Scholarships

SCCPSS Scholarship Page

Applying for Scholarships: 
Most scholarship money is awarded by the colleges directly. In many cases the student does not need to submit anything extra to be considered for merit based aid (need based aid is a separate procedure that requires filing a FAFSA form- see the Seniors page), though sometimes there is a special form, deadline, or other procedure. Many colleges have special deadlines for scholarship consideration that may be substantially earlier than the standard application deadline. Students should work as hard as possible in school, on SAT/ACT tests, and in activities to be the best possible candidate for merit based aid when considered by colleges.
Many clubs, corporations, and other organizations award scholarships as well.  The SCCPSS Scholarship Page (linked above) contains a current list of some opportunities.  Students interested in scholarships should also see our senior newsletter (above).  It lists several websites that can be used for easy and productive scholarship searches. These are the steps for this process:
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1. Use the SCCPSS Scholarship Page and other outside webites such as www.scholarships.com, www.college-scholarships.com, etc. to identify scholarship programs that are a good match for you.
2. The list may be long. Identify the awards for which you want to apply. Perhaps you choose them based on their level of competitiveness, your likelihood of being a good candidate, or the application requirements.
3. Apply. Fill out the forms and write any applicable essays. The forms are usually self-explanatory, but if you run in to trouble, ask your counselor. If you need help with an essay, ask your English teacher and/or counselor for help.

 

Students and parents are often seeking a secret to getting scholarships, but there really isn’t one. You make yourself a good candidate, use the resources provided to locate opportunities, apply, and hope for the best. If you develop questions while completing an application, the counselors can help. Beware of anyone asking for money to help you with scholarships. This is often the sign of a scam or of someone charging money for what you could do yourself for free.

 

Hope Scholarship

The HOPE Scholarship program is administered by the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) as directed by the state legislature. The state legislature may make changes to the HOPE program at any time. All HOPE GPA calculations are made by GFC. 

Many misunderstandings exist regarding how HOPE is calculated. The following handout may be useful to those who are interested in learning more about which courses count, how bonus points are treated, and how the calculations work in general. It may also be useful for students who want to try to monitor their own progress. However, please note that this information is only a general and unofficial guide that has not been endorsed by GSFC. 

Anybody with specific questions about HOPE calculations should contact the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) by calling 1-800-505-4732, or visit their website.
Please note that beginning with the class of 2015, students must meet certain rigor requirements in order to be HOPE eligible.  See the handout below for specific details.
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Please note: Student must apply for the HOPE Scholarship before they start college. This can be done two ways. If a student files a FAFSA form, that will take care of it. Students can also apply on the GA Futures website.