Scholarship EducationQuest Information
April 17, 2008
Attend a Financial Aid Program to learn how to pay for
college
EducationQuest is conducting
statewide financial aid programs that explain the types of
financial aid, how to complete the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA), how colleges award financial aid and the
student loan process. The programs are free and open to the public.
To find the program nearest you, visit www.educationquest.org/fap.asp
.
Seniors…have
you submitted your college applications?
If you haven’t submitted your admission applications
yet, it’s time to get serious! Contact your top college choices to
determine application deadlines and procedures. Ask if the
admission application is also the application for college-based
scholarships. If not, ask about the scholarship application
process.
How to estimate your FAFSA results
If you’re a college-bound senior, you will soon
complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA). Colleges will use your FAFSA results to determine how much
they will award you in financial aid.
To estimate your FAFSA results now, use the College Funding
Estimator at www.educationquest.org. The
program will ask for 2007 income tax information. You may estimate
your tax information to complete the Estimator but should use your
completed 2007 tax returns when you submit the actual
FAFSA.
Winning the scholarship game
Follow these tips to increase your chances of earning
scholarships:
Don’t pay for scholarship searches. Free scholarship search
sites are available on the Internet including ScholarshipQuest at
www.educationquest.org
which has over 1,600 state and local awards.
Visit your guidance counselor weekly for information about local
scholarships.
Get organized. Place scholarship applications in deadline order and
prioritize each award. Local awards and college-specific
applications deserve top priority because you're more likely to
earn them.
Continually update your activities, honors and volunteer or paid
jobs using the Activities Resume at www.educationquest.org.
Earn the best possible ACT/SAT scores by taking the exam in the
spring of your junior year and again in the fall of your senior
year.
Use quality references such as a teacher, coach or counselor.
Encourage them to write specific examples of your leadership
skills. Give them advance notice and a specific deadline.
Get an early start on essays. Describe your interests, hopes for
the future, and leadership abilities.
Pay close attention to grammar, spelling and neatness. Ask at least
two people to proofread your application.
For free help
with college planning, contact EducationQuest Foundation:
Kearney
308-234-6310
800-666-3721
Lincoln
402-475-5222
800-303-3745
Omaha
402-391-4033
888-357-6300
www.educationquest.org
EducationQuest Foundation is
a private, nonprofit organization with a mission to improve access
to higher education in Nebraska.
