Oregon Student Access Commission Finding Funds For Oregon

Oregon Student Access Commission Finding Funds For Oregon Students Helping Students Plan and Pay for College

Oregon Student Access Commission (OSAC) Manages: § ASPIRE and Outreach § Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG) § Grants for foster youth, student parents, and more… § OSAC Scholarship Application www. Oregon. Student. Aid. gov

Topics to Cover 1 Financial Aid Terms 2 Oregon Opportunity Grant 3 OSAC Scholarship Program & Application Tips Other Grants & Tuition Waiver

Part 1 Financial Aid Terms FAFSA § Free Application for Federal Student Aid § Helps evaluate a student’s ability to pay for college § Calculates the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) § § Re-apply each year www. fafsa. ed. gov Determines eligibility for financial aid www. fafsa 4 caster. ed. gov

Pt. 1 Financial Aid Terms Need-based aid § Determined by FAFSA and/or other statement of financial need VS. Merit-based aid § Determined by other factors: talent, academics, interest, etc. www. fafsa 4 caster. ed. gov

Pt. 1 Financial Aid Terms Grants § Eligibility based on need § No repayment Scholarships § Eligibility based on EFC, remaining need, merit, or a combination Work study § Awarded by the college using FAFSA information

Pt. 1 Financial Aid Terms Student Loans § Federal and Private Loans § Must be paid back Federal Education Tax Credits § American Opportunity Tax Credit (modified Hope Credit): Up to $2, 500 annually § Lifetime Learning Credit: Up to $2, 000 per family per year for additional years www. irs. gov

Part 2 Oregon Opportunity Grant § § § FAFSA is the application for OOG Submit the FAFSA by February 1, 2014 to be considered for a 2014 -2015 Opportunity Grant. The OOG award is a flat amount of $2, 000 for 2014 -15 for eligible students at participating Oregon institutions. Awards are made first-come firstserved until the funds run out. OSAC will notify OOG awardees by email of their award. www. fafsa. gov

Pt. 2 Tuition & Fee Waiver for Foster Youth § § § HB 3471 passed in 2011 and effective starting the 2012 -13 academic year. After federal and state grants, institutional aid and scholarships are applied, remaining tuition and fees are waived for foster youth and former foster youth at Oregon community colleges and universities. OSAC gives these students priority awarding for the OOG. Oregon DHS identifies eligible students and notifies OSAC & the schools. Questions? Contact the school’s financial aid office or Peggy Cooksey 541 -687 -7443.

Pt. 2 Other Grant Programs at OSAC § Chafee Education and Training Grant § Deceased or Disabled Public Safety Officer Grant § Student Childcare Grant www. Oregon. Student. Aid. gov

Part 3 OSAC Scholarship Program § § § 450+ scholarships More than $15 million awarded Average award is $2, 000 3, 800+ awardees One easy application www. Oregon. Student. Aid. gov

Pt. 3 OSAC Scholarship Program Deadlines Saturday, February 15, 2014 Priority deadline for Early Bird Review q Opportunity to correct transcript errors only q If error-free, enter a drawing for a $500 scholarship q 5: 00 pm (PST) Saturday, March 1, 2014 FINAL deadline q Oregon Scholarship Applications & all required documents must be received at OSAC by 5: 00 pm (PST) www. Oregon. Student. Aid. gov

Pt. 3 Scholarship Application Features § Apply for multiple scholarships on one online application! § High school juniors can begin their application for submission their graduation year § § Scholarship Application Worksheet OSAC will send email after application is received and again after review www. Oregon. Student. Aid. gov

Part 3 OSAC Scholarship Program § § § 446 programs listed in catalog § § 234 programs for undergrad students 57 employer/membership programs 334 programs for graduating high school seniors (236 do not have a G. P. A requirement) 95 programs for graduate students 291 programs allow attendance outside Oregon 73 programs do not require financial need www. Oregon. Student. Aid. gov

Pt. 3 Scholarship Programs Ford Scholars – For graduating high school seniors and community college transfer students pursuing a bachelor's degree at an eligible Oregon college Ford Opportunity – For single parents who are "head of household" and without the support of a domestic partner, pursuing a bachelor's degree at an eligible Oregon college Ford Re. Start – For adults, age 25 years or older, pursuing an associate’s or bachelor ‘s degree at an eligible Oregon college. Preference is given to applicants who are less than halfway through completion of their program. A Re. Start Reference Form is required. Ford Sons & Daughters - For dependents of employees of Roseburg Forest Products Co. who are 21 years old or younger by the application deadline; applicants may attend any eligible college in the U. S. www. Oregon. Student. Aid. gov www. tfff. org

Pt. 3 Application Requirements Applications require: § § § Student Profile 4 Personal Statements Activities Chart Transcripts Scholarship-specific essays and other documents may be required

Pt. 3 Application Student Profile Page Your Personal “go-to” page What can you do in your Student Profile? § Print your application § Verify whether OSAC accepted your application § Check if you have been awarded a scholarship, and if awarded, accept/decline it online § Update your personal contact info, college choice and college major § Copy (refresh) prior year’s Oregon Scholarship Application data to update and apply for the current year Check your Student Profile often for messages from OSAC about your application!

Pt. 3 OSAC Activities Chart You can: § Begin to add activities § Certify that you have no activity in a specific category, if applicable § Import your CIS Activities Activity list: A. School Activities B. Volunteer Activities (Community/Family) C. Paid Work History Include: § Dates § Hours (time spent) § Responsibilities/Accomplishments (115 characters)

Pt. 3 Personal Statements No more than 1000 characters max 1. Explain your career aspirations and your educational plan to meet these goals. 2. Explain how you have helped your family or made your community a better place to live. Please provide specific examples. 3. Describe a personal accomplishment and the strengths and skills you used to achieve it. 4. Describe a significant change or experience that has occurred in your life. How did you respond and what did you learn about yourself?

Pt. 3 § Transcripts High school seniors submit transcripts that provide grades from the first semester, trimester, or second quarter of senior year. q Additional requirements for home-schooled students § College students submit transcripts that include all work through fall semester/term § Three options for submission: q High school submits electronically (IDTS or OSAC secure web portal) q Student scans and uploads to application q Student sends hardcopy (blacken all SSN) # 1 reason for a rejected OSAC application: A missing or incomplete transcript

Pt. 3 How do students receive scholarships? Students § Accepts award through online OSAC Student Profile § Notifies OSAC w/any changes: address, school, etc. School § § Verifies eligibility Receives funds from OSAC at beginning of the term Issues? Contact the financial aid office and then OSAC

Tip #1 Search Additional Scholarships § Search Local § Search State OSAC § Search National Colleges (including depts. ), employers, parents’ employers, member organizations, local civic organizations, foundations, high school Gates Millennium Scholarship Program, Coca-Cola, Duck Tape Do not pay for search tools – use the FREE ones!

Tip #2: Scholarship Search Engines § OSAC - www. Oregon. Student. Aid. gov § Fastweb - www. fastweb. com § College Board – www. collegeboard. org § Peterson’s – www. petersons. com § College and Career Centers § Career Information Systems (CIS) www. Oregon. Student. Aid. gov/aspire-web-links. aspx

Tip #3: What Selection Committees Consider Academics § GPA, course rigor, transcripts, and test scores Outside the Classroom § Volunteer activities, leadership, work, etc. Life Experiences § § Serving your community, helping your family Tell your unique story using your four Personal Statements, Activities Chart, and transcript

Tip #4: Writing Essays or Personal Statements § § § Get inspiration from past activities § Be careful about using too much humor Answer the question Consider the reader Don’t repeat information (like your GPA) Be original, creative, and honest Be clear and purposeful about your academic and career goals

Tip #5: Don’t be Shy § § § In what ways are you unique? § § Put YOU on paper What are your leadership qualities? How do you take initiative? Any special recognition? Tie your past and present with your future Passion with a purpose

Tip #6: Get Help and Feedback § § § Friends and family Office/job associates Professors/teachers Learning resource centers Writing centers

Tip #7: Proofread § § Print it out and read it § § Read out loud and silently Read backwards sentence by sentence Read it slowly Take a break and review again Have someone else proofread your essays

Tip #8: The Interview § Remember your audience § Reread your Application & Personal Statements/essays § Practice your interview skills § Make a positive first impression ü ü ü Establish eye contact Display poised, confident body language Dress business casual Be yourself Shake hands firmly and remember names § Arrive early

Tip #9: Beware of Scams § Why pay for a service you can get for free? § Must still do the work and getting a refund is not that easy § Services that “guarantee” scholarships are questionable § Report scams to the Federal Trade Commission www. ftc. gov

OSAC Communications Podcast Topics § The OSAC Scholarship Application, American Tax Credit, Avoiding Scholarship Scams, etc. Follow OSAC on Twitter and Facebook § Receive updates on new scholarships, tips during the scholarship season, reminders, and more! Tip Sheets § How to analyze College Financial Aid award letters, What you need to know about student loans, and more! www. Oregon. Student. Aid. gov

COLLEGE GOAL OREGON January 4, 11, 18, 25, 2014 FREE help completing the FAFSA at 20+ sites. Pick from one of four dates! www. College. Goal. Oregon. gov

Thank you for attending “Finding Funds for Oregon Students”