http://www.denverscholarship.org/students/high-school/steps/scholarships#scholarships-for-high-school-seniors
Please check the Denver Scholarship Foundation’s website with a comprehensive monthly scholarship deadline listing, also a pdf copy for a completed directory.
Important Note: The Common Application is changing on August 1st, 2013! The tips and sample essays below will still provide useful guidance for the new Common Application, but be sure also to check out these Tips for the 5 New Common Application Essay Prompts.
The first step to writing a stellar personal essay on your college application is to understand your options. Below is a discussion of the six essay options from the Common Application. Also be sure to check out these 5 Application Essay Tips.
Option #1. Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
Note the key word here: evaluate. You aren’t just describing something; the best essays will explore the complexity of the issue. When you examine the “impact on you,” you need to show the depth of your critical thinking abilities. Introspection, self-awareness and self-analysis are all important here. And be careful with essays about the winning touchdown or tie-breaking goal. These sometimes have an off-putting “look how great I am” tone and very little self-evaluation.
Option #2. Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
Be careful to keep the “importance to you” at the heart of your essay. It’s easy to get off track with this essay topic and start ranting about global warming, Darfur, or abortion. The admissions folks want to discover your character, passions and abilities in the essay; they want more than a political lecture.
Option #3. Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
I’m not a fan of this prompt because of the wording: “describe that influence.” A good essay on this topic does more than “describe.” Dig deep and “analyze.” And handle a “hero” essay with care. Your readers have probably seen a lot of essays talking about what a great role model Mom or Dad or Sis is. Also realize that the “influence” of this person doesn’t need to be positive.
Option #4. Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
Here as in #3, be careful of that word “describe.” You should really be “analyzing” this character or creative work. What makes it so powerful and influential?
Option #5. A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.
Realize that this question defines “diversity” in broad terms. It’s not specifically about race or ethnicity (although it can be). Ideally, the admissions folks want every student they admit to contribute to the richness and breadth of the campus community. How do you contribute?
Option #6. Topic of your choice.
Sometimes you have a story to share that doesn’t quite fit into any of the options above. However, the first five topics are broad with a lot of flexibility, so make sure your topic really can’t be identified with one of them. Also, don’t equate “topic of your choice” with a license to write a comedy routine or poem (you can submit such things via the “Additional Info” option). Essays written for this prompt still need to have substance and tell your reader something about you.
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additional resource: How to Minimize The Cost of College Visits
| Dear College Made Simple Reader,
The junior year of high school is without question the most pivotal time for any college-bound student. To colleges, it’s all about grades, the SAT/ACT, extracurricular activities, and finding out if your child is ready for the realities of the college curriculum. For juniors themselves, it’s also about proper planning and preparation. Here’s a checklist we’ve put together, broken down into 3 categories, to help your student be fully prepared… – Scott The High School Junior’s “Action Plan” for College 1. Plan Smartly for Testing A great start for juniors is consulting with their guidance counselor – whether it’s the PSAT, SAT, or ACT (or all of them). That includes times and dates, how to register, and the costs associated with these tests. Some tips for taking the PSAT:
Then comes the ACT, which is held every December, February, April, June, September and October. If your student is taking the ACT, we recommend:
Finally, the SAT… SATs are held in only four months of the year – the last date this year is December 7, with absolute sign-up deadline of November 22. For 2014, the dates and deadlines are as follows:
By the end of February, your student should be registered to take a SAT exam and already studying for it.
2. Research Colleges Efficiently Choosing the right college begins with gathering information about schools and programs. One of the most important tips I can give you is to stay organized. Use separate folders for different schools. Label them. Try to organize their contents as identically as possible to compare information more easily. Some other recommendations:
3. Know all the facts and options when it comes to paying for college There is well over $150 billion available each year from the Federal Government, states, colleges, universities, as well as private foundations and organizations. Getting your “fair share” is often just a matter of knowing how to get it. Here are some of the most important things to do to financially prepare for college during the junior year…
To your college admissions and funding success, Publisher, College Made Simple – The Free Educational Resource of College Planning Network, LLC |
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You are receiving this email as a part of your free subscription to College Made Simple. Dear College Made Simple Reader, The college interview is typically not a make-or-break factor in the admissions process. It is, however, a great opportunity for your child to put their best foot forward… in ways that might not show up in the application and transcript. Of course, each school conducts their student interviews differently (many schools are now offering interviews via Skype), but one thing hasn’t changed: Preparation is key. To that end, we’ve put together some of the more common themes your student can expect in the interview process. – Scott The Best Ways To Prepare for College Interviews For starters, know the school, and know it well. In other words, gather all the information you can from the admissions department on what to expect from a typical interview. The one question they can expect: “Why are you interested in enrolling at our school?” That’s why it’s so important to have the college mapped out ahead of time, and to be prepared to speak to specifics. Now for some basics: Be sure to present well, show up early, dress appropriately, and be sure the cell phone is turned off the entire time. Most of all, keep focused. That means making eye contact, and answering questions directly and respectfully. An interviewer may want to know about your child’s future plans or aspirations, and if their college is the right fit for those. The point is: be honest. Interviewers understand not all candidates have the direction of their next 10 years figured out. Another great interview tactic is to “turn the interview around.” When the interviewer asks your student if they have questions for them, it’s always a great idea to have a list of thoughtful, meaningful questions specific to the school. Now let’s get into some more college interview questions to be expected. These are the ones that demand preparation, including a few practice rounds with parents. (This will go a long way in helping maintain composure and demeanor during the interview).
Another Way To Prepare Well In Advance of the College Interview This cannot be stressed enough: extracurriculars matter. Involvement in sports, clubs, groups, and other school activities are definitely factored into the college admissions process. One reason for that is because college interviewers are usually trying to get a feel for who a student is, above and beyond a GPA and SAT/ACT scores. Extracurricular activities are one of the best windows, and you can expect an interview to include a good amount of time on the topic. Remember, which extracurriculars you address isn’t what’s important. What does matter is addressing them with passion and sincerity. Finally, interviewers want to get a sense of your child’s study habits. That is, they’ll want to know if your student will be able to responsibly manage their studies, once away at school. By following these tips, your child stands to make a very good impression at every interview. To your successful college pursuits, Publisher, College Made Simple – The Free Educational Resource of College Planning Network, LLC |
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Honoring the legacy and character of our nation’s 40th President, the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program rewards college-bound students who demonstrate exemplary leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship with financial assistance to pursue higher education. Each year, the Program selects numerous recipients to receive a $10,000 scholarship renewable for up to an additional three years – up to $40,000 total per recipient. Awards are for undergraduate study only, and may be used for education-related expenses, including tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, and board. In addition, Scholars are invited to participate in a special awards program. • demonstrate strong academic performance (minimum 3.0 grade point average/4.0 scale or equivalent); • demonstrate financial need; • be citizens of the United States of America; • be high school seniors attending high school in the United States, or any of the U.S. territories and commonwealths and graduating in winter 2013 or spring 2014. Applicants living on a U.S. Armed Forces base and attending high school outside the U.S. are eligible. Home-schooled students who are graduating in winter 2013 or spring 2014 are also eligible. • plan to enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study toward a bachelor’s degree at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States for the entire 2014-2015 academic year. Qualified candidates may apply online starting October 15, 2013 through January 9, 2014 or until 25,000 applications are submitted, whichever comes first. To be considered for this award, candidates must complete the secure online application and all of its components prior to the deadline. Deadline extensions will not be granted, and incomplete applications will be disqualified. Materials submitted in hard copy prior to the semifinalist stage will not be considered and will be discarded. Only the first 25,000 completed applications will be considered. |
Would you like to become a next generation security expert?
Gain valuable insights into today’s IT security issues? How would you also like to win cash and lay the foundation for a successful career in IT?
Well, with Kaspersky Academy’s ‘Cyber Security for the Next Generation’ student conference, you can.
Open to : Bachelor, Master and Ph.D. students from the following countries can participate in the Russia & CIS round of the conference: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine
Participation is free. Kaspersky Lab will cover all participants’ travel and accommodation expenses.
The best projects will be given awards and valuable prizes (1st place $1500, 2nd place $1000 and 3rd place $750) from Kaspersky Lab and the authors will be invited to attend the international ‘CyberSecurity for the Next Generation’ conference.
You are receiving this email as a part of your free subscription to College Made Simple. Dear College Made Simple Reader, For so many families with college-bound students, understanding exactly what the FAFSA is, and how it works, can seem daunting at first. It is true that the college financial aid formulas are complicated. Our goal, though, is to make it easy, and make it worthwhile. For starters, every single college-bound student should make use of the FAFSA (which is just the acronym for Free Application for Federal Student Aid.) Doing so opens the door to federal student loans, grants, and even – in some cases – college work-study programs. Now let me give you 5 important insights into filling out the FAFSA… including how you can use it to reduce your overall college costs. – Scott #1: File early and on time. Financial aid is given out on a first come, first serve basis. Those who submit the FAFSA form on time and correctly are placed in the front of the line for any eligible aid. Priority filing dates vary by state but typically fall around February 15th of the year your student will be filing for aid. #2: List at least 5 schools on the FAFSA. The problem with listing only one school? That lone school that receives your FAFSA information sees that you are not applying to other schools. This gives your (one) school less of an incentive to give your more aid. Make sure and include at least 5 schools on the FAFSA form. Even better, make sure to include at least several schools that compete for the same type of students. 3: Highlight any unusual circumstances. After submitting the FAFSA, families should let the colleges know if they have any unusual circumstance. Examples include a layoff, divorce, salary reduction or expensive medical bills. The college will then determine that the unusual circumstance merits an adjustment, and may revise the student’s award offer. Keep in mind you will need to provide documentation, such as a copy of the layoff notice or unemployment benefits. By the same token, if you’ve had an unusually good year financially (for example, a large bonus or a lot of overtime pay) you can write to the college’s financial aid office to explain that income was “unusual” and unlikely to recur. #4: Fill out all additional forms. For example, many schools use the CSS Profile form as a supplement to the FAFSA. Many times it is to determine non-federal financial aid, such as scholarships and grants. Keep in mind a few things: it’s very important that you are consistent with your information on all forms. And also know that there is a $25 fee for filling out the CSS (and $16 for each additional school). #5: Everyone should fill out the FAFSA (even high-income earners). We see this mistake all the time. Many families think they make too much money – this is very common. Yet there is money available for kids who don’t qualify for aid. But the only way to prove you don’t qualify for traditional need based aid is through the FAFSA form. Plus, a family’s financial situation could change and make them eligible for aid. By having the FAFSA already on file, it is very easy to then get a “change of circumstance” form filled out, submitted, and then get a financial aid package based on the new and reduced income number. To your successful college pursuits, Publisher, College Made Simple – The Free Educational Resource of College Planning Network, LLC |
in: Conferences | 08.10.2013
Deadline: 24 October 2013
Open to: citizens of the 57 OSCE countries age 18-30, fluent in English and interested in international politics
Venue: 14-17 January 2014 in Vienna, Austria; summer/autumn in Belgrade, Serbia; and 4-5 December 2014 in Basel, Switzerland
Switzerland will assume the Chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2014. In accord with the leitmotif “Creating a Security Community for the Benefit of Everyone”, Switzerland pursues three overarching objectives:
As part of its third objective, Switzerland wants to strengthen the voice of young people and enhance their involvement within OSCE structures. To achieve this goal, Switzerland will organise a Model OSCE series in which one delegate from each of the 57 OSCE participating States will be invited to participate. The participating delegates will be involved in the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship throughout the entire presidential year: By means of simulations of two specific OSCE decision-making bodies, the delegates will get familiar with OSCE structures and -themes. The participants will have the opportunity to acquire and develop various skills in diplomacy and negotiation, public speaking, communication, problem resolution of international issues, and critical thinking. They will improve their team-work and leadership abilities and meet other young people from the 57 OSCE participating States.
The first Model OSCE event will be held in Vienna from Tuesday, January 14, to Friday, January 17, 2014. The delegates will step into shoes of their own countries’ ambassadors to the OSCE and kick-off negotiations on a “Youth Action Plan”.
The second simulation will take part in summer/autumn in Belgrade. The delegates will continue their negotiations in the role as “foreign ministers” of their own countries and conclude them by taking a decision on their “Youth Action Plan’s” content.
During the OSCE Ministerial Council organized by the Swiss Chairmanship taking place in Basel on December 4-5, 2014, the 57 delegates will have the opportunity to meet the foreign ministers of the OSCE participating States and present their “Youth Action Plan”.
Between the two simulations, the delegates will reach out to their own networks by consulting preliminary results of the draft-“Youth Action Plan”. For that purpose, they will include wider groups of interested young people and raise awareness of OSCE themes.
The preliminary schedule for the first simulation taking place in Vienna will be sent to the delegates in December 2013.
More information about the OSCE is available HERE.
All costs related to the Model OSCE (costs of travel, board, lodging, and participation) will be covered by the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship.
They strongly encourage young people aged 18-30 to submit their applications. Participants must be citizens of one of the 57 OSCE participating States (see list HERE), fluent in written and oral English, interested in international politics, and ready to engage their time and ideas in the framework of this project throughout the year of the Swiss OSCE Presidency.
One delegate will be accepted per OSCE participating State. The simulations will be held in English, and no translation into other languages will be provided. After selection of participating delegates, they will soon be invited to provide initial input regarding the content of a “Youth Action Plan”.
Model OSCE registration is open until October 24, 2013. After October 24, registrations will only be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
Please complete the application form AVAILABLE HERE and attach your CV and motivation letter. Your motivation letter should contain the following information:
Further information on the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship can be found on the Swiss OSCE-Chairmanship Webpage HERE.
For any additional questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Fanny Charmey at fanny.charmey@sajv.ch.
The official website is AVAILABLE HERE for further details.
You are receiving this email as a part of your free subscription to College Made Simple. Dear College Made Simple Reader, In this letter I’ve written about countless ways and reasons to be financially prepared for college. After all, without proper financial preparation, students and their parents can easily be saddled with decades of debt. That said, a recent study came out about academic preparation for college that turned my head. It was the College Board’s just-published annual report on college and career readiness…and the first paragraph alone pulled no punches about what’s in the rest of the report. – Scott Why Are National SAT Scores Languishing? Here’s the first paragraph from the report… “The College Board’s 2013 SAT ® Report on College & Career Readiness reveals that fewer than half of all SAT takers in the class of 2013 graduated from high school academically prepared for the rigors of college-level course work. This number has remained virtually unchanged during the last five years, underscoring a need to dramatically increase the number of students in K–12 who acquire the skills and knowledge that research demonstrates are critical to college readiness.” (emphasis by the College Board) Not only has it been bad for the past five years, it hasn’t even improved. Let’s take a closer look into the numbers.
There were some bright spots. Specifically, more minorities took the SAT exam last year than any year, and SAT scores by minority students continues to rise. But overall, the numbers aren’t good. I point this out for two reasons. First, the report is actually very constructive in its tone. It offers many ways individuals and institutions can increase SAT scores. Second, while SAT scores are trending down, SAT prep courses are becoming more and more popular. Now, first let me say that I’m not blaming the abundance of SAT prep courses for stagnant and declining SAT scores. There are a lot of courses out there, and some of them play a big role in helping students increase their SAT scores. But far too many SAT prep courses waste students time with filler materials taught in an overcrowded classroom. And the price tag for that can reach four digits! And therein lies the intersection of financial and academic preparation for college. If you worry that your child may be one of the 57% of students whose SAT scores indicate they are not fully prepared for college, I highly suggest you read the College Board’s report. And if you worry about choosing the wrong SAT prep course, here are a few ways to measure the best SAT prep courses from the hundreds out there…
Also, don’t be shy to ask a SAT prep provider some tough questions. After all, you’re shelling out a lot of money for a very important cause. Ask providers how courses are taught and by whom. Ask them about class size limits. Ask them about results – how much better do students do on their SAT after taking their prep course? One more thing – Ask if they offer a guarantee. Those are just a few tips. We’ll cover more on the subject in future College Made Simple stories. To your successful college pursuits, Publisher, College Made Simple – The Free Educational Resource of College Planning Network, LLC |
