College Consulting Ad Example

Help Your Teen Move COLLEGE APPS from the "List to Avoid"  TO 'THE HAPPY AND DONE LIST!'

Is your teen...

...avoiding computers?

...avoiding your school counselor?

...avoiding anyone that asks "how are those apps coming along?"

And you know...the "apps" aren't the yummy appetizers for the Homecoming Party.  The "apps" are the college apps your teen keeps avoiding.  The series of blanks for personal information, then lists of accomplishments and honors, documents to submit, and essays to write.  Even the list sends them into overwhelm.  

But...did you know...it's actually possible to ENJOY THE PROCESS?!  

For Your Teen.  And For You. 

(take a moment and enjoy this new possibility)

It's possible to DROP THE OVERWHELM.  

Senior Year is the culmination of all the good of high school, and shouldn't be buried under fear and feeling lost.  You've watched your teen accomplish all the hard work--you just need some guidance to package it for the colleges.  

So, instead of running from college apps, they'll be running TO the apps with the help of a personal college counselor.  

A personal college counselor can work with your teen on the application, step-by-step.  Instead of feeling lost and alone, they can feel connected with someone by their side to answer questions in the moment.  Your teen will check off portions of the application with every appointment, and submit the best application to fantastic colleges!  And this positive experience can begin today, by signing up HERE for private and helpful college consulting.  

Most students are able to complete the application in 3-5 hour-long sessions.  So, help your teen ditch the overwhelm and grab some senior year enjoyment by signing up with Krim College Consulting.   

Email Example

This was the fifth email in a series of weekly emails sent out to seniors and their parents. Hello Seniors and Parents! We’re fast approaching a holiday weekend, and I hope each of you have a great weekend!   It gives us a great topic to cover:

Holidays + College & Scholarship Apps

During your senior year--some "big" deadlines happen around holidays, such as a December 1st deadline that comes just days after Thanksgiving break or a January 1st deadline that comes during Christmas break.  So...what to do?  Simply put:  move up the deadline yourself!  Dec. 1st deadlines move up to Nov. 15th--so that you're completed several days before going on break.  Jan. 1st deadlines move up to December 15th--also a few days before going on break.  This is good for a few reasons:

• You finish the application before the break--and then truly get a "break".  This is the #1 reason:  it helps YOU!  You get to check it off, and then actually enjoy the break, rather than having deadlines looming over you while you're eating a turkey dinner!

• You can receive help during school from the College Prep Advisor and the office--editing essays, getting transcripts sent in, making sure the letters of recommendation got sent in.  This can only happen while school is in session!!

• Going to repeat that:  school counselors, school advisors, teachers, and office staff do NOT work during school breaks, and cannot help you with applications or submitting necessary letters of recommendation and/or transcripts.  So...get it done BEFORE the break.  We DO want to help you--so plan ahead and get it done before  any holiday!

• You submit far ahead of the deadline (which I always recommend--even w/o a holiday)-- and then aren't trying to submit at the last hour, and possibly a server crashes (yes, I've seen this happen--and it's heartbreaking--don't let that be you!)

This is why I'm always suggesting writing down the "application window"--rather than just the deadline. The application window tells you when the window opens--and you can start and complete the application as close to that date as you'd like!  You don't have to wait for the deadline--you can get it checked off your list early.  

So, grab your "one-sheet" planning sheet, and be sure to write in the dates that YOUR colleges have open applications, and then move up the final deadline 2+ weeks (especially if it falls right around a holiday!!!

Never Give Up!  

Brooke Krim

College Prep Advisor

________ Academy

The Moment it "Hits"

 It happens every year, mid-January.  Students start to realize just how much college costs, and reach out to me with requests for scholarships.  Here is an email I just received today from a senior:  

• Do you have any resources I can use to find scholarships?

When I receive emails like this, I'm mostly sad.  I want to help students with college preparation, which includes figuring out how to pay for it and/or apply for scholarships, and it's disheartening to realize that some students didn't use the information given them when it could've made a difference.

So, here I am, sending this out to younger students, in the hopes that you don't make these same mistakes.  Before you get to January of YOUR senior year, read, re-read, internalize, and use this information!  

The basic question that senior asked related to scholarships.  Where are they?  How do I find them?  How do I apply?  How do I get money?  

Because scholarships can be an overwhelmingly big topic, I wrote a series of posts to help students know the most important parts and steps.  I put it into a "Top Ten" list, with each item explained and detailed through a blog post.  If a student reads and applies these blog posts, they will know where to look, how to look, how to organize and apply.  And before the question of, "should I really read all of these?" looms up in your mind...my question back is, "how much money do you need?"  If you need money, read them all.  If you don't need money, then by all means, ignore them...but please don't combine the ignoring them NOW and then asking for help LATER.  That doesn't work.

One more little thing:  I put together these posts to help students, but students need to do their part!    Invest time by reading and applying the principles discussed.  Don't make the mistake of thinking that it will be easier later--it gets harder when you get to be a Senior.  So, if you're reading this in 9th, 10th, and 11th grades--do your future self a favor--click on the links so the moment hits now, the action starts now, and your scholarship game starts now! 

Scholarship Tip #1: Deadlines

Scholarship Tip #2: Time to Search

Scholarship Tip #3: Where to Search, part 1

Scholarship Tip #4: How to Organize

Scholarship Tip #5: Be RAD

Scholarship Tip #6: Where to Search, part 2

Scholarship Tip #7: Big Three

Scholarship Tip #8: Repeaters

Scholarship Tip: #9: Essays to Write, Reuse, Recycle

Scholarship Tip #10: Others

Make Use of THIS Time. THIS Phase. THIS Now.

This Phase -- 2020 -- has clearly been a shock and surprise.  It has changed so much of our day-to-day lives.  I have caught myself thinking often, "I can't do that", and then as the "I can'ts" add up, I have become increasingly withdrawn and saddened.  So many of the things we usually do in the summer are halted or altogether stopped, and it's been a slow process this month to take stock and somewhat grieve for them.  On the list--being with friends, family bbqs, small-town baseball games and fireworks.  Community concerts, outdoor movies, rodeos, and big group campouts.  Luckily, this feeling of loss is starting to give way to a feeling that there is opportunity in this summer totally unlike any other season of my life.  So, I thought I'd share an ongoing list of things I CAN do this summer, and hopefully my sharing might help someone else begin their own list and their own actions of things that CAN be done this summer.  Because even though there are a lot of things missing this summer--it also is a time when a lot of things that I never have the time or inclination to do are finally getting done.  And I'm finding that being fulfilled and productive have their own kind of "joy"-- a satisfaction that I'm leaning into, learning from, and starting to love. 

In no specific order, here is a list of things I am starting to do for Summer 2020:

• bike riding 
• I used to mountain bike a lot in high school and college.  Enter in kids and family life, and biking just didn't have a place in my life...until now.  I've been able to take off on my bike, discovering some fun little trails to help me regain my confidence off-road, and I hope to hit some bigger trails in the next few months.  (this is also my favorite form of exercise because it feels like like "work" and more just "fun")
• cleaning out our unfinished basement 
• This is the project that has been waiting for years...I am really happy to have days when no one is needing me, waiting for me--and I can just de-junk and clean!...which will hopefully lead to FINISHING our basement before next August.  (Everyone needs goals, right?!)
• yard projects 
• I can think of about 100 things I'd rather do than yard work, but now that I have the time, I'm enjoying working with my kids on various yard projects, and making our yard someplace I like to be.
• cleaning 
• yes...cleaning.  Unglamorous, I know.  I'm teaching my daughters, age 9 and 10, to do the harder cleaning jobs, like mopping the floors, cleaning out the tub and shower, and dusting without using the entire can of Pledge!  Teaching them takes WAY longer than just doing it myself, but I'm hopeful that when life goes back to "normal", we'll be able to clean the house in a couple hours between the 3 of us instead of it taking all day for just me!  I don't love using my Saturdays for cleaning during the school year, so this is a great use of this time-at-home. 
• library trips & reading 
• I jumped for joy the day the library opened back up!  I have to wear a mask, and my kids don't really get to explore the games or hop on the computers, BUT we are excited to check out books again!  I usually read books on my phone, but there has been something incredibly soothing about holding a real book again, and discovering new stories and authors.  I'm a huge fan of reading--continually reading--as a way to expose myself to other cultures and histories I can't experience myself.  I wander through library aisles and grab books, open to a page and read it.  If the style of writing is good, I'll check it out.  I've found amazing books that way--and part of the joy is feeling like I "discovered" it on my own.:-)  
• Baking and Cooking
• I know this one is common to many people during this time.  I've overcome a few of my fears in the kitchen:  baking bread (the mystery of how to get yeast to rise is no longer a mystery!), working my way through multiple chocolate chip cookie recipes to find just the right one (not the healthiest progress I've made, but definitely the tastiest!), and making homemade curry sauces (we really miss certain restaurants!!).  I also finally overcame my fear of the InstantPot which my mom got me for Christmas 2 years ago (yes...it's been in a box for 2 years!), and used it.  I was terrified of this cooking-appliance and thought I would die, the house would catch on fire--or both.  Luckily, there are lots of nice people who share InstantPot tips online. 
• Hiking
• This is one activity we can do while social-distancing--so I am getting out with my kids about twice / month.  We haven't gone on any hike more than 4 hours, but considering that my youngest is 5 years old, I'm really happy with this!   
• Cross-Stitch and Needlepoint
• I need to first say:  I am not much of a crafty person, and I definitely have NEVER sewn.  But this seems to be a great little activity.  I have a little cross-stitch pattern that gives me "something to do" when there is "nothing to do".  I'm learning quite a bit, and I feel like I might, might have the courage to try sewing at some point.  
• Music
• I haven't been able to play the piano because of an injured wrist (waiting for that surgery...yikes!), but I have enjoyed listening to music.  I've also helped my daughters learn some celtic fiddling duets.  We didn't have time for "extra music" before this summer, but now they are begging to practice their violins more!  When life is "normal", we never had time for this, so I'm really grateful for this opening to a new musical interest.
• Korean Dramas
• Yes--I do fill part of my time with Netflix!  I've discovered that I love Korean Dramas.  I watched "Crash Landing On You" the first few weeks of COVID-19, and just barely finished "Hi, Bye, Mama".  I've been entertained and learned quite a bit about a different culture through watching them, and even though no one else in my family is hooked yet...I'll probably keep on this trend!    

Okay--that's all!  As I was writing the list, I realized how different this summer has been--and in a good way!  We've switched out pools and swimming for hiking and biking, play-dates for music and cross-stitch.  Yes, it's different--but I'm leaning into it, learning, and even starting to LOVE it for it's own worth!

I hope to hear from each of you about things you are doing during this time as well--maybe something new, maybe an old hobby you've re-discovered.  So, make use of THIS time.  And let me know what you find, learn, and love!  

A few of my favorite blogs

I thought I'd share two of my favorite blogs that have helped me gain a wealth of knowledge about college admissions through the years.  There have been others, but these are the two that have been going strong for years, and the contact is both well-written and insightful.  I think everyone should read them, and read them often.  Start with the current posts or start at the very beginning...they all hold a good dose of awesomeness. 

• Notes from Peabody  This is a blog specifically about the University of Virginia (UVa).  I happened upon it while helping a student who was applying to UVa in the 2011-2012 school year.  It has been a favorite since, helping me understand college admissions at a deep level.  Dean J, a Dean of Admissions, keeps and writes the blog, which is a virtual treasure-box of information to help any student and parents' understand and calm down about the admissions process!  
• Study Hacks Blog  Blog written by Cal Newport, renowned Computer Scientist.  Newport currently is a professor at Georgetown, and has written books on student study habits and success within the college admissions arena (which is how I chanced upon him).  His most current blogs and books are now about digital usage, putting forward the idea of "digital minimalism".  This is a fantastic blog to stretch your brain and cause you to evaluate some daily habits.

Happy Reading!!

Book Review: The Years That Matter Most--How College Makes Or Breaks Us

I always get excited when I get to review a book!  Today is no exception, as this book is SO GOOD!  I hope that if you're looking for something to read, you'll grab this one.  Or...listen to it.  (little fact:  Utah's Public Library is all set up with an online system where you can check out books online, both ebooks and audiobooks.  I love this--it keeps me reading AND listening to great books--and they return automatically so I completely avoid late fees! Love, love, love this!)

Okay, back to the book.  

This book is a look at college through multiple lenses--for the students who attend Ivy League Colleges AND state colleges.  It's a look at the jump between high school and college level learning.  It's a look at how which college you study at could affect your lifetime earnings.  It's a look at how colleges admit students (this was mind blowing to read how nuanced a process it can be for highly selective colleges).  I loved every chapter of this book, enough that I'm now on my third reading of the book...er, my third listening of the book.  (see note above:-)  

In full disclosure, I need to mention that it contradicts one of the main theories from another of my other favorite books, Frank Bruni's "Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be", which supports the theory that a bachelor's degree is not the end-all to the rest of you're life.  Bruni illustrates with many well-known people that it is their advanced degrees that made the difference in their life.  A bachelor's degree is really just a stepping stone.  Bruni also argues that going to a less-selective college and being a big fish in a little pond could be the reason for more opportunities and learning success.  In stark contrast, Tough uses individual stories to support the facts (which is hard to argue with since he is pulling facts from academic researchers that pulled their stats from years of IRS data), that monetarily, you are better off going to the best college that will accept you.  Even if you are a little fish in a big (or highly competitive pond), you are going to be better off, monetarily at least.  Unless, of course, you're in the group that did not finish college, and have huge looming student debt.  Going to college and then stopping really doesn't have a lot of benefits.  The point of sharing both of these books is that instead of only reading one or the other, if you read both books, you'll get a well-informed and thorough understanding of how college matters, and can make the best decision for you personally.  (Which, by the way, I'm happy to chat with you about:-)

Now, this is still non-fiction, so you might not be staying up at night to finish the book (unless you have a future in college counseling).  But it is interesting non-fiction.  Paul Tough is a great writer, and he's known for his ability to weave facts with personal stories so you don't realize you're learning, because frankly, you're being entertained.  Again--a win.

I hope you'll check it out!  Happy Reading!

*I did two book review of Frank Bruni's "Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be".  Read them here:  Book Review #1  and Book Review #2

NEW: Web Conferencing

I'm starting to set up virtual meetings, and hopefully this software will make signing up easier all parties involved!  Let's give it a try!

 Appointments with Mrs. Krim

Reality Check

It's a hard question to answer until you are in the actual reality:  just how much money one needs to live.  Seriously---the task of figuring out the $$$ needed for rent, utilities, food, technology, insurance, transportation, clothing, living essentials, entertainment (I think I got all the major categories) can be overwhelming for the novice (and the expert, too!).  There is a cool online estimator through the utahfutures.org website, called "Reality Check".   I'd encourage everyone to do Option #1 AND Option #2--just because you can see if they line up with what your lifestyle will need.  This is a fun thing to do -- no writing, no tallying up numbers, no actual getting trapped in debt -- just a way to see the $, $$, or $$$$$ you will need when you're living on your own.

Click here--->>>>>  Utah Futures Reality Check Simulator  (when you click on it, scroll to the bottom of the page to see the "Option #1" button and the "Option #2" button. 

***Note:  You don't have to login to go through this Reality Check Simulator.  Feel free to get on the website and explore so many options for your future.  You can create an account any time you'd like, but you can still browse and learn without a login!!

Intentional Use of Time

"If you genuinely want something, don't wait for it--teach yourself to be impatient."

--Gurbaksh Chahal  

I took a break...a rather long break from writing this blog, because it seemed like there wasn't anything else to post on, and I was seeing all my students regularly enough that I didn't need to blog anymore.

Fast forward 2 years.

Suddenly, the world is different with COVID-19.  I'm not seeing students in person, so the need is here to get this going again.  I'm also quickly learning how to do presentations on video and zoom conferences with students--because that's what is needed.  And that brings me to this:

Maybe this is an odd time to post this, but I think it's very easy to let this "stay at home" time become "sit on the couch and binge watch" time.  We're now in our third week of staying home, and I'm just wondering...what are our days looking like?  Am I getting through a season of my new favorite show each day, or am I taking the time to pursue something that's always been there, but I never had time for?  Now--before I say anything else--I need to add that this may not be everyone reality.  Many people are working harder during this time than ever before.  Many people are sacrificing to keep us healthy and safe.  I am so grateful for them!  And our part in this is staying at home to help slow down the pace--and I'm guessing many of you are too, which brings me to this:  I have MORE TIME NOW than I have ever had before or ever will have again.  And I'm guessing if it's true for me, it's true for others.

Yes, I still have to work.
Yes, I still have three kiddos that I need to take care of, and love, and teach (teaching way more than I ever though I'd be doing!!)
Yes, I still have laundry and dishes and cooking and cleaning
Yes, I still have all of that...
BUT...
compared to "normal" life, I still have more "free" time than ever before!

And so yes--I might binge-watch for a few hours--but I listened to a podcast that has drastically changed my approach from week one to week week three of this stay-at-home phase (and I hope it keeps changing).  It's this Rich Roll + Cal Newport podcast with counter-culture, thought-provoking questions about how we spend our time.  Especially when I'm home and the urge to check "coronavirus updates" every hour can be overwhelming, this has really caused me to re-think my habits.  I've put the tablets that have netflix on a bookshelf that can only be "checked out" for an hour each day (that check out limit is more for me than anyone else!!)  I've actually started to turn off my phone for most of the day, because I'm realizing it's sucking time and energy from me.  I simply don't need to check it all the time.  What starts as a "1 minute check" inevitably turned into 20 minutes of scrolling through all the websites.  Repeat this every hour for the 14 hours I'm awake, and that is about 4 and 1/2 hours.  That's a lot of time!  And if that happens everyday, that's 32 hours in one week...more than 1 whole day per week, completely lost!!!  Over the long-term, that's a HUGE chunk of time lost.  OR, if used correctly, that's a HUGE chunk of time to be gained.  Hence, my new attempts to just keep the phone off for part of each day.  So, I'm thinking that because I love this new way of thinking, I'd be remiss to not share it with others.  If you are already somewhat of a dilital minimilist...props to you.  For the rest of you, I'm in the trenches with you!

So, here it is--a paradigm shift of a podcast--and I hope you are able to listen to it and start asking these awesome questions of, "How am I using time?  How am I using my phone?  Am I being intentional about my choices?", and so many other questions that are worth asking during this time, and every other time!

Scholarship Tip #10: Others

To finish out this series on scholarships, I'd like to write about "others"--those types of money that are given for college, but don't fit the standard definition of a scholarship.  Don't overlook these ways to pay for a college education, because they can be a great way of footing the bill (and not going into debt).

1.  Tuition Reimbursement.
Many companies have a "tuition reimbursement" plan, varying in the amount given, how many years given, if the degree needs to connect to your job, and other factors.  Some tuition reimbursement plans are very lenient:  benefits start on the 1st day of your job and can be applied to any major! Other programs are more specific:  you must have worked there for a year, can only be used at one college, or require you to major in a field related to your work.  Maybe not every plan is right for you, but there is probably one that will be right for your plans.  Even though you need to do some homework to find a good match, don't bypass it because you think that "it's too good to be true".  Tuition Reimbursement programs come in all shapes and sizes...they are good AND true!

Sidenote:  many of these companies apply tuition reimbursement to their "part-time workers" (average of 20 hours / week).  Even though it's tricky to balance work with school, research continues to show that having a part-time job actually helps you manage your time better than if you didn't work at all.  What does that mean?  It means that you are forced to work for 20 hours, followed by focused studying in the 2-3 hour windows you have throughout the day.  Did you catch that?  Focused studying instead of what you would do without a job, which usually involves procrastinating for those same 20 hours and studying at the last-minute anyway.  There is a point where working combined with school can be too much, but most students that work 10-20 hours a week find that the work schedule actually helps them balance their studies, rather than hurting their grades.

Check out these links to find a company that would fit with your education plans, and verify that the program is still being used.  Also note that these links are only a beginning--there are many companies that have tuition-reimbursement plans that don't advertise their perks.  Be willing to ask friends and family to find local companies that would do the same.  Here is a start to finding a job that will not only a paycheck, but help with college costs:

15 Companies That Will Pay for Your Tuition

4 Fast Food Jobs that Pay For Tuition

Free College Education

You probably noticed that Starbucks and UPS came up on multiple lists, and for good reason.  It's because their programs have been up-and-running for multiple years.  They are stable and a good bet for many students looking for a tuition reimbursement program that is here to stay.

2.  Activity Waiver
Activity Waivers are given to students in return for their work in a specific department in college.  These often aren't given to incoming freshman, but if a student proves they are committed in that first year of college, a student should ask about activity waivers and being recommended for one. (Note:  activity waivers are used quite a bit within Performing Arts, Visual Arts, and other departments where work outside of class is a norm).

3. Resident Assistant
Commonly known as "R.A.", this is a job on-campus where a student lives in a dorm, and help monitor student life.  In exchange for their time, they are given free board and room, and sometimes a stipend or help with tuition.  This is an opportunity for college students once they are sophomores or older.

4.  Student Ambassador
This is open to all college students, beginning as Freshman.  What's great is that a student can be an Ambassador for ALL 4 years.  In exchange for working several hours a week, the student is giving anywhere from half to full-tuition (check out Utah State and Weber State--they are very generous with full tuition programs for their ambassadors!).  

5.  Time-Loan Programs
Sometimes a student can receive a "loan" for college, and instead of paying back money, they pay back in time.  One such example is the T.H. Bell Program, where a student can receive $$$ to attend college to earn a teaching degree, and then "pay back" the loan by teaching in-state for the same amount of time they were in college.  (If the college degree takes 4 years, they will teach in Utah for 4 years).

Scholarship Tip #9: Essays to Write, Reuse, Recycle

Essays.  These lovely little pieces of writing are a staple in a scholarship application.  They allow a scholarship board to see the student beyond the grades and test scores, and get a picture of who the person is.  Even though students write about themselves, it is trickier to explain their story than they usually believe.  The good news is that once a student has written a few essays for scholarships, they can usually be reused and recycled with minimal tweaking.  (And once a student writes a few scholarship essays, they become more comfortable telling their stories, and the writing becomes easier).

Here are 5 prompts that we see time and again.  Usually these essays need to be around 500 words.

1.  Choose an activity you have been involved in, describe it briefly and explain why it was meaningful to you.  What did you learn and what did you accomplish?

2.  Explain a time where you used your leadership skills to help a group?  Include the process and what you learned through this experience.

3.  How have you served your community and made an impact?  

4.  Describe two or three unique things about yourself.  If possible, include challenges you have overcome and describe any distinctive experiences that have affected you.

5.  What do you hope to gain, experience, or accomplish by attending college?

Here are my suggestions:

• If you are a Junior, write (and re-write and re-write) these essays during the summer between 11th and 12th grades.  Having these essays completed before Senior Year begins will be a HUGE load off your shoulders and mind!
• If you are in 9th - 11th grades, read through these essays and think of what to say.  If you don't have an activity that you can write about, chances are you are not vested in anything of personal importance.  Work to change that--put your time into efforts so that you have something to write about when your senior year comes!

Also, if you are planning to complete the Common App, they use close to the same prompts each year. Here are the prompts from the 2017 - 2018 school year:

1.  Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it.  If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2.  The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success.  Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure.  How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3.  Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea.  What prompted your thinking?  What was the outcome?

4.  Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve.  It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma--anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale.  Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

5.  Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

6.  Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time.  Why does it captivate you?  What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?  

Scholarship Tip #8: Repeaters

Repeaters = Scholarships that are the same every year.  They ask the same questions, have the same requirements, and have close to the same deadline (usually within 10 days each year).  It's great to know about these, because you can look through the requirements and begin preparing far in advance.  

As you go through this list, add them to your own personal scholarship spreadsheet and be sure to follow the deadline advice.  

1.  Coca Cola Scholarship  Open to  H.S. Seniors.  Deadline:  5:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time), October 31, 2017.  Amount:  $20,000 to 150 students.  Minimum GPA:  3.0 cum.  They are looking for students who excel academically, give service, and have overcome a trial.  Application currently OPEN.

2.   Voice of Democracy: Essay Scholarship  Open to 9-12 can enter by writing and recording a speech on a specific prompt.  Check it out--there are state winners and a national winner, ranging from $1,000 - $30,000.  Deadline:  October 31st, by Noon to your local post.
***Also--for students in grades 6-8, check out the Patriot's Pen program.  It has multiple awards between $500 - $5,000.

3.  Horatio Alger Scholarships  Open to H.S. Seniors.  Multiple Scholarships available--for those interested in a 4-year college OR a Tech College.  Money ranging from $1,000 - $25,000 (multiple awards given of each amount).  Click on all the different tabs--you can apply for MULTIPLE awards from the Foundation.  Earliest Deadline:  October 25, 2017 (Noon, Eastern Standard Time).  Application currently OPEN.

4.  Daniel's Fund    Open to H.S. Seniors.     Deadline:  November 30, 2017, 4:00 p.m. MST.    Requirements:  ACT score of 17 or higher, U.S. citizen, demonstrate financial need, high school senior.  Amount:  Remaining amount of money needed to pay for college (whatever college the student is accepted to).

5.  Doodle 4 Google  Open to K-12.  Window:  OPENS September 14 (no deadline listed yet).  This is a fun scholarship!  Simply 'doodle' the 'google' logo, according to the year's prompt.  (Each year a different prompt / theme).  It's such a fun scholarship--AND it's open to all students K-12!  In fact, most years, younger students win, because I think they have fun with it and enter, while the older students overthink it and convince themselves they don't have a chance.  Don't make that mistake!  Pick up some drawing pencils, some brushes--whatever medium you want--and get to it!

6.  Elks Most Valuable Student  Open to H.S. Seniors.  Window:  OPENS September 1 - November 27.  Requirements: U.S. citizen, high school senior.  Judged on scholarship, leadership, financial need.  500 awards are given per year, ranging from $4,000 - $50,000.

7.  Quest Bridge  Open to H.S. Seniors.   Another BIG scholarship.  It matches students up with colleges, and grant full-tuition, room and board scholarships.  Basically--if you get this--college is paid for.  They are looking for students who have "achieved academic excellence in the face of economic challenges".  The application window is open NOW and closes September 27.

8.  Prudential Spirit of Community  Open to Grades 7-12.    Deadline:  November 27, 2017 (Noon, MST).  This is a Service Award.  They are looking for individuals who have made a difference in the community, and the application covers these areas.  Awards range up to a $5,000 award.

9.  Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Program  Open to H.S. Seniors.  Deadline: November 14, 2017 at Noon EST.  This isn't just a scholarship--although it starts with that (giving up to $40,00 PER YEAR for 4 years)--it's also a mentoring program to help students succeed in college, helping them with internships, advising, and college success.  Minimum requirements:  3.5 cum GPA, 26 on the ACT, financial need (they define financial need as having a family gross income below $95,000...well above the standard for most scholarships).  Check out their other programs, including the young scholars program or how to receive a scholarship when you transfer from a community college to a 4-year college. 

10.  Sterling Scholar  Open to H.S. Juniors (application in April)  This is a program that begins at the high school level, and ends at the Wasatch Front Region (for our school, at least).  It awards students who excel in one particular academic area, as well as involvement in leadership and service.  Juniors will receive information on this during Junior Advisory with Mrs. Krim (Mondays from March - May)

11.  Regents' Scholarship  Open to H.S. Seniors--BEGIN from 9th grade.  This is a scholarship that gives money to graduating seniors that have completed certain classes in high school.  Check the program guide and be sure you are on track with the classes you are taking, GPA earned (minim cum GPA of 3.3), and ACT (minimum score of 23).  The application opens in November of each year, and has a priority deadline in December.

12.  New Century Scholarship    Open to H.S. Seniors:  BEGIN in 9th grade.  This scholarship is for students that will complete their Associate Degree while in High School.  This scholarship requires early planning, but it is possible, and a great way to earn a scholarship (and get ahead on college credits)

13.  Raise.Me   Paid out in 12th grade; BEGIN in 9th grade.  Raise.Me is a program that students sign up for that links them to colleges of interest, and shows them what $$$ they are earning.  It's a great program to earn money for community service, leadership, activities, and good grades.  Students can (and should!) use this beginning in 9th grade, and should check in after each school term ends, as well as at the end of the summer to update their activities and accomplishments.  

Scholarship Tip #7: Big Three

Sterling Scholar is probably one of the most recognized scholarship names in the state, but very few people have actually seen a Sterling Scholar Application.  This post is going to change that--and with good reason.  I feel like every high school student would be aided to see a Sterling Scholar Application because this particular application has all the questions that every other scholarship application has.  It is THE template to track your own progress on the "Big Three" that compile 99.9% of all scholarship application questions.  The "Big Three" in this context does not refer to the 3 characters on the popular T.V. show...no, I'm talking about the "Big Three" pursuits that applications ask for.  They are:

                             1. Activities
                             2.  Leadership
                             3.  Community Service / Citizenship

Those are the "Big Three"--and students would do well to regularly check in how well they could fill out an application where they must list and explain their involvement in all three categories.  Since Sterling Scholar has the "Big Three", it is the best one to use for tracking a student's progress on scholarship readiness.   Take a moment, and check out this passage from the Sterling Scholar Application:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

First Section:  Activities

I.  Category Scholarship Activities

a.  In 20 words or less, list up to six activities, honors and awards, relating to your subject*
     1.
     2.
     3.
     4.
     5.
     6.

                 *since you compete in a specific area in Sterling Scholar, they are particularly interested
                   that you have activities IN that specific area.  If you aim to compete in Science--you
                   should have Science Activities.  The same goes for any activity. 

II.  Category Scholarship Activities Description

a.  Choose one of the activities, honors or awards, from the list above.  Describe it briefly, and explain why it was meaningful to you.  What did you learn, and what did you accomplish?  (Max:  500 words)

III. Supporting Documents

a.  upload a file or document that supplements the answers given in I and II.

Next Section:  Leadership

I.   Leadership

a.  In 20 words or less, list up to six activities, honors and awards, that relate to leadership qualifications
     1.
     2.
     3.
     4.
     5.
     6.

II.  Leadership Description

a.  Choose one of the activities, honors or awards, from the list above.  Describe it briefly, and explain why it was meaningful to you.  What did you learn, and what did you accomplish?  (Max:  500 words)

III. Supporting Documents

a.  upload a file or document that supplements the answers given in I and II.

Next Section:  Community Service / Citizenship

I.  Community Service / Citizenship List

a.  List up to six activities / honors / awards of Community Service / Citizenship you are involved in
     1.
     2.
     3.
     4.
     5.
     6. 

II.  Leadership Description

a.  Choose one of the activities, honors or awards, from the list above.  Describe it briefly, and explain why it was meaningful to you.  What did you learn, and what did you accomplish?  (Max:  500 words)

III.  Supporting Documents

a.  upload a file or document that supplements the answers given in I and II.

My Conclusion

Did you catch the pattern?  You need several activities in each area, and one needs to be meaningful enough that you can write about it for 500 words, including things you have learned and accomplished.  This is a good place to point out that serving for 2 hours at a Homeless Shelter is not enough!  You definitely can't fill up a good essay with that experience, and honestly, you'd be better to just leave it off the list.  And if all you have done in high school is serve for 2 hours at the Homeless Shelter, then GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER AND DO SOMETHING!  Serve!  Join a Club!  Get a Job!  Do something you can put on an application! 

The pattern is a classic example of how to be competitive for scholarships, because it shows that students need both BREADTH and DEPTH!  They need breadth:  the number of activities in each section (activities, leadership, service) is six!  That means that students are committing themselves to several different activities, building breadth.  The other part, depth, comes through on the long answer.  It shows that a student was involved in something where they actually learned, helped others, and accomplished something.  That is the depth part, and it is every bit as important as the breadth--if not more important.  


Well, that's it!  Those are the "Big Three":  activities, leadership, service.  If you keep focused on the "Big Three" during high school, you'll not only be competitive for scholarships, you'll discover that high school is a great place to discover yourself!