This document provides information and advice about applying for college scholarships and financial aid. It outlines steps like researching colleges, tracking deadlines, documenting accomplishments, obtaining letters of recommendation, completing scholarship applications and essays, filing the FAFSA, accepting scholarship offers, and investigating external funding sources. The document emphasizes being organized, meeting requirements, and taking full advantage of financial aid opportunities.

1. College Scholarships &
Financial Aid
Tim Woods, Assistant Director
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships

2. College Checklist
 List of potential colleges/universities
 Research and bookmark each institution’s
website, including the financial aid office
 Know the application requirements – apply
online or paper application?
 Retain passwords/usernames required for
electronic applications
 Keep up with deadlines – create a
spreadsheet to check off completed items

3. Cost of Attendance
Transportation
Tuition/Fees
Miscellaneous
Books/Supplies
Room/Board

4. Accomplishments / Involvement
• Keep a detailed record of your
participation in extracurricular activities
and positions you held
• Community involvement
• Awards/Recognitions
• Participation in academically advanced
courses
• Employment history
• Other noteworthy details about you

5. Required Documentation
• Provide and obtain all necessary
documents needed for your
admissions/scholarship applications
– Academic transcripts
– Standardized test scores
– Deadlines for supporting documentation?
– Application fees?
– Letters of recommendation required?

6. Letters of Recommendation
• Carefully select recommenders
• Choose at least one teacher – someone
familiar with your work/abilities
• Other recommenders – guidance counselor,
coach, employer, community leader, etc…
• Alert your recommenders of any deadlines
and names of schools you are considering –
be considerate of their time and
generosity in writing a recommendation

7. Types of Scholarships
• Competitive Scholarships
• Scholarships based upon specific major
• 4-year vs. 1-year scholarship awards
• Performance Scholarships – research
any tryouts or portfolios and due dates
• Automatically Awarded Scholarships

8. Scholarship Applicant Reviews
• GPA / Standardized Test Scores –
weighted grades and super-scored tests
• Participation in extracurricular
activities and community involvement
• Leadership roles
• Academically advanced courses
• Letters of recommendation
• Essay – writing sample

9. Scholarship Essays
• Basics – spellcheck, proofread, carefully
chosen words to express your ideas
• Be prepared to discuss your essay
• Do not labor over which side you
choose, as your focus should be on
conveying your ideas/thoughts on the
topic
• Concise, well structured composition
• Avoid overuse of thesaurus

10. UT Essay for Scholarships
• Leadership and Experience Essay
– This part of the application is required only for
students who wish to be considered for UT’s
competitive scholarships, including Chancellor’s
Scholarships, College and Departmental
Scholarships, and Alumni Scholarships
– Please describe one important activity outside of class
during your high school years that has been an
important experience for you, particularly one in which
you played a leadership role. Explain how this activity
has helped in your growth and intellectual or personal
development.
– Maximum length should be 600 words.

11. Scholarship Offers
• Carefully review scholarship offers
• Additional requirements to secure award?
• Stackable with other scholarship offers?
• Renewable, need to reapply, other questions?
• Do not overlook reply deadline – May 1
• Be considerate of other applicants, who might
be an alternate for your scholarship
• Request an extension, if needed
• Understand requirements for continued
eligibility

12. Tennessee Education Lottery
Scholarship (TELS)
• Tennessee Student Assistant
Corporation (TSAC) determines
eligibility
• HOPE Scholarship
• Supplement to HOPE – Merit or
Financial need
• Must file the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually
and list your school of attendance first

13. FAFSA
• Financial need-based scholarships
• Federal & state grants
• Federal work study
• Student & Parent loans
• Know each college/university deadline
for filing FAFSA – may differ
• “Ok” to estimate financial information

14. FAFSA Continued…
• Use previous year’s tax returns, when
estimating income data (do not guess)
• Obligated to update, once federal
income tax returns submitted
• Be prepared to provide supporting
documentation, if chosen for
verification or school audit
• Speak up, if your circumstances have
changed since filing your FAFSA

15. Externally Awarded Funds
• Investigate opportunities from
reputable sources
• Civic Organizations
• Major Corporations
• Parent’s Employer
• High School
• Church or Credit Union

16. External Resources
• Student Outreach Services (S.O.S.)
• High School Guidance Counselor
• Local College Financial Aid Office
• Chamber of Commerce
• Local Library
• Internet

17. Helpful Websites
• www.fastweb.com
• www.finaid.org
• www.fafsa.gov
• www.tn.gov/CollegePays/mon_college/sc
holarships.htm
• www.ed.gov

18. College Choice
• Review all offers and compare with the
specific cost of attendance
• Reflect on academic offerings, as well as
scholarship and financial aid
• Request additional information about
opportunities for subsequent school years
of attendance
• Respond to all colleges & universities, as
your decline can impact the life of a weight
listed applicant for admissions and
scholarships