Paying for College
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Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
What is the FAFSA?
The FAFSA is the application you will use to apply for the federal student aid programs offered by the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Completing and submitting the FAFSA is free and easier than ever, and it gives you access to the largest source of financial aid to help pay for college or career school
Why complete a FAFSA?
If you don’t complete a FAFSA, you could be missing out on a lot of financial aid. Federal Student Aid uses the data on your FAFSA to calculate an Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is the number that’s used to determine your eligibility for federal student aid and is an indicator of your family’s financial strength to pay for college or career school. The EFC is not the amount of money that your family must provide. The EFC is an index that the college will use to determine how much financial aid (grants, loans, or workstudy) you would receive if you were to attend that school.
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Types of Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded based on merit, academics, athletics, religion, gender, just to name a few. Please check out this article which reviews the many types of scholarships you can apply for. -
College Board Scholarship Search
Find scholarships, other financial aid and internships from more than 2,200 programs, totaling nearly $6 billion.
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Career OneStop Scholarship Search
Search more than 7,500 scholarships, fellowships, grants, and other financial aid award opportunities
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Pinellas County Schools Scholarship Page
Included on this site is a regularly updated document outlining a sample of scholarships that are available
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SPC Scholarships
A completed application packet includes the online scholarship application, answers to the essay questions and one letter of recommendation . One application for hundreds of scholarship
Presidential Scholarship recipients will be selected annually based on merit and test scores. The program is open to individuals who meet the following criteria:
- Pinellas County high school senior anticipating a May graduation with a standard high school diploma
- Florida resident
- U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien or Dream Act eligible
- Anticipate a weighted cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 at the end of the seventh semester of high school
- Have taken the ACT/SAT Exams
The Presidential Scholarship covers up to 60 credit hours of continuous enrollment (fall and spring; summer optional) at St. Petersburg College beginning with the fall term immediately following high school graduation. It does not cover access fees, lab fees, books, supplies, or Corporate Training classes. The scholarship is not transferable to other colleges or universitiesThe scholarship is awarded based on academic merit and test scores. Due to limited funding, not all eligible students will be awarded. All applicants will be notified regarding the status of their application beginning in March.
Johnnie Ruth Clark Scholarship
The opportunity to apply for Dr. Johnnie Ruth Clarke Scholarships is offered to disadvantaged and other underrepresented Pinellas County school students who meet all of the following:- Graduate from a Pinellas County high school with a standard high school diploma
- Are U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens
- Have a weighted cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 at the end of the seventh semester of high school
SPC Foundation Scholarships
With hundreds of scholarships available, you could be eligible to receive funding for tuition, books and supplies.
http://spcollegefoundation.spcollege.edu/scholarships-3/
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Elizabeth Travis Scholarship (for SPC)
Eligibility requirement:
Applicants must: Be high school seniors, high school graduates, or current undergraduate students.. i - Demonstrate financial need. i Currently attend or plan to attend, full-time, St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg, Florida.
Additional Desired Qualifications: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Scholarship s ecifics This scholarship is for one year only; however, current recipients may reapply and be considered for additional funding along with other new applicants. Scholarship recipients must be enrolled full-time.
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Beirut Veterans of America
The Beirut Veterans of America is pleased to provide an opportunity for any college or trade-school student to apply for a $1,000 scholarship. Below are the details on eligibility and an online form for applications.
The application process opens in November and all applications must be submitted by January 31. There will be two scholarships awarded by May 1.
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College Fund of Pinellas County
$1,000 per year grants to help with college expenses for students who required significant financial need above and beyond the Pell Grant
Applications are available onlilne. Please see link below
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Belleair Garden Club Scholarship
The scholarship is a total of $1,000 per year (distributed $500 per semester) to help cover cost of books and fees. This scholarship can be applied at any undergraduate institution offering classes leading to a career in any of the above stated areas. Continuation of the scholarship for graduate studies will be considered on a case by case basis.
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American Legion Scholarships
The Department of Florida offers five scholarships for Florida’s high school seniors: a General Scholarship, Eagle Scout of the Year, JROTC Cadet of the Year, Junior Shooting Sports, and the High School State Oratorical Contest.
Applications are either due Dec or March depending on scholarship
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Florida PEO Scholarship
To Apply, contact Gail Van Zanten Gailvz15@gmail.com for information and application materials. Contact person is a member of local P.E.O. Chapter DN.
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USF Kosove Scholarship
For rising Freshmen to USF- applications open late Fall of HS Senior year (can also apply Rising Junior year of college)
The Kosove scholarship is a full scholarship that covers the cost of in-state tuition, room and board, books, fees and other expenses as determined by the USF Financial Aid Office for the completion of a USF undergraduate degree. The level of funding for individual student awards shall be reduced to the extent that the recipient receives other merit based awards and grants. The Kosove Undergraduate Scholarship is renewable for up to 4 years for freshmen
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FREF Scholarship for Future Florida Teachers Scholarship
Ability to relate to and work with people of all ages.
Academic aptitude and achievement. Commitment to service, with special interest in teaching children and youth.
Economic need. Emphasis is placed on SAT and/or ACT scores. The minimum score for SAT is 1,000 or above (Reading and Math sections) or ACT is 22 or above. Participation and leadership in school and community activities. For additional information and to apply, go to:
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Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship
Applicants will be judged on scholarship, leadership, and financial need.
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Pinellas Education Traditional Senior Scholarship
Ranging from $500 to $5,000, numerous scholarship opportunities are available to high school graduating seniors in the Pinellas County Public School system. Students only need to fill out one application to match their needs and future interests with nearly 100 scholarship opportunities.
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Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s scholarship programs are designed to encourage and support outstanding students who work hard and have financial need. Our scholarships provide financial assistance and academic support to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students.
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Coca Cola Scholarships
The Coca-Cola Scholars Program scholarship is an achievement-based scholarship awarded to graduating high school seniors. Students are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities
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QuestBridge
We are looking for high school seniors who have shown outstanding academic ability despite financial challenges. We take a holistic approach to reviewing applications, and we do not have absolute criteria or cut-offs for GPA, standardized test scores, income, or other factors.
Finalists typically come from households earning less than $65,000 annually for a typical family of four and have minimal assets. This is not a strict cut-off and we encourage students who feel they have faced significant financial hardship to review these financial criteria carefully to see if they may qualify.
In order to be eligible to apply to the National College Match in the fall, applicants must graduate from high school during or before the summer and plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall.
The National College Match is open to all U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents OR students, regardless of citizenship, currently attending high school in the United States.
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The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is the United States’ largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service.