Scholarships 101

Hi everyone!

Here's a brief overview about scholarship information:

• When to Start Looking- Some scholarships are open to all grade levels (9-12), but most prominent ones are only open to Seniors. That being said, Senior year (or the summer before) is the best time to start focusing on getting a scholarship.


• AIMS Information- In order to get this scholarship, you need the following: 'B' or better in all 16 core classes + cumulative GPA of 3.5 in these core classes + exceed all thee sections of the AIMS by the end of your Junior year. NOTE: This only covers tuition, not anything else (room and board, books, etc.)


• The Truth About National Merit- The top 15,000 finalists are chosen from the 1.4 million students who take the PSATs their Junior year. In selecting the "winners" of this scholarship, the organization looks at: academic records, PSAT and SAT scores, recommendations, activities and leadership, and a personal essay. Each "winner" receives a $2500 scholarship. Colleges and corporations may also issue annual stipends that range from $500 to $2000 a year. For more info, go to www.nationalmerit.org .


• The Breakdown of Flinn- If you: rank in the top five percent of your graduating class, have a minimum 3.5 GPA, score a minimum of 1280 (math and reading) on the SAT or a 29 on the ACT, and are a US citizen and Arizona resident (for at least two years), you are eligible to apply. The top twenty students in the state receive: the full cost of tuition and fees for four years at an Arizona public university, a three-week overseas seminar plus two additional summer or semesters of international study-related travel, personal mentoring by Flinn Foundation professionals and university faculty. Download the application at http://www.flinnscholars.org/. NOTE: Students should apply for this by mid-October of their Senior year.


• Scholarships of the Rest of Us- If you don't feel as though you meet the criteria of these scholarships above, or want a shot at possibly some more money, check out http://www.collegeandfinance.com/32-weird-scholarships-almost-anyone-can-get/ for scholarships ranging from $1,000 for writing the best essay about why being tall is cool to $10,000 for developing a new candy!


• Other Places to Look- TUHSD's Scholarship page- www.tuhsd.k12.az.us/view.php?page=55.82. This site is updated regularly, so check it often. Fast web - http://www.fastweb.com/. Create an account and have opportunities mailed directly to you.

Best of Luck!

Shivani Kapur

Applying for Universities (Since "college" is a misnomer and "University" is a bunch of "colleges" therefore it should be applying to "University")

Steps to applying for Universities (and colleges)
1. Be a pain in the neck. In a good way though. Let everybody know you want to go to a university. Find people that can help you gently squeeze all the good advice you can get from them.
2. Push yourself; seriously, if you know what you want to do, then freaking sign up for those classes and make the most of them. Universities like persistence. Sometimes you can get college credit for classes you take during highschool; take advantage of them.
3. Explore universities; just because the university has the right major doesn't mean that it's right for you. Go the campus, talk to students, stay overnight or something. Don't let freshman orientation be your first day on campus grounds.
4. Apply to get in to the university. That's a given.
5. Apply for scholarships; Get dat cash. It's out there, and if you don't get it then some other, faster kid will. Which means APPLY EARLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Bryant (One of the College Info Coordinators)