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News from the Counseling Department
Week of January 25, 2016
Article of the Week: Scholarship Scam Red Flags from fastweb.com
The best rule of thumb to follow? If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!
Elizabeth Hoyt,September 09, 2015 -
Scholarships are a wonderful option for students that would like help paying for school.
As with anything good, there are people out there who will take advantage of students' trust and hopes for the future.
As a leading scholarship database, Fastweb screens all of the scholarships available on the site and does not charge anything for its services.
There are, however, other scholarship scam artists out there that students need to be aware of!
Many of these scholarships are not regulated, which allows scam operators to get away with contacting you with illegitimate offers.
Keep your wits about you and never give out personal information unless you are absolutely certain and have verified that it's legitimate.
Applying for scholarships isn't difficult, but it does take work. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Here are some red flags you should be aware of when seeking scholarships:
Guarantees
Nobody representing a legitimate scholarship can or will be able to guarantee that you'll win.
Some services even boast they can guarantee the actions of another organization - they can't.
There are false promises and will likely result in something other than you obtaining money for school.
Unsolicited Scholarship Offers
If someone contacts you, via phone, mail or email, offering you a scholarship, and you never requested information from that provider, be very careful. Scholarships are awarded to you after an application process - they are not just given out to random students - no matter how special they are.
Fees
Applying for legitimate scholarships does not cost money! Submitting such applications will cost you time and effort, but should never cost money, no matter how small the amount. If any scholarship offers request your funds to submit an application, become eligible, etc., kick them to the curb.
Limited Time Offers
Scholarships do have deadlines; however, they are usually clearly stated within the application guidelines. Legitimate providers don't pressure students into applying for their scholarships; they have enough interest on their own. They also ensure that students have ample time to work on their scholarship applications and essays. If you ever feel pressured and are observing that it's a "now or never" scenario, the scholarship is likely a scam.
Gathering Very Personal Information
Other than some basic information, a scholarship provider should not ask all applicants for private information, like your social security number. Some require information from winners, however, if you're just at the point of starting out in the application and they ask for such information - don't provide it because it will likely be used for something other than you intended.
Eligibility
Legitimate scholarships always have some sort of eligibility requirement, whether it's age, grades or school year. Any scholarship that claims to be all-encompassing with absolutely no exceptions should raise a red flag. It's helpful to view their previous winners to determine whether or not they are a legitimate resource. If the "testimonials" seem unnatural and contrived, they probably are.
Don't Call Us, We'll Call You
Scholarship providers will give you contact information to reach them, should you have any questions. Many scam artists out there will make a fake web site claiming to be a scholarship provider without any sort of way to contact them or getting in touch with them is difficult.
Keep an eye out for this, because legitimate scholarship providers don't have anything to hide whereas the scammers do.
The best rule of thumb to follow? If it seems too good to be true, it likely is!
Remember, there are millions of scholarships available to students so if one doesn't seem right, move on!
Pre-registration is just around the corner!
Counselors will begin visiting 9-11 graders in their English classes next week to talk about course selection for the 2016-17 school year. Please begin talking with your student about the classes he/she should be taking next year. If you or your student has any questions, please encourage your student to make an appointment to meet with his/her counselor. Parents are always welcome at these meetings as well.
Important Financial Aid Information for Parents of Seniors:
It's time to complete your FAFSA!
College Goal FAFSA (previously College Goal Sunday) provides information and FREE professional assistance to students and families seeking college financial aid. High school seniors who are planning to enter college this year can get free help to complete the FAFSA, which is the first critical step in applying for financial aid. College Goal FAFSA will be held on Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14. For locations and information regarding what to bring with you, please visit their website at www.collegegoal.az.gov/college-goal-fafsa.
When going online to complete the FAFSA, please ensure that you are on the correct site: www.fafsa.ed.gov (sites like fafsa.com and fafsa.org are not the official site and they will charge you to complete the form; please remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for Free!). Please also remember that the deadline for filing your FAFSA (and your U of A or ASU application) in order to be considered for the Arizona Assurance (U of A) or the Obama Scholars (ASU) program is March 1. Students who file their FAFSA, or complete their application, after this deadline will not be considered for either of these programs.
Scholarship Spotlight:
Tucson-area high school seniors are encouraged to apply for college scholarships being awarded by the Simon Youth Foundation. To be eligible to apply, soon-to-be high school graduates must live within 50 miles of the new Tucson Premium Outlets, 6401 Marana Center Boulevard. A group of Simon Property Group employees, which operates the Tucson Premium Outlets, founded the Simon Youth Foundation. With the opening of Tucson Premium Outlets in October, this is the first year Tucson-area students qualify for the scholarships, which are awarded in communities that are home to Simon, Mills or Premium Outlet malls.
Twenty-five scholarships worth up to $1,500 will be awarded across the country to be used to enroll in an accredited college, university, vocational or technical school. Winners will be selected based on financial need, academic performance, leadership skills and participation in school and community activities. Students who are the first in their family to pursue a post secondary education will also be given close consideration. An "Award of Excellence" will also be given to the top candidate from among the scholarship applicants that represent the nationwide Premium Outlets locations. That student will receive a $10,000 award. Applications are due by March 1. For more information, go to
www.syf.org/scholarships .
Upcoming College Visits:
February
University of Arizona Monday, February 1, 9:30 am
Grand Canyon University Tuesday, February 9, 9:00 am
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