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Siuslaw High School

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Scholarship Information Night

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September 25, 2024

Robert Orr, Counselor to Seniors

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Part 1: Introduction

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The Cost of College

(Before financial aid)

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Tuition Total

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Oregon Community College 7,000 22,000

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Oregon Public University 14,000 33,000

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Oregon Private College 50,000 68,000

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Financial aid and scholarships

can help to pay for:

• Community college
• 4-year college or university
• Trade school

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Other ways to pay for

post-secondary education:

• Military service
• Jobs and apprenticeships
• Government service
• Family and friends
• Work and savings

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Part 1

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Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Comparable application for undocumented students: ORSAA

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Loans

Oregon State Grants

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Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

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• Based on family financial circumstances
• Provides tuition grants up to $7,400 per year for 4 years
• May authorize federal loans (subsidized or unsubsidized) – administered by colleges
• Delayed this year until December 1 – phased rollout starting on October 1

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FAFSA key changes:

• December release
• EFC is now SAI (Student Aid Index)
• Number of questions reduced from 108 to 36
• Student can earn up to $9,400 annually before it affects FAFSA results
• Increases aid eligibility for single parents
• Automatic data transfer from IRS to FAFSA
• Parent and student will log in separately

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More FAFSA changes:

• No break for multiple family members in college
• In case of divorce, parent who provides the most financial support will be considered custodial
• Small business and family farm will now be considered assets
• Must claim dependent on tax return to claim on FAFSA
• In case of parent separation, it must be legally recorded or both parents’ income must be reported

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• If custodial parent has remarried, income and assets of stepparent must be reported

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Notes

• FAFSA application opening not yet announced
• Should be filed by February 15 to include results on SRSA
• The FAFSA must be refiled each year

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What to do now

• File your 2023 tax return (due 4/15/24) if not already done
• Create FSA ID’s for student and parent/guardian by going to

https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create- account/personal-info

• When FAFSA is released, go to https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

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• FAFSA may determine eligibility for Federal loans ($9K to 12K annually if eligible)
• Subsidized
• Unsubsidized
• Commercial loans
• Higher rates
• Less favorable payback terms

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Loans

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Oregon State Grants

• Oregon Opportunity Grant
• FAFSA info automatically provided to Oregon
• Grants up to $7,524 per year

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• Oregon Promise
• For community colleges in Oregon
• Grants up to $4,422; based on FAFSA
• Requires separate application: https://app.oregonstudentaid.gov/

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Part 2: Local Scholarships:

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Siuslaw Regional Scholarship Application

(SRSA)

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• Provided by about 40 local organizations
• About 140 individual scholarships
• Total awarded about $300,000 per year
• Awards announced at Scholarship Awards Night, May 21, 2025 at the FEC starting at 6:00 PM
• Requires separate application due March 3
• Awards are based on some combination of
• Financial need
• Community Service
• Academic record
• Quality of application

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To apply, students must submit:

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• Application form and essays
• https://bit.ly/AfterHS2 (click on SRSA tab)
• Checklist of organizations to receive application
• Activity Chart
• Resume
• 2 letters of recommendation
• Transcript

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Separate application required for

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• Geraldine Bagley Scholarship (OPB)
• https://www.opbc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Bagley-Scholarship-Eligibility-and-Procedures.pdf

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What to do now:

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• Start early
• Write good essays, have them checked/edited
• Request letters of reference
• From teachers, counselors, administrators, clergy, employer, neighbor, etc. Not from family member. At least one from a teacher.
• Get good grades
• Complete the FAFSA prior to submitting SRSA

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Part 3

Other Funding Sources

More Scholarships

VFW Voice of Democracy audio-essay contest

• Deadline October 31
• https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships

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Rotary 4-Way Speech Contest

Spring deadline

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For additional opportunities, dates, and deadlines:

https://bit.ly/AfterHS1

Scroll down the home page

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Colleges and Universities

• Some are automatic, some require application
• Examples:
• OSU: After acceptance, apply for Scholar Dollars at
• https://scholarships.oregonstate.edu/
• UO: After acceptance, apply to:
• https://app.oregonstudentaid.gov/
• Lane Community College: After acceptance, apply to:
• https://www.lanecc.edu/about-lane/foundation/foundation-scholarships/apply-lcc-foundation-scholarship

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Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)

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• A qualifying student may get a substantial reduction in cost the of out-of-state tuition
• https://www.wiche.edu/tuition-savings/wue/

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Questbridge

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• Deadline is tomorrow, September 26
• https://questbridge.org
• For high-achieving, low income students

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Oregon State Aid

https://oregonstudentaid.gov/login-to-osac-portals/

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• OSAC Scholarships
• Oregon Tribal Student Grants
• Oregon Student child Care Grant
• Chafee Education and Training Grant (for qualified students in the foster care system)
• Oregon Barber and Hairdresser Grant
• Oregon deceased/disabled public safety officer grant
• Oregon National Guard

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Ford Family Foundation Scholarships

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• Covers 90% of college expenses
• Highly competitive
• High percentage to first generation college students and to students in rural communities
• Must be used in Oregon or Northern California
• Applicants will need academic potential, community service, work ethic, motivation, and success mindset
• https://www.tfff.org/scholarships/ford-scholars/

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SAT and ACT

• Useful primarily if
• Student is on the border of eligibility for a college
• Student is applying to a top-level college or university
• Student is applying for local scholarships and needs to show academic strength/potential
• Optional at most college and universities
• Far less important than in pre-Covid years
• If signed up, study is recommended
• See handout for dates of SAT and ACT

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Scholarship Listings

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Big Future: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/

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Oregon Goes to College: https://oregongoestocollege.org/pay/scholarships

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For more scholarship listing sites, go to:

https://getschooled.com/article/5398-best-scholarship-websites/

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Military Options:

• Army
• Navy
• Air Force
• Marines
• Space Force
• National Guard
• Coast Guard

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Enlist or join ROTC (UO, OSU, EOU)

Some possible educational benefits of military service

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• Earn a 2-year degree while serving
• Learn a skill
• Earn pay plus room and board
• Travel
• Leave with the GI Bill
• Full tuition and fees per year for 4 years at in-state colleges and universities
• Up to $29,000 per year for 4 years at private colleges and universities
• Monthly housing allowance
• Stipend for books and supplies
• Payment of fees for licensing and certification exams

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Companies offering educational benefits

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40 companies with education assistance:

https://www.bestcolleges.com/news/analysis/2021/09/16/top-companies-offering-tuition-reimbursement/

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Companies offering tuition reimbursement

https://www.thebalancemoney.com/companies-offer-tuition-reimbursement-4126637

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16 companies offering tuition assistance

https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/tuition-assistance-companies/

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Please encourage your seniors to…

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• Listen carefully to weekly announcements at school
• Read ASPIRE newsletters via email
• Mark their calendars with due dates
• Complete applications carefully, completely, and thoughtfully
• Plan ahead and avoid last minute work
• Check the “ASPIRE for Seniors” Google Classroom regularly
• Check the whiteboard in the Student Services office

A few words about colleges and universities

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Early action application deadline: November 1 (UO, OSU, and some others)

Regular application deadlines:

• UO, January 15, 2025; OSU, February 3, 2025
• Check school websites for other deadlines

3.0 GPA typically required for Oregon State Universities

Colleges and universities look for scholarship, community service, work experience, leadership, citizenship, motivation, and well-written essays

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ASPIRE

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• A state-sponsored organization to assist and support students through high schools and middle schools to plan for life after high school
• Meetings are typically one-on-one
• SHS has been an ASPIRE site for more than 15 years
• We are re-activating the ASPIRE program at SHS
• Seniors may be assigned to work with a volunteer if they choose
• Interested in volunteering? See Mr. Orr

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Seniors and Parents/Guardians:

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Join the new ASPIRE for Seniors

Google Classroom

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https://meet.google.com/brt-vhhn-fga

Class code: ppnkhyf

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Thank you!

Bob Orr

541-902-7419

borr@siuslaw.k12.or.us

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Questions?