Scholarships and Financial Aid Information
SCHOLARSHIPS: The counseling center receives information about many scholarships from a variety of sources. Many of the scholarships are through the Lincoln Public Schools Foundation (www.FoundationforLPS.org), Lincoln Community Foundation (www.lcf.org) or individual Colleges or Universities. Those that send up paper applications have a file in the counseling center where students may pick up a copy of the application and related information. Many now provide only a website at which students are to access a file to download or complete an on-line submission. The total listing of scholarships includes current notices and past notices for which I have not yet received current year information. The due date column will be the indicator of whether or not current information is available. The document is produced in a table format in WORD. The most current complete listing is linked here Scholarship Listing 2007-2008
Students should come to the NSHS Counseling Center for more information and applications. Please note all deadlines. To conduct your own search of national scholarships visit one of the following sites: www.fastweb.com or www.educationquest.org
The handout of scholarship reminders can be accessed here. For the 2007-2008 school year, Rick Boyle will be the counselor coordinating the scholarship and financial aid information. You are also encouraged to utilize the free services at EducationQuest at 13th and "O", 475-5222, www. edcuationquest.org, for financial planning, college exploration and scholarship searching. They are a unique asset to Nebraska students-- at zero cost, they will assist you with every step of accessing higher education opportunities.
RECOMMENDATION LETTERS: The form to request a recommendation letter may be picked up in the counseling center or accessed here. I suggest completing the information, making a copy and THEN filling in the details of when, where and for what use the letter is being requested. Always allow at least two weeks for a counselor or teacher or administrator to write a recommendation letter or complete a recommendation form.
Most applications for admission and for scholarships will require the submission of an official high school transcript. This is the official school record of enrollment history, attendance history, courses taken with grades received (organized by semester), current classes, class rank, GPA and testing history. In order to release a copy of this information the registrar must received a signed form indicating the institution or organization it is being released to, including the mailing address and appropriate postage if she is to mail it. If the student is under 18, the parent/guardian must sign the request form.
The registrar's office is located within the attendance office Mrs. Jodi Vanek's hours are 7:30-3:30, and her office is closed during her lunch. Please allow at least 24 hours for her to process the request and recognize that she has many duties and cannot always produce your transcript immediately.
LEARN TO DREAM SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE
The Learn to Dream Scholarship program isdesigned to make college possible for low-income students attending a high school in Lincoln by paying tuition and fees up to 45 credit hours, or approximately one academic year, of classes at Southeast Community College.
Eligible students for the Learn to Dream Scholarship program are graduating seniors attending a high school in Lincoln who participated in or qualify for the free or reduced-price lunches under the United States Department of Agriculture program, during his or her senior year.
Applications are now available in the Counseling Center. See Mr Boyle or your own acadmey counselor for more information.
Additional resources to consult to learn more about Financial Aid opportunities are listed below. We do not endorse any particular service or organization but have had positive interactions with those we have listed.
EducationQuest Foundation
College Planning Bulletin
A monthly college planning guide for Nebraska high school students
November 2007
Seniors…it’s time to start the admissions process!
College may still seem far off, but admission deadlines will start hitting this fall. Follow these steps to stay on track:
Contact your top college choices NOW and ask about deadlines and the process for applying for admission, college-based scholarships and financial aid.
Apply to your top 3-4 colleges before the deadline. Along with your application, the colleges will require your high school transcript, class rank, GPA and ACT/SAT score. They may also request a list of your extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, an essay and an interview.
Update your Activities Resume. Because extracurricular activities are an important part of the admissions application, keep them up-to-date by using the Activities Resume at www.educationquest.org. In many cases, you can simply print your resume and include it with the application.
Contact your admissions representative periodically to stay informed about deadlines and campus activities.
Attend a Financial Aid Program to learn college funding options
Juniors and seniors - to learn about financial aid and other college funding options, attend an upcoming Financial Aid Program with your parents or an adult who can help you with college planning. To find the date and location of the program at your school or in your area, ask your guidance counselor or see the Upcoming Events section at www.educationquest.org.
Juniors…start researching colleges
If you can narrow your choices by the end of your junior year, your senior year will be less stressful. Here’s how to get started:
Review College Profiles at www.educationquest.org for information about Midwest colleges. If you’re interested in going to an out-of-state school, check out the Midwest Student Exchange Program at http://msep.mhec.org.
Visit an EducationQuest location in Lincoln, Kearney or Omaha and use our free college search resources.
Meet with college representatives who visit your school.
Once you’ve narrowed your choices, schedule campus visits. Try to visit in the spring of your junior year while college classes are still in session.
November “To Do” List
Juniors and seniors…complete these tasks in November to stay on the right college planning track.
____ Seniors, register by October 30 for the December 1 SAT.
____ Seniors, register by November 2 for the December 8 ACT.
____ Juniors and seniors, apply for scholarships. Visit free sites such as ScholarshipQuest at
www.educationquest.org, www.fastweb.com, www.fastaid.com and www.srnexpress.com.
____ Juniors and seniors, meet with college representatives who visit your school.
EducationQuest Foundation
College Planning Bulletin
December 2007
Countdown to College Call-In Show airs December 11
Get expert advice on college planning, admissions and financial aid during the ninth annual Countdown to College call-in program Tuesday, December 11 at 7:00 pm on NET Television.
During this one-hour program, college-planning experts will answer viewers’ questions on the air. You can submit questions now or the evening of the show by calling 800-666-3721 or e-mailing them to countdown@educationquest.org. You’ll receive an answer on the air or via e-mail.
Watch your mail for a postcard with more details.
If you miss the show December 11, watch for a rebroadcast on NET Thursday, December 20 at 10 pm CT The show will also be rebroadcast on NET2:
- Friday, December 14 at 9 pm CT (8 pm MT)
- Saturday, December 15 at 7 am CT (6 am MT)
- Sunday, December 23 at 10 am CT (9 am MT)
A Spanish voiceover version of the program will air on NET2 in late January or early February (date and time to be announced).
Countdown to College: a Nebraska Connects Special is a co-production of EducationQuest Foundation and NET Television.
Attend a Financial Aid Program to learn how to pay for college
EducationQuest is conducting statewide financial aid programs that explain the types of financial aid, how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), how colleges award financial aid and the student loan process. The programs are free and open to the public. North Star will have a program at 7:00 PM on Monday, December 10th.
Seniors…have you submitted your college applications?
If you haven’t submitted your admission applications yet, it’s time to get serious! Contact your top college choices to determine application deadlines and procedures. Ask if the admission application is also the application for college-based scholarships. If not, ask about the scholarship application process.
How to estimate your FAFSA results
If you’re a college-bound senior, you will soon complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Colleges will use your FAFSA results to determine how much they will award you in financial aid.
To estimate your FAFSA results now, use the College Funding Estimator at www.educationquest.org. The program will ask for 2007 income tax information. You may estimate your tax information to complete the Estimator but should use your completed 2007 tax returns when you submit the actual FAFSA.
Winning the scholarship game
Follow these tips to increase your chances of earning scholarships:
Don’t pay for scholarship searches. Free scholarship search sites are available on the Internet including ScholarshipQuest at www.educationquest.org which has over 1,600 state and local awards.
Visit your guidance counselor weekly for information about local scholarships.
Get organized. Place scholarship applications in deadline order and prioritize each award. Local awards and college-specific applications deserve top priority because you're more likely to earn them.
Continually update your activities, honors and volunteer or paid jobs using the Activities Resume at www.educationquest.org.
Use quality references such as a teacher, coach or counselor. Encourage them to write specific examples of your leadership skills. Give them advance notice and a specific deadline.
Get an early start on essays. Describe your interests, hopes for the future, and leadership abilities.
Pay close attention to grammar, spelling and neatness. Ask at least two people to proofread your application.
December “To Do” List
Complete these tasks during December to stay on the right college planning track.
Seniors:
__ Watch the Countdown to College Call-In Show December 11 on NET.
__ Submit college applications.
__ Estimate FAFSA results using the College Funding Estimator at www.educationquest.org.
__ Attend the Financial Aid Program in your area.
__ Continue to apply for scholarships.
__ Make a FAFSA appointment at EducationQuest if you need help with the form.
Juniors
__ Watch the Countdown to College Call-In Show December 11 on NET.
__ Attend the Financial Aid Program in your area.
__ Research college choices.
__ Search for scholarships.
__ Register by December 26 for the January 26 SAT.
__ Register by January 4 for the February 9 ACT.
For free help with college planning, contact EducationQuest Foundation:
Lincoln
402-475-5222
800-303-3745
www.educationquest.org EducationQuest Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization with a mission to improve access to higher education in Nebraska.