Amazing applications

Hi Group - Well, we finished reviewing all of our scholarship applications last week and are working on notifying students. We read some amazing applications and essays. You all lead really busy, interesting lives. Many of you are super involved, excelling in academics, athletics, music, and community service. A lot of you work to help support yourself and family. Some of you have a lot of breadth in activities - doing everything - and some of you have tremendous depth - doing one or two things for a really long time.



A lot of you wrote about President Obama and how much he has inspired you. A lot of you also wrote about the challenges of technology and how young people communicate (or don't!):). You want to solve poverty and discrimination.



A few essays I read really stand out. Usually they are either ones that made me laugh out loud because your writing was so insightful or they are ones that revealed experiences you've encountered from which you have grown.



One of you wrote about your experience in high school becoming a young father and the double standard in how you and your girlfriend were treated. I was incredibly impressed at the sensitivity, self reflection, and intelligence of your writing. Another of you wrote about being displaced from a natural disaster and how you came to become interested in UWEC through contact with our students who were doing service projects in your area. And yet another of you wrote about your experience in working with service dogs for the disabled and how much joy it gave you to be a part of that community.



We wish there were scholarships for ALL of you! But even if not, I am happy that our country's future is in your hands.



Kris

Money Money

Happy February Everyone!

The subject of this post is money! Now, I know a lot of students are going to yawn but stay awake cuz it's your future here we're talking about.

Devoted readers of my blog - I know you're out there - will remember my post on scholarship essay tips. Oh, you didn't see it? Well, check the archives. This is the month that we'll be doing a lot of scholarship awards. We will be busy reading your essays, looking at your grades, your involvement, special circumstances, etc. Some scholarships won't be awarded until later in the year, after we have seen financial aid information.

Speaking of........this is the time of year when you and your family members should begin filling out the FAFSA.....Free Application for Federal Student Aid. See the word FREE? There is no application fee for this document, so do it! Your school guidance offices will have info or just google it. Ideally, you should have your family taxes done ahead of time. Incentive!!

What does this form do? It allows the federal government to assess your financial need, and it allows us - UWEC - to then give you a financial aid award based on that need. What's a financial aid award? Glad you asked:). It's a potential combination of grants, loans, and work study to help you afford school.

When should you do this by? NOW and by March 15th. You can apply anytime, but sooner the better.

Is it hard? Not really, just takes some time.

Have your family circumstances changed? Then tell us. Tell our Financial Aid Office, and they can help you find options....particularly if a parent has been laid off, lost a job, etc.

What if tuition goes up? Well, it never goes down. It probably will go up, given the economy. But the cost of NOT going to college translates into a million dollars in lost income over the course of your lifetime (US Census Bureau says so). There is no better investment in yourself!!

And we are here to help!



Kris