From Barbara Quintana, Center School’s College/Career Center Specialist

Scholarship Scams!  Parents/Guardians and Students; Beware!

It is the scholarship season, there are thousands of dollars worth of scholarships out there and it is true, many thousands do go unused!

But please know there are also lots of scams to fall into; never pay for listings of scholarships that you can get easily on your own!  Never give out your credit card information to any companies that send you letters or e-mails claiming to assist your son, daughter or grandchild (etc) with scholarship information that’s geared “just for them”.

Follow the link at the end of this message to a list of FREE Scholarship Search Engines that your daughter or son can use.  Feel free to try it yourself.  After a series of questions such as; career interests, hobbies, religion, (these are secure search engines) college size, private vs. public colleges, parent’s professional association affiliations, union affiliations (many have scholarship funds as well) and a few more questions, your student will have a list of her/his own possible scholarships that they can apply for, it’s that simple!

Some places are asking for $1000.00 or more for this “service” and you can do it for free!

Please know that I will be happy to help your senior with their scholarship applications as well as all of their post high school plans, there is something for everyone and high school alone just won’t do it!  --    Barbara Quintana, Center School’s College/Career Center Specialist, Thursdays

Never pay for Scholarship Information!

Important and Useful Web Sites for College Preparation and Other Helpful Information, click here:  scholarship - spring

from Barbara Quintana

Attention Parents, Guardian and Graduating Seniors—Funds for Two and Four Year College!

Did you know that the 2011-1012 Federal Student Financial Aid Worksheet Applications are soon to be available on line?  Did you know that you can print off a worksheet, fill it in with your data and apply on-line?

If students need funds for college or technical courses, you may be eligible for either a grant (that you don’t have to pay back), work study (you work at the college part-time in return for help with tuition), a loan (at a better pay back percent level) or a combination of any of the above!

The earliest that you can apply is January 1st, 2011 but please apply for a student and parent or guardian PIN a few weeks before that.  It’s also recommended to have your 2010 taxes completed for those families that file.  The sooner the better as far as applying for federal financial aid as your chances are greater.

Even if you don’t think you can qualify for these funds, many scholarship sponsors require you to apply for this FAFSA money regardless, so keep these deadlines in mind.

www.fafsa.gov