Our Counseling Office Can Help
An updated list of local scholarships will be posted in the Counseling Office and sent to students via email in March of student’s Senior Year.
Most local scholarships have deadlines in April and May of your Senior Year. Applications are available in the High School Counseling Office or online, as are the descriptions of qualifications and eligibility rules. We urge you to investigate all possible sources of loans, grants and scholarships.
Please note that students are responsible for determining their eligibility and for completing, sending and/or submitting the required forms.
Academic talent is just one factor considered in scholarships and grants. Need, activities, community service and college major play a part as well. Seniors and parents who have questions about particular scholarships should contact their counselors.
Students can give the list of scholarships they would like (with their names on it) to Mrs. Shaw in the High School Counseling Office. Typically, applications may be picked up the next day.
Helpful Scholarship Websites
Institutional Scholarships: Check your college’s website for grants and scholarships offered by the college.
Scholarship Scams
You may have heard “there are millions of dollars in scholarship monies gone untapped each year.” While this may or may not be true, it is important for students and their parents to beware of how they go about “tapping” these scholarships.
Unfortunately, there are individuals in the community who have developed financial-aid scams to take advantage of parents who are struggling to find money to finance their children’s education. They look like official companies and may send professional-looking business letters to high school students, promising the ability to find these untapped monies and guaranteeing great amounts of scholarship money to those individuals who take advantage of their offers.
Large fees are often attached to this search, which can be done for free just by filling out the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and being a diligent visitor to your high school guidance office.
Please beware of financial aid offers and watch for the following warning signs:
- Guarantees of certain amounts of scholarship money “or your money back.”
- Promises that “You can’t get this information anywhere else.”
- Promises that “We’ll do all the work.”
- Statements such as “You have been selected” or “You are a finalist” (in a contest you never entered).
- Requests for credit card information or bank account numbers.
In addition, please be wary of the internet. While there are some legitimate scholarship searches online, there are also numerous scams. See your school counselor if you have questions or concerns about certain sites.
The Number One rule when it comes to financial aid and scholarship searches is “Don’t pay for free money!” There are numerous resources available in your high school counseling office to help you find scholarships. It will take some diligence and time on your part to find and apply for these awards, but it will not cost you a cent!
Updated 10/7/2020