As deadlines to submit college and scholarship applications creep closer and closer, students are given more and more advice. More often than not, this encouragement and guidance comes from those who haven’t seen applications since they had to be filled out by hand. Times have changed and the only things you’ll be putting stamps on are transcript request forms, but these people do know what they are talking about.
While the Internet may cause for a few more problems than paper applications such as losing unsaved work or websites freezing, the general process has remained the same. “When writing your college application, you want it to read like a book,” said Mrs. Jenny Collins, the Oakton High School College and Career Center Specialist. Imagine the regional dean of your dream school opening your file for the first time. As he or she scans through, “you want [your application] to build,” Collins said.
As for the eager juniors beginning their searches, sign up for college visits through the Family Connections link on Blackboard. During the week, representatives from all different types of colleges come to Oakton to talk a little bit about their schools, and answer any questions. Even better, on long weekends, try to visit all different types of schools to get a feel for what exactly you are looking for in a college experience. “Try to go when students are there; it gives the campus a completely different feel,” Mrs. Collins advises.
Once you get there, pressing that submit button is actually quite anticlimactic. It is an incredible accomplishment, but that of course is only the beginning of the wait. What do we hear during that wait, Cougars? Ah, yes: “it will all work out in the end.”

College Costs: Finding Scholarships

Family Connection

Under the Colleges tab in Family Connection, find the links under scholarship and money. Available here are lists of scholarships along with their deadlines, requirements and possible awards.

Fastweb

This website, created to help students through the entire process, has over 1.5 million scholarships, which is $3.4 billion dollars in funding. It is free to create an account.

Organizations

Many organizations offer all types of scholarships. Students who work for or are involved in organizations should ask around. “You never know when you’ll find one,” Mrs. Collins said.

Alumni Networks

After getting accepted into a certain college, contact the Alumni Network to ensure you are being considered for the scholarships they give out. Some colleges will send your information automatically; others will not.