Scholarships, HOPE & Financial Aid

• Click HERE to Learn more about Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship

• CLICK HERE: List of Websites to find & apply for Scholarships & Financial Aid

• Visit our INSTAGRAM for LOCAL and UPCOMING Scholarships!

• Local and College Scholarships are posted weekly on your SENIORS Microsoft TEAM page!

• For Hispanic Students: MALDEF (Nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization) Scholarship Resources

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• Undocumented Students: Golden Doors Scholars – scholarships for undocumented students who wish to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Tuition and room & board for up to 4 years. PLUS MENTORSHIP, INTERNSHIP + JOB SUPPORT SEARCH, FELLOWSHIPS AND MORE. Deadline to apply is October 4th, 11:59PM
• Scholarships For Undocumented Students – Scholarships.com
• For Undocumented students who have DACA, TPS, or who arrived in the country before November 1, 2016, came to the US before the age of 16, and otherwise meet the DACA eligibility criteria: THEDREAM.US Scholarships
  

Ten Golden Rules for Winning Scholarships

These tips will help you get scholarships to pay for college:

1. Start Early – Start looking Junior Year. Many scholarships have early application deadlines.
2. Speak with your high school guidance counselor or scholarship adviser. These people may be able to lead you to local, regional or national scholarships that you won’t easily find elsewhere.
3. If you are a volunteer or active in a community, school or religious group, ask the adviser, sponsor or benefactor about scholarships. These people may be able to suggest and connect you with scholarship opportunities.
4. Check out online sources. There are many scholarship websites as well as Internet sites of scholarship sponsors that profile scholarship opportunities. Many high schools post scholarship opportunities in the Guidance Office or on the Guidance Department web site. Since many scholarships are local, state and regional, it’s a good idea to seek out scholarship web sites and listings for other schools in your area.
5. Read Application Requirements – Make sure you are eligible. Otherwise you are probably wasting you time.
6. Follow Instructions Explicitly – Most scholarships are very competitive and errors can eliminate you from consideration.
7. Tailor your application essay to the sponsoring organization – Resist sending your standard essay with a simple name change.
8. Proofread your Application Carefully – Errors can result in a quick denial.
9. Be Active – Student leaders and those active in athletics, clubs and community service are more likely to win college scholarship.
10. Maintain your GPA – Keep your grades up. A minimum GPA is required for many scholarships. Strong academic performance will make you eligible for more scholarship opportunities.

Complete the FAFSA

The FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA):  http://studentaid.ed.gov/fafsa

• More information with help guides: Filing the FAFSA – Centennial High School Counseling

FINANCIAL AID Assistance

• • Explanation of the Financial Aid Process
  • College Budgeting 101: How to Save Money in College
  • Managing Student Debt
  • Guide to a Debt Free College Degree:  http://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/graduating-debt-free/
  • Financial Aid for Online Colleges:  http://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/financial-aid/financial-aid-for-online-colleges/

• Click to DOWNLOAD Financial Aid Flyers from GAFutures: https://www.gafutures.org/resources/marketing-materials/

Georgia Financial Aid Programs:  Information provided by the Georgia Department of Education
• ACCEL • Georgia Military College State Service Scholarship Loan Program HERO Scholarship • HOPE GED Grant • HOPE Grant • HOPE Scholarship • North Georgia College & State University Military Scholarship Loan • North Georgia College & State University ROTC Grant and ROTC Grant for Future Officers • Public Safety Memorial Grant • Scholarship for Engineering Education Program • Student Access Loan (SAL) Program • Tuition Equalization Grant • Zell Miller Scholarship