As high school seniors labor in the busy period of college applications, the scholarship process continues to roll steadily along. It is a dual process that is most successful when they are simultaneous. Over the next several days, I will profile several scholarships that students who are eligible should consider. If the scholarship doesn’t fit your profile, continue to check FastWeb.com for ones that do. There is no set time table for when to finish college applications and start on scholarships. Following the description of the scholarship, I will suggest ways to approach the application and maximize your potential for success.
2008-2009 Gates Millennium Scholarship
The GMS covers all unmet need and any self-help reported by the student’s university. Students must qualify for a federal Pell grant each year to receive aid. The process of qualifying for a Pell grant starts with filing for the FAFSA beginning January 1, 2008. GMS Scholars are selected based on:
Are African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American or Hispanic American,
Are a citizen/legal permanent resident or national of the United States,
Have attained a cumulative GPA of 3.3 on a 4.00 scale (unweighted) at the time of nomination,
Will be entering a U.S. accredited college or university as full-time, degree seeking freshmen in the Fall of 2007,
Have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular or other activities, and
Meet the Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria.
Have all three required forms (Nominee Personal Information Form, Nominator Form, and Recommender Form) completed and submitted by the deadline.
Over 1,000 high school seniors win this scholarship annually. I was fortunate enough to be one of them in 2006. From November 10-12, 2006, I attended the GMS Leadership Conference in Los Angeles. It was a great time of networking and meeting other scholars who are passionate about their goals and giving back to the community. I would encourage all eligible seniors to apply for this scholarship. The application is available online and the deadline is January 11, 2008.
Suggestions:
When writing your essays, use clear and vivid examples. Show, don’t tell. For each of the essay questions, be sure to include an example that fits the topic and tie it into your overall theme.
Complete the application in multiple sittings. There are several required essays in addition to the application information. Remember to give enough time for editing and revising with a teacher, family member, or peer.
Start early. The last thing you want to do is rush to finish your application the morning it is due. This was my case last year and was cause for much anxiety. In addition to the application, you must have a nomination and a recommendation. I would suggest pinpointing the individuals you want to nominate you and recommend you early.
Choose wisely when asking for a nominator and a recommender. The GMS allows the nominator and recommender to be the same person, but I’d suggest finding two different people so that the judges can see your profile from two sets of eyes. When asking for a recommendation, remember to submit a Personal Data Form well in advance so your recommender/nominator has sufficient time to write you a solid letter.
Tell your story convincingly, but do it in your own style. My sister’s theory is that she believes everyone has a story; it just depends on how you tell it. When you write your essays, be honest. Tell it in a way that reflects your personality, but still demonstrates sophisticated writing ability. Don’t feel like you have to write a novel; write what you feel tells your story adequately and powerfully.
The GMS seeks young leaders who are active in their communities and demonstrate academic achievement. When listing your activities, choose the ones that most describe your personality and reflect your passions. Chances are you’ll be able to write about them more effectively.
http://scholarshipmillionaire.wordpress.com/2007/09/26/scholarship-profile-2008-2009-gates-millennium-scholarship/
Monday, June 2, 2008
2008-2009 Gates Millennium Scholarship
Thursday, May 29, 2008
ITALIAN GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIP India, 2008-2009
ITALIAN GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIP, 2008-2009
CATEGORY ‘A’
Scholarships with duration 12 months each to pursue Specialised Post-Graduate Courses in the subjects: Fashion Technology, Economics and Management, Cultural Heritage and Restoration, Information and Communication Technology, Environment, Energy, Biotechnology and Micro Electronics.
CATEGORY ‘B’
Scholarships with duration of 12 months each to pursue the First Year of 3 Year Degree Course in teaching of the Italian Language and Culture to foreigners (ILIS) of the University for Foreigners, Perugia.
CATEGORY ‘C’
Scholarships with duration of 06 months each to pursue the Second Level Advance Course (C2) of the Italian Language & Culture course at the University for Foreigners, Perugia.
CATEGORY ‘D’
Scholarships with duration of 03 months’ duration each to pursue the First Level Advanced Course (C1) of the Italian Language & Culture course at the University for Foreigners, Perugia.
CATEGORY ‘E’
Scholarships with duration of 03 months each to pursue the Second Level Intermediate Course (B2) of the Italian Language & Culture’ at the University for Foreigners, Perugia.
Last date of receipt of applications at the address given above is 28th May, 2008 (5.30 P.M.). Application received thereafter will not be considered. Application can also be downloaded from the Department’s website www.education.nic.in. On line applications may be accepted provided hard copy of the application alongwith enclosures (attested copies of certificates, marks-sheet etc.) reach the Ministry within 7 days of last date of receipt of application.
ITALIAN GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIP India, 2008-2009
http://scholarship-positions.com/italian-government-scholarship-india-2008-2009/2008/05/22/
The Future Leaders Student Scholarship
Future Leaders Fund is an educational international organization. The goal of this scholarship is to find a student who possesses true leadership qualities and has a financial need. We are looking for an individual who wants to make a difference, is not afraid of challenges and is passionate about his/her ideas. The Scholarship amount is $200.
There are two pre-requisites:
You have to be a Non-US citizen
You have been enrolled in a Bachelor or any kind of Graduate study at a US university for at least one academic year.
The application process consists of two stages:
Stage I
Submission of the application package
- At this stage the scholarship committee will select 10 applicants to proceed to the second part of the process.
Stage II
Telephone interview
The application package consists of three parts:
Completed Application form
Unofficial transcript of your current studies
Essay
Please submit your application to:
Victoria Pavlova
Future Leaders Fund Scholarship
PO Box 2445
Williamsburg, VA 23185
The deadline for application submission is April 15, 2008. Late application packages will not be admitted. Telephone interviews will take place the week of April 22-25, 2008.
Application form can be downloaded from:
http://www.futureleadersfund.org/application.html
Japan: Tohoku University Scholarship for International Doctoral Program in Engineering
The Faculty of Engineering is pleased to announce the Tohoku University International Doctoral Program in Engineering and invites eligible students to submit applications for the 2006 program. A wide variety of elective courses are being offered in English. Scholarships for overseas students with outstanding scholastic ability are being offered as part of the program. The Program was launched in 2001 through the financial support of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (Monbukagakusho) and is now in its sixth year. Doctoral students in Tohoku University enjoy some of the best experimental facilities in the world and study along side distinguished faculty and associates to develop creative and original research that is published in highly reputed international journals.
Departments
Department of Mechanical System and Design
Department of Nanomechanics
Department of Aerospace Engineering
Department of Quantum Science and Energy Engineering
Department of Bioengineering and Robotics
Department of Electrical and Communication Engineering
Department of Electronic Engineering
Department of Applied Physics
Department of Applied Chemistry
Department of Chemical Engineering
Department of Biomolecular Engineering
Department of Metallurgy
Department of Materials Science
Department of Materials Processing
Department of Civil Engineering
Department of Architecture and Building Sciences
Management of Science and Technology Department
Prospective students should also choose one from the following course groups (A-E):
Group A: Environmental Engineering
Group B: Information and Communications
Group C: Medical Engineering
Group D: Energy
Group E: Materials
Twenty-five students will be admitted per year into the five course groups, with 5 students being admitted into each course group. A maximum of 17 students can be awarded Monbukagakusho scholarships.
Lectures in English are arranged in areas of candidate research speciality. Research supervision may be in English or Japanese depending on the candidate`s ability and students may also attend lectures given in Japanese to fulfill their requirements.
Degree Requirements
The main requirements for Doctor of Engineering (D. Eng.) degree are (1) three years of residency, which may be shortened for special cases where outstanding research performance is demonstrated; (2) successful completion of a minimum of 16 credits; (3) submission of a Doctoral dissertation; and (4) oral defense of doctoral thesis.
The 16 credits consist of basic interdisciplinary courses and research seminar (8 credits), and thesis preparation and submission (8 credits). Credits for basic interdisciplinary courses and research seminar depend on the department requirements. Credits for the obligatory interdisciplinary courses must be acquired within 3 years from the admission.
Candidate Eligibility
Eligible candidates are those who have the following qualifications:
Master`s degree or be currently enrolled in a Master`s degree program with expected completion before the admission date of the International Doctoral Program. The Master degree acquired or to be acquired by the candidate must be equivalent to the Master of Engineering degree awarded by Tohoku University that includes both research and thesis components.
Those who have been involved in research for a minimum of two years in internationally accredited College, University or research Institute after a Bachelor`s degree from a Japanese accredited college or University, or after equivalent degree from another country, as determined by the Admission Office of the Faculty of Engineering.
Applicants must be under 35 years of age as of April 2006 (born after April 2,1971) to be eligible for financial aid and must be citizens of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan. Military personnel and employees from military institutions are not eligible for this program.
Application
Prospective candidates should submit all materials except for recommendation letters in a single envelope as listed below. The envelope should be addressed as given below and should contain: three copies of items 9 and 11; originals of items 6, 7 and 14; and original plus two copies of all other items, except 8 and 15. GRE and English test scores should be provided in sealed envelopes as supplied by the responsible organization. Materials required for application:
Tohoku University application form (Form #1)
Monbukagakusho forms (Form #2 and Form #3) for students applying for financial support.
Health Certificate (Form #4)
Certificates of Bachelor`s Degree and Master`s Degree
Undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. (GRE General Test is preferable)
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) scores.
Two recommendation letters (Form #5)
Census register, Passport, or other proof of citizenship.
Curriculum Vitae with passport photos (6*4cm) taken within the past 6 months. (An original photo is required on each copy of the curriculum vitae).
Master`s dissertation or equivalent (1000 words in English, 2000 characters in Japanese).
Draft proposal in chosen area of study describing 3-year research plan.
Personal statement on why the applicant desires to pursue the Doctoral Degree in Engineering.
Supporting material (optional) such as theses, journal, conference, and submitted publications.
Official recommendation letter (Form #6) for students from the Institutions with formal academic agreement with Tohoku University.
Selection and Admission
Preliminary selection is carried out by the International Doctoral Program Evaluation Committee, based on recommendations from the above-mentioned departments and scholastic aptitude of applicants, according to transcripts, GRE and English language test scores, direct interview or interview using the internet, and applicant supplied materials. Tohoku University recommends of candidates to Monbukagakusho, which makes the final determination of grantees for Japanese Government Scholarships. Admission is from the winter semester, which begins on October 1, 2006.
Financial Support
Monbukagakusho awards 3-year scholarships to students receiving favorable evaluations. The scholarships cover living expenses (approximately 175,000 yen/month) and include a round-trip air ticket (discounted economy) between the nearest international airport in the country of the candidate`s nationality and the New Tokyo International Airport (NRT). Students awarded with a scholarship are exempt from all entrance and tuition fees. Monbukagakusho requests that students who are admitted to the program complete their doctoral studies within three years of financial support.
For non-scholarship students, entrance examination and admission fees are 30,000 Yen and 282,000 Yen, respectively. Tuition is 535,800 Yen per academic year. Fees can be revised during the enrollment period and in those cases, the new rates are applicable and become effective from the date of the revision.
Important Notes
Documents submitted become the property of Tohoku University and cannot be returned.
Simultaneous applications for the Japanese Government Scholarship to more than one university are strictly prohibited and will result in cancellation of all applications being made by the applicant.
Prospective candidates should locate a possible research advisor at Tohoku University before application.
Applicants must depart their country on the 1st of October 2006 or later, and arrive in Japan between the 1st of October and 7th of October 2006. Scholarships may be canceled if grantees awarded with Monbukagakusho scholarships fail to arrive in Japan within the above time frame.
All applicants for the Program must have finished at least 16 years of primary and secondary education and must have graduated from a university or equivalent. In principle, a degree from another country should have corresponding number of years of formal education to be considered as equivalent to a Japanese degree. However, the Japanese Government and Universities, considering the differences in educational systems of different countries, have established criteria and schemes that allow international students to attain equivalence to Japanese educational system. International students are strongly advised to contact the Admission Office of the Faculty of Engineering regards to matters on eligibility prior to submission of an application.
Applicants are encouraged to become acquainted with Japanese language, culture, and customs. Knowledge of Japanese is essential for daily life and will help to make your stay in Japan both productive and culturally enriching.
Schedule and Contact Information
Candidates should submit the necessary materials so that they arrive no later than February 2, 2006. Applicants will be notified of the preliminary selection results around the end of April 2006. Final selection results authorized by Monbukagakusho will be announced by July 2006. Please obtain application forms from your college or university, office, or homepage listed below. Further information for the application may be obtained by writing:
International Doctoral Program in Engineering (E)
c/o Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University
Aramaki Aza Aoba 6-6-04, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579
TEL: +81-22-795-5820
FAX: +81-22-795-5824
E-MAIL: eng-in@bureau.tohoku.ac.jp
HOME PAGE: http://www.eng.tohoku.ac.jp/eng/english/
2006-2008 Course Groups
Numbers in parentheses "( )" refer to departments offering the courses listed in page 1.
Courses with (*) are offered by the Graduate School of Environmental Studies.
Group A: Environmental Engineering
(1)(2) / (16) Advanced Damage Tolerance and Design / Risk Management for Failure Prevention, July and/or August, 2009
(9) Advanced Process Analysis and Modeling, July and/or August, 2008
(14) Advanced Environmental Hydraulics and Water Quality Engineering, July and/or August, every year
(15) Geological Environment and Earthquake Disaster, July and/or August, 2007
(16) Advanced Topics in Technology Policy, October 2008 to February 2009
(*) Advanced Materials Processing for Environment, November 2008
(*) Advanced Environmental Biotechnology, July and/or August, 2007
(*) Advanced Ecoengineering Systems, August, 2009
Group B: Information and Communications
(1)(2)(3)(4) Computer Architecture, October 2006 to February 2007
(5)(6) Advanced High-Speed Communication Engineering, April to September , 2009
(6) Advanced Electronic Device Engineering, July and/or August, 2007
(7) Quantum Material Physics, February 2008
(12) Advanced Topics on High Performance Materials, July and/or August, 2007
(1)(2)(3)(4) Image Analysis, October 2007 to February 2008
Group C: Medical Engineering
(4) Advanced Quantum Science and Energy Engineering, September, 2008
(4) Molecular Medical Engineering, August, 2007
(5) Advanced Bioelectromagnetics, January and/or February, 2008
(6) Advanced Biomedical Electronics, July and/or August, 2007
(10) Advanced Biomolecular Engineering, July and/or August, 2009
(13) Advanced Course on Materials Physical Chemistry, July and/or August, 2007
(17) Advanced Bio-Mechanics, January 2007
Group D: Energy
(3) Shock Wave in Complex Media and their Interdisciplinary Applications, July and/or August, 2007
(4) Advanced Quantum Science and Energy Engineering, September 2008
(8) Advanced Course in Atoms and Molecules Control Engineering, July and/or August, 2008
(9) Advanced Process Analysis and Modeling, July and/or August, 2008
(13) Advanced Materials Processing, July and/or August, 2007
(14) Advanced Structural and Material Engineering, July and/or August, every year
(15) Energy and Indoor Environment of Residential Buildings, April to July, 2007
(*) Advanced Materials Processing for Environment, November 2008
(*) Advanced Environmental Biotechnology, July and/or August, 2007
(*) Advanced Ecoengineering Systems, July and/or August, 2009
Group E: Materials
(7) Quantum Material Physics, February, 2008
(8) Advanced Course in Atoms and Molecules Control Engineering, July and/or August, 2008
(10) Advanced Biomolecular Engineering, July and/or August, 2009
(11) Metallurgical Process Engineering, July and/or August, 2009
(12) Advanced Topics on Highly Sophisticated Materials, July and/or August, 2007
(13) Advanced Materials Processing, July and/or August, 2007
(16) Advanced Energy and Resources, April to July, 2008
(17) Advanced Bio-Device Engineering, July and/or August, 2008
Note:
Students must take 2 to 4 courses depending on the respective departmental requirements and at least one course from the respective department within three years of admission to fulfill the requirements in basic interdisciplinary courses. Courses from other groups or from course groups of graduate programs in Japanese may be taken as substitutes for at most 4 credits in basic interdisciplinary courses upon approval by the respective department and research advisor.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Reap Some Rewards: Get a Scholarship
Most high school graduates think that scholarships are reserved for superstar football quarterbacks or academic wunderkinds. Fortunately, for the 99.9 percent of high school graduates who don't fall into those two categories, there are hundreds of different scholarships available. Even if you don't finish first in the race for grants, there are student loan options that can help overcome tuition hurdles.
More scholarships than you can shake a syllabus at
The volume of scholarship opportunities has boomed in recent years. There are new scholarships based on a variety of categories, including:
Academics. (Generally given to students with high Grade Point Averages and excellent standardized test scores.)
Athletics. (Not only traditional sports like football and basketball, but less popular endeavors like golf, crew, and track can score you some aid.)
Financial need. (Based on a student's finances. Can help low-income grads to attend prestigious universities.)
Demographics. (Local organizations award hometown heroes grants on a yearly basis.)
Other options include scholarships based on military service, the arts, and various occupations. Do some surfing on the Internet. You'll be surprised at how many different types are available, including scholarships for left-handed students and the Klingon Language Institute scholarships. Don't be afraid to boldly research where no man (or woman) has gone before.
Create a fallback plan
If none of these scholarship programs work out, there are plenty of student loan packages available to you. A student can choose government programs, such as the Stafford Loans (given to students) and the PLUS Loans (for parents). There are also private student loans, which compete with government loans in terms of rate, but generally involve less paper work.
The early bird catches the worm when it comes to scholarships; so if college looms, it's best for a student to start a scholarship search early. Check with local lenders regarding the best time to apply for a student loan. Consider both options, and you'll have passed this crash course in financing a college education. Besides, it never hurts to have a bird's eye view of your financial options.
By: MortgageLoan.com
