COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

Bear's Guide to Finding Money for College is an excellent source for finding the funds available to pay for college.


PSAT & THE 2004 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
We administer the PSAT once every fall semester.  We will be offering the PSAT on October 18, 2003 (Saturday) for students who want to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program.  All juniors should take it, and underclassmen who want to prepare themselves for their junior testing may take it as well.  The Merit program is an annual academic competition for recognition and college undergraduate scholarships conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.  To learn more about this test, visit
www.collegeboard.co.  To find out more about the NMS program, visit www.nationalmerit.org.  Contact the CIAS office to receive a free 2003 PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin.   There is a $30 fee for the PSAT.

Another benefit from entering the PSAT data base is the broad exposure your scores will receive.  Your scores will be sent to hundreds of college and universities across the nation, enabling you to qualify for many more scholarships than just the National Merit program.  It also qualifies you for being inducted into the "National Honor Roll" program and the "Who's Who in American High Schools" program.



FLORIDA BRIGHT FUTURES SCHOLARSHIPS
Qualified high school students enrolled in CIAS are eligible for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.  There are three scholarships offered under this program:

o    Florida Academic Scholars Award
o    Florida Medallion Scholars Award
o    Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award

The Florida Academic Scholars Award has the following requirements:

1. 3.5 weighted GPA 
2.  Complete 15 credit requirements
     •     4 English (3 with substantial writing)
     •     3 Mathematics (Algebra I and above)
     •     3 Natural Sciences (2 with substantial lab)
     •     3 Social Science
     •     2 Foreign Language (in the same language)
          15 Credits
3.   Complete 75 hours of community service.
4.  Make a 1270 best composite score on the SAT.
5.  Make a 28 best composite score on the ACT.

The Florida Academic Scholars Award Level:

     •     Public Institution - 100% of tuition and fees (including lab fees up to $300 per semester*) plus $300 per semester* for college-related expenses (excluding summer term) prorated by term and hours
     •     Private Institution - Fixed award amount based on 100% of the average tuition and fees covered at a comparable Florida public institution including the $300 per semester* provided for college-related expenses prorated by term and hours

The Florida Medallion Scholars Award has the following requirements:

1.  3.0 weighted GPA 
2.  Completing 15 credit requirements
     •     4 English (3 with substantial writing)
     •     3 Mathematics (Algebra I and above)
     •     3 Natural Sciences (2 with substantial lab)
     •     3 Social Science
     •     2 Foreign Language (in the same language)
          15 Credits

3.  Making a 970 best composite score on the SAT.
4.  Making a 20 best composite score on the ACT.

The Florida Medallion Scholars Award Level:

     •     Public Institution - 75% of tuition and fees (including lab fees up to $300 per semester*)
     •     Private Institution - Fixed award amount based on 75% of the average tuition and fees covered at a comparable Florida public institution prorated by term and hours


The Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award is not available to private or home school students.

All qualified juniors and seniors should contact the school office to make arrangements for your authorization form to be on file.  Also, check out their website at
www.firn.edu/doe/brfuture

FLORIDA FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION
Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance
Fill out after December 15, 2003. 
Required by the Florida Bright Future Scholarship program.
www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org

FAFSA
Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Most colleges and universities require this to be completed.
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

 

Here is an additional list of great scholarship websites, establish links to them all.

Scholarship Websites
www.osfa.org
www.fafsa.ed.gov
www.smartmoney.com
www.finaid.org
www.brokescholar.com
www.scholarsite.com
www.fastweb.com
www.FinancialAidOfficer.com
www.college-scholarships.com
www.collegescholarships.com