Financial Aid and Scholarships
Scholarship and Financial Aid Help
Do you have questions about what scholarships are currently available, how to apply for a scholarship and what to do when you are awarded a scholarship? Roosevelt Counselors are available to help you with your questions.
Financial Aid
It is now time for both parents and students to acquire a FAFSA ID. Information on federal student aid programs and applying for financial aid.
Besides applying for FAFSA or WASFA, you can use other tools to learn more about paying for college.
Sallie Mae offers free college planning tools, videos and valuable information to help students and families plan for college
Scholarship Search Sites
There are many scholarship websites and search engines. You can use College Board, FastWeb, or any others that you find helpful. Listed below are a few that we recommend for being more specific.
- Scholarship Junkies – Developed by a UW student. Provides free support for finding and applying to scholarships as well as college application essay help.
- Lend Edu – This site features thousands of small and unique scholarship opportunities. The goal is to help students find less competitive awards tailored to their personality, interests and career goals.
- WashBoard – Scholarship search engine specifically for Washington State students.
- Western Undergraduate Exchange program – site provides information about the reduced tuition opportunities at participating state schools in the Western region – can reduce the cost of out-of-state tuition at participating public universities.
General Scholarship Information
There are scholarships available for all grade levels at RHS. Students and families are encouraged to begin their search early, look everywhere, and apply for the appropriate ones.
Getting Started with the Scholarship Process
In addition, here is some information that will help seniors get started and optimize successful search for financial aid and scholarships. For planning purposes, it is important that 9-11 graders know this information as well.
Categories of Scholarships and Honors
- Given by universities/colleges
- Given by the Greater Seattle community
- Given by National organizations and businesses
- Given by the Roosevelt High School Community
Accessing Scholarships, Grants and Honors
- The most important step to take is to apply to the universities/ colleges of your choice in a timely manner. Some will designate a special deadline for certain internal merit scholarships. It is always best to get your applications in earlier than the deadline. And, always complete anything on them that says ‘recommended’. If schools like what they see, they will bestow whatever they want and can give.
- The second most important step is to complete the FAFSA and the college’s own financial aid forms way in advance of the deadlines. In some cases, the PROFILE also needs to be completed. Number 1 and 2 secure the bulk of the potential to win scholarships, grants, or other forms of financial aid. You supplement them with ‘other’ scholarships mentioned below. And, depending on how astute and tireless you are in your efforts, this supplementation can be pretty good. We want our students to have optimum opportunities so we ask that students complete and submit their FAFSA, Institutional Financial Aid Forms and the Profile (if necessary) by February 14TH-Valentine’s Day . Keep in mind that some schools require forms on or before February 1st.
- ‘Merit based-bestowed’ provided you’ve met deadlines, etc., are based on GPA; transcripts; level of difficulty of current courses; and PSAT, ACT/SAT testing
- National Merit Finalist/Semi-Finalist/Commended
- WA State Scholarships & Honors (These are the “don’t call us, we’ll call you” constellation of honors and scholarships. They are based on WA state guidelines and rules for which we have no control.)
- Roosevelt scholarships-these are a constellation of scholarships whereby the donor has asked for a ‘nomination(s)’ or for ‘pre-screened’ candidates from the building. Donors may also ask for a ‘recipient’ to be selected. All graduating seniors are notified in the senior calendar that they can apply for this in November – December. Applications are picked up in the Counseling office and are due the third day back in January. A call goes out to the staff for anyone wishing to be on the scholarship committee (Counselors are automatically on the committee) and the meeting is convened in early March. At that time all nominations, etc. are decided upon and the work proceeds.
- Depending on the donors, there are some awards or scholarships that don’t require the scholarship committee, which the individual departments, counselors, or the entire school staff may be invited, to select.
- Student searches on the website, parent’s workplace, religious organizations, and sometimes elementary and middle school connections have gotten them scholarships. Hence, it is possible for the student to find a scholarship that has not come to the building.
- There are several awards honoring juniors sponsored by individual colleges or their alumni in hopes of encouraging a person to attend their school-though there is no obligation unless you accept specific awards and sign for them.
- It is really important for you to be where your class schedule says you are for notifications first go out to the classrooms. If you are a full-time Running Start student notifications will be sent to you. You need to be vigilant as to where your teacher places mail for students who were absent. You need to read the Daily Bulletin. It is also important to keep your address and phone numbers updated.
- Keep in mind that if you think your class rank will help you; send a transcript with it. However, if you decide that your ranking may not help, consult with your Counselor as to whether it would be beneficial to have an official transcript without ranking for the scholarship application. You must ask two-three days in advance for this to be prepared. RHS seniors have lots of high grades. Some scholarship committees may be too busy to interpret any rankings they see correctly. And many scholarships are less sensitive to this fine detail.
- Competition for scholarships varies from none at all to extremely competitive. Some come for just the asking while others are won after excruciating competition. The important thing is that you apply. You will never know if you don’t apply.
- The key rule is to apply for everything and anything for which you qualify regardless of the amount. When added together, every bit helps.