This month

All about scholarships

• Feature — Important definitions related to scholarships
• Web quest — Find a scholarship online
• Stay on track — A checklist of "to-dos"
• Take notice — Important dates
• All about AIEmail — Subscribe, suggest, review

Feature

Important definitions related to scholarships

When you apply for scholarships, you may run into terms that you don't understand. It's helpful to call the organization or business offering the scholarship and ask for assistance. However, in the meantime, here are some general definitions you might find helpful:

• Community service — An activity you perform, usually on a regular basis, without pay to benefit your community. Some scholarships may ask you to describe some of the community service activities you have been involved in to gain a better understanding of your interests, your commitment to your community, and your accomplishments.
• Departmental scholarship — An award specifically meant for a recipient who plans to major in a specific program of study.
• Full-time student — Generally, one who is taking a minimum of 12 semester or quarter hours per academic term (often about four classes) in schools with standard academic terms. Some scholarships are only available for students who are enrolled full-time; others are open for both full-time and part-time students.
• Military scholarships — Usually refers to the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) scholarships available from the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force at many colleges and universities throughout the United States.
• National Health Service Corps scholarships — A program for students who pursue a full-time course of study in certain health profession disciplines and are willing to serve as primary care practitioners in underserved areas after completing their education.
• Student contribution — An estimate of a student's ability to contribute to college expenses based on income and assets.

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Web quest

Find a scholarship online

There are lots of resources on the Web to help you find scholarships. Here are a few:

• Adventures In Education Scholarship Search
  The Web site that brings AIEmail to you every week also features a scholarship search.
  www.AIE.org/Scholarships
• NCAA Scholarship Search
  The NCAA provides links for students interested in athletics-related scholarships. More than sports are included — the NCAA even offers scholarships for students interested in writing about sports.
  www.ncaa.org/about/scholarships.html
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund
  The HSF provides the U.S. Latino community with college scholarships and educational outreach support programs.
  www.hsf.net
• United Negro College Fund Scholarships
  The UNCF Web site contains information on thousands of scholarships and grants, some of which are administered by the UNCF.
  www.uncf.org/scholarships

You can also find more scholarship-related Web sites in AIE's "Internet Resources" (www.AIE.org/Links/Paying).

Watch for next week's issue of AIEmail for more scholarship resources!

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Stay on track

Checklist for this week

For freshmen

• Take an active role during class lectures. Ask questions and contribute to class discussions.
• Keep open lines of communication with your teachers. Give them progress updates on your studies and ask for help when needed.
• Remember, active participation can improve your grades. The more you show an interest, the more likely you will be given credit.
• Start to get comfortable speaking in class, in large groups, or in class presentations. Your confidence will build, and you will do better in future interviews for schools and scholarships.
• If you are shy, make a commitment to speak up at least once or twice a day in class. You'll find it more comfortable to participate in the future.

For sophomores and juniors

• It's time to take the PSAT. Make sure you register and get all the information necessary to take the test.
• When you receive your PSAT scores, you will also be given your test booklets. Review the items you missed and talk to your teachers if you don't understand why you missed the incorrect answers.
• When you practice for the test, make sure you monitor your time and adjust your progress to complete as much of the exam as possible.
• Don't get stuck trying to answer a single question. Mark the questions you can't answer immediately and come back to them later.
• Pay attention to the instructions on filling out the answer form. It can be very easy to lose your place and start marking answers in the wrong spaces.
• If you are having difficulty selecting the correct answer, but you can definitely eliminate one of the answers, make your best "educated" guess. By eliminating one option, you've already increased your chances of getting the right answer.
• Remember to take your calculator, extra new batteries, and a supply of reliable pencils to the test.

For seniors

• Keep working on getting good grades. It's tempting to slack off your senior year — but don't do it.
• You should be diligently working on taking your college entrance exams, preparing your college applications, and visiting schools when possible.
• Talk with your parents or counselor about who you should approach to prepare reference letters for you. Often, it's more important that you select a person who knows you well. A person with a high profile may not impress the school if that person doesn't know you well.
• Start thinking about where you'll be this time next year. If you plan on leaving home for college, you'll need to start thinking now about how to pay for the necessities — food, shelter, and transportation, among other things.
• Work on your leadership skills. Join clubs, run for an office, and get involved with community activities.
• Keep your family involved in your college and career planning. Share your progress over dinner, on the ride to or from work or school, or over a basketball game or trip to the mall.

For parents

• The season for "college nights" and college planning fairs has arrived. Stay involved. Make arrangements to attend these programs with your student.
• During the fairs, encourage your student to ask questions. Pick up information about schools and ask any questions you may have, but be careful not to monopolize the counselor's time.
• Have a quick five to ten minute chat with your student's high school counselor. Share ideas, talk about your students' progress, and ask them to keep you informed of any changes.
• If your senior student wants to go to college but isn't making an effort to get the information he or she needs, remind them that time is running very short. Get them to spend an afternoon or a Saturday morning calling admissions offices for information, researching on the Web, or e-mailing schools.

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Take notice

Important dates

Mark down these dates.

To get more information on the SAT or SAT Subject Tests, access useful tools, or register, visit the College Board's Web Site(www.collegeboard.com) or call (609) 771-7600.

To get more information on the ACT, access useful tools, or register, visit the ACT Web Site (www.act.org) or call (319) 337-1270.

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