2015 Summer Programs with Generous Financial Aid

Summer Pre-college Programs are a wonderful opportunity for students to get incredible college experience while still in high school. Pre-college programs are also a great way for students to bolster their admissions chances, gain valuable work experience, build relationships, and explore their career opportunities. Unfortunately, many programs do not offer sufficient financial aid for underrepresented and under-resourced students. Because of this, College Greenlight compiled a list of the programs that actually offer aid to their participants!

Check out the link below. Each entry includes a link to the program’s official website, as well as information on application deadlines, program dates, and financial aid packages or scholarships available to qualified students.

http://blog.collegegreenlight.com/blog/summer-programs-with-generous-financial-aid/

7 Things Every Parent Needs to Know about Getting Their Student to College

Original College Greenlight article here: http://tinyurl.com/nohvhqs

Not only do students tend to freak out about going… Will I get in? Can I pay for this? What if I can’t decide on a major?

Parents do too! Will they get in? What if I can’t pay for this? What should they major in?

But have no fear, because College Greenlight is here to help squish those fears beneath your feet. Because with the right support from a caring family member or members, going to college can (and should!) be an exciting process.

So to those family members who want to help out but don’t know where to start, here’s a list of the 7 things you can do to help your student’s college dreams become reality.

1. FILL OUT YOUR TAXES

Tax time isn’t exactly fun, but when you’ve got a potential college student it’s important that you get them done quickly and correctly. In order to be eligible for federal financial aid, students have to submit a document called the FAFSA which uses their family’s income to determine how much financial aid they are eligible for. By filling out your taxes early, your student can find out their financial aid standing earlier in the year, leaving you more time to assemble a responsible college financial strategy.

2. TALK AT THE TABLE

Studies show that parents who talk to their children about college not only help form stronger familial bonds, but are happier themselves. Use your time at dinner or on the weekends to ask how their classes are going, what subjects they enjoy, and what sort of college (if they want to go to college in the first place) is most exciting to them. And give your teenagers enough support and freedom to tell you what they honestly want to get out of a college education. Listen to what they have to say, and be earnestly supportive.

3. DO SOME DETECTIVE WORK

The internet is a great tool for parents interested in finding out more about the colleges their students are interested in attending, or about financial aid options, or about career opportunities for students interested in particular majors. But the trick is knowing where to look. You can use College Greenlight as a great place to get started. They've got detailed profiles of every college in the country, including price information (more on this later). To check out a specific college, click here and type in the name of the school you’re looking for! In addition to the main site, they have got a whole host of articles that explain college and college-going jargon in simple terms. The best place to get started is by checking out the definitions section of their blog here. 

4. DECIDE WHERE THE MONEY WILL COME FROM

For most parents, their college concerns are about dollars and cents. The cost of college has skyrocketed over the past several years, and there is no shortage of articles dedicated to tracking this trend. You should figure out how much you can honestly afford, and be honest about this with your son or daughter. There are TONS of great options you and your students can take advantage of (grants, aid, scholarships) that cost nothing and do not have to be paid back, but to qualify for many of these options you need to be prepared with the right applications and financial forms (see #1, FILL OUT YOUR TAXES). Also remember that colleges all have two different prices, the sticker price and the net price. The net price is how much your student will actually pay when their financial and academic situation is taken into account.

5. TALK TO THEIR TEACHERS, COUNSELORS, AND ADVISERS

You aren’t the only advocate in your child’s corner; they also have teachers, guidance counselors, after-school mentors, and advisers who want them to succeed. Build a relationship with these other adults and let them know you want to be an active part of the planning process. Not only will these other professionals appreciate your spirit, but they can help answer your college and financial aid questions! By working together, you and your child’s team can help make sure that your child is getting the right grades, taking the right classes, and preparing for the right tests.

6. VISIT CAMPUS IN PERSON OR OVER THE INTERNET

If you have the ability, visiting a college campus is a great way to get a feel for what life would be like there for your student. And for anybody who doesn’t have the funds to travel all over the country, take advantage of the many travel-grant programs offered by colleges and universities. These programs usually take place in the summer and fall, and College Greenlight publishes a yearly guide to these programs. And if your schedule doesn’t permit a physical trip, you can always get a virtual tour of your son or daughter’s favorite college campus! You can find links for these tours on the profiles listed at College Greenlight, or by visiting the home page for the campus.

7. LEARN TO LET GO

Some parents have a hard time letting their kids grow up. And if your son or daughter wants to go to a college that’s clear across the state (or the country, or the globe) they need to know that their parents support them. For many teenagers, college is the point in their lives where they transition from childhood to adulthood. So you should start preparing for that change early! Talk to your kids, let them know you love them, and listen to their plans. Because even if you can’t stand the thought of them moving away, you can’t believe how proud you’ll be on their graduation day.

How to Build Your College List

Link to original article: http://blog.collegegreenlight.com/blog/build-college-list/

Finding colleges that are a good fit for you can seem daunting. After all, there are thousands of colleges and universities to choose from! But it is important that you narrow down these thousands of schools into a manageable list of options you to which you will apply. We recommend adding at least seven schools to your college list.

To help you narrow down the seemingly endless number of colleges into the 7 or so you’ll place on your list we’ve identified three major fit categories to take into consideration. Each of these categories should be met before deciding whether or not a college is worthy of your list.

Academic Fit

To determine if a college is a good academic fit, look for schools that admit students who match your GPA and standardized test scores as well as your personal and career interests. We also recommend that you submit your applications among three kinds of schools:

Reach Schools — Your GPA and standardized test scores are either JUST at or even below the college or university’s published data on accepted students.

Match Schools — Your GPA and standardized test scores fit the college or university’s published data on accepted students.

Schools — Your GPA and standardized test scores are at or above the college or university’s published data on accepted students.

It’s easy to find schools that fit these categories by checking the What Are My Chances Meter, which can be found next to every school you place in your college list on College Greenlight. Reach schools will rank low on the meter, match schools will rank in the middle, and safety schools will rank highly.

We recommend that your final college list include:            

• 2 – 3 Reach Schools 
• 3 – 5 Match Schools 
• 2 – 3 Safety Schools

A NOTE ON TEST SCORES:

If you’re worried your test scores don’t reflect your academic prowess, don’t fret! Many schools have decided to go “test optional” in college admissions. This link to FairTest.org includes a comprehensive list of test optional and test flexible colleges and universities.

Financial Fit 

To determine if a college is a good financial fit, you’ll need to know a few important things.

First, you’ll have to decide how important financial aid is to your college plans. If you know your family will need significant assistance to help you afford college, then financial fit will be especially important to you.

Second, you’ll have to find out what your expected family contribution (EFC) is as determined by the FAFSA. EFC refers to the amount your family is expected to contribute to your college costs. Here are a few tips you need to know to become an EFC expert.

YOUR EFC COMES FROM YOUR FAFSA

You already know that filling out a FAFSA (Federal Application for Student Aid) is important. What you might not know is that your FAFSA is what determines your EFC! You need to fill out your FAFSA accurately and on time to make sure your EFC is calculated correctly.

YOUR EFC IS A NUMBER 

Just like every snowflake is unique, so is every EFC. Your EFC is a number that is calculated based on a variety of factors, the most important of which are

Your parent’s income and assets 
Your personal income and assets 

If your parent’s make a lot of money and have a lot of assets (homes, retirement accounts, yachts), your EFC will be very high. The government and your school of choice will assume your family can cover most of your college costs. If they make less, the better the chance your EFC will be low and you will have access to more financial aid.

YOUR EFC, SUBTRACTED FROM A SCHOOL’S COST OF ATTENDANCE (COA), DETERMINES YOUR FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID

Say your EFC is 5,000. That means your family is expected to contribute 5,000 to your yearly college costs. Every school is going to have a different cost of attendance (COA) depending on how much you’ll spend on tuition, books, housing, and other factors. When you know your EFC and your school’s COA, you can easily calculate how much federal aid you are eligible for.

Third, important to remember that the prices you might see listed of the colleges or universities you want to attend are not the price you will pay. Many students get discouraged by the high sticker prices at competitive private colleges, and decide they won’t even try applying there. This is a huge mistake because sometimes the colleges with the highest sticker prices offer the lowest net prices to students who don’t have a lot of money.

That’s why you need to start using a net price calculator.

A net price calculator is a tool that estimates what a college will cost you based on your family income, scholarship information, and other factors. Net price calculators are free to use.

Click here to access the US Department of Education’s Net Price Calculator

Make sure to bookmark that link onto your web browser. It will allow you to type in the name of any college in the country, and will take you directly to the college’s net price calculator.

Social Fit 

Social fit refers to how a college matches your unique personality and goals. To determine if a college is a good social fit, here are 7 different categories to consider when evaluating a campus:

Degree Programs 

If you know what you want to major in, look at colleges that are strong in that program. But if you have no idea what you want to study, it’s just as important to choose a school with a wide range of degree programs to explore and eventually choose from.

Learning Environment 

Consider factors like a college’s average class size, student-to-teacher ratios and whether classes are taught mainly by professors or graduate assistants. Do you learn better through discussions or through hands-on activity? All of these are factors which will impact your experience at college.

Campus Life

What do you want your college experience to be like outside of the classroom? Think about what’s important to you in terms of extracurricular activities, social life, school spirit and traditions and housing options.

Distance from Home

Decide how far from home you want your college experience to take you. Do you want to have the support of friends and family nearby, or experience life in an entirely new part of the country?

Location 

Do you see yourself attending college in a small town where the campus is the center of activity, or a major metropolitan area where you’ll enjoy the benefits of city living? Also decide if you want to be in a certain geographic area or climate.

Size

A tiny liberal arts school and a huge state university will give you two very different college experiences. Visit colleges at both ends of the size spectrum and a few somewhere in the middle to see where you feel most comfortable.

Diversity

Do you want a college where you’ll be surrounded by students similar to yourself, or one where you’ll meet people from a variety of backgrounds? As a College Greenlight student, you should have a unique and exciting story to share. Why not consider a school with a student body as unique as you are? Plus, if your cultural, religious, or ethnic identity is a huge part of your life, make sure your campus has programs in place that celebrate that identity.

5 Questions Seniors Are Asking About the College Essay

by Sophie Herron

Full article: http://blog.collegegreenlight.com/blog/5-questions-seniors-are-asking-about-the-college-essay/

What do admissions officers think of college application essays that jump straight into the action? How do you write supplement essays about “why” you want to go to a specific college? How do you use “your voice” in writing?

Last week, Jack Scotti (COO of Story To College) and I had the pleasure of talking with students at Townsend Harris, one of New York City’s top public high schools. After a brief presentation about college essays and our new online platform, Story2, Jack and I opened up the floor for Q&A. The students asked the questions above, among others. It was a delightful 20 minutes—kudos to the students at Townsend Harris, their parents, and their tireless educators.

Read five of their great questions and our answers below.

Q: What do you think of essays that start in the middle of the action, versus essays that start with a polished, complete introduction?

A: The first please! Just like a movie or a book doesn’t start by telling all of the background details before it gets going, neither should you. You have only a couple minutes, max, of an admissions officer’s time on the first read: be sure you grab their attention from the get-go. Make them wonder what’s next.

Q: How do you write essays about why you want to go to a specific college?

A: If one of your schools has this question, it’s likely the question they’ll be reading the most carefully. Make sure you address what you will bring to and gain from that specific college. Identify not only what clubs you’ll join, or classes you’ll take, but what about that college’s culture is perfect for you. Do they pride themselves on career and internship opportunities (GW University)? Service learning (Rice University)? Find out what they’re proud of, and tell a story that reveals that you share and live that value.

Q: My topic is serious—do I need to use the voice I use with my friends?

A: We encourage students to use their voice in their writing—it’s a death knell when your writing sounds fake. But that doesn’t mean you have to write like everything is funny: serious you is still you. The most important thing is to write like yourself, whether that be funny, serious, controlled, or descriptive.

One of my students this summer was struggling with her essay until I paused and said, “Charlotte. This just doesn’t sound like you. When you talk, you seem rather controlled and quiet—let yourself write that way.” She nodded, slipped on her headphones, and wrote as if a dam exploded. An hour later, she had an essay whose simplicity and directness blew me away. Listen to your voice, and write in a way that speaks to your strengths. (To get started, you can record yourself on Story2!)

Q: I noticed in “Sundays at Rocco’s,” he says, “I realized…” but you said not to say that. What if that’s the only way to say what you mean?

A: We shared a short video produced by StoryCorps, as an example of the power of oral storytelling. An astute student caught that he ends his story by saying he “realized” the power of family, which we strongly discourage. Saying “I realized” is taking a lazy way out. You no longer have to prove you learned something through your actions. Admissions officers aren’t looking for empty words. Failing to prove a “realization” through action could be the difference between acceptance and rejection. This challenge is a tool to push you further, not a rule to hold you back. Do your best to prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you are hard-working, open minded, responsible, or any other quality you want to show to admissions officers. But if, after you’ve done your very best, you feel that an “I realized” really belongs in your essay, then it does.

Q: Do you have to write about just one moment, or can you write about more than one?

A: You absolutely can write about more than one. In order to make it easy to follow, make sure that you use simple, time and location-clarifying transitions. For example, “Three years later, I sat with my mom in the living room.” Boom. We’re with you. Just make sure you don’t spread yourself too thin by writing about too many different moments. You only have 650 words to tell this story. And if you try to cover every moment within an experience, you’ll be writing in clichés and generalities.

Colleges that meet 100% of a student's financial need

One of the biggest concerns students and their families have about college is affordability. Rising costs at the nation’s public and private schools keep qualified students from considering the best options.

Fortunately, many colleges are committed to remaining affordable to each admitted student regardless of their financial circumstances. A college or university that promises to make sure every penny of an accepted student’s demonstrated financial need is covered through grants, work-study, scholarships, and in some cases, federal student loans, is considered a 100% meet need school.

College Green light has compiled a list of the colleges around the country who identify themselves as 100% meet need, and have indicated the specifics of their programs below. Note that a major difference between meet need programs is whether or not the college includes federal student loans in a student’s financial aid report. The colleges that include student loans keep the amount a student is expected to borrow reasonably low. In these instances, check with the college’s office of financial aid for additional information.

If you are interested in learning more about any of these colleges or universities click on the link below to view their College Greenlight profile.

Note: 100% meet need schools pledge to meet a student’s full demonstrated need. Most students will still have an expected family contribution they are responsible for.

Link to schools and article: http://www.collegegreenlight.com/blog/colleges-that-meet-100-of-student-financial-need/

Get to Know the Pieces of a College Application

Filling out college applications is one of those interesting processes that most people only do once in their lives. This means two things:

First, by the time you become an expert, you probably never have to fill out an application again. And second, everyone who is filling out applications is brand new to the process!

We want you to be totally prepared for your college applications this year, so we’ve prepared a handy guide you can use to familiarize yourself with the different pieces of a standard application. Not every college you apply to this fall will require each of these, but if you are applying to a healthy number of schools (and you should be) you will most likely encounter all of these separate pieces.

Read the full article from College Greenlight here: http://www.collegegreenlight.com/blog/get-to-know-the-pieces-of-a-college-application/

The Summer Challenge Scholarship

College Greenlight is proud to announce a brand new scholarship, just for the class of 2015! The College Greenlight Summer Challenge Scholarship is your chance to win $500 for getting started on your college and scholarship search.

Award: $500 

Deadline: Sept. 1, 2014

More info: http://www.collegegreenlight.com/blog/the-summer-challenge-scholarship/

Two New College Greenlight Scholarships

The Greenlight to College Scholarship

Applicants must be in the class of 2015 or 2016. Applications will be evaluated based on academic merit, leadership history, and extracurricular activity. Furthermore, applicants should embody College Greenlight’s mission in one or more of the following ways: demonstrated financial need, underrepresented minority status, or by being the first in their family to attend college. Membership in a college preparatory program is a plus.

Award: $1000

Deadline: Dec. 31, 2014


The College Greenlight #1 Fan Scholarship

The scholarship will go to the most well-rounded College Greenlight fan as defined by extracurricular, leadership and volunteer activities listed in their College Greenlight profile. Step 1: Become a fan of College Greenlight on Facebook. Step 2: Post a status update on how College Greenlight is helping you with your college search. Be sure to mention College Greenlight in your post.

Award: $1000

Deadline: Dec. 31, 2014

More info at the website: http://www.collegegreenlight.com/blog/two-new-scholarships-just-for-college-greenlight-students/

2014 College Fly In Programs

From College Greenlight:

Visiting campus is one of the most important steps in deciding if a particular college is right for you. Because of this, most colleges offer weekend programs where students can spend a couple nights on campus, and get to know the students and faculty who bring the college to life.

However, travelling to these campuses can be extremely expensive. That’s why College Greenlight is compiling a list of colleges that offer travel assistance for students who demonstrate financial need.

They have also included a few programs that might not offer travel assistance, but are fantastic opportunities for multi-cultural students who live in the area. Please see their notes below each program for details on what they offer.

Many of these programs will start accepting applications soon, so make sure to bookmark your favorites. In addition, dozens of colleges from last year’s list have yet to announce their 2014 program dates. They have placed all the programs who have announced their 2014 dates at the top of the list for your convenience.

Click here for the info: http://www.collegegreenlight.com/blog/2014-college-fly-in-programs/

Registration for the College Greenlight/Cappex Scholarship Marathon is open!

Link to original article: http://www.collegegreenlight.com/blog/registration-for-the-scholarship-marathon-is-open/

The Scholarship Marathon is taking place on Saturday, March 22nd, and just like last year, it will be an all day event.

This year’s Scholarship Marathon will be co-hosted by Cappex.com! That means that this event will be bigger and better than ever. So mark your calendars, and get ready to kick start this year’s scholarship search in style.

For Students 

The Scholarship Marathon is a free virtual event that runs all day at CollegeGreenlight.com. It starts at 9am, and is a chance for students from all over the country to win raffles, prizes, and money for college just for applying to scholarships! How it works: You can register online at this link. You’ll fill out some simple info, and if you don’t already have a College Greenlight profile you can complete one with your registration. Then on the 22nd you can join us online anytime from 9 to 9 (am to pm) to upload proof of your completed scholarship applications, enter raffles and giveaways, get one-on-one scholarship help from the team, and even win a $1,000 scholarship just for participating!

More info:  http://www.collegegreenlight.com/blog/registration-for-the-scholarship-marathon-is-open/

How to Find Financial Aid if You Are Undocumented

How to Find Financial Aid if You Are Undocumented

By Raul Alvarez - College Greenlignt

If you are an undocumented student, there are still financial aid opportunities available to you. The key is figuring out exactly which opportunities are available to you based on where you live.

But before we dive into those opportunities, it’s important to recognize a few hard truths. If you do not have a social security number, you are not eligible for federal financial aid. That means you are not eligible for government loans, government grants, federal aid, and work-study programs that are financed by the government. This does not necessarily mean that you shouldn’t fill out the FAFSA, but you should check with your high school, after school, or college guidance counselor before you do.

There is still a huge push to change these policies so that amazing students like you can have access to these types of aid, but until those changes are made you’ll have to be especially diligent and creative.

Step one: start with your state

The first place to look for aid is your state. Several right-thinking states have enacted legislation that provides aid to undocumented students. The two major types of legislation these states have taken on are:

1. In State Tuition for Undocumented Students: this means that even if you are not a US citizen you can still be eligible to pay the same amount for a PUBLIC COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY that any other in-state resident would receive.

2. State Financial Aid for Undocumented Students: this means that the state has financial aid that you can apply for to help you pay for college.

Here are a list of states with legislation that supports undocumented students:

California	In State Tuition and State Financial Aid
Connecticut	In-State Tuition
Illinois	In State Tuition and State Financial Aid
Kansas	In State Tuition
Maryland	In State Tuition
Massachusetts	In State Tuition
Nebraska	In State Tuition
New Mexico	In State Tution and State Financial Aid
New York	In State Tuition and State Financial Aid
Oklahoma	In State Tution
Oregon	In State Tuition
Rhode Island	In State Tuition
Texas	In State Tution and State Financial Aid
Utah	In State Tuition
Washington	In State Tuition

If you live in any of these states, you can find out more information about their legislation at this link.

Step two: search for scholarships

There are hundreds and hundreds of scholarships that are available to undocumented students, as well as scholarships that do not require disclosure of citizenship. You should fill out a profile on College Greenlight in order to access our database of nearly every scholarship in the country. We make sure to list citizenship requirements with our scholarships.

We also have put together a list of scholarships that are specifically available to undocumented students that you can find here. 

And if you know of any scholarships for undocumented students, please let us know! We are always interested in adding these scholarships to our database, and in promoting them to our students. You can get started by sending an email to info@collegegreenlight.com.

Step three: speak with a teacher or counselor

If you do not already have a high school, after school, or college teacher or counselor helping you build your college plan, you should! Their job is to help you access education, regardless of citizenship. And while telling your story might be scary, you should know that their are so many people working in education that believe in you, us included! Another great place to find caring advocates is right here on College Greenlight. If you are currently not working with an after school program or other community organization that helps students get into college, let us know! Send an email with your name and the city you live in to ralvarez@collegegreenlight.com and I will try and help connect you with a great organization.

Step four: talk to your favorite college

If you have a college or university in mind that you’ve always wanted to go to, talk to them about your situation. If the college is any good, they’ll be happy to let you know of any opportunities they have for undocumented students.

Step five: don’t give up

We want to see the DREAM Act passed. We believe every student who wants to receive higher education and is serious about it deserves a chance. There are many great places you can get even more information if you are undocumented and are still wary of speaking with someone. One great place is at Educators for Fair Consideration, a not-for-profit website dedicated to helping undocumented students access to affordable higher education. We hope that someday, all students will have equal access to education. But the hard truth is that right now, they don’t. We hope this guide has been helpful, but if you have any suggestions on how to make it better, please let us know in the comments!

Link to article: http://www.collegegreenlight.com/blog/how-to-find-financial-aid-if-you-are-undocumented/

How to Write an Essay About Why You Want to Attend a College

How to Write an Essay About Why You Want to Attend a College

This article is from the website College Greenlight. Read it here: http://www.collegegreenlight.com/blog/how-to-write-an-essay-about-why-you-want-to-attend-a-college/

Most students totally miss the opportunity to connect with colleges in their supplement essays. Supplement essays are your best chance to demonstrate what admissions officers call your “fit” for a specific college, so give them your best energy.

How can you authentically answer questions like “Why do you want to attend this college?” for each college on your list?

First of all, for the time that you are answering each college’s supplements, think of that college as the only one you are applying to. Go even further: imagine you are really attending that college, research classes and extracurriculars. Go ahead and phone a friend who already attends that college, or chat with one of the students on the college’s web site. Dive in and ask yourself:

What classes will you take? Which courses and interdisciplinary programs excite you? Where will you hang out when you’re not in class? In which clubs will you take on a leadership role? What is something you’ve always wanted to do that you can only do at that college?

What are the most powerful connections between your past experiences and what you see yourself taking on at that particular college? Depending on the question, tell a story that helps you to answer the particular question the college is asking.

Try this example: The University of Rochester asks you to describe a moment that embodies their motto, Meliora, “ever better.” Take some time to brainstorm what “ever better” means to you. Is it the time you were about to give up but kept going? A time when you surpassed your previous limit? Is it something about the community becoming better through something you made happen? Writing down all your ideas as you brainstorm will help to open up your memories and creativity not just to the definition, but also to moments that reveal what you have done that embodies the motto “ever better.” Those are the connections you are looking for: stories that show your idea of “ever better” in action and in life.

If the question is “What major” or “What program of study” the steps are the same: do a deep dive into that particular major at that particular school, paying close attention to interdisciplinary programs that connect the major with exciting research and other unique opportunities at that school. Then find the genuine connections between what you want to study in college and work you have already done.

Remember: you can’t make up genuine connections! You need to take the time to get to know each college you are applying to–in as much depth as you possibly can–and write your essays about yourself, but with a strong sense of which college you are talking to when you complete that college’s supplements.

How to Sleep like an Adult in College

How to Sleep like an Adult in College  

by Laura Karnoski and College Greenlight from the blog:
http://www.collegegreenlight.com/blog/how-to-sleep-like-an-adult-in-college/

Welcome, incoming freshman, to one of the most mind opening, intellectually engaging, and socially exciting times of your life! …If you can stay awake for it.

If you are anything like me, you probably spent your time in high school studying, volunteering, hanging out with friends, and working. These are great exercises and experiences that you will find beneficial as you find yourself encountering the college-versions of these obligations. However, be it changes in academic rigor, body chemistry, or a demanding social life (there will be MANY new opportunities to make friends), even if this whirlwind of activities was a breeze in high school, you will probably find yourself feeling a whole new version of exhausted.

At my school in particular, it is not uncommon to walk through the library late at night- it’s open twenty-four hours a day- and see people who have fallen asleep face down in their chemistry textbooks. Though some people may think to themselves, “tuition is expensive, I should be able to sleep where I want”, on behalf of your lumbar spine, I implore you to consider other options:

Try afternoon classes
 
The great thing about college is that in most cases, you can tailor your schedule to fit your needs. If you are the type of person that likes to study or socialize late into the night, try taking afternoon classes! They leave time in the morning and evening for eating a meal, exercising, going to work, or you-name-it.

Set a weekday bedtime
 
As lame as it might sound, even adults need a bedtime. While it is recommended that you go to bed at the same time every single night, we know that it is nearly impossible to commit to that in college. At the very least, you should be going to bed at the same time during the week. By cutting down your attendance at week night parties you not only will see the benefits to your energy and attentiveness in class, but those weekend parties will be so much sweeter.

You also need a wake time
 
Not only is going to bed on time important, so is waking up on time. If you have a 9am class two days a week, you should be getting up before 9am every day. By starting your days at a consistent time, you will begin to wake up with a consistent amount of alertness.

Be nap savvy
 
If you’ve gotten yourself into sleep debt (meaning you haven’t gotten enough sleep the night before) a nap is a much better alternative than sleeping late the next day. Napping can recharge you, while still ensuring that you maintain your sleep schedule. However, if you are prone to insomnia, then you need to take a different approach. For insomniacs, napping can make falling asleep at night much more difficult. If you feel like your napping is becoming more regular than your sleep schedule, you should probably cut back.

Fight the “2:30 feeling”
 
Many people get tired after big meals, or during slow parts of the day. Succumbing to that drowsiness can frequently lead to way-too-long nap sessions. When you feel drowsy (and know you’ve gotten enough sleep the night before) resist the urge by exercising, doing chores, or going for a walk.

Taking care of yourself earns a whole new meaning when you are in college, and sometimes sleep is the first to fall from your checklist of self-care activities. During my freshman year, I found that a combination of strategic napping, coffee and at least 8 hours of sleep a night was what it took to not fall asleep in my 10am lectures. Being well rested might seem simple, but in a world where our academic and professional demands are rapidly increasing, dreaming big can leave you snoring above the rest.

Laura is a Point Foundation Scholar and first-time freshman!

 

Lowe's Scholarship - $2,500

This scholarship is for current high school seniors who intend to enroll full-time in an undergraduate course of study in the United States for the 2013-2014 academic year. To qualify for this scholarship, applicants must have a minimum 3.25 GPA and demonstrate a history of commitment to their community through leadership activities, community service, and/or work experience.

Click here: 
http://www.collegegreenlight.com/page/scholarships/details.jsp?scholarshipID=2931

Deadline: Feb 28
Average Award: $2,500Awards
Granted:140

Buick Achievers Scholarship Program: $2,000 - $25,000

This scholarship is for high school seniors, high school graduates, and current post-secondary undergraduate students who plan to enroll full-time in an undergraduate program at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States or Puerto Rico for the entire upcoming academic year. To qualify for this scholarship, applicants must plan to major in a course of study that focuses on engineering/technology or select design- and business-related areas of study. Eligible majors include Automotive Technology, Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Controls Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Energy Engineering, Engineering Technology, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Information Technology, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Plastics/Polymer Engineering, Software Engineering, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Product Design, Transportation Design, Accounting, Business Administration, Ergonomics, Finance, Industrial Hygiene, International Business, Labor & Industrial Relations, Management Information Systems, Marketing, Mathematics, Occupational Health & Safety, Production Management, Statistics, and Supply Chain/Logistics. Applicants must demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in the automotive or related industries while using these areas of study. Applicants must be US citizens and have permanent residence in the United States. Scholarships will be awarded based on academic achievement; financial need; and participation and leadership in community and school activities, work experience, and interest in pursuing a career in the automotive or related industry. Special consideration will be given to first-generation college students, women, minorities, and military veterans or dependents of military personnel. Scholarship applications must be submitted online; the program opens for applications in early January.

Click here: 
http://www.collegegreenlight.com/page/scholarships/details.jsp?scholarshipID=4078

Deadline:	Feb 28
Award Range:	$2,000 - $25,000
Awards Granted:	1100
Renewable:	This scholarship is renewable

100 Black Men of America Future Leader Scholarship Program

This scholarship is for high school seniors and college undergraduate students who will maintain full-time status at an accredited, post-secondary institution beginning in the fall of the current year. To qualify for this scholarship, applicants must have a GPA of 2.5 or greater, plan to attend school for an entire academic year, and have completed 50 hours of "active" community service within the past 12 months with certified documentation. Applicants must also have leadership involvement (such as students who have held an office as a president, treasurer, etc., in high school, college, or an organization; students who have been captains of a team; students that have started an organization or developed a program or item that helped to benefit the community at large; etc.). Scholarships are awarded on an equal opportunity basis regardless of race, sex, creed, or religious preference. To apply for this scholarship, applicants must submit a 600-word essay addressing one of five given 
topics. 

Click here
http://www.collegegreenlight.com/page/scholarships/details.jsp?scholarshipID=37320

Deadline: Feb 28
Award Range: $1,000 - $2,000

Optimist International Essay Contest Scholarships

This contest is for students under the age of 19 who have not yet graduated from high school or the equivalent. To apply, applicants must contact their local Optimist Club and submit an essay on the given topic: "How Can I Help My Friends Realize Their Value."

Click here:
http://www.collegegreenlight.com/page/scholarships/details.jsp?scholarshipID=2064

Deadline: Feb 28
Average Award: $2,500

Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship

This scholarship is for US high school seniors who are graduating from high school in the spring of 2013. To qualify for this scholarship, applicants must be vegetarians and have promoted vegetarianism in their schools and/or communities. Applicants will be judged on having shown compassion, courage, and a strong commitment to promoting a peaceful world through a vegetarian diet/lifestyle. To apply for this scholarship, applicants must submit an essay addressing all the topics listed on the website. 

Click here:
http://www.collegegreenlight.com/page/scholarships/details.jsp?scholarshipID=2801

Deadline:	Feb 20
Average Award:	$5,000
Awards Granted:	2

Scholarship: The Christophers' Poster Contest

This contest is for students in grades nine through twelve. To apply, applicants must create an original poster that interprets the theme "You Can Make a Difference," and illustrates the idea that one person can change the world for the better. Posters will be judged on overall impact, effectiveness in conveying the theme, originality, and artistic merit. Award: $100 - $1,000  Deadline: Feb. 18, 2013   Awards Granted: 8 

Click here:
http://www.collegegreenlight.com/page/scholarships/details.jsp?scholarshipID=6318