HOW TO GET SCHOLARSHIPS

Graduation is rapidly approaching!  I hope you are all making plans for life after high school.  If you plan to go to a university, a community college, or trade school, you should be doing the following things:

1.)    Applying to the school you want to go to or at least speaking to a counselor at the school about how or when to apply.

2.)    Applying for state financial aid (including Bright Futures) using the student application at www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org.  You have until graduation to meet the requirements for Bright Futures even after you apply. 

3.)    Completing the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  This makes you eligible for financial assistance and assistance from your future school.  You must do this by April, but you have a better chance at getting money the earlier you do it!

4.)    Checking www.facts.orgto see what you still need to do in order to get a Bright Futures award.  You may just need to retake the ACT and get one more point to be eligible for lots of Bright Futures money that you didn’t realize you could get…

5.)    Regularly checking the UHS website scholarship page (it is under “Guidance” and  “Scholarships”) for scholarships that you can apply for.  www.lake.k12.fl.us/uhs

6.)    Searching for scholarships on your own- google works great!  Also- check your future school’s website for scholarships that they may have available.

7.)    Contacting your future school’s financial aid office (only after you have completed the FAFSA) to discuss more financial aid opportunities that they can offer.

Remember: 

*Scholarships do not cost money- if someone is asking you to pay, DO NOT DO IT!

*Let me know when you are awarded a scholarship so that we can make sure to recognize your achievements at the Senior Awards Program!  You can email me at penderk@lake.k12.fl.us.

*You must test in order to be eligible for Bright Futures.  The top two awards (FAS and Medallion) require either the SAT or the ACT.  The lower award (Gold Seal Vocational) will accept the SAT, ACT or CPT.  You have until June to get the scores you need!  Here is how you register for the tests:

SAT: www.collegeboard.com

*Keep checking my web page at  www.lake.k12.fl.us/uhs for scholarships and useful financial aid information.