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Scholarships 101

Hosted by Honors Navigators

*Connect with the Office of Financial Aid for additional information

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Agenda

  • FAFSA & scholarships overview
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Personal statements

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Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

  • Most federal and state need-based grants, some MSU aid, and even some private scholarships rely on the FAFSA to determine eligibility
  • The FAFSA is usually open October 1.
    • The 2026-2027 FAFSA is available!
  • It's best to apply early, since some aid is awarded until funds are exhausted
    • You can apply later in the year, but you might want to consult with the Office of Financial Aid to find out what aid is still available
  • Eligibility: Must be US citizen or permanent resident

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FAFSA Filing Tips from Financial Aid

  • Read your SAR (Student Aid Report)
    • Sent to your email
    • Look for reject codes or verification
    • Call Financial Aid for help in resolving any issues
  • Avoid audit (Verification)
    • Check twice, submit once
    • Avoid common filing errors
  • Keep in mind
    • The federal tax information to calculate a student’s eligibility for student aid will be automatically populated by the IRS.

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Common Mistakes

  • Not using the correct website
    • The official FAFSA website is fafsa.gov (redirects to studentaid.gov). You never have to pay to complete the FAFSA.
  • Not getting a FSA ID ahead of time
    • To log in & sign the FAFSA online, you must use a FSA ID. Register for a FSA ID at studentaid.gov/fsa-id/.
  • Waiting to file the FAFSA
    • It is important to file the FAFSA early. Students are required to report income information from an earlier tax year. For the 2026-27 FAFSA, students (and guardians as appropriate) will report their 2024 income information.
  • Entering the wrong name
    • You must enter your full name as it appears on official government documents (no nicknames).

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Common Mistakes

  • Confusing guardian and student information
    • Remember that the FAFSA is the students’ application. When the FAFSA refers to “you” or “your,” it’s referring to the student.
  • Entering the wrong social security number (SSN)
    • To avoid delays in processing your FAFSA, make sure that you have entered the correct SSN.
  • Entering the wrong address
    • Make sure you enter your permanent address, not your temporary or summer address.
  • Not reporting guardian information
    • Even if you fully support yourself, pay your own bills, and file your own taxes, you may still be considered a dependent student for federal student aid purposes. To see if you qualify for independent status, studentaid.gov

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Additional Funding

  • ASMSU short-term loans
    • Up to $300 available to undergraduate students during the first 6 weeks of every semester, interest-free
    • Not paid by due date:
      • Late fee assessed
      • Account hold that prevents enrolling or registering for classes
  • MSU short-term loans
    • Up to $500 available for undergraduate students, 7% interest rate
    • Must be repaid in 60 days
    • Not paid by due date:
      • Late fee assessed
      • Account hold that prevents enrolling or registering for classes

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Decisions Impacting Your Financial Health

  • Repeating courses
  • Carrying unrealistic course load or credit load
  • Dropping or withdrawing from courses
  • Choosing on-campus housing
  • Seeking timely financial assistance
  • Completing the FAFSA
  • Meeting deadlines
  • Maintaining a manageable level of employment
  • Identifying more affordable alternatives

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On-/Off-campus Scholarships

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Scholarships

  • Scholarships (and grants) are types of financial aid that do not need to be repaid. They may be awarded based on need, excellence in academics or other areas, or a combination of both. The aid may be given by the federal or state government, by MSU, or by a private donor.
  • Tools
    • MSU Scholarships system
    • Exploring opportunities available through your major/college

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MSU Scholarships website

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HC Scholarships website

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HC-specific Opportunities

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College Scholarships

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Remember to search for scholarships within your major, too!

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Additional Opportunities

  • Explore opportunities related to your major/long-term goals
    • Michigan Education Association
    • Visit the website of your major/college, as not all departments use MSU Scholarships
  • Does your home community have a local foundation, like the Saginaw Community Foundation or the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan?
  • What opportunities exist through other spaces you’re involved with?
    • Alumni groups, organizations your guardian(s) may be affiliated with (UAW, Kiwanis, Elks Lodge), fraternity & sorority life, faith-based organizations, etc.
  • Funding opportunities for international students

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Resources

  • Office of Financial Aid
  • MSUFCU Financial 4.0
    • 60-minute workshops on identity theft, budgeting, saving, and more
    • 11/19 - Getting Ahead of Student Loans
    • 12/2 - Graduation Prep-Credit, Student Loans, and Compensation

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Take 5 minutes: �Identify at least 1 scholarship you plan to apply for in the coming year.

  • What will you need to apply?
  • What are your concerns?
  • What do you feel confident about?

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Visit linktr.ee/honorsnav for a list of college scholarship websites

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Letters of Recommendation

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Whom to Ask

  • You’ll want to ask folks who know you well and are best able to speak positively about your abilities, achievements, etc.
    • If not an instructor, this could be a supervisor, a club advisor, or an academic advisor you’ve met with on multiple occasions

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  • Are letters required from specific individuals? What can they particularly highlight?
    • Consider:
      • Faculty member who can speak to your academic abilities vs.
      • Supervisor who can speak to your work experience vs.
      • Academic advisor who can speak to your goals & engagement
    • Do you need to confirm if individuals who know you from high school are eligible?

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Developing Relationships

How well do your recommenders know you?

  • Is this an academic advisor you only see once a year or an instructor who sees you in class twice each week & you visit them regularly during office hours?

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How can you develop these relationships?

  • Academic advising appointments
    • Major/minor advisors
    • Program-specific advisors (Academic Scholars Program, Detroit M.A.D.E. Scholars, Dow STEM, etc.)
  • Instructor office hours
    • Progress with course material
    • Follow-up on exams & quizzes
    • Inquiring about their research interests
    • Ways you can further engage with the class or department (research, conferences, webinars, etc.)
    • Asking about experiences they recommend you consider, whether related to the course or your long-term goals

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Collect Your Information

  • When are letters due? Does the deadline differ from your overall application deadline?

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  • How do recommenders submit letters?
    • Mail
    • Online form
    • Central processing service like Interfolio

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  • Consider preparing the following for your recommenders:
    • Information about the opportunity
    • Due date
    • Submission information (mail vs. online, file size, length limitations, etc.)
    • Personal statement/essays you’ve prepared for the scholarship
    • Updated copy of your résumé

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Tips

  • Request your letters of recommendation as early as possible
    • It can take time to write a great recommendation letter, and recommenders need to carve out space in their schedules. Plan ahead so you’re not asking during a particularly busy time of the year such as exams, the first week of class, etc.
  • Provide a deadline at least 1 week before you need it
  • Give yourself multiple options - avoid overloading your references
    • Refrain from asking your references to write letters of recommendation for every opportunity you apply for; it may detract from a potentially good recommendation
    • If a prospective recommender declines or seems lukewarm, you’ll need to reach out to other prospective recommenders, so think about other potential sources for recommendations beyond your top 2 or 3 choices
  • Send a thank you note
    • Remember, you might want a future recommendation from the same person, so let them know how much you appreciate their support

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Take 1 minute: �Who could you ask for a letter right now?

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With whom do you need to strengthen your relationships?

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Personal Statements

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Personal Statements - What are they?

A personal statement is…

  • A revelation of our personality
  • Includes your strengths, beliefs, and values
  • Uses concrete, vivid details to demonstrate the qualities & characteristics you possess and will aid you in your future pursuits
  • Your first (and perhaps only) opportunity to sell yourself

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Personal Statements - What to include

  • Discuss why you are interested in your chosen profession
    • What are your goals and why should someone invest in your goals?
  • What makes you unique? What information can you give readers about yourself to help them get to know who you are?
  • Be honest & genuine - write about what is important to you, not what you think readers are expecting to hear from you
  • Use concrete examples that highlight your skills and accomplishments
  • Make sure that your essay flows in a clear concise manner - include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion

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Personal Statements - What to include

Discuss WHY you are interested in your chosen profession

  • Schools want to assess your motivation for this career before they ask for an interview
  • For example, being a health care provider often means a lifetime of giving back to society--what sustained commitment have you made to humanitarian activities?
  • Are there events, people, and/or experiences that reinforced your interest? Share personal vignettes that support your stated interest and motivation.
  • Avoid clichés and undocumented generalizations about wanting to help people. Remember that numerous other professions cite "helping people" in their mission statement.
  • Before starting this statement, ask yourself “...what have I done to personally convince myself that I want to be a...?"

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Personal Statements - What to include

Consider discussing individuals or incidents that have shaped your life

  • Avoid extensive references to childhood or high school experiences. Granted early exposure to your field may have sparked an interest, but should not be the reason behind your pursuit of this goal. You must convey that you've made an adult decision to pursue this career.

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Personal Statements - What to include

ELABORATE on extracurricular activities and/or volunteer/work experiences that you have listed elsewhere in the application

  • Do not make the mistake of merely re-listing these activities.
  • Use this opportunity to give new information about your involvement which is not listed elsewhere. Since many students are involved in a number of activities, focus on noteworthy ones.
  • Describe the depth of your involvement in a fashion that implies you have certain characteristics necessary to be a good … in your field.
  • Discuss your contribution, what you have learned from the experience, and the personal satisfaction you have gained. Discuss the personal impact of these activities.

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Personal Statements - What to include

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Personal Statements - Tips

  • Make sure you answer the question(s) being asked.

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  • Be mindful of requirements specific to each opportunity (page length, line spacing, particular questions to address).

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  • Take advantage of the maximum number of characters allowed.
    • You are given a certain amount of space for a reason, and using one-half page does not convey a strong interest in the application.

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  • Write a first draft, edit it, and rewrite it. Then have someone else review it as well, particularly a person who works or teaches in your field of study – take the time and attention this statement deserves.

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  • Check your spelling and grammar.

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Next Steps

Utilize your resources!

  • Consider having someone who has strong editing skills for spelling & grammar usage review your materials
  • Writing Center
    • Consultants are available to work with writers at all levels of proficiency & various stages of the writing process
  • MSU Career Services Network
    • Schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Career Services Network to review your personal statement and résumé
  • Start/continue connecting with your prospective letter writers
    • If you feel it’s too late for Fall, how can you be strategic heading into Spring?

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Reminders and upcoming events

General Reminders

  • Connect with your advisors as your finalize your Spring courses
  • ASP students, remember your program requirements:
    • 1 first-year experience course
    • 2 Honors experiences

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Upcoming Events

  • Get Ready for Finals | Nov. 19
  • Transgender Day of Remembrance | Nov. 20
  • Third Thursday Crafting | Nov. 20
  • ICI Cultural Community Dinner | Nov. 24
  • OMEA Unity Dinner | Nov. 27

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Take 5 minutes: �Draft your elevator pitch.

  • Name
  • Major(s)/minor(s)
  • Major/career interests
  • What are you passionate about?

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Campus Admissions reminder

First-year students not yet in the Honors College, stay tuned to our website for information about the possibility of applying to join the college this December!