TRIO Pre-College Programs

Financial Aid

Upward Bound/Talent Search actively helps each student find sources of financial aid and scholarships to pay for school.  We also work with students in filling out forms and writing essays for government and private scholarships to ensure that all applications are completed on time.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

  1. Apply for admission if you are just starting college.
  2. Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA - located at www.fafsa.ed.gov). 
  3. Return the completed FAFSA as soon after October 1 and before October 31 to be eligible for all aid. Submit the FAFSA whether or not you think you will qualify for aid.
  4. Keep your address current at the college you are planning to attend.
  5. When you receive the Student Aid Report (SAR) review it carefully. If you need to make any corrections do so and then return SAR as promptly as possible. Call the federal processor if you do not receive your SAR in 4-6 weeks. Note your data release number. Check to see if your SAR was chosen for verification.
  6. Watch the mail for your Financial Aid Award Letter you will receive from your college.
  7. Sign and return your Award Letter and promissory note.

How the FAFSA works

Using the information you supply on the FAFSA, the federal processor determines your expected family contribution (EFC), the amount of money parents can expect to contribute to their student's college costs. Your prospective college then applies a simple equation to decide how much financial aid you will need. Your prospective college will then try to meet your needs through a financial aid package made up of funds from federal, state, school, and private sources as well as loans and student employment.

Grants, Loans, Scholarships

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
http://www.nasfaa.org/students/About_Financial_Aid.aspx
The Smarter Student Guide to Financial Aid: Other Types of Aid
http://www.finaid.org/otheraid/
Financial Aid Path.com
http://www.financialaidpath.com/
 

Budgeting for College

Budget Worksheet for College Students
Establishing a College Budget
13 Tips for College Students from Forbes
 

Scholarship Links

Portland State University Scholarship Application
PSU Diversity Scholarship Program
Oregon Scholarship and Grant List
JLV College Counseling Scholarships by Month
Office of Student Access & Completion (OSAC) - Oregon State Scholarships 
FINAID Nationwide Scholarship Search
Sallie Mae's Wired Scholar Website
College Greenlight - Scholarships on a monthly basis.  Also a tab for Undocumented Students.
Generation Progress - Scholarships for undocumented Students

APIASF GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP - The APIASF General Scholarship is open to Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) high school and college students who will be enrolling or are currently enrolled in a U.S. accredited college or university as a degree-seeking undergraduate student in the upcoming academic year. There are multiple scholarship opportunities that vary in award amount, number of years, field of study, location, and more. Additional Information: http://www.apiasf.org/scholarship_apiasf.html

Oregon State University

University of Oregon
Diversity Excellence Scholarship
Presidential Scholarship
General University Scholarship 

Black United Fund
Coca-Cola Scholarship
Jack Kent Cooke
Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
Dell Scholarship Program
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Kaiser Scholarship
Wells Fargo
ELKS Scholarship
Horatio Alger Oregon Scholarship Program
Ron Brown Scholar Program

Mark's Financial Aid Calculator Free, accurate, and completely confidential calculators to provide you with a better understanding of college financing and planning for the future.
FASTWeb Scholarship Search "The largest free scholarship search on the Internet." Also provides info on career choices and financial aid.
FAFSA Online Instructions and information for filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS---PSU Answers to some of students' most common questions about paying for college.
Student Planning: Mapping Your Future Information to help you plan your career, select a school, and pay for your education.


Scholarship Essay Tips

The Smarter Student Guide to Financial Aid: Essay Writing
GoCollege.com Essay How-To
Essay Info.com - Scholarship Essay

SAT/ACT Test Preparation

SAT Registration: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/dates-deadlines
ACT Registration http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration.html
College Board Practice Tests for the NEW SAT - https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/practice/full-length-practice-tests
Best SAT Prep Books - http://blog.prepscholar.com/best-sat-prep-books
How to Get 800 on Reading - http://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-get-800-on-sat-reading-10-strategies-by-a-perfect-scorer
Veritas Test Prep - http://www.veritasprep.com/free-sat-resources/
Number 2.com ---Test Prep
The Princeton Review - free practice test
Dome SAT Review: http://domesatreview.com
Erik's SAT Review: http://www.erikthered.com/tutor/sat-act-calendar.html
MySATPractice.com offers free preparation tools for students preparing for the SAT: http://www.mySATpractice.com
College Board - Critical Reading, Mathematics, Writing -http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/prep_one/prep_one.html
Free Official SAT & ACT Practice Tests - https://www.powerscore.com/sat/help/content_practice_tests.cfm
Internet4Classrooms – SAT/ACT Preparation Resources- http://www.internet4classrooms.com/act_sat.htm
Test Prep Review – SAT/ACT - http://www.testprepreview.com/act_practice.htm
Study Guide Zone
SAT: http://www.studyguidezone.com/sattest.htm
ACT: http://www.studyguidezone.com/acttest.htm
College Scholarships.org - list of SAT/ACT Resources
ACT only: http://www.actstudent.org/testprep/index.html

Vocabulary Development

http://www.vocabsushi.com/
5000 Free Words
Root Words & Prefixes: Quick Reference - https://www.learnthat.org/pages/view/roots.html
Test your knowledge of the meanings of latin and greek roots and prefixes - https://www.quia.com/jg/66094.html
Simple teaching : roots, prefixes and suffixes - http://www.betterendings.org/homeschool/words/root%20words.htm

    College Search

    Washington Monthly College Guide and Rankings. UnlikeU.S. News and World Report and similar guides, this one asks not what colleges can do for you, but what colleges are doing for the country. 

    Online Schools Guidebook: Learning Online For K-12 & College Students - the current state of online education, an in-depth look at the benefits and experience of an online education; choosing an online school or program; the methods, technologies and resources employed by schools in program and course delivery; online learning and students with disabilities; tips for student success.

    Homeless Youth and Higher Education -  The guide below highlights challenges commonly faced and provides information on resources for those trying to earn a degree while battling homelessness.

    Living without a Home: A Resource Guide for Homeless Students

    First Generation Student.com - This site is full of info for first-generation college students – kids who will be the first in their families to go to college. You’ve got a lot of questions about how to pay for college, where to apply, or what you need to do right now!

    Downloads for First Generation Students - College Planning: Some great PDF's and checklists for 9-12th grade students, in Spanish and English.

    Common Application Form
    The Common Application is the recommended form of 241 selective colleges and universities for admission to their undergraduate programs. Here is a list of Colleges that accept the Common Application form.

    College Board Online Home Page
    The main page of the College Board, providing information on college searching, financial aid, test prep and more.

    Oregon University System
    Links to colleges, universities and community colleges in the Portland area and throughout Oregon.

    A List of U.S. Universities
    Links to nearly every college that has a web page.

    Peterson's Education Center
    A guide to searching for, applying to and financing college.

    Think College
    A site by the U.S Department of Education on the importance of going to college.

    "Career" Colleges and Trade Programs
    A list of local Portland colleges designed to prepare students quickly for a career or trade.

     

    Great Career Links

    Date Science and Related Career Directory: 
    https://www.discoverdatascience.org/career-information/

    Computer Science Online:  Educational Resources, Degrees, and Career Tracks
    http://www.computerscienceonline.org/

    The promotion of Women in computer science:
    http://www.computerscienceonline.org/cs-programs-for-women/

    The learning of computer science and coding at a young age. See the "Coding before College" guide: http://www.computerscienceonline.org/cs-programs-before-college/

    Discussion on the advantages of a masters degree in computer science: 
    http://www.computerscienceonline.org/degree-programs/masters/

    Nursing Specialties Guide - We have created a list of the most popular nursing specialties, including the type of work each entails, granting new nursing students and graduates a closer look into the diverse field of nursing care.

    Interview Tools: Career Aptitude Tests and Assessments: Interest, Aptitude/Skill, and Personality Tests. 

    Science Jobs.com Within www.science-jobs-search.com you can access  science jobs, life science jobs, biotech jobs, medical research jobs, clinical research jobs, scientist jobs listing.

    PSU Career Center Extensive links useful in finding a job or deciding on a career.

    Oregon Career Information System (OCIS) Career info system used by schools in Oregon

    Online Career Center Features worldwide job information, updates on job fairs and career opportunities. (Monster.com)

    CareerMagazine: Career-Related Links job openings, resume banks, diversity.

    Teenager's Guide to the Real World Online is an informative site that includes career and college links.

    Mapping Your Future This site has a ton of planning information.

    The Career Key A free public service to help people make sound career decisions

    Career Builder Online Job Fairs, The Career Network, International Gateway, Career Resource Center & college Connection.

    Hispanic Career Center a site devoted exclusively to promoting Hispanic careers and education.

    Society of Women Engineers

    A Complete Guide to LPN Programs and Careers

    Microsoft Job Announcements  jobs in the firm in various capacities.

     AT&T Job Station Student Resources: discounts, customized job/internship announcements.

    Complete High School Guide to Finding a Career

    Career Resource Center jobs posted now!!

    Careerpath claims to have the Web's largest number of current job listings

    College Board Online Career Search Students can learn about various aspects of careers, including nature of work, working conditions, training and earnings.

    My Future.com is a site for non-college careers including the military and vocational careers.

    Online Doctorates: Discover the 100% Online Doctorate Programs for 2018

    JobStar This site offers career guides divided by subject area.

    Biotechnology The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) has a site with definition of positions related to biotechnology.

    National Academy of Science has published a book on careers in science and engineering.

    America's Job Bank A helpful job-listing resource for both employers and job-seekers nationwide.

    Employment Security's WORK Page Washington On-Line-Reemployment kiosk

    Seattle Times Classified Ads Regular Classified section of this prestigious newspaper.

    Paralegal Associations Legal resources, Networking, Products & Services, etc.

    Computers/Information Technology The Computer World site has a career section with information about careers in IT, including sample job description, workplace condition, training, and job outlook.

    Women in STEM: 
    https://www.discoverdatascience.org/resources/guide-for-women-in-stem/

    Careers with Numbers: 
    https://www.discoverdatascience.org/resources/exploring-a-career-with-numbers/

    Data Science Graduate Certificate's:  
    https://www.discoverdatascience.org/programs/data-science-certification/