<p>As a high school senior and previous applicant of a scholarship administered by Scholarship Program Administrators, we would like to invite you to apply for the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award open to high school seniors (including home school seniors) or any student entering his or her freshman year at an accredited, nonprofit two- or four-year university, college or vocational/technical institute who demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit and initiative, such as </p>
<p>· starting his or her own business; </p>
<p>· participation in organizations such as DECA, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Junior Achievement and The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, among others; or </p>
<p>· through other initiatives. </p>
<p>You should consider any endeavors or work experience you have offered as a community service. For example: babysitting, lawn care, dog walking, tutoring, etc. An officially established business is not a requirement.</p>
<p>You are invited to apply online starting November 12, 2006 at <a href=“http://www.goonline.cc%5B/url%5D”>www.goonline.cc</a> using login option 2. Enter access key _ _ _ _ , this AIN (######), and your name. The online application is available through February 12, 2007 and does not require any mailed materials. For more information regarding this scholarship or the application process, log in to our website and click on General Scholarship Information.</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Leigh Marlow</p>
<p>Program Manager"</p>
<p>Is this a valid scholarship opportunity? Or is it a scam??</p>
<p>While this company has been around since 1982 and is most likely legit, if your family WILL qualify for need-based financial aid, and most do, then this and any and ALL other private scholarships you might receive are the best thing since sliced bread, but for the COLLEGE you’ll attend, certainly not for you!!! Private scholarships are a billion dollar ripoff! Here’s why:</p>
<p>The FAFSA does not specifically ask questions about such “resources,” but virtually every college (including CSS FAP schools) will send a questionnaire either before, or after you have received your FINAL award letter asking about them, and you’d better not lie! They will simply deduct what you got from their portion, and perhaps list it as “Private Scholarship, Private Aid, or Misc.” For CSS FAP schools, refer to questions SD-110, SR-150 and SR-165. </p>
<p>If you receive a scholarship from a major non-profit organization such as the Lions or Kiwanis at their annual award banquet in May, they will ask you what school your attending and make the check payable to the school FBO (for the benefit of) you! Try to appeal that one!</p>
<p>Also, while most colleges deduct your scholarship money to make the amount they give you smaller, some don’t. WashU, for example, lets you use private scholarships to pay YOUR expected contribution. I don’t know of any other colleges that do this, but I’m sure that SOME must…Right?</p>
<p>another consideration regarding schools deducting scholarship money from the financial aid award – many schools (and you need to check your individual school) remove the loan portion of you award rather than reducing grants – so you are getting the money and it is a considerable advantage.</p>
<p>for example – you are planning on attending “very good LAC” which uses the profile and awarded you a FA package consisting of $10,000 EFC, $10,000 Grants, $5000 work study and $5,000 loans. You win the “best student scholarship” and get $10,000 per year for it. The amended financial aid package might then be adjusted and you would see it as such: $10,000 EFC, $10,000 Grants, $10,000 outside scholarship. Thus – you are not expected to work and you could graduate with no loans as opposed to $20,000 in debt. I think that is a significant factor.</p>