Kids and Scholarships

**Eagle5US** · 06-05-2011, 09:18

So I found a few threads here mentioning scholarships - but nothing that really gave me good direction.

My awesome and incredible female offspring is finishing her junior year of HS and looking at applying to the college where she spent last summer, and will be spending this summer, as part of their "Pre-College" programs. It is not a State school, is expensive...VERY expensive, but is a good school and they have a great track record for their graduates.

Now, as agreed on in the "Big D" - even though she lives with her Mom, I agreed to pay all of her tuition related expenses. I've already transferred my Post 9-11 GI Bill bennies to her - which will help.

Now I am looking to augment that with scholarship money.

AB honor roll student, 3.86 solid throughout school, numerous academic awards, she is graduating HS 6 months early and going to tutor learning disabled kids etc...
Most definitely NOT a jock or musician.
The counselors at her school SUCK.

On the advice of my uber smart brother, I am going to have her register at Scholarships.com as a starting point.

Direction / first hand experience would be appreciated.

Thx

Romeo23 · 06-05-2011, 09:42

My best bet is to get her into the colleges financial aid office ASAP. Also, depending on her major, I would recommend talking with the head of her department for possible scholarship opportunities that relate to her field of study. The college will have much better counselors than the HS and they will be happy to assist in any way, shape or form. Don't be afraid to tell her to write a few essays and get some hand written recommendations from some of her HS teachers. There is also a state education grant down where I live that grants you money for basically continuing your education. Down here it's called Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG). Maybe your state has one? Although it is for in-state tuition costs only. Worth a shot at looking though. Its an extra $500/year for Freshmen/Sophomore and $1000 for Junior/Senior. Guaranteed if you apply.

Also, if she has time or is capable (I was not one of those students) of being able to work and go to college full time. I would suggest work/study on campus. Some of the jobs are flexible with hours. Not to mention she could get a job somewhere that may pertain to her field of studies.

Hope this helps a little.

Wiseman · 06-05-2011, 12:42

What does she plan on studying in college?

**Eagle5US** · 06-05-2011, 12:47

Digital film design and production...

She is looking to go to the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota.

**Roguish Lawyer** · 06-05-2011, 12:47

The financial aid/admissions office at the college is a better place to go for information than the HS guidance counselor's office. Long time ago, but I remember the HS hooking me up with a bunch of small local schollie opportunities and that's it. Rotary clubs and that kind of stuff.

**Eagle5US** · 06-05-2011, 12:54

She is headed down there again in a couple weeks, I'll make sure she get's in to see them. She has a very good rep with them from last year and has stayed in contact with them.

Good ideas all the way around folks.

Thanks

Cake_14N · 06-05-2011, 13:01

Don't forget to hit up all the organizations like the VFW, Elks Clubs and so on in your area your daughter should be able to compete for their scholarships as well.

Best thing I learned from my 7 years at college was to get somebody in the financial aid office to sign a hand-receipt for every single document you submit. Make sure you have a date and time on that receipt. More than once I was able to force the school to award me more monies because I could prove to them that they "lost" all of my paperwork by showing them the signed receipt. They paid up to avoid the scandal of lost paperwork by their financial aid department.

Have her apply for everything she even remotely qualifies for. It is amazing just how fast those $500 to $1000 scholarships add up. It might cost a bit in postage and application fees, but in the long run it will be well worth it. Also, once she gets a scholarship, have her follow-up with the organization with a brief, hand-written note giving the organization a status update on her progress towards graduation. Anything she can do to let them know she is effectively using their funds can only help her keep or increase scholarships.

Hope this helps,

Cake

**Eagle5US** · 06-05-2011, 13:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cake_14N

Also, once she gets a scholarship, have her follow-up with the organization with a brief, hand-written note giving the organization a status update on her progress towards graduation. Anything she can do to let them know she is effectively using their funds can only help her keep or increase scholarships.

MOST Excellent idea.

PSM · 06-05-2011, 13:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cake_14N

Also, once she gets a scholarship, have her follow-up with the organization with a brief, hand-written note giving the organization a status update on her progress towards graduation.

My father-in-law and his sister set up a scholarship fund at Redlands University many years ago. A couple of years ago one of the bright little darlings who benefited from it sent them an essay on how their scholarship had helped her. The grammatical errors and lack of punctuation made it almost impossible to read. She was not an ESL student.

Pat

tcb09d · 06-05-2011, 14:06

I'm from Sarasota and Ringlign is a great school and Sarasota a great city, When i was looking for scholarships our teacher made us sign up for a site called fastweb.com and come in with 5 that could work for us. There are scholarships for anything and everything. Check for scholarships relating to your nationality, veterans, look into those established by trades that you and your wife/ex are in, relating to your daughters major. The idea of Elks club and VFW are also good ideas. Don't forget about things such as Pell grants and such. good luck on your search

**Roguish Lawyer** · 06-05-2011, 14:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSM

My father-in-law and his sister set up a scholarship fund at Redlands University many years ago. A couple of years ago one of the bright little darlings who benefited from it sent them an essay on how their scholarship had helped her. The grammatical errors and lack of punctuation made it almost impossible to read. She was not an ESL student.

Pat

What do you expect from a Redlands student?

(Yes, I graduated from a rival school . . .

)

Sigaba · 06-05-2011, 15:20

QP Eagle5US--

Sir, two potential avenues of reducing costs may be for your daughter:

(a) to 'test out' of as many prerequisites as possible via AP exams and SAT II tests and
(b) to take classes at a JC/CC/public university during the summers and then to transfer the credits to Ringling College.

In the case of (b) she will need to communicate clearly with Ringling's Office of Advising, Records, and Registration Services so that everyone understands the conversion rate of apples to oranges.

In conjunction, these two options may position her to get the most 'bang for the buck' from the tuition if not also to graduate early.

HTH.

219seminole · 06-05-2011, 15:21

While I don't think this helps in Eagle5US's case, the Southern Regional Education Board's Academic Common Market is a way to attend college in another state and pay in-state rates...if you live in one of the 16 participating southern states and the program you want is not available in your own state. We are referring to this a lot as our daughter prepares for grad school next year.

http://www.sreb.org/page/1304/academ...on_market.html

**Eagle5US** · 06-05-2011, 15:27

Thanks everyone for this great insight. I really do appreciate it.

Sigaba · 06-05-2011, 15:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by 219seminole

While I don't think this helps in Eagle5US's case, the Southern Regional Education Board's Academic Common Market is a way to attend college in another state and pay in-state rates...if you live in one of the 16 participating southern states and the program you want is not available in your own state. We are referring to this a lot as our daughter prepares for grad school next year.

http://www.sreb.org/page/1304/academ...on_market.html

Along the same lines, some graduate schools and academic departments have reciprocal agreements that allow students at school A to do course work at school B and, in some cases, even have faculty members at school B serve on committees.