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General
Financial Aid Planning Pages
If
you plan to apply for financial aid next year, submit the FAFSA as soon as possible!
(You don't have to have an application for admission
completed at the time that you file the FAFSA -
just list the school names & codes on the FAFSA form)
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Montgomery College's Financial Aid
Web Page www.montgomerycollege.edu/finaid/
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Student
Financial Assistance, from the U.S. Department of Education.
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The Smart Student Guide to Financial
Aid www.finaid.org/ A "free,
comprehensive, independent & objective guide to financial
aid." This page lists
several scholarship search programs, instructions for the federal form,
information on loans & lenders, and college planning sites.
Also includes a free "Financial
Aid Expected Family Contribution Form" which allows
parents/students to enter data to calculate the Expected Family
Contribution (EFC) and financial need, and to estimate your student
financial aid.
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www.fafsa.ed.gov/
To apply for student financial aid from the federal government,
including the Pell Grant, Perkins Loan, Stafford Loan and work-study,
you will need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA). There is no charge for submitting this form. The FAFSA
is also required by all state and many school student assistance
programs. Remember that you must also complete applications for aid at
each institution that you wish to attend. Go to the MC Financial Aid Web
Page for Montgomery College information.
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Pay for College www.collegeboard.com/pay/
- a comprehensive site from The College Board, including Tackling the
FAFSA, Financial Aid Myths, and Your Aid Award Explained, an overview
of the types of aid colleges offer students - grants, loans, and
work-study.
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College
Data - Pay Your Way
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www.scholarshiphelp.org
An excellent starting point.
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Ways
to Pay for College The College Board
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Student Loans www.finaid.org/loans/
·
www.salliemae.com/
- programs through the Student Loan Corporation and scholarship information.
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Scholarship Scams and Frauds - there are
MANY out there, please read this information to be sure you don't get
caught in one...
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Can
You Spot a Scholarship Scam?
o
Scholarship
Scams
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Using
a Search Engine
Try
several search engines ( www.google.com
, www.ask.com , etc. ) and type in the
words of a particular scholarship area (for example, "psychology
scholarships" or "business scholarships."
You may also try general searches such as "free
scholarships", "transfer scholarships" or "Maryland
scholarships" to develop lists.
Scholarships
by Major: search for national associations for your major on a
search engine using the words "association" or
"society" - for example, "engineering association"
and "engineering society" should link you to groups that may
offer scholarships.
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Free Financial Aid Search
Programs
Before
you begin, please read Scholarship Scams
- Don't Pay Money to Find Money!
Use any
combination of free scholarship search programs and web search engines
to explore scholarship opportunities for use at Montgomery College and
for transfer to four-year institutions. When using ANY internet
resource for scholarships, use only programs that are free. Do not use any
programs that ask for personal information from you (home address or
credit card number) beyond your name and e-mail address. On many
sites, listing your home address is optional - skip it unless you want
to be flooded with mail. We recommend that you set up a
separate e-mail address on a free service like Gmail, Hotmail, or
Yahoo, just for the purpose of college business (searching for schools,
scholarship searching).
Tips:
-
Search diligently and come back often. Scholarships change and
new ones are added.
- Don't limit yourself to one academic major. Select
multiple majors to see what's available.
- Select "No Academic Major" to see the
scholarships and financial aid awards available to students regardless
of their field of study. Some scholarship awards are based simply upon
the student's desire to attend college, with no consideration for the
student 's intended major.
- Visit MC's Career/Transfer/Student Success Center, the
public library and college Financial Aid Offices to look for small,
local awards that aren't posted on search engines or in books on
scholarships.
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State of Maryland Scholarship & Financial Aid Information
The
MARYLAND HIGHER
EDUCATION COMMISSION offers these programs for Maryland
residents. Visit this site for descriptions of programs,
eligibility and the application process. www.mhec.state.md.us
Use
the Maryland
State On-Line Scholarship Search to see if you have the
qualifications for specific programs:
The following programs are offered by the
State of Maryland for Maryland residents. These MHEC descriptions
provide information about the program eligibility and the application
process.
Maryland
State Financial Aid Assistance Programs
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Need-based Grants
* Guaranteed Access Grant
* Educational Assistance Grant
* Part-Time Grant
* Graduate and Professional Scholarship Program
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Legislative Scholarships
* Senatorial Scholarship
* Delegate Scholarship
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Loan
Assistance Repayment Program
* Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program (LARP)
* Loan Assistance Repayment Program - Primary Care Services (LARP-PCS)
* Maryland Dent-Care Loan Assistance Repayment Program (MDC-LARP)
Merit
and Career Based Scholarships
* Child Care Provider Scholarship
* HOPE Community College Transfer Student Scholarship
* Developmental Disabilities, Mental Health, Child Welfare, and
Juvenile Justice Workforce Tuition Assistance Program
* Distinguished Scholar Award
* Distinguished Scholar Teacher Education Award
* Firefighter, Ambulance and Rescue Squad Member Tuition Reimbursement
Program
* HOPE (General) Scholarship
* Maryland Teacher Scholarship
* Sharon Christa McAuliffe Memorial Teacher Education Award
* State Nursing Scholarship and Living Expenses Grant
* Physical and Occupational Therapists and Assistants Program
* Science and Technology Scholarship
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Unique Populations
* Jack F. Tolbert Memorial Student Grant Program
* Edward T. Conroy Memorial Award
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Other Programs
* Tuition Reduction for Non-Resident Nursing Students
* Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients
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For
applications and details, go to Maryland
State Financial Aid Assistance Programs.
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Phi
Theta Kappa
Members
of Phi Theta Kappa, the International
Honor Society of two-year colleges, are eligible for many scholarship
opportunities at four-year institutions. Examples of Maryland
schools offering PTK scholarships are: College of Notre Dame of Maryland, Goucher College, Hood College,
Johns Hopkins University of Professional Studies in Business &
Education, McDaniel College, St. Mary's College of Maryland, Towson
University, University of Baltimore, University of Maryland - Baltimore
County, Villa Julie College, and Washington College. For the
complete scholarship list in all states, visit: http://scholarships.ptk.org/
Phi Theta Kappa is the national two-year college honor society. The
Kappa Omega Chapter was established at Montgomery College in 1960. All
Phi Theta Kappa chapters are sponsored by the Student Life Office of
each campus.
To be considered for election to Phi Theta Kappa, a student must have a
cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 for a least 15 credit
hours of course work at Montgomery College and be enrolled in a degree
program or transfer curriculum. A cumulative grade point average of 3.4
is required to maintain membership. Election to Phi Theta Kappa represents
one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a student at
Montgomery College.
Students interested in becoming provisional members of Phi Theta Kappa
should contact the Phi Theta Kappa adviser at the campus they attend or
visit the Office of Student Life for information.
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Organizations and Affiliations
Contact
local organizations. Call community organizations, such as the Elks or
Jaycees, religious or ethnic organizations, youth organizations,
fraternities and sororities, and alumni groups. Contact your local
chamber of commerce to learn if any local businesses offer awards.
Organizational
Affiliation - If you or either of your parents are affiliated with an
organization or field of work, you may be eligible for this type of
scholarship. Affiliations might include: religious affiliation, union
membership, and affiliation with an employer or field of work, military
affiliation, club, or association.
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The Academic Common Market
Study
Ocean Engineering at Virginia Tech and pay in-state tuition
prices! This is just one example of an Academic Common Market
major. Through a partnership of 16 Southern public institutions,
students who wish to major in subjects generally not offered by public
schools in Maryland can attend out-of-state schools and pay in-state
tuition. www.sreb.org/page/1395/academic_common_market_faqs.html
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Financial
Aid & Scholarship Listings by Local Colleges
& Universities
Most
colleges and universities not only list scholarships available to their
own students - they also have extensive pages giving
advice on searching for scholarships. On any college main page,
visit the Financial
Aid link for scholarship information.
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American
University, DC
Bowie
State University, MD
Capitol
College, MD
Coppin
State University, MD
College of Notre
Dame, MD
Columbia
Union College, MD
Frostburg
University, MD
Gallaudet
University, DC
George Mason University,
VA
George
Washington U., DC
Georgetown
University, DC
Goucher
College, MD
Hood College, MD
Howard
University, DC
James Madison University, VA
Johns Hopkins University,
MD
Maryland Institute,
College of Art, MD
McDaniel College
(formerly Western Maryland)
Morgan State University, MD
Mount St. Mary's, MD
Saint
John's College, MD
Saint Mary's
College of MD
Salisbury
University ,
MD
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Shady
Grove - Universities
at Shady Grove
Shepherd College, WV
Strayer
College, MD-DC-VA
Towson University, MD
Trinity
College, DC
University of
Baltimore
University of the District of Columbia (UDC)
University of Maryland,
Baltimore (UMB)
University of Maryland,
Baltimore County (UMBC)
University of Maryland,
College Park (UMCP)
University of Maryland,
Eastern Shore (UMES)
University of Maryland,
University College (UMUC)
Washington
College, MD
West Virginia University,
WV
Villa Julie
College, MD
Virginia Tech, VA
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Completing
an AA Degree
Some
transfer scholarships require the completion of an Associate's degree
as a qualification for consideration. Where do you
stand in the degree completion process? Use these degree
planning worksheets (best viewed with Internet Explorer) to outline
courses you've completed and see an MC counselor on any campus to
discuss your progress.
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Application and Essay Tips
·
Top Ten Tips
for Winning Scholarship Applications
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Scholarship
Tips: The Letter, The Application, The Essay
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How to Apply
for Scholarships
·
How to Win a
Merit Scholarship
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Letters
of Recommendation
Students
often ask faculty members for recommendations for college applications
and scholarships. Some applications include blank recommendation forms
- others instruct students to ask for a letter of recommendation.
Student
Questionnaire Use this questionnaire to provide
background information to faculty members to make their letter-writing
more effective. This Word Document also includes a generic
recommendation form. Follow the exact instructions of the
scholarship application. www.montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/studev/RecForm.doc
For
faculty - see Writing
A Letter of Recommendation from the Derek Bok Center for Teaching
and Learning, Harvard University for additional information.
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Make
Yourself an Attractive Scholarship Candidate...
Merit
scholarships are typically awarded on the basis of academic, athletic
or artistic merit, in addition to special interests. Some merit
scholarships also consider financial need, but rewarding talent is the
primary objective. MANY, many scholarships are awarded to students who
have "demonstrated academic excellence and have leadership
qualities." So how do you get there?
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Get involved in activities! Join student
clubs, take on leadership roles, look into internships,
community service, volunteer
work... Look for ideas @ your campus's Office of Student
Life.
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Take challenging courses! Honors
classes (minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 required) allow you to
demonstrate your academic ability and cultivate relationships with
professors. In regular classes, get to know your
professors. They are the people who will write letters of
recommendation on your behalf. Choose classes with the assistance
of an MC counselor - don't self advise!
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Look at small, private colleges
and universities in addition to state schools. Small,
private schools often offer more generous awards to students than do
state schools.
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Consider other specialized schools - women's colleges and historically black colleges and
universities have additional opportunities.
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Athletic Scholarships
Athletic
scholarships are
strictly governed by the NCAA - The National
Collegiate Athletic Association. Their website is THE
authority on the subject of athletic scholarships.
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Other
Useful Links
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Remember, Scholarship Scams - Don't Pay Money to Find
Money!
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Unusual Scholarships
- From Duct Tape to Twins
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Click
Here for New Scholarship
Announcements...
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Contact Us
After
you've thoroughly investigated each of the links on this page, you
can contact the Transfer Scholarship Counselor on your campus for
further assistance:
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Germantown: Professor
Audrey Hill, audrey.hill@montgomerycollege.edu,
240-567-7770.
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Rockville: 240-567-5088 -
ask for a Transfer Scholarship Counselor.
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Takoma Park/Silver
Spring: 240-567-1480 - ask for a Transfer
Scholarship Counselor.
Return to the Montgomery
College Transfer Information Page
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Back to the Scholarship
Page
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