College Planning
1. Scholarships are an essential element of trimming the price of college. There are a myriad of scholarships and each one is different. Scholarships are awarded from colleges and universities, big corporations, small organizations, and more. With millions of scholarships available it is important to make use of resources like FASTWEB.com and COLLEGESCHOLARSHIPS.org. Here are some main types of scholarships you’ll run into.
Renewable: These offer a certain amount of money each year (e.g. $1,000) for a certain amount of time (e.g. 4 years). If a scholarship does not say it is renewable, then it is not and you will have to reapply for that money year after year.
Click here to learn about the Financial Aid Programs offered by the California Student Aid Commission.
Merit based: these scholarships are based on academic performance. Applications must be filled out and handed in on time!
Need based: These are simply based on the financial need of the family. Scholarships are awarded through FAFSA, Cal Grant, colleges and universities, and other foundations.
Local scholarships: There are many businesses and organizations that want to give back to their community and do so by offering scholarships. Do a google search for “Scholarships for ________ county residents” and see if that leads you to a couple other scholarships you are able to compete.
Student-specific scholarships: these are based on the student’s skills (e.g. athletics), ethnic background (e.g. Asian Pacific Islander), or traits (e.g. first in family to attend college or foster child). Often times essays, videos, or recommendation letters must be submitted. For more specific types of scholarships, look here.
No matter the scholarship, expect to apply, do some convincing that you deserve the money, and wait to hear if you’ve been selected.
It is important to keep track of scholarship deadlines. Have a calendar or computer file designated to keep track of all the scholarships you are applying for. Set realistic goals (e.g. find and apply for one scholarship each week). Then set aside a scheduled, consistent time to do something- anything-towards your goals.
Graduating from college with little or no debt is well worth the advanced effort!
2. Apply. Before you apply to college know where you want to go and do the research to make sure you are eligible. Is there a gpa minimum? When are the applications available and due? Talk to an enrollment officer. Have a list of the top 5 or 10 schools of your choice.
3. Fill out FAFSA. On January 1 each year, the FAFSA form is available and deadlines change by state. The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is your student’s responsibility to fill out the FAFSA to get the scholarships and, if needed, loans for college.
The FAFSA application is long and may take a while to fill out. Parental information will be reported in the FAFSA.
**Notice the word free in FAFSA’s title? Beware of scamming companies that charge to assist you in filling out the FAFSA. Do not fall for these scams!
4. Standardized Testing
Lodi Academy is an official test site for the ACT, SAT, Advanced Placement tests. Please consult the school calendar for test dates and last dates to register. To sign up for a test or view more information on a test, click on one of the links below.