WICOR

Introduce the Basics of Financial Aid

1. 1. • Explain the different types of financial aid (grants, scholarships, work-study, loans).

      • Discuss the importance of financial aid in making college affordable.

Walk Students Through the FAFSA Process

1. 1. • Teach students how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

      • Discuss key documents needed for FAFSA, such as tax returns and student identification.

Explore Scholarship Opportunities

1. 1. • Show students how to search for scholarships based on interests, demographics, and academic achievements.

      • Provide guidance on writing scholarship essays and gathering recommendation letters.

Understand the Importance of the EFC (Expected Family Contribution)

1. 1. • Teach students how their family’s financial situation impacts their eligibility for financial aid.

      • Explain how the EFC is calculated and its role in the financial aid award process.

Teach Loan Basics

1. 1. • Explain the difference between federal and private loans, including interest rates, repayment plans, and loan forgiveness options.

      • Discuss the importance of borrowing responsibly and understanding loan terms.

Introduce the Concept of Work-Study

1. 1. • Explain the work-study program and how students can earn money through on-campus jobs while attending college.

Discuss College Costs and Budgeting

1. 1. • Teach students to estimate the total cost of college, including tuition, housing, textbooks, and other expenses.

      • Introduce basic budgeting skills to help students plan for college expenses.

Host Financial Aid Workshops or Guest Speakers

1. 1. • Invite financial aid officers, college representatives, or local community organizations to speak about financial aid and answer questions.

      • Provide students with real-world insight into navigating financial aid.

Use Online Resources and Tools

1. 1. • Introduce online resources like the College Board Scholarship Search, FAFSA website, and other financial aid tools.

      • Teach students to track deadlines, create reminders, and use tools for managing financial aid.

Create a Financial Aid Timeline

1. 1. • Help students develop a timeline for when to apply for FAFSA, scholarships, and other financial aid opportunities.

      • Emphasize the importance of early application to maximize aid availability.

Start Early

1. 1. • Encourage students to begin their scholarship search early—ideally in their sophomore or junior year. This gives them time to research, plan, and prepare strong applications without the stress of last-minute deadlines.

Make It a Regular Habit

1. 1. • Incorporate scholarship searching into regular activities. Set aside time each month for students to search for new scholarships, keeping the process manageable and less overwhelming. Consistency is key to staying on top of opportunities.

Emphasize the Importance of Scholarships

1. 1. • Explain how scholarships can reduce financial burdens, make college more accessible, and open doors to educational opportunities. Students are more likely to apply when they understand the long-term benefits.

Provide Resources and Tools

1. 1. • Offer students access to scholarship search platforms like Fastweb, Scholarships.com, and Cappex. Provide them with a list of local and national scholarships. Encourage them to use their school’s counseling office for additional resources.

Highlight Scholarship Opportunities That Fit Their Interests

1. 1. • Help students identify scholarships that align with their strengths, extracurricular activities, hobbies, or career goals. A targeted search will make applying feel more relevant and less like a chore.

Break Down the Application Process

1. 1. • Sometimes students are intimidated by the application process. Help them break it down into manageable steps: create a resume, write personal statements, gather recommendation letters, and submit applications. Offer feedback and support for each part.

Incentivize Scholarship Applications

1. 1. • Consider offering a small reward or recognition for each scholarship a student applies to. This can help motivate students to stay on track with their applications.

Host Workshops and Guest Speakers

1. 1. • Organize workshops or invite financial aid experts to talk about the scholarship application process. Offering step-by-step guidance in person or virtually can provide students with useful tips and help them feel more confident.

Utilize Group Efforts

1. 1. • Create a scholarship club or group where students can meet, share scholarship opportunities, and support one another in the application process. Peer accountability and motivation can help students stay on track.

Remind Them of the Competitive Advantage

1. 1. • Make sure students understand that many scholarships are not highly competitive. Often, applying for smaller, local scholarships can increase their chances of receiving funding. The effort can pay off in ways they may not expect.

Offer Parental Support

1. 1. • Encourage students to involve their parents in the process, particularly when it comes to gathering financial documents for applications. Parental support can increase a student’s motivation and help keep them organized.

Make the Process Personal

1. 1. • Help students see how applying for scholarships is a way to tell their unique story. Whether through personal essays or letters of recommendation, scholarships give students the chance to reflect on their experiences and achievements.

Track and Celebrate Successes

1. 1. • Create a system to track the scholarships students have applied for and celebrate when they receive an award. Acknowledging their efforts boosts morale and encourages students to continue applying.

Be Supportive During Rejection

1. 1. • Let students know that rejections are part of the process and should not discourage them. Encourage them to keep applying to new scholarships and remind them that persistence is key to success.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

1. 1. • Website: www.fafsa.gov

      • The official site for submitting the FAFSA form, which is essential for obtaining federal financial aid. It also includes helpful resources on eligibility and deadlines.

College Board Scholarship Search

1. 1. • Website: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search

      • A tool from the College Board to help students find scholarships and other financial aid opportunities based on their profile.

StudentAid.gov

1. 1. • Website: www.studentaid.gov

      • A comprehensive resource for understanding federal financial aid, including grants, loans, and work-study opportunities.

Scholarships.com

1. 1. • Website: www.scholarships.com

      • A popular site to search for scholarships, grants, and other financial aid opportunities based on individual student criteria.

NerdWallet: Financial Aid & Scholarships

1. 1. • Website: www.nerdwallet.com/best/loans/student-loans

      • Offers clear guides on navigating student loans, financial aid, and scholarships, with tips on how to borrow responsibly.

Fastweb

1. 1. • Website: www.fastweb.com

      • A well-known site for finding scholarships, financial aid, and other college funding opportunities.

MyCollegeMoneyPlan

1. 1. • Website: www.mycollegemoneyplan.org

      • A resource that helps students and families understand how to pay for college, with tools for financial planning and budgeting.

The Scholarship System

1. 1. • Website: www.thescholarshipsystem.com

      • Offers tips and strategies for students to successfully find and apply for scholarships.

Cappex

1. 1. • Website: www.cappex.com

      • A platform to search for scholarships and financial aid while also comparing colleges and reviewing admissions data.

National College Access Network (NCAN)

1. 1. • Website: www.collegeaccess.org

      • Provides resources and advocacy for students, families, and educators on how to access college financial aid and other support services.

Niche

1. 1. • Website: www.niche.com

      • Niche provides a scholarship search tool, reviews of colleges and universities, and rankings of schools based on a variety of factors, helping students find both colleges and funding opportunities.

Unigo

1. 1. • Website: www.unigo.com

      • This site offers a scholarship search engine and allows students to apply for various awards based on their profiles. It also includes a database of college reviews and expert advice.

College Board Scholarship Search

1. 1. • Website: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search

      • The College Board’s Scholarship Search allows students to find relevant scholarships and aid opportunities based on their background and college goals.

Chegg Scholarships

1. 1. • Website: www.chegg.com/scholarships

      • Chegg offers a wide variety of scholarships, including those for specific fields of study, hobbies, and community involvement.

Bold.org

1. 1. • Website: www.bold.org

      • A scholarship platform focused on creating opportunities for students, Bold.org hosts a wide range of scholarships, some of which are even based on short essays or unique challenges.

Raise Me

1. 1. • Website: www.raise.me

      • RaiseMe partners with colleges to offer micro-scholarships for achievements throughout high school. Students can earn scholarships by excelling in academics, extracurricular activities, and other accomplishments.

Scholarship Owl

1. 1. • Website: www.scholarshipowl.com

      • Scholarship Owl allows students to apply for multiple scholarships with a single application, saving time and effort in the scholarship search process.