WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU PLAN FOR HIGHER EDUCATION EXPENSES AND MUCH MORE! Students and parents may visit the scholarship office without an appointment. Applying for scholarships and financial aid is helpful in offsetting the cost of your university, community college, vocational or trade school education. For a list of available scholarships and their due dates, click on "Available Scholarships" after clicking on SCHOLARSHIP DEPARTMENT on the left. |
Personal Statement
There is space on the General Scholarship Application for your personal statement. This is a very important part of the general scholarship application. An effective personal statement will help set you apart and give you a competitive edge with scholarship selection committees, employers and college admissions committees.
Your personal statement should provide an introduction to you, in a brief, concise and powerful way for the reader who may not otherwise get to know you. It demonstrates that you have thought about and gained a clear perspective on your experiences and what you want to do in the future. Using appropriate grammar and checking for spelling errors will showcase your ability to write. Show your personal statement to others for feedback to use for possible revision.
There are many ways to write a personal statement. For use on the CCHS General Scholarship application we suggest you use the format described below and keep your personal statement to a few paragraphs.
v Start by brainstorming. Ask others to tell you (take notes) what adjectives they would use to describe you. Think about and record the characteristics you are most proud of.
Example: brave, persistent, hard-working, dependable, consistent, creative, leader, witty, good problem-solver, athletic, determined Then use these descriptors in the beginning of your personal statement to grab and hold the readers attention. Example: “My demonstrated bravery and ability to react quickly when someone is in danger are defining characteristics of mine. Not only have I learned to be brave, but I have worked to develop strong skills in problem-solving using my creativity, wit and determination.”
v Use evidence or relay a story to back up what you are describing about yourself:
Example: “One summer at camp a friend and I went fishing. I didn’t realize at the time that my friend could not swim, and when we were walking around the edge of the lake (littered with boulders) he fell in. I reacted quickly and offered him my hand and was able to pull him to the surface.”
v Sum up with a statement or statements about your beliefs and what you value:
Example: “This experience taught me the value of being aware of my surroundings and always being prepared to react quickly. My service to my friend is something that brings me great pride. As a result of this early experience I have taken classes in CPR, life guard training and I stay physically fit so that I can pursue my goal to become an emergency room doctor.” |
THE SCHOLARSHIP OFFICE IS OPEN IN A NEW LOCATION RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE ATTENDANCE OFFICE
Here are your financial aid steps to follow:
STEPS 1-3 ARE REQUIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR SENIOR YEAR!
1. Complete the General Scholarship Application
ü (MUST be typed.) Download it from this website or pick up a hard copy from the Scholarship Office. ü Leave the top of the form blank where it indicates “Name of Scholarship.” ü Very Important : Your parent or guardian must sign the bottom of the application form when it is completed. Make several copies of your completed application.
2. Complete the Student Profile/Letter of Recommendation Request Form (also available on line)
ü Once you complete this form, make 3 - 5 copies, turn in the original to the Scholarship Office and then and give copies to any adults that you would like to write letters of recommendation for you. ü Teachers and counselors may refuse to write a letter for you without a copy of the Student Profile/Letter of Recommendation Request Form. You must allow at least two weeks for completion of the recommendation. DO NOT WAIT UNTILL TWO WEEKS BEFORE WINTER BREAK TO ASK FOR THESE!
3. Complete the Transcript Release Form
ü Completing this form gives the counseling department permission to send your high school transcripts to colleges or trade schools. ü Once this form is on file in the scholarship office, you will need to fill out a Transcript Request Form with the admissions office address Of the school(s) you are applying to and we can send an official transcript for you. DON’T FORGET TO REQUEST YOUR FINAL TRANSCRIPT AFTER GRADUATION!
View the Scholarship BIN in the scholarship office. It houses folders with all the scholarships that are currently available to students. Whenever you have free time, come in and look through the bin to see which scholarships you qualify for. Parents are welcomed and encouraged to look through the scholarship bin as well.
Each scholarship requires an application. Many require the General Scholarship Application, while others have unique applications and requirements such as essays, portfolios, transcripts and/or personal statements. If a scholarship requires a unique application, take a copy from the scholarship folder. If it requires the General Scholarship Application, simply use a copy of your completed, original application and fill in the name of the specific scholarship(s) for which you want to apply. You must submit a separate application for each scholarship for which you want to be considered. If the donor requests transcripts or an essay you must staple them to the application. Donors will not consider incomplete applications.
You must follow the donor’s directions.
4. Submit your application to the appropriate location:
ü Submission instructions are included on the criteria page on the front of the scholarship folder. ü Be sure to check the bulletin board in the Scholarship Office for weekly updates of new scholarships that become available, and also for due dates. ü Late applications will not be accepted.
The donor or Mrs. Bivens will notify you if you have been awarded a scholarship (usually a month after the due date.) Never contact a donor to inquire about the process.
5. If you have been awarded a scholarship, you must ü fill out a financial disbursement form, and ü send the donor a thank-you note. Mrs. Bivens must approve both before you send them. You will not receive your award until these steps are completed
6. If you receive one or more scholarships ü you are expected to attend the Scholarship Awards Night Ceremony on May 28, 2013 at 7:00 pm in the CCHS Auditorium ü The donors will be there and they will want to meet you.
If you have any questions about the scholarship application process, please ask Mrs. Bivens or your Counselor.
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