Get your questions answered below!
1. See what scholarships are available to you? (Scholarship Links Page)
2. Plan your strategy for success!
3. Read about the winner of a big scholarship-This could be you!
4. Read the nomination letter of our successful candidate for the All-USA Academic Team for 2003
5. Top Ten Tips for successful scholarship applications

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Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships

By Tim Culler

Who can apply for a scholarship?

Anyone can apply. Start by filling out the free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It can be done online, or at Student Services at RTC. The RTC School Code for FAFSA application purposes is 014001.

What does it take to be awarded a scholarship?

While each scholarship may have some specific rules for qualifying, they fall into some general categories, which you should know, to take some of the mystery out of the process.

  Scholarships tend to be based on some combination of these factors:

• Financial Need
• Status of the applicant
• Academic achievement
• Accomplishments

What do they need to know about me?

  In general, expect to be asked questions about these facts about you:

• Your financial information (and possibly your parents)
• Your work experience
• Your current work status
• Your educational background
• Your prior grades
• Your vocational (work) plans for the future
• Your marital status
• The ages and childcare/school status of your children
• Your race, sex, and nationality

Aren't they invading my privacy, asking these things?

The information will be held strictly confidential, and can only be used to explore funding options available to you based on your current situation.

For example, if you belong to a certain minority, or are a single mother, or were laid off from a job in a certain industry, this may make certain funding sources available to you, that would not be open to others!

Can I do anything to make myself more likely to be awarded a scholarship?

Yes! Collect information and documentation about yourself in the following areas:

• Statement of need
• Examples of your leadership ability
• Examples of your community service
• Your Vocational (work) plans for the future
• Examples of how you stood out in prior jobs
• Examples of how you stood out in prior education (school or technical training)

Do I need any recommendations?

Yes! Identify people who know you and who could write a recommendation for you. Such recommendations should cover the following areas:

• Your Character
• Your Leadership ability or potential
• Your Attitude in school or the workplace
• Your always striving for excellence in what you do.
• How you interact with others
• Your dependability

Do I have to write an essay?

Sometimes. In general, if they require an essay, it is to answer a question in the funding organization's mind-Why should we invest in you?

• Have you overcome adversity in your life to get to this point? Tell them in the essay
• Convince them that if given this chance, you will follow through and be successful in completing your education
• Tell them what your goals are, and how this will help you achieve those goals

  Last, but certainly not least:

Do you have some ideas about helping others after you are helped? This may carry a lot of weight with the selection committee (example, if I am able to get my teaching degree, I will go back to *some area of need* and use my teaching skills to help others.).

Do I have to pay to search for scholarships?

No! See the Computer Science Scholarships Links Page for links to both individual scholarship information and also links to FREE scholarship search sites.