund.org
The Emerging Latino Leaders Scholarship Program is a national essay contest sponsored by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) and Best Buy Children’s Foundation. Two $10,000 and three $5,000 scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence and community service.
www.lideres.nclr.org
The La Unidad Latina Foundation offers academic scholarships of $250 to $1,000 for Hispanic students enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree program at a 4-year US college or university. Applicants must have completed one full-time year of undergraduate education or at least one full-time semester of graduate study and GPA between 2.8 and 3.6
www.lulfoundation.org
The Orange County Hispanic Education Endowment Fund provides more than 100 scholarships worth more than $150,000 to Orange County Hispanic students. Award amounts range from $500 to $4,000. Applicants must either be graduating from an OC high school or transferring from an OC community college. Minimum GPA requirements vary by scholarship program. All applicants must demonstrate financial need. Recipients are selected on the basis of academic achievement, community service and/or work history.
www.heef.org
The Salvadoran American Leadership and Educational Fund offers the “Fulfilling Our Dreams” scholarships Salvadoran, Central American, and Latino high school seniors, college students and graduate or professional students who reside and study in California, Houston or Washington DC. The scholarships are open to all students regardless of immigration or citizenship status. Applicants must be majoring in health-related fields of study, theology, philosophy, cultural studies, environmental studies or social justice. Applicants must demonstrate financial need. Award amounts range from $500 to $2,500 (some may be renewable). A minimum 2.5 GPA is required; some awards require at least a 3.0 GPA. Scholarship recipients are expected to participate in community service and/or mentorship of high school students.
www.salef.org
Scholarships for Latino/as in Certain Fields
The Smithsonian Institution offers the Latino Studies Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships to facilitate research related to Latino history, art and culture using Smithsonian resources. The predoctoral fellowships provide a stipend of $27,000 per year plus allowances. The postdoctoral fellowships offer a stipend of $42,000 per year plus allowances. There is also a research allowance of up to $4,000.
www.si.edu/ofg
The Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement provides the ComEd Latino Scholarship Fund which awards five $2,500 scholarships to Illinois residents who have a 3.0 or higher GPA. Eligible majors include accounting, business, chemistry, communications, computer science, engineering, pre-law, mathematics, media relations and physics. Recipients are selected on the basis of academic excellence and community service.
www.hace-usa.org
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists offers several scholarships through the Rubén Salazar Scholarship Fund program. These scholarships are designed to encourage and assist Latino students pursue careers in journalism. Awards from $1,000 to $2,000. The NAHJ also provides information about a number of other scholarships available to Hispanic students interested in journalism.
www.nahj.org
The Advancing Hispanic Excellence in Technology, Engineering, Math, and Science (AHETEMS) Scholarship Program provides merit-based and need-based scholarships, in the amount of $1,000 - $5,000, to deserving Latino/a high school graduating seniors, undergraduate students, and graduate students who demonstrate both significant motivation and aptitude for a career in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.
www.ahetems.org
National Society of Hispanic MBAs provides scholarships for Hispanic business majors and Master of Business Administration graduate students of between $2,500 and $10,000. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA from an accredited undergraduate institution, with some exceptions.
www.nshmba.org
National Association of Hispanic Nurses provides 27 Hispanic students entering or enrolled in an accredited school of nursing scholarships in the amount of $1,000. The NAHN also provides information about a number of other scholarships for Hispanic students.
www.thehispanicnurses.org
The Costco Pharmacy Scholars Program offers funds to students who are pursuing a degree in Pharmacy who have completed one-year of pharmacy school or are in their second year into their pharmacy education. Students who are chosen for the Pharmacy Scholars Program are required to work at a Costco Pharmacy store for at least one year and are awarded between $500 and $9,500. Applicants must be of Hispanic background, pursing a degree in Pharmacy, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident residing in the United States or Puerto Rico, be studying full-time as an undergraduate at an accredited university in the United States or Puerto Rico, have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and demonstrate financial need.
www.costcoscholarshipfund.org
The Google Hispanic Scholarship Program offers funds to students studying computer science or computer engineering who are juniors or seniors in college or pursuing a Master’s or PhD. Selected scholars will be invited to an all-expenses paid trip to the Google Headquarters in California. Must be Hispanic or of Hispanic background, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident residing in the US, studying full-time in the US or Puerto Rico, and have at least a 3.5 GPA.
See Hispanic Scholarship Fund for more details.
World Studio.org is a non-profit, international arts organization that promotes the work and education of minority and disadvantaged students in the fields of graphic arts, painting, furniture design, new media, photography, and other art forms. Awards range from $2,000 to $6,000.
www.scholarships.worldstudioinc.com
Scholarships for Hispanic Women
While tradition and social conditions have sometimes limited the opportunities available to women in the past, today this struggle may prove to be an advantage when it comes to getting scholarship money. In fact, minority women, especially those with a passion for math, science or computers, have more leverage power for earning scholarship money than almost any other group! Here are just a few scholarships for Latinas.
Hispanic Women in Leadership awards scholarships to graduating seniors based on academic performance, leadership, and economic need. Applicants must be enrolled in a college or university in Texas, ranked in the upper 1/4 of her class, and submit several supporting documents such as letters of recommendation and essays.
www.hwil.org
The AT&T Labs Fellowship Program offers three-year fellowships to outstanding under-represented minority and women students pursuing PhD studies in computing and communications-related fields. In addition to one-on-one mentoring, the fellowship pays all education expenses as well as a living stipend. Each recipient participates in a summer internship the first summer in the program, working in a research team at AT&T Labs Research. Applicant must be a US citizen or permanent resident, female or member of a minority underrepresented in science fields (Hispanic, African-American, or Native American)senior graduating in the current academic year or in their first or second year of grad school, currently enrolled, or planning to enroll, in a graduate school program leading to a PhD, and major field must be in computer science, math, statistics, electrical engineering, operations research, systems engineering, industrial engineering, or related fields.
www.research.att.com
The Hispanic Women’s Corporation Scholarship Program provides not only tuition support, but advice, encouragement, peer contact with the colleges, role models, an alumni base and success stories to motivate students. Monetary awards are based on grade point average, need, interest, volunteerism and dedication. Awards have ranged from $300 to $10,000 annually. HWC awards over 50 scholarships annually and students are presented at the annual HWC Scholarship Benefit Luncheon. HWC also provides information about additional sites for scholarship availability with descriptions and deadlines.
www.hispanicwomensconference.org
The Latin American Professional Women’s Foundation provides scholarship money to young women who can be considered “role models” for young Latinas. Award amount is $500.
No website available.
Project Cambio offers a scholarship to Hispanic women pursuing studies in a business-related program. The applicant must be planning a career change that will lead to advancement, a new proficiency or entry or re-entry into the work force. Applicants should have been out of high school at least 5 years.
No website available.
Society of Women Engineers Rockwell International Corp. Scholarships is for female minority students studying computer science or engineering who are attending or planning to attend an institution that is SWE approved or has an Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology program. Awards are based on academic achievement and leadership experience or potential. Scholarship amounts range from $1,000 to $10,000.
www.swe.org
Young Latinas Leadership Institute is a program of 100 Hispanic Women, a nonprofit, nonpartisan women’s organization with members from a wide range of industries and interests. The Institute provides students with annual scholarships of $1,000, leadership seminars, mentors, and internships. Five Latinas are selected every year. Applicants must be college freshmen at one of the City University of New York college campuses
www.100hispanicwomen.org
The Chicana/Latina Foundation Scholarship Fund assists Latina students to complete their undergraduate and graduate education. The scholarships are available on a competitive basis to continuing undergraduate and graduate female college students of Latino background. Applicants must be enrolled in accredited colleges or universities in one of the following Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marina, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, or Sonoma. In addition, applicants must be residents of the Bay area for at least two years at time of application, and must have demonstrated leadership and civic/community involvement. Awards are for $1,500. Recipients must agree to volunteer a minimum of five hours in support of the Chicana/Latina Foundation.
www.chicanalatina.org
Technorati Tags: Add new tag, college financing, college funding, college scholarships, education, financial aid, hispanic, latin american, latino, minority, scholarships, women
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Thursday, August 20th, 2009
We are exited to announce that after several months of diligent work by our staff of researchers, the database update at CollegeTreasure.com is finally complete! The database now contains over 3,300 different scholarship opportunities from over 1,200 different colleges. The average value of a scholarship in our database is $12,353 per year. Most are renewable for all 4 years, which puts the actual value at close to $50,000. As our data set is now much more robust, we are planning on adding other means of searching the data in the near future. We anticipate adding functions to allow you to search for talent based scholarships (art, music, theater), guaranteed scholarships, and minority scholarships. Currently all of those scholarships would be mixed in with your results, but we hope to offer students and parents a means to streamline this process soon.
The charge to access this data base is a nominal $85 annual subscription fee to families. This is approximately the cost of one college application. So, if you apply to one-less school because you know you are not eligible for any scholarships, you have already broken even without even winning one of the scholarships. In We encourage families who are eligible for an SAT fee waiver to contact us directly, if they are interested in searching the database.
Two recent surveys had over 50% of families only allowing their children to apply to in-state state schools. However, a recent article on Yahoo reports that states are cutting their budgets to educational grant programs and this is leaving many students with large gaps of unmet need. Now more than ever it is important to research college-based merit scholarships ahead of time. This is documented by an article this past week in the Wall Street Journal that shows many families are facing a last minute tuition crunch. Many families do not apply to private universities because they fear the sticker price, however, their children may be eligible for a merit scholarship that would bring the cost in line with that of a state university. We spent over a 1,000 hours researching the available scholarship programs, and now in minutes you can locate schools where you are eligible for scholarships.
CollegeTreasure.com is an attempt to bring clarity to the college financing picture. In addition to the data base we provide articles and tips about the need-based aid process. If you are a college, and would like to have us create a free account for you so that you can update your scholarship information and publicize your scholarships to interested students, email colleges@collegetreasure.com. Our goal is to create partnership with the colleges to help publicize their scholarship programs and help potential students avoid the “sticker shock” created by learning about the tuition at their favorite colleges.
Technorati Tags: academic scholarships, college scholarships, financial aid, merit scholarships
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Tuesday, August 11th, 2009
When should a student take the PSAT and SAT tests?
Creating a Test Taking Plan
Most college admissions officers will tell you that from spring of junior year through the fall of senior year students should be focusing all their attention on college. This means that students should start thinking about where they would like to apply and start making the all-important college visits. One important component of an overall solid college admissions plan is having a solid test plan. Two key questions will need to be answered in order to develop the plan: Which tests should I take and when do I take them?
Most colleges require either the SAT or the ACT (although there is a growing number of colleges that no longer require standardized tests, see our resources page for a link to a list of these colleges). Then, depending on the colleges where a student is applying, it may be necessary to also take the SAT II. Two or three SAT II’s (it varies depending on the school) are required at most competitive colleges, such as Ivy League schools, Trinity, Connecticut College, Wesleyan, Tufts, MIT, and a number of other competitive institutions. Parents may know the SAT II as the old Achievement tests. The SAT II’s test your knowledge in a specific subject. Each test is 60-minutes, and you can take up to three tests in one sitting. You can take the SAT II in a variety of subject areas, such as Math I or II, English Literature, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Foreign Languages, U.S. History, or World History. Since they test your knowledge in a specific subject it is best to take these tests at the end of the year when the student is actually enrolled in that subject, as all the knowledge will be fresh in the student’s mind. For most students this means that they should take the SAT II in June. However, if a student is enrolled in AP courses and has to take the AP exams, then she may consider taking the SAT II’s in May. That will be the same week as the AP exams, but all the information will be fresh in her head and the SAT II’s are actually easier than the AP exams.
Many students do not feel that the SAT score is indicative of their true academic ability. There are still several options for these students. One option that has been growing in popularity is taking the ACT. All colleges in the country with the exception of one will accept the ACT in place of the SAT. In addition, many of the competitive schools that require the SAT plus two or three SAT II’s will accept the ACT in place of all of those exams. There are several key differences between the SAT and the ACT. First, the ACT is more of a knowledge based test rather than a reasoning or aptitude test. On the ACT you do not get any points off for getting a question wrong, so it is to the student’s benefit to answer all of the questions. There is a science reasoning section on the ACT. The essay on the ACT is the last section and it is optional. Warning, however, most colleges want you to write the essay, even though they won’t be reading it. They don’t want you to use the ACT to get out of writing the SAT essay. Many students, especially female students, will perform better on the ACT than on the SAT. We recommend students to take a practice test and score the test. Then, convert it back to an SAT score, since most colleges on the east coast will convert the ACT back to an SAT score and treat it like an SAT.
PSAT test:
- Often taken in spring of sophomore year, and/or in the fall of junior year.
- PSAT scores do NOT go to colleges, but are used in determining whether or not a student is eligible for a National Merit Scholarship.
SAT test:
- Taken in the student’s junior and senior years.
- We recommend the student take it at least once (twice is even better) in the winter/spring of their junior year (tests are in January, March, May and June), and can take it again in the fall of senior year (Oct and Nov).
- We recommend a student take it twice in the spring if he is prepared because the fall gets hectic with college applications.
- You should take the SAT no more than three times. All scores will be sent to the schools where a student applies.
SAT II tests:
- Also known as subject tests, these are required for many of the more competitive schools.
- You can find out if a school requires the subject tests by checking the admissions requirement on their website or calling the school. Usually a more competitive school will require 2 or 3 subject tests.
- Students should take these in June of their junior year, or while the student is enrolled in the subject of the test he plans to take (ie. Biology, Chemistry, French, etc.).
ACT test:
- Generally the ACT follows a similar schedule to the SAT in that students will take the ACT in their junior year.
- Often students will take the ACT and SAT in the same season but different months to see which they score better on, but some students will take the ACT after they have received a score on the SAT they were unhappy with.
- ACT scores don’t automatically go to schools so there is no harm in trying the ACT. It is usually not worth it for students to take the ACT more than twice.
Things to Consider When Deciding Which Tests To Take
- Does your school require SAT IIs?
- Does your school require the SAT, or is it optional?
- Would your school take the ACT in lieu of both the SAT I and SAT IIs?
- Are you applying early to any schools?
- Have you taken the SAT and are unhappy with your score?
- Have you studied for the SAT and your scores won’t improve?
James Maroney, the author of this article, is the founder of First Choice College Placement, an educational consulting firm located in Milford, Connecticut. He has been working with students and families for over 10 years helping them find, apply to, and finance the college of their dreams. He is also the publisher of www.collegetreasure.com, a website that helps students locate college-based scholarships, www.admissionhook.com, a website that focuses on the college admission essay or personal statement.
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Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
Test Taking Anxiety
The Night Before
The Morning Of
Five Minutes Before the Exam
During the Exam
After the Exam
Anxiety, in most instances, stems from the fear of the unknown. We may be afraid to try a new sport because we don’t know if we’ll be good at it. We are afraid to go away to college because we don’t know what it will be like. We’re afraid to hand in a paper because we don’t know what the teacher will think about our writing. Well in this case, you’re in luck! You know exactly what to expect from the SAT. You know how the test is set up, how the questions run from easy to hard, how long you will have, how the sections are divided, and what knowledge and strategies you can use to better your chances. So right off the bat you have the upper hand. There are still things you can do to prepare the night before and the day of the test to make your experience as easy and stress-free as possible. It just takes a little preparation.
The Night Before
The night before the test is just as important as the day of the test. You want to do everything possible to prepare yourself for the next day. You have already actively done your best to prepare for this test by taking this course, doing the homework, memorizing vocabulary etc. Pat yourself on the back for that already. At this point you shouldn’t feel the pressure to try and cram in everything you’re afraid you won’t remember. Trying to cram the night before a test like this can actually hurt your chances rather than help them. Here is an easy checklist for you to follow the night before you take the SAT:
A bit of light studying the day before (reviewing vocabulary words) is okay, but other than that, I would advise taking it easy. Don’t overwhelm yourself with last minute studying; it will only confuse you or make you nervous.
Plan to relax the night before: watch a funny movie or be lazy with friends. Do something that takes your mind off worrying about the next day.
Get a good night’s sleep. Make sure to get to bed at a decent hour. Do not drink caffeine or eat anything that may upset your stomach or that will keep you up or prevent a good night’s sleep. Lay out all the things you need the night before to bring to the test: sharpened pencils with erasers, a calculator, your registration card. If you are taking the test at a different school, make sure you have a ride or directions to where you are going. If you arrive late, chances are they wont elt you take the test.
The Morning of the Test
Hopefully you have prepared some things the night before in order to prevent rushing around in the morning. There are still some things you can do the morning of to prevent your anxiety from snowballing. Make sure you:
Give yourself enough time. A huge cause of stress the day of the test is rushing to get there. If you are not a morning person and are afraid you may wake up late, set an alarm and ask that your parent or sibling make sure you are up at a certain hour.
Even if you don’t tend to eat breakfast, make sure you eat something on test day, even if it is small. Studies have shown that your brain functions best when you have food in your system. Also, bring a snack or a drink to the test. You will be stuck in the test room for over four hours, and a growling stomach will not make concentrating easy for you or anyone else.
Before you leave the house, double check that you have all the tools you need to take the test. Don’t forget a few sharpened pencils, a calculator, and your registration card.
Arrive a few minutes early to be sure you are in the right building, the right room, and also so you can find a good seat. If you are easily distracted by what is outside, don’t sit near the window. If you are constantly checking to see who is walking by in the hallway, don’t sit by the door. Also, don’t sabotage yourself by sitting near friends who may distract you.
Do not talk to your friends or anyone who is trying to ask you last minute information. This could stress you out or confuse you about what you already know. If anyone asks you last-minute questions, just tell them you don’t know or don’t want to worry about it until you are taking the test.
Dealing with Anxiety: Before and During the Exam
You hands start to sweat. Your breathing becomes shallow and you squirm in your seat. Your stomach is full of butterflies. You start thinking that you don’t remember anything, you don’t know anything, and that you wont even fill in your name right. Anxiety is often a downward spiral of negative thoughts that create physical reactions that make it difficult to think clearly. The goal is to either stop these feelings in their path to prevent further anxiety, or to use these feelings to your advantage, and turn them into a positive method for test taking. There are methods to stop anxiety in its tracks.
Breathe. When you become stressed your breathing becomes shallow and your chest becomes tight. The first thing you should do when you feel this way is to focus on evening out your breathing. This is a powerful tool to refocus and alleviate the physical symptoms of stress. The best breathing method I have found is the 4-7-8 method. You want to inhale for four counts, hold for seven, and exhale for eight. Do this three or four times. Some people also find just taking slow, even deep breaths helps also.
Close your eyes. Sometimes external stimuli can make you feel chaotic. If you just take a minute to close your eyes, you can pull your focus back to the test. If you feel overwhelmed by your surroundings, try and picture a blank wall or just the darkness when you close your eyes.
Use positive statements. Don’t bully yourself! You wouldn’t let a friend walk into the room and tell you that you were a terrible test-taker and that you’re going to fail, so don’t allow yourself to think these things. Believe it or not, letting these hurtful, sneaky thoughts into your head can cause a negative, physical response. Each time you think a negative though, turn it into a positive thought. Tell yourself you are the superstar of the universe if you have to, just anything positive. Tell yourself positive things like, “I am well-prepared and have done my best to prepare for this exam,” or “I am a smart and competent student, and will try my best,” or “I have studied hard, but the results of this test do not determine my entire academic future.”
Visualize. Visualization is one of the most successful preparation tools for professional athletes. You can use the same method to promote your own success. You can use this method before the test, or as far in advance as you’d like. Picture yourself taking the test, calmly answering each question with enough time. Imagine finishing the test, handing it in, and feeling great about what you’ve just accomplished. If you freeze up during the test, close your eyes and imagine yourself somewhere familiar and comfortable. Or visualize yourself breezing through the questions carefully and confidently. If you feel swallowed by your anxiety, there is a funny little trick you can use to combat it. Imagine your anxiety (the nervousness in your stomach, your sweaty hands, the tightness in your chest) as some type of monster: a shark, a werewolf, some big green scary thing. Imagine you are in a battle with the monster, and by whatever means you want (magic powers, laser beams, a baseball bat, a big, sharp pencil) imagine yourself defeating the monster. You can pretend he is blocking your way to all the information you need to get to in order to take the test. If you visualize defeating him, you now have full access to all the information he was hiding from you.
Make yourself laugh. Laughter is an immediate anxiety reliever. Think of something ridiculous you’ve seen, or something ridiculous you’d love to see. Think of a funny moment you have had with a friend or family member. You could even recruit a friend beforehand and find something that makes you both laugh, and remind each other to think about it if you become nervous taking the test.
Put things in perspective. Not doing as well as you would have liked on the SAT is not the end of the world. It may feel like it at the time, but in the realm of life, it is not the first step of your ultimate demise. You may have already thought something like, “Well if I don’t do well on the SATs then I wont get into the college I want and if I don’t get into my first choice college then I will never study or enjoy myself and ultimately never get a job or will be condemned to a life of licking the bottoms of other people’s shoes while my friends find high-powered jobs in large cities and make millions of dollars and spend their weekends on 70-ft yachts or riding horses in the surf.” Thoughts like that are enough to drive anyone crazy. And I guarantee, doing well on your SATs is something to be proud of, but if you don’t do as well as you would have liked, it will not prevent you from
Set reasonable goals. If you tell yourself you accept nothing other than a perfect score, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. It is great to think positive, but if you are unforgiving in your expectations for yourself, you will only create anxiety. Perfectionism is positive reinforcement at its most extreme; being kind to yourself and allowing room for error results in a better attitude overall.
After the Test
Congratulations! You finished the SAT, and now you’re spent. If you haven’t done so in advance, plan something fun for yourself. Hang out with friends, watch a movie. Whatever you do, don’t dwell on the test. What’s done is done, and no matter how you think you may have done, you can’t really guess your score. I had a friend who insisted they didn’t get a single question right, and she ended up with a great score. So essentially, there is no sense in worrying, since there is nothing else you can do but wait. Do something to reward yourself for getting through a grueling four-hour test.
Technorati Tags: ACT, SAT Prep, test prep, test taking, testing anxiety
Tags: ACT, SAT Prep, test prep, test taking, testing anxiety
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