Scholarships and Events

There are a number of sources on the Internet that offer opportunities to collect information about scholarships. Four  of the best are Collegelink, Fastweb and Finaid and Winscholarships. These services suggest scholarships that fit your profile as well as prints the letter requesting a copy of the scholarship application be sent to you. In addition, Fastweb  offers you a personal mailbox into which new scholarship applications matching your profile will be stored. Another important link to financial aid is called College Board. This site offers you many opportunities to search for scholarships. In addition, College Board allows you to register for the SAT on-line if you have a credit card. In addition, ACT now provides electronic registration. These are only six sites that you will find valuable throughout the coming academic year. One of the best search engines to collect information about financial aid is called Metacrawler. If you will search for financial aid using the descriptor ( e.g. scholarship or financial aid or college grants, etc.), you will collect more up-to-date information than this web site can offer on any given day. Also, for specific information contact UT's Webster for a listing of U.S. universities.

The search for scholarships is long and arduous. Those students who are successful are usually well-organized. In fact, most students will need the help of their families to insure that all of their lengthy applications have been filled out completely and correctly; all of the deadlines have been met; and that every scholarship that applies to you has been found. A good estimate is that this process will require about 15-20 hours per week in the Fall. And the cost is high if you will be sending a large number of applications.

Suggestions:

1. 95% of the scholarships that you will receive will come from the college/university/technical school that admits you. When you apply to a school, please ask for the freshmen scholarship handbook.

2. Advertise to your relatives and friends that you are looking for scholarships. Share the information about scholarships with your classmates. Those that give information get information.

3. Your parent's employers may offer scholarships at his/her place of employment. Check it out.

4. If you complete high school in Texas in 36 consecutive months, you are eligible for a $1000 scholarship to any public Texas college or university. See your counselor for details.

5. If you are currently receiving food stamp assistance in Texas, you are eligible for a $1000 scholarship to any public Texas college or university. See your counselor for details.

6. If you are on the Federal lunch program or whose family's income is below the federally defined poverty line, you are eligible for a fee waiver to take the SAT I and II, and ACT once in your high school career. If you take the test, you are then eligible for a fee waiver for admissions to most schools. Contact your counselor for details.

7.  Contact www.collegefortexans.com for general information about financial aid and public and private schools in Texas.  This is an excellent website.

7. If you graduate from high school on the recommended plan (Texas Scholars Program), you are entitled up to $1,300 per semester for tuition and fees at Texas state colleges, universities, and community colleges. See the financial aid director at the institution in which you wish to enroll.