College scholarship loan grant

Navigate your way to scholarship money to fund your child's education

PAULA AND JESSE JAMES OF HACKENSACK, NEW Jersey, vividly recall the year that was full of frantic phone calls, applications and campus visits. Their 18-year-old son, Randy--now armed with nearly $25,000 in scholarships and financial aid--sits beside his mother, eager to discuss his admission to Lebanon Valley College of Pennsylvania, in Annville. "Lebanon Valley offered me the best financial aid package," says Randy, who will suit up for the basketball and track teams this season. The substantial monetary assistance he received will enable him to enter his freshman year without any major financial headaches, no small feat since his school fees amount to $22,750 annually. "But I still have three more years to go," he sighs, as if wondering about paying for his remaining college years.

The experts say Randy needn't worry because there is financial aid available for college-bound students. According to the 1998 booklet Trends in Student Aid (The College Board, 800-323-7155, $12), student aid totaled $60.5 billion for the 1997-98 academic year. Of this amount, 34.3% represents federal, state and institutional grants--dollars children like Randy won't have to repay after college. But prepping students for one of the most challenging academic maneuvers--graduating from college without inheriting a mound of debt--isn't something that happens overnight. Getting past scholarship selection committees means employing the same strategies used to gain entrance to college. A competitive academic record, an assortment of extracurricular activities, extensive research and a strong application are essential elements in securing those sought-after scholarship funds. And although the process is as involved as it sounds, it's well worth the effort. Your assistance can make all the difference, so here are some ways you can help.

STRESS ACADEMIC AS WELL AS EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Parents must "adopt an approach of early awareness," says Leah Y. Latimer, author of Higher Ground: Preparing African-American Children for College, (Avon Books, $12). She argues that parents must be proactive by preparing their children to become achievers at an early age. "My mom and dad were them, but they didn't have to encourage me too hard because I wanted to make good grades," says Joyelle Taylor, a 20-year-old accounting major who won a full scholarship to the business school at Texas Southern University (TSU), Houston.

Your child's academic curriculum should contain three to four years of math, and at least one year of challenging electives. Children with high aptitudes should be enrolled in honors and advanced placement (AP) courses. Taylor graduated with a 4.25 GPA (throughout her high school career, she took honors courses that are graded on a 5-point scale). Now a junior in college, Taylor is reaping the benefits of her high school academic achievements. She received a total of $33,250 in financial aid from private scholarships and grants. Although Taylor is probably the exception rather than the rule, she believes most students can do well. They just need to maintain high standards in school.

Of course, parental participation is also key.

"My mother has been very important because she's been on my back since sophomore year [about scholarship applications]," says Randy, who plans to major in journalism and communications. In addition to emphasizing good grades, Randy's mother got him involved in church as well as community outreach activities. His teachers also helped him become well-rounded by allowing him to participate in his high school's Youth and Government day. Under this program, Randy was assigned to assist the city manager--an official who oversees salaries and regulates the parks, sanitation and police departments. This experience gave Randy an edge over scholarship applicants who could only profile their grades.

In fact, a student's extracurricular activities do impact the scholarship review process. "Your child could be the best bookworm in the world--we look at academics--but we also want to see how he fits in with the people around him," emphasizes A.D. James Jr., executive director of student financial services at Prairie View A&M University, a historically black university in Prairie View, Texas. James has sat on several scholarship boards. Twenty-eight-year-old Chris Vuturo, winner of $885,000 in scholarships and author of The Scholarship Advisor 1999 Edition (Princeton Review, $23) echoes the sentiment: "The numbers don't really tell the whole story. Don't just be a good student; get involved." In high school, Vuturo worked with terminally ill children and says it helped him demonstrate leadership abilities and his concern for the community.

But even the best grades and most diligent community involvement doesn't mean anything unless you're able to link your child to the right scholarship program. Here's how you can make a match:

RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES AND APPLY

You can start your search at your local library or on the Internet, but you should also refer to less commonly used sources. Some local businesses--banks, credit unions and doctor's offices, for example--have funds set aside for educational programs. Also, find out if your employer provides educational benefits to you and your children. Check bookstores for a selection of books and computer programs that detail specific scholarships--The Scholarship Handbook 1999 (The College Board, $24.95) is one example. For additional guidance, consult the advisors listed in the brochure of the college that your child wants to attend. They can tell you whether the institution has financial assistance programs. And don't forget to find out if corporations and local organizations (e.g., churches and Masonic lodges) have earmarked funds for educational purposes.

Although Randy received significant financial assistance, he does admit that the 40 scholarship applications he completed between September 1998 and May 1999 were restricted to those programs his counselor identified. "I could've done a lot more for myself," he confesses. His mother says, "It was a combination of the counselor being pulled in too many directions and Randy's preoccupation with graduation." While some say guidance counselors are overworked, others say the practice of preferential treatment is also a factor. "They're overloaded and may service up to 400 students," says Yvonne Gittens, associate director of financial aid in student financial services at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. "However, there are a lot of guidance counselors who don't want to see minorities get ahead. They will hide things, simply because they don't want your child to have as much [opportunity] as others." So it's up to you to develop a relationship with your child's high school counselor early on.

Time is another important element where scholarship applications are concerned. Randy, who maintained a 3.3 GPA and scored 1080 on the SAT, began researching scholarship opportunities at the beginning of his senior year. Some experts say that was almost too late. "A lot of children start in the 11th and 12th grade," says James. He also states that students with a 3.5 GPA and a 1200 SAT score can receive a "free ride" to the more than $30,000 over four years that Prairie View charges for on-campus, out-of-state students. By gathering information by the beginning of the sophomore year, students will be able to do more thorough research and be better advised about the opportunities at the college of their choice.

Regardless of which scholarships your child chooses to apply for, make sure applications are sent at least two weeks before the due date. All forms must be smudge-proof and the essay well written because "it's the most important part of the application," says Vuturo. "It's your best opportunity to show how you think, what you believe and how well you write and communicate."

CHECK OUT FEDERAL FUNDING

Once you've looked into the private resources, turn to the government. The U.S. Department of Education delegates $50 billion a year toward public and private schools of higher education. This assistance can come in the form of grants or self-help aid. Under the Stafford Loan Program, first-year full-time undergraduates can receive up to $2,625 a year if they're classified as dependent students, and $6,625 if they're independent students, at up to 8.25% interest. Perkins Loan recipients can borrow $3,000 per year at 5% interest.