DestinationCollege2018
Crosby Scholars Senior Program Newsletter - September 2017
On the Scholarship Hunt
Many of you are thinking to yourselves, “If only I could get a scholarship to pay for college…” Well, you can, but you should be prepared to work for it. Scholarships are earned, not won.
Scholarships are one of four forms of financial aid for students, the others being grants, loans, and work-study. The beauty of scholarships is that you don’t pay them back. They are free money for school that you earn through your achievements.
In this issue, we’ll tell you where you can find scholarships and what to avoid. We’ll also share resources for writing your scholarship essays. With a plan and some effort, a scholarship can be in your financial aid portfolio.
Timelines for Success
Scholarship Myths
Before we talk about how to find a scholarship, let’s first dispel a few scholarship myths.
Myth #1: So much scholarship money goes unclaimed.
Google “scholarships” and many of the hits are for articles exclaiming that millions of dollars in scholarship money go unclaimed. That’s just not true. There is competition for most scholarships, so you will need to put effort into your applications to have a chance at earning one.
Myth #2: I’m just not qualified for any scholarships.
It’s a common misconception that there’s no way to earn a scholarship unless a student is in the top of their class and has stellar SAT or ACT scores or they’re an amazing athlete. Yes, there are plenty of scholarships that have these requirements, but there are just as many that are looking for other qualities in applicants. You just need to look. One example is our Aspire! Scholarship. For more information, see “Crosby Scholars 1st Annual Aspire! Scholarship” in this issue.
Myth #3: Applying for scholarship is so not worth it!
Some students believe that the effort to apply for scholarships is just not worth the reward. Let’s put this in perspective with an example. You’ve identified 10 $5000 scholarships that you qualify for and spend a total of 50 hours completing the applications and essays. Several months later, you learn that you’ve been awarded one of them. You’ve just been paid $100 an hour for that 50 hours of work. Not bad!
Crosby Scholars 1st Annual Aspire! Scholarship
Create a video showing the world what you aspire to for a chance to win a $500 scholarship. Your video needs to be 60 - 75 seconds long and should tell your story, including how Crosby Scholars is helping you achieve your dreams for the future, in an engaging, relatable way. The deadline is October 28th.
Your video will help raise money for our Last Dollar Grant at Crosby’s Casino Aspire! fundraiser on November 11th. The scholarship application is located in your Crosby Scholars portal. For more details about the Aspire! Scholarship click here.
Institutional Scholarships
What’s the easiest way to apply for a scholarship? At many schools, the answer is to simply apply for admission. Colleges often consider every student for institutional merit aid, which is awarded directly by the school. Some schools require you to apply for admission by an earlier deadline to be considered for this aid, or they may have additional requirements such as forms, essays, or interviews. So, it’s important that you do your research about institutional scholarships at the schools you’re applying to.
Click here for links to North Carolina College Financial Aid/Scholarship web pages so you can research college-specific scholarships offered by schools in our area. (TIP: Many college websites list external scholarship opportunities as well.) Schools outside of North Carolina have similar information on the financial aid sections of their websites.
Upcoming Senior Academies
Register in your portal for the Senior Academies that best match your needs and schedule.
Essay Writing Boot Camp -- Sept. 23, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. (We are working on adding more space in this academy. If you want to attend, please sign up on the wait list in your portal.)
Understanding the Financial Aid Process -- Oct. 2, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Featured Senior Academy...
Understanding the Financial Aid Process
Financial Aid seems like a high-stakes maze teeming with acronyms, deadlines, and detailed requirements. David Galinas, the Senior Associate Dean/Director of Financial Aid at Davidson College, teaches you the ins and outs of the financial aid process so you can avoid expensive mistakes and maximize your financial aid dollars.
Top Merit Scholarships in NC
Are you near the top of your class? Are you applying to UNC Chapel Hill, NC State, UNC Charlotte, or Davidson College? If you answered "YES!" to these questions, then check out some of the most prestigious and competitive merit scholarships available in North Carolina below to see if you qualify. Deadlines are approaching quickly, and you may need to seek a nomination from your school counselor or complete a pre-application, so act now!
- UNC Chapel Hill: Morehead-Cain
- UNC Chapel Hill: Thomas Wolfe (English/Creative Writing)
- NC State: Park
- UNC Charlotte: Levine
- Davidson: Belk
- Davidson: Bryan (Scholar/Athlete)
College Visit/College Fair Deadline: October 31st
You can also attend one of these up-coming college fairs:
- Charlotte Performing and Visual Arts College Fair: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. on September 24 (Levine Museum of the New South)
- Cabarrus County Schools Consolidated College Fair: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. on October 18 (Cabarrus Arena & Event Center)
- Your high school's college fair during the week of October 16 -- dates and times here
Don't forget to visit at least four colleges and ask their representative sign your Crosby Scholars form. Contact Jodi Wynblatt (jwynblatt@crosbyscholarsiredell.org) if you have questions.
Fall College Open Houses
Fall is a beautiful time of year to visit college campuses. Students are back and excitement fills the air. Meet faculty, take a tour, talk to current students, and maybe even take in a game or a meal in the cafeteria. It's the perfect chance to experience all that a school has to offer! Contact the schools you're interested in for more information.
How to Find Other Scholarships
Look for local scholarships through school guidance department websites at your school and other schools in your area. Also, there are a number of scholarship search sites on the web that are worth looking into. Try some of these:
Check Out These Scholarships Today!
Here are a few scholarship programs to get you started. Please read the application instructions on the website carefully before applying.
MyProjectorLamps Scholarship - September 30, 2017 (2 Awards - $500)
Money Metals Exchange Scholarship - September 30, 2017 (3 Awards - $2,000, $1000, and $500)
Burger King Scholarship - December 15, 2017 (13+ Awards - from $5,000 - $50,000)
$1000 Scholarship Giveaway by TheDearLab.com - December 31, 2017
- American Fire Sprinkler Association Scholarship Program - April 1, 2018 (10 Awards - $2000)
Scholarship Scams: A Note of Caution
Also, there are many “sweepstake” scholarships that claim to give away money for free. In fact, you are likely providing businesses with data about you and your preferences which is worth a lot of money to them. If you choose to enter these scholarship drawings, do so knowing what you’re giving away for a chance to win.
Scholarship Essays--Need Help?
September Senior Advisor Meeting
Senior Program Requirements
Iredell County Crosby Scholars Senior Program
Email: jwynblatt@crosbyscholarsiredell.org
Website: crosbyscholarsiredell.org
Location: 124 4th Crescent Place, Statesville, NC, United States
Phone: (704) 873-5005
Facebook: facebook.com/crosbyscholarsiredell
Twitter: @iredellcrosby