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What's something you wished you knew about college scholarships
Posted on 8/15/16 at 8:09 am
Posted on 8/15/16 at 8:09 am
My oldest is going into the 9th grade and has got me thinking already of scholarships for college. Other than his grade point and ACT scores what are some things you know of or wished you knew when starting, or in high school, that would have helped?
Or is it really just keep As and rock the ACT?
Or is it really just keep As and rock the ACT?
12
Posted on 8/15/16 at 8:11 am to CAT
AP courses, rank in top of class, and do some cool extra curricular stuff. Like be good at saving the world
And yes, grades and ACT are a huge part of it.
And yes, grades and ACT are a huge part of it.
This post was edited on 8/15/16 at 8:12 am
Posted on 8/15/16 at 8:16 am to CAT
Grades and ACT are the easiest paths to scholarships. That and staying out of trouble. If you think he's got the guns to make National Merit, get him into some PSAT classes. That can be a huge boon as well.
Posted on 8/15/16 at 8:19 am to CAT
Honestly, I wish I had known where to look/had some guidance seeking them out (I was in HS in the 90s FWIW). My parents didn't go to college, so I was clueless about them at the time but thought I'd get some assistance from my grade counselor. She was required to sit down with each of us to share that kind of information/help with applications, but she was fricking worthless. Handed me a packet of "available scholarships" and they were all either through the NAACP or minority (racially based) scholarships.
I eventually ended up getting some scholarships after so many credit hours, but it would've nice to have known the info in HS. I had a good ACT score and great grades and probably would've qualified for a decent amount of scholarships.
I eventually ended up getting some scholarships after so many credit hours, but it would've nice to have known the info in HS. I had a good ACT score and great grades and probably would've qualified for a decent amount of scholarships.
Posted on 8/15/16 at 8:30 am to CAT
GPA for the first 3 years is hugely important, but test scores are more important. At LSU, the flat GPA is 3.0 for the first 3 years of HS (higher doesn't matter) and a minimum 28 ACT.
For other schools, they may consider things like AP and dual enrollment, as well as extra-curricular stuff like community service, athletics, band, etc
For other schools, they may consider things like AP and dual enrollment, as well as extra-curricular stuff like community service, athletics, band, etc
Posted on 8/15/16 at 8:36 am to CAT
Extra curricular activities help for sure. I wasn't extremely active in high school and some people who had worse GPA and ACTs received scholarships over me.
Posted on 8/15/16 at 8:40 am to CAT
Talk to colleges early! Like go on campus no later than sophomore year. I missed out on a lot because I waited until around Thanksgiving of senior year of HS and some deadlines had past already.
Posted on 8/15/16 at 8:43 am to Epic Cajun
quote:
Extra curricular activities help for sure. I wasn't extremely active in high school and some people who had worse GPA and ACTs received scholarships over me.
Have heard this so he's added a volunteer type club on top of his band and track.
He takes Pre AP now in 9th grade in all classes like he did in 8th; all As so far but have heard mix things on pre AP/AP classes and if its worth it to do so all way through high school.
Appreciate feedback
Posted on 8/15/16 at 8:44 am to CAT
Grades and ACT are big but make sure he takes AP and honors courses and has community service activities. There are many scholarships out there that reward good students who are active in the community. Apply for any scholarships he may be qualified for and be persistent. All they can say is no. Good Luck.
Posted on 8/15/16 at 8:52 am to CAT
32 on the ACT and he'll likely get a full ride.
Posted on 8/15/16 at 8:54 am to CAT
I did a TON of extra cirriculars that my mom made me do.
I was in a Youth City Council for where I lived, volunteered at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, competed in UIL in school, of course was active in sports, ran for student council, National Honor Society, the works. If I could sign up for it, you bet my mom had my arse do it.
My mom also made write three essays every day of the first semester of my senior year for scholarships when I got home from football practice. She ended up applying me for like 500+ scholarships. It was a bitch at the time, but I'm thankful she did it now.
I received close to $100K in scholarships for all of her work.
ETA: I didn't have a great GPA in high school (a 3.6) and made a 27 on my ACT. So my academics were mediocre to a lot of people and you'd be shocked at how much my extra cirriculars did for me.
I was in a Youth City Council for where I lived, volunteered at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, competed in UIL in school, of course was active in sports, ran for student council, National Honor Society, the works. If I could sign up for it, you bet my mom had my arse do it.
My mom also made write three essays every day of the first semester of my senior year for scholarships when I got home from football practice. She ended up applying me for like 500+ scholarships. It was a bitch at the time, but I'm thankful she did it now.
I received close to $100K in scholarships for all of her work.
ETA: I didn't have a great GPA in high school (a 3.6) and made a 27 on my ACT. So my academics were mediocre to a lot of people and you'd be shocked at how much my extra cirriculars did for me.
This post was edited on 8/15/16 at 8:57 am
Posted on 8/15/16 at 8:56 am to CAT
I wound up going to UT-Austin. At the time the school had some deal where if you received scholarship money above a certain amount you only paid tuition as though you were a Texas resident, which was pretty sweet. Highly recommended if that deal is still available.
Posted on 8/15/16 at 9:00 am to CAT
Not so much scholarships but from a saving money aspect, if he is capable try to get him to take AP courses and 4 years of a foreign language. if you can do this and pass the AP Science, Math, and English at spring testing at LSU you can easily test out of over a year worth of classes.
I tested out of 33 hours. all 3 foreign languages, two maths , 2 english, Chem 1, Phys 1, Bio 1 and 2. some of those you can get out of with ACT scores. Some need a certain score on the AP test (iirc i think its a 4 out of 5).
That one semester will save you about 8,000 right now at LSU
I tested out of 33 hours. all 3 foreign languages, two maths , 2 english, Chem 1, Phys 1, Bio 1 and 2. some of those you can get out of with ACT scores. Some need a certain score on the AP test (iirc i think its a 4 out of 5).
That one semester will save you about 8,000 right now at LSU
Posted on 8/15/16 at 9:09 am to baseballmind1212
quote:
if he is capable try to get him to take AP courses and 4 years of a foreign language. if you can do this and pass the AP Science, Math, and English at spring testing at LSU you can easily test out of over a year worth of classes.
Does LA (assuming that's where you're from) not have dual-credit in high school? Here in Texas I know the AP courses are usually pretty damn tough, like maybe 2-3 people in our school would pass one test on one subject.
Our big thing was just dual-credit so you could just get college hours in high school. I entered my freshman year at Baylor with like 27 hours from just dual-credit in high school.
Posted on 8/15/16 at 9:11 am to CAT
Check with your employer. Many companies offer scholarship programs for dependents of their employees. Also, many scholarship programs want proof that you have completed FAFSA and wil check. I received 3 scholarships and was required by all 3 to submit FAFSA.
Posted on 8/15/16 at 9:11 am to baseballmind1212
What baseball mind said.
Get as many classes knocked out by clepping or dual enrollment while in HS. It will save a ton of money. Also, several departments will let you test out of lower level classes - I took advantage of this for a couple of computer related classes.
Get involved with the university early and often. Get as much volunteer work and extracurricular activity done as possible.
WRITE DOWN every award / honor/ extracurricular activity and keep that list - it will be very helpful come application time.
Don't overlook smaller universities - they were generous with their scholarships.
Get as many classes knocked out by clepping or dual enrollment while in HS. It will save a ton of money. Also, several departments will let you test out of lower level classes - I took advantage of this for a couple of computer related classes.
Get involved with the university early and often. Get as much volunteer work and extracurricular activity done as possible.
WRITE DOWN every award / honor/ extracurricular activity and keep that list - it will be very helpful come application time.
Don't overlook smaller universities - they were generous with their scholarships.
Posted on 8/15/16 at 9:27 am to KillTheGophers
As some have said a great way to save money is to get hours in high school. I would recommend duel enrollment over AP because you actually get a grade and most of the classes are very easy. With AP it shows up on a college transcript as just a pass where as duel entitlement you actually get A's. I was able to do 15 hours at my high school so I started college with a 4.0 with a full semester of course work (which was a real GPA booster).
As for scholarships look online or in the newspaper in your hometown now and get your kid in all of the organizations that offer a scholarship. There are tons of things you would never no about if you didn't look, for example like Dixie Baseball offers a $500 one time deal and the only requirement was you had to play when you were a kid and have certain academic requirements.
As for scholarships look online or in the newspaper in your hometown now and get your kid in all of the organizations that offer a scholarship. There are tons of things you would never no about if you didn't look, for example like Dixie Baseball offers a $500 one time deal and the only requirement was you had to play when you were a kid and have certain academic requirements.
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