We highly recommend that you look over the San Diego Unified School District's Scholarship Handbook. It is a valuable source of information about scholarships and financial aid. Each year, local organizations, community groups, and businesses offer financial assistance to qualified students. Information on available scholarships and awards is updated each year. We urge you to plan early, make notes on the scholarships you wish to investigate, and follow through by requesting applications and applying for appropriate scholarships and financial aid. To assist you with this process, they have included a sample resume, application requests, and thank you letters. In addition, a form has been included in this packet to help you keep track of the scholarships, grants, and colleges that you apply to.
If you have questions about any of the materials, please contact the counseling office for the most current information. We also have information about scholarships that might not be included in this book. |
| When asked, SCPA counselors help seniors explore scholarship opportunities and complete applications for financial aid. Many scholarships are funded by various private donors, businesses and organizations. Awards usually range form $25 to $2,500. To plan ahead, students of all grade levels need to be aware of scholarship facts. However, actual applications for scholarships usually begin in the senior. |
1. Scholarships are not granted automatically; students must identify scholarships they might qualify for and complete applications. One of the best sources of information is the counseling department’s weekly posting of scholarships.
2. An appointment to a U.S. Military Academy, such as the Air Force Academy, is considered to be a $150,000 scholarship. Further information is available on college nights, through the counseling office and military recruiting offices.
3. The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) offers competitive scholarships which include complete tuition, fees, books and a substantive allowance. The value may exceed $60,000 at some private colleges. Many public and private colleges throughout the country provide ROTC programs, including Harvard, Cal Tech, MIT, UC and the California State University system. This is an opportunity worth exploring during sophomore/junior/senior years through college nights. Seniors may obtain ROTC applications in September in the Counseling Office. Deadline for application is December of the senior year.
4. Juniors scoring in the top ½ percent of the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test) in October will automatically be placed in competition for the National Merit Scholarships. Students pay a fee to register for the PSAT; only registered students will be tested. Timing and payment information is announced via school bulletin in September.
5. Many scholarships are granted directly from colleges and the scholarship application may be part of the college admission process. Some are based on merit, some on need and some on athletic ability.
6. Scholarships may be available from the parent’s place of employment, union and/or church.
7. The two most common factors considered in granting scholarships are academic ability (GPA, test scores, class rank and course work) and character (activities, personality, and references). Another factor may be financial need. Students do NOT necessarily need to have an “A” grade point average to apply.
8. Competition for CSF (California Scholarship Federation) scholarships is open to CSF Sealbearers. CSF Sealbearers are those students who have joined CSF at least four semesters by qualification of grades earned during the first six semesters of high school and paying a small fee (about $5) each semester. Scholarships range from $200 0- $2,200. Scholarships may be based on need as well as merit and are usually renewable. Students qualify for this honor society by earning three A’s and one B in academic classes each semester. Membership in CSF is NOT AUTOMATIC; students must join each eligible semester. CSF Scholarships are usually granted as part of a financial aid package offered to the student making an admission application to a specific college. Students may earn college credits in high school by: dual enrollment in high school and college, receiving college credit through the Advanced Placement Program or by taking college courses in summer. Some colleges also offer a three year degree program.
9. College costs may be reduced by earning a baccalaureate degree in three years instead of the traditional four.
10. Students planning teaching careers in bilingual education may qualify for grants ranging from $300 to $4,000 per year.
11. Native American, Eskimo, and Aleut students are entitled to receive grants and loans from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
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