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Apply for Ida B. Wells High School Scholarships NOW!

This year we are giving out 4 scholarships worth $1000 each!  Applications open now through Friday April 2nd. 

We are excited to offer three - $1,000 scholarships to Ida B. Wells seniors.  The funding for these awards comes from contributions by local businesses and alums as well as proceeds from the Ida B. Wells Scholarship Initiative and fundraisers.

Eligibility:

• Graduating senior of Ida B. Wells High School
• GPA  minimum 2.50
• Intention to attend a 2yr or 4yr public or private èßäÊÓƵ or trade/apprenticeship program
• Some need as identified on the FAFSA or ORSAA 

This is a $1000 scholarship designated for a deserving Ida B. Wells High School graduate.  Funding comes from Dr. Gifford, a local Hillsdale general dentist and the owner of Gifford Family Dentistry. 

Eligibility:

• A graduating senior of Ida B Wells High School
• GPA minimum of 3.0
• Will attend a 2yr or 4yr public or private èßäÊÓƵ, trade/apprenticeship program
• Some need as identified on the FAFSA or ORSAA
• Participated in community service while a student at IBW

The Ida B. Wells High School PTA Scholarship is also now open!

This scholarship is worth $1000 and will go to two high èßäÊÓƵ seniors this year! PTA Scholarship Application   Deadline:  Friday April 2nd 2021.

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Financial Aid Night

Each year in September the Counseling Department sponsors Financial Aid Night to help èßäÊÓƵ and parents navigate the complexities of paying for college. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn all about applying for financial aid through FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and OSAC (Oregon Student Access Commission). Students and parents, please plan to attend together.

Paying for College presentation (courtesy of )

Application Fee Waivers

If you qualify for free or reduced lunch, you are eligible for an SAT/ACT fee waiver. Once you use a fee waiver for the SAT or ACT, you will then be eligible to apply to up to six Common Application èßäÊÓƵs with no application fee. See your counselor to sign up for the fee waiver.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The FAFSA application opens on October 1. Aim for completion by November 1. Get all the information now so you will be prepared to apply by next year's application date.

The provides èßäÊÓƵ access to grants, loans, and work-study aid from the federal government. It is also required by many colleges and universities as part their financial aid application. Fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1st, 2016, to have the best chance of receiving limited aid funds. Before you assume that you won't qualify for aid, go to Then watch the video below for helpful tips on filling out the FAFSA.

FAFSA Webinars

SIgn up now for free webinars that will inform you about changes to the FAFSA for next year, how to create an FSA ID, and filing the form. Space is limited.

How to Understand Financial Aid Award Letters

Financial aid award letters can be confusing: is it a grant or a loan? does it cover room and board or just tuition? This can help you evaluate the award and determine the true cost of college.

Need More Help?

FAFSA Support Direct: 1-800-4FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or 319-337-5665. They prefer to talk with the student directly.

Selective Service Registration and the FAFSA

Male èßäÊÓƵ must register with the Selective Service in order to be eligible for federal student loan and grant programs. If you are at least 18 years old and have not yet reached your 26th birthday, you can register by checking the appropriate box on the FAFSA. (Note: If you are not yet 18, your data will not be transmitted to Selective Service and you will not be registered.) 

Financial Aid: Ideas to Help You Qualify for More Money!

Always Apply for Financial Aid

Some èßäÊÓƵs will not give merit money unless you apply for financial aid and file the FAFSA. Some colleges, mostly private, require you to also file the PROFILE, which requires a fee. has a list of èßäÊÓƵs that require the PROFILE. Check each college’s website to verify requirements. Need-based aid: This is aid awarded to families who would have trouble paying for college. If you are eligible for free or reduced lunch, you will certainly be eligible for need-based financial aid. Some colleges even award money to families with income up to $150,000 a year. Again, every college is different. Be sure to come to our Financial Aid Night in December to get your questions answered. Applying for financial aid is a confusing process.

Need-Based Aid

Some èßäÊÓƵs say that they will meet 100% of your demonstrated need. Most of these èßäÊÓƵs are highly selective èßäÊÓƵs with huge endowments. If you come from a low-income family and qualify for admission to these most competitive èßäÊÓƵs, you are most likely to get a full ride with no loans. All èßäÊÓƵs calculate your need differently, which explains why you will get many different financial aid offers. Most colleges will not be able to meet your full need, which is why you will also be interested in merit-based aid.

Merit-Based Aid

Most of the scholarships and tuitions discounts that èßäÊÓƵ receive come from the colleges to which they are applying. Most èßäÊÓƵs, especially private, do offer merit aid. Merit Aid is awarded for many reasons: high grades, good test scores, community service, leadership skills and activities, athletic skills etc. Some èßäÊÓƵs, mostly the most highly selective colleges mentioned above, do not offer any merit aid. You will get the most merit aid, in general, from èßäÊÓƵs where your grades, test scores, and activities put you at the top of that èßäÊÓƵ's application pool. In other words, if your grades and scores are better than most of the èßäÊÓƵ applying to a particular èßäÊÓƵ, you will be offered their best scholarships.

Talent Scholarships

If you have very strong talent in art, music, or theater, you may be offered scholarships based on your talent. Many times, a èßäÊÓƵ will accept and give more aid to a student with strong talent even as they reject another student with higher grades. It’s hard to know what each èßäÊÓƵ is looking for each year. If they need a strong bassoonist, painter or method actor, the student with the particular talent they need that year will get the money. The èßäÊÓƵ may be looking for completely different talent the next year. Make sure you meet, or at least talk to, the main professor(s) with whom you will work. You will be with this person much of the time, for four years. You want to have someone with whom you can work well and who shares your artistic philosophy!

Athletic Scholarships

While NCAA Division I, II, and NAIA èßäÊÓƵs all can overtly offer athletic scholarships, you need to get their attention. Make a short video with highlights. You might also consider including positive recovery from a mistake or disappointment. Contact coaches and send them your video and athletic resume. Get advice from your coaches. While NCAA Division III cannot legally offer athletic scholarships, they do offer non-athletic scholarships to athletes who they want on their team. They can offer academic, leadership, and community service scholarships. Legally, the activities for which they offer scholarships can’t be connected with your role on the team. For example, you can’t get a leadership scholarship if your only leadership activity is captaining your team. Many D3 èßäÊÓƵs ask that you list every activity you’ve ever participated in, so they have more opportunity to award you money. This can be delineated on a well-organized resume.

Male/Female Ratio

 Many, mostly private, èßäÊÓƵs try to keep the ratio of women to men on campus close to 50/50. Boys have some advantage at èßäÊÓƵs that have trouble getting enough male applicants and girls have an advantage at èßäÊÓƵs that attract more male applicants. This may not be an issue at public universities.

WUE

The Western Undergraduate Exchange is a coalition of èßäÊÓƵs from 15 western states who agree to let èßäÊÓƵ from neighboring states pay 150% of in-state tuition instead of paying full out-of-state tuition. For some states, this is a great deal because their in-state tuition is very inexpensive, due to excellent state support for education. Not all èßäÊÓƵs in these states participate in the program and most have requirements that èßäÊÓƵ must meet to be eligible. Some èßäÊÓƵs restrict the majors eligible for participation, some offer a limited number of WUE placements (apply early), and some have designated test scores and GPAs that must be met. Historically, the best deals have bee offered to èßäÊÓƵ attending WUE èßäÊÓƵs in Idaho, New Mexico, and Alaska. Good grades can also help èßäÊÓƵ earn extra merit scholarships. Check the  and then check individual èßäÊÓƵ websites. See your counselor with questions.

Scholarship Tips

• Scholarships are not only for high-achieving èßäÊÓƵ; there are scholarships for unusual characteristics, skills and interests:
  • Community service
  • Unusual characteristics/skills(left-handed, extra tall or short, ability to duck-call)
  • Non-traditional èßäÊÓƵ
  • Essay contests
  • Health issues: search through organizations dedicated to that issue; always ask if there are other organizations addressing the same issue who might offer scholarships.
• The first few scholarships you apply for can take a great deal of time and work, but once the initial work is done you can adapt essays for other scholarships.
• Aim to apply for at least ten scholarships. Apply for as many as possible—you can't win if you don't apply.
• Check any other organizations with which your family is affiliated (parents' employers, insurance, banks, credit unions, unions, veterans' groups, etc.)
• Go through Oregon's . The final deadline is  March 1st; we strongly recommend you submit your application by February 15th to be eligible the $500 early bird scholarship drawing.
• Look at other local èßäÊÓƵ websites as well for additional scholarship listings.

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