Here’s a good listen from Marketplace on how some families are having to deal with bringing the cost of college front and center in making decisions. Does this sound familiar to your family?
To go directly to the page with the audio, click here.
Two stories this week really brought home the matter of getting your college business taken care of early. States are running out of grant money. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission announced it was suspending awards for students that had not yet submitted the FAFSA. The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority will only be able to pay out money to students who applied by March 7, 2010, even though the application deadline was March 15. Other states are making similar tough decisions.
The takeaway? If you are applying for financial aid for your state, do not wait. File early.
And have a back-up plan!
The Wall Street Journal highlights wacky scholarships in a front page article.Talk of Duck Tape contests, tall people awards, and strange last names are fun, and maybe they even interest you.At College Funding Group, we encourage students to “look local” first.The CFG ScholarBankTM might be your ticket to do just that.With over $900,000 in scholarships that metro-Richmond students can win, the null is sure worth more of your time than researching strange last names!If you need any help, please let us know.
As teenagers get their driver’s licenses, talk often turns to what car they can drive. Driving is an expensive proposition in it’s own right but college isn’t far off, and this is a great time to start setting the stage for how your family handles major financial matters. Let’s look at just three areas:
1. Choice: Parents often start out with the idea that they will get a nice, safe, used car. Perhaps you’ve looked at the list in Consumer Reports. Maybe you checked CarMax to see what was available. All good ideas. But then your son gets involved and, “Mom, a VW Rabbit? Are you serious?” Does your conviction start to weaken? Do you end up with a what they want to drive?
2. Cost: Not many teenagers have the resources to pay cash for a car, or the income to support a car loan. How are you going to handle that? Do you make a formal loan, or do you just buy it? Do you require your teen to make any payments to you? Whose name do you put the title in?
3. Operating expenses: Insurance is very expensive, and at $3 a gallon, gas isn’t far behind. Who is paying for these costs, and how formal is this arrangement? What if the car needs tires or some engine work?
There are lots of points that we could cover here, but the important thing is to think about these sorts of things before you buy the car, just like you need to think about them before you “buy college.” How will you decide what colleges to consider? How much involvement should you teenager have in the cost? And who is funding their ongoing living expenses?
If you find that a relatively simple transaction like buying a car causes you, as a parent, to compromise your values, will you be able to handle it when it comes to paying for college?
It may seem strange, but college students should be counted in the 2010 Census as being at their college location, and not back home, according to an article by Pew Research. While there are clearly problems with the logic (like being resident of a different state, perhaps!), this is how it is supposed to be done. So students, don’t throw those forms away.
For purposes of the Census, you are where you sleep.
Financial aid award letters are coming in soon, and it is important that you read them carefully. Aid comes in different forms. The total amount of the aid package is less significant than the mix of grants vs. loans. Packages heavy on grants are what you want.
There is no standard form to the award letters, so they can be difficult to compare from school to school. Be sure to double check the Cost of Attendance (COA) for each school, and look at the individual components to confirm they are accurate for your family (items like personal expenses and transportation for example.) You can find COA information on the school’s website or on www.collegeboard.com.
When looking at the award, identify the amount for grants, work-study, and need-based loans. See if non need-based loans are included in the letter. Write down the amount for each category.
Here’s a tip: when you subtract the amount of the grants, work-study and need-based loans from the COA, you should be close to your Expected Family Contribution.
The letters can be confusion, so if you are not clear on what the college is offering, have your son or daughter pick up the phone and call the aid office. Ask them to explain the package, specifically the amount of grants vs. loans. Your student will get a better understanding of how this process works and so will you.
If you have any questions, we’re here to help.
Recently, our very own Jonathan West was interviewed by the local ABC news affiliate about the CFG ScholarBank™. Great story about College Funding Group and our online database of college scholarships provided by metro Richmond organizations for local students.
Parents, thank you for coming to check out the CFG ScholarBank. Going after private scholarships can be an excellent way to get your son or daughter closely involved in the college process, and help them work on some lifelong skills like marketing themselves, meeting people, writing essays, and carefully following directions. Even if they don’t win, they will greatly benefit from the process.
Helping your family with scholarships is only one small part of what we do at College Funding Group. We encourage you to read our Services page to see how we can help you every step of the way through this maze, including being sure you have a plan to reduce your out-of-pocket cost as much as possible. Click Start a Conversation and let us know what we can do for your family. It’s never too early to be proactive!
March 4th was a National Day of Action for Public Education, designed to draw students to protest planned increases in college tuition. The movement started in California but has found allies all over the country. Georgia is battling a massive budget shortfall and on top of huge layoffs and program cuts, there is talk of a 30+% tuition increase. Sadly these types of stories are becoming more common, as states grapple with the realities of the economy.
Here’s an important tip for students considering public colleges, especially those out of state. Check the state’s finances first! You might know the tuition for your freshman year, but at the rate things are going, your senior year could be significantly different.
It’s not hard to find articles on state finances. Try searching Google News or the Wall Street Journal. Check the local newspapers in the state capital. Do some investigation and it might affect your decision.
Students applying for this scholarship must meet the following criteria: an individual who is planning to enter a non-degree technical program to become a health care worker and has been admitted into an approved program in Virginia; or, a health care worker desiring further education in their field, who has completed a technical health and medical services program, and has been admitted into an approved program in Virginia; or, a professional health care worker pursuing a planned program of instruction for the purpose of teaching in a program in Virginia; or, a technical health and medical services educator of Virginia who has been accepted into a planned program of study leading to a higher degree in their profession. Contact the financial aid office of the institution for an application.
NEWH Washington DC Metropolitan Chapter is awarding scholarships to students pursuing a major and career objective
within the Hospitality Industry (interior design, hospitality management, culinary, etc.). NEWH chapters and regional
groups across the U.S., Canada, and the UK award scholarships annually based on the below criteria:
• Actively enrolled student: 2-year program freshman and above, 4-year sophomore/second year and above, or
graduate level attending college in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington DC
• 3.0 GPA (cumulative), overall “B” average, or grade percentage of 83% – 86% equivalent or above
• Financial need through college for past, current, or upcoming tuition or program approved books/supplies
• Major and career objective within a hospitality related field (interior design, hospitality management, culinary, etc.)
A recent study on college perceptions contained an interesting finding, an example of Positive Illusion as it applies to college. See if this sounds familiar to your situation.
Only twenty-eight percent of respondents believe that the vast majority of qualified, motivated students have the opportunity to attend college. In other words, college is so expensive it is out of reach of far too many kids. Read on: Ninety percent of these same parents of high school students believe that their child is going to college!
How can those both be true? College is out of reach for everyone else but their own kids? Perhaps what is going on here is that parents hope that somehow their own kids are going to college, even if they see that it is far too expensive for most families.
Fortunately, there is something proactive parents can do. Click Start A Conversation to find out what.
The report is titled Squeeze Play 2010 and it was put out by the Public Agenda and the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.
Are you a high school senior who attended Shady Grove Elementary School? Have you been an active volunteer? You may be eligible to apply for the Thomas B. Fernald Scholarship. Additional criteria include a record of community service, a well-rounded individual, an overall good student and a person of good character.
This scholarship is for graduating seniors with at least a 3.5 GPA, who standout in extracurricular activities and community service. Financial need must also be shown. Contact your Guidance office for information and application.
Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded during the school year, honoring one male and one female student-participant who demonstrates outstanding traits of citizenship in his/her high school career. Only students graduating from a VHSL member school will be eligible for these awards. Each VHSL member school may nominate one male and one female student (a separate application is required for each individual).
Students must have previously participated in one or more VHSL activities which can include serving as an athletic training student aide (ATSA) with a Virginia licensed athletic trainer within that school to be eligible for the award. All applications must be submitted to the VHSL office by the member school principal.
Open to graduating seniors attending a member VHSL public high school who have previously won at least one varsity letter in a VHSL sport/academic activity, and who are involved both in school-sponsored activities and community-related activities. Each VHSL member school is encouraged to nominate four candidates, one for each category – female athlete, male athlete, academic activities participant and courageous achievement.
Open to resident students of Central Virginia who are pursuing a degree in Horticulture or Landscape Design. Preference given to students who have worked or plan to work for a member of CVNLA.
$1,000.00 awarded the “Harry Johnson Memorial Scholarship” to a horticulture student at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.
$500.00 awarded the “Harris Wheeler Scholarship” to a horticulture student at Richmond Technical Center.
$500.00 awarded the “Richard Nunnally Scholarship” to a horticulture student at the Chesterfield Technical Center.
The Construction Education Foundation of Virginia (CEF) will award scholarships for higher education in the construction industry. Only students who are employees or children of employees of ABC-VA member firms are eligible. All applicants must be pursuing a degree in construction management, civil engineering, electrical engineering, or mechanical engineering. The applicant must be enrolled in school or accepted to a school.
Full or part time graduate students who are members of AWWA and attending graduate school in Virginia may apply. Applicants should be students who are pursuing a career in the water industry. A resume, transcript or semester schedule, official application along with reference letter and essay are required.
Open to high school seniors who will be attending an accredited 4-year college or university. Must submit a 500-word essay explaining your short-term and long-term goals, your plans for educational support, personal achievements and why you think you should receive the scholarship.
Open to Virginia resident students who are of Latino/Hispanic heritage and who have graduated or will graduate from a Virginia high school with a 2.5 GPA. Applicant must be planning to enroll, or already be enrolled, in an accredited public or private college or university in the Commonwealth of Virginia. A personal statement is required.
Open to Virginia residents who will be or are full-time students pursuing an undergraduate degree in engineering or science at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Applicant should have graduated from high school with a GPA of at least a 3.0.
A total of two (2) scholarships are to be awarded to deserving ElecTel Cooperative Federal Credit Union members. Scholarships will be evaluated on three equally weighted categories: scholastic standing (GPA or demonstrated potential in his/her chosen field/major); essay; community involvement.
Eligible Students:
Each recipient must be an ElecTel Cooperative Federal Credit Union member, either planning to enroll or already enrolled as a full-time student at an eligible institution. Students must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average. Students without recent high school transcripts and/or an eligible grade point average will be allowed to enclose a typewritten letter of qualification with three listed references. All applicants must demonstrate educational potential.
VOICES has established a scholarship for students who have participated in the Odyssey of the Mind program for one or more years. (A student need not be involved with Odyssey of the Mind during the current school year.) As Odyssey of the Mind seeks to develop skills in creative problem-solving, teamwork, perseverance, and good sportsmanship, the recipient of this scholarship will be a current high school senior or college undergraduate who demonstrates these qualities. Two VOICES scholarships in the amount of $500.00 will be awarded to Virginia students who will be attending any university, college, community college, or specialized school a minimum of 9 semester hours in the fall following the year of award.
This scholarship will be awarded for four consecutive years to one student as long as the student is enrolled as a full time student. Any current graduating high school senior or undergraduate college student may apply.
The Great Valu Scholarship Program enables deserving high school seniors through the marketing area to receive a $1,000 scholarship to help defray the cost of their post-secondary education. To be eligible for the Great Valu Scholarship Program, a student must:
* Be a senior in high school.
* Be planning to enroll (no later than the Fall semester following announcement of awards) in a full-time course of study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational/technical school in the United States..
* Have maintained at least a cumulative 3.0 Grade Point Average on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).
* Be a full-time resident of the Great Valu marketing area.
* Students must complete the application and submit it by the deadline.
A $1,000 Scholarship is awarded at every Great Valu location. See your local store for an application.
The Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (VIAAA) awards one annual scholarship in the amount of $1,500 dollars to a deserving high school student who will be graduating from a Virginia High School League member school or Independent School in honor of all of the VIAAA Past Presidents. The athletic director of the member school must be a member of the Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association in order for the member school’s student to qualify for the scholarship.
Each school is limited to one nominee.
The requirements for this application must include the following:
-Must attend an institution of higher learning
-Must be in need of financial assistance
-Must have a minimum of a B (3.0) grade point average
-Must have received no full athletic financial aid
-Must have earned one or more Athletic Varsity letters
-Must have achieve a leadership position(s) in school and community activities
-Must provide a maximum of three letters of recommendation for the nominee
An article in the New York Times by Kate Zernike describes the importance of financial considerations to college freshmen. Check out this quote from said John H. Pryor, director of the Cooperative Institutional Research Program at the University of California, Los Angeles, which conducts the survey:
“What was more surprising,” he said, “was that it goes beyond just [how finances impact the ability to pay] into other areas. Everywhere we turned, whether it was how you chose your college or what do you think you are going to do in college, everywhere the finances piece popped out.”
We encourage you to contact us to discuss your family’s situation.
The Scholarship is in honor of Dr. George H. Moody. The HCCPTA believes in higher education and is committed to providing extra financial assistance that will make it possible for a young person to continue his or her education upon graduation from high school. This could mean going to college, entering trade school, nursing training or other post high school training.
The criteria reviewed includes financial need, academic achievement, extracurricular and community service, the student’s essay and recommendations. One hundred percent of the funds utilized to award these scholarships come from the Henrico County Community. Donations are made from Henrico County PTA local units. School guidance counselors may have earlier deadlines in order to choose applicants from their particular school.
This scholarship is available to a senior who has been member of Glen Allen Youth Athletic Association for a minimum of 3 years and who plans to enroll full-time at an accredited community, junior, or 4-yr. college/university in the fall.
To be eligible for the scholarships, the applicant must be a member of Dominion Credit Union or an immediate family member or household member of a Dominion Credit Union member; a graduating high school senior with a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale; a rising college freshman attending an accredited college or university during the upcoming academic year.
All employees, retirees and contractors of Dominion, as well as immediate family and household members of these groups are eligible for membership at Dominion Credit Union.
Virginia Moose Community Awareness Scholarship
November 20, 2025
Williamsburg Descendants Scholarship
August 11, 2025
Liquid Commonwealth: The Art and Life of Water in Virginia Art Contest
July 18, 2025
Karen Von Bernewitz Memorial Scholarship
June 4, 2025
Raymond W. Walsh Video Production Scholarship
June 4, 2025
