In Search of Ways to Pay for College

Fall Issue 2008

Katy Parents and Students Unearth Scholarships and
Opportunities to Help Offset College Costs
By Ashley Robbins

Money, money, money! That’s the concern of many Katy parents offer incentive scholarships or tuition waivers to recruit students. with high school students these days. With the cost of a public col-The financial aid officers on college campuses are also great re-lege education averaging almost $10,000 a year, many Money, money, money! That's the concern of many Katy parents with high school students these days. With the cost of a public college education averaging almost $10,000 a year, many parents and students are frantically searching for ways to pay. The good news is there is plenty of money out there if parents and students are willing to do a little work to find the funds.

The Scholarship Search
According to Ross Raymond, Katy Area financial workshop provider, there are billions of dollars in scholarships and loans out there ready to be awarded to college students. Locating these awards, however, is the tricky part. A great starting point is the high school counselors' office. Many high schools have a college room with computers for college research, informational materials on colleges that can be checked out, and copies of various college and scholarship applications for student use. High school web pages are also a great source of information.

Parents and students should take advantage of the free online searches, such as FastWeb or College Net. These sights allow students to search using all sorts of parameters including age, race, gender, academics, hobbies, disabilities, and extracurricular activities. While online, it is helpful to take a look at the home pages for potential schools. Many colleges and their individual departments offer incentive scholarships or tuition waivers to recruit students. The financial aid officers on college campuses are also great resources.

Another place to turn in the search for funds is the surrounding community. Many local organizations, such as Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and Katy Lions Club, American Business Women's Association, and even local businesses, such as Dr. David S. Bright and Century 21, offer scholarships to Katy area students.

When Do I Apply?
Contrary to popular belief, students don't need wait until they have been accepted to a college to apply for scholarships or aid. "A major mistake parents make is to let the student select the school and then find themselves having to worry about how to pay for it," Raymond says.

He encourages families to confront the issue of money and how to pay for college early on in the school selection process. This allows students to narrow down their options in case their family cannot afford to send them to a particular school. Yet, it could also have a reverse effect and open up the number of schools available to them. "I have seen students have more school choices if they concentrated on the money issues sooner rather than later," Raymond says. Graduating seniors should begin applying for funds as soon as possible, and juniors can begin searching and applying as early as this spring.

Be Proactive
Students who win scholarships are the often the ones who are proactive and invest the time to look into what is available. "It pays off if students will take the time to do it," says Marsha Smith, Taylor High School counselor. Smith warns that applying for scholarships can be a very time consuming process, and students should plan ahead and watch deadlines carefully.

Students should keep in mind, not all scholarships are based on academics only. There are numerous awards available for students with unique personal accomplishments, disadvantaged backgrounds, and athletic or leadership abilities. Senior Meredith Cooke, from Morton Ranch High School, says her strategy when searching for scholarships is to look for those that fit her personal gifts and achievements and apply for as many as possible.

Beware of Scholarship Scams
Unfortunately where there are generous offers, there are also scams. Be wary of offers that cost you money, ask for bank or credit card information, or provide no contact information. Offers that appear without any application process or specific qualifications are often gimmicks. If it seems too easy, it probably is.

Do Whatever it Takes
Most importantly, don't let money get you down. If money is still short after scholarships, there are always student loans and state and federal grants. Parents just need to fill out the F.A.F.S.A. (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov, and talk to a college financial aid officer. Money does not have to be the reason for a student to miss out on continuing their education.

Top Ten Tips for Winning Scholarship Applications:

1. Apply only for scholarships that you are eligible for and check carefully to assure eligibility.

2. Complete the application in full and don't forget additional materials, such as transcripts, letters of recommendation and essays.

3. Follow all directions carefully and don't forget to provide everything that is required.

4. Neatness counts, so type your application if at all possible or print it neatly and legibly. Have extra copies of all the forms before you fill them out to avoid having scratch outs or using correction fluid.

5. Make a strong impression with your essay. Be personal, specific, and focus on your personal achievements. Make the essay come alive for the reader with your unique details.

6. Watch all deadlines carefully and plan to have things done at least two weeks before the official due date.

7. Make sure your application gets where it needs to go. Put your name and social security number (if applicable) on all pages of the application.

8. Keep a back-up file, just in case. Before you drop your essay and application in the mail, make a photocopy of the entire packet for your files.

9. Proofread, proofread, proofread! Watch out for misspelled words and grammatical errors. Ask a teacher, fried, or family member to proof it for you as well.

10. Always ask for help if you need it. Ask teachers or counselors for help understating directions, and don't hesitate to call the funding organization.

Adapted from Katy Peterson, Ph.D.

Look for Local Scholarships from these Katy area businesses and organizations:

Where to Look for Local Scholarships

· Al’s Formal Wear
· Century 21 Western Realty
· Dr. David S. Bright
· Grand Vision Center
· Greater Katy Exchange Club
· Hispanic College Fund
· Houston Coca-Cola
· Bottling Company
· Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
· Indo-American Charity Foundation
· Jack Rhoads Memorial Scholarship
· Katy American Business Women’s
· Association
· Katy A & M
· Katy Lions Club
· Katy Rotary Club
· Ozarka Natural Spring Water
· RoyceBuilders.com
· Tzu Chi Foundation
Veterans of Foreign Wars
·

Useful Web Sites

www.collegenaswer.com
www.collegefortexans.com
www.collegenet.com
www.collegeview.com
www.fastweb.com
www.fafsa.ed.gov
www.ed.gov
www.scholarships.com

Special Thanks to…

Marsha Smith, Taylor High School
Virginia Stott, Taylor High School
Ann Vyvial, Morton Ranch High School
Ross Raymond, Katy Area Financial Workshop Provider

Ashley Robbins grew up in Katy and now lives here with her dog, Truck, and her cat, Abby. She is an English teacher at Morton Ranch High School.

Submit your Katy news to editor@katymagazine.com.

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