A NEW YEAR IS UPON US

Greetings, Seniors!  

A new year...your graduation year... is upon us.  

Before you know it, you will have walked across the stage and into the next phase of your life.  IF you plan to continue on to college (as I know most of you do), you will need these special "gifts" to aid you.  

• Scholarship offers
• Admission offers
• Your Financial Aid package from the college you plan to attend
• Healthy relationships
• Poignant memories
• Crucial skills

The next 10 days may be a "Make It or Break It" time for key scholarships.  Review guidelines carefully so see if you meet GPA, ACT, and income requirements.  

• SAEOPP is due to me by January 8 (I can edit your essay as soon as you finish it).  I have to submit your application, so get it done soon.  
• SMITH Scholarship is due by January 10.  Completed, it's 40+ pages, so you need to get this done NOW.  

I will be available ALL DAY (8:00--5:00) on January 2 and 3 and January 9 (8:00--2:00) at my office.  This is the BEST WAY to get help.  I can't write your essays, but I CAN give you help.  

Today....GRRRR....I'm assisting females who qualify with Linly Heflin.  Tomorrow, I will be ready to help with other scholarships.

SMITH RECOMMENDATIONS

I just completed ONE Smith recommendation.  My part is 6 pages printed (YIKES!).  You need to make sure you let your recommenders know IMMEDIATELY so they can get their part done.  

Ms. Cottrell said that she needed to know IF you needed a recommendation from her no later than December 20.  

SMITH (up to $15,000 per year for 4 years)

IN PAST YEARS, WINNERS HAVE WORKED 3—6 weeks on the application.  YOU MUST HAVE ALL ESSAYS DONE BY January 6^th so I have time to edit them all.

·       ACT of 20 or higher

·       3.0 or higher GPA

·       Pages 1 and 2 of your parents’ 1040 (Scan and your Google Drive)

·       FAFSA SAR (Download and put in your Google Drive)

·       ESSAYS (START THE APPLICATION TO SEE WHAT IS REQUIRED).  Let me know your email and password.

·       FULL LIST of Community Service and volunteer work  (estimate the total number of hours)

·       FULL LIST of Honors and Awards

·       Leadership—If you have held office in an organization or have been a TRIO Upward Bound Ambassador, put this on your résumé.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

You MUST request these before December 14^th (My recommendation is to request the letter NOW and include your detailed résumé.) 

Please make an effort to get this done ASAP so that the professional you ask has time to do it.  
SELECT PEOPLE WHO KNOW YOU WELL. 

o   I will be your main recommender.  I write good letters, about your character, drive, academic abilities, and goals for college.  Make sure to let me know what your goals are and where you plan to attend college.  For seniors who have already asked me for letters of recommendation, yours are DONE. I need a DETAILED résumé. 

§  Mary Jo Buff

§  University of Montevallo TRIO Upward Bound Academic Coordinator

§  UB Station 6268 Montevallo, AL 35115

§  buffmj@montevallo.edu

§  (205) 665-6289

o   Either a teacher/principal at your school can be a 2^nd recommender.

§  You will need all of this information for the 2^nd recommender.

o   Ms. Cottrell, a pastor, youth leader, or another teacher can be a recommender if you need a 3^rd one—SMITH USUALLY REQUIRES 3.  (If you use Ms. Cottrell, please have your résumé to her with your request for a letter of recommendation.

§  Alexandria Cottrell

§  University of Montevallo TRIO Upward Bound Student Development Coordinator

§  Acottre1@montevallo.edu

§   (205) 660 1043 (text Ms. Cottrell’s Google Voice)

§  You will need all of this information for the 3^rd recommender.

Other people who can help you

Jamaica Dunigan                 jamaicadunigan@gmail.com (251) 767-7193

            Editing essays; Ideas for topics in Smith essays/goals for the future

Nick Preston                        npreston@montevallo.edu (205) 299-7076

            Ideas for topics in Smith /goals for the future

Tiffany Thomas                   thomastiffany142@gmail.com (205) 769-5103

Ideas for topics in Smith and Linly Heflin essays/goals for the future

Gabby Pringle                     pringleg@bibbed.org        (205) 454-2296

Ideas for topics in Smith and Linly Heflin essays/goals for the future

Stephanie McGregor         mcgregors51498@gmail.com (256) 861-4305

Editing Essays; Ideas for topics/goals for the future

UM ENROLLMENT DEPOSIT WAIVER

GOOD NEWS!  

Seniors, if you meet this two criteria, you may not have to pay the $100 Enrollment Deposit Fee Waiver here at UM.  Here are the requirements:  

• IF you are planning to attend UM in the Fall of 2020 and
• IF you qualify for a Pell Grant

Follow this link to apply:  https://dynamicforms.ngwebsolutions.com/Submit/Form/Page?form=340a109f-daea-42f8-afb0-c4733fd8f16b&page=148397&token=GKlFs6XJuENK1gF2xAo6QO6uGWUlPdj2fvehixQFK%2Bc%3D

A special SHOUT OUT to Nick Preston for letting me know this even exists!

EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS!

Smith Scholarship 2020 UPDATE

OK. We now know what is expected on the Smith application. It is VERY intense...when done, it is 42 pages of information printed. EVERYTHING HAS TO BE SUBMITTED ONLINE, and you will need help, so start it NOW.

(These responses need to be about 250 words.  MAKE THEM THOUGHTFUL ANSWERS...SOMETHING THAT WILL STAND OUT).

• Describe a special person (friend, teacher, relative) who has helped you in good and bad times?
• What are your greatest STRENGTHS or TALENTS?
• What is the greatest weakness or the biggest mistake you have ever made? (Please describe in detail--Do not limit your answer to “stole a candy bar”)
• What have you done to combat this weakness or changes you have made to prevent yourself from repeating this mistake?  
• Explain your Financial Need.  Write about your family life, income, and other restraints that contribute to your Financial need.
• Why do you want to go to College?  

SMITH (up to $15,000 per year for 4 years)

IN PAST YEARS, WINNERS HAVE WORKED 3—6 weeks on the application.  YOU MUST HAVE ALL ESSAYS DONE BY January 6^th so I have time to edit them all.

• ·       ACT of 20 or higher
• ·       3.0 or higher GPA
• ·       Pages 1 and 2 of your parents’ 1040 (Scan and your Google Drive)
• ·       FAFSA SAR (Download and put in your Google Drive)
• ·       TRANSCRIPT
• ·       ESSAYS (START THE APPLICATION TO SEE WHAT IS REQUIRED).  Let me know your email and password.
• ·       FULL LIST of Community Service and volunteer work  (estimate the total number of hours)
• ·       FULL LIST of Honors and Awards
• ·       Leadership—If you have held office in an organization or have been a TRIO Upward Bound Ambassador, put this on your résumé.

Here are the new Smith questions (2020) 

Provide your own personal reasons instead of generic standard examples.

The Essay (Actually, there are 2).

·        Applicants own essay on future plans of accomplishment for yourself.  It is important that organization, spelling, grammar as well as content be reviewed or proofread.  (At least 500 words minimum, 1000 preferably)

·        Applicant’s own essay documenting community and civic oriented activities or assistance to family.  (At least 500 words minimum, 1000 words preferably)

I will be available on January 2, 3rd, and 6th. My suggestion is that you MAKE TIME to come to UM to work on this.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING NOW

So December is here.  I've set up an outline of what you should be doing for scholarships in December and January.  Remember, don't look at the due dates as much as WHEN you can begin.  Get busy NOW making use of EVERY opportunity you can for help. 

TWO MAJOR SCHOLARSHIPS COMING DUE SOON

• Linly Heflin (December 30)  Females with 23 or higher and qualify for a Pell Grant
• https://linlyheflin.formstack.com/forms/2020_scholarship_application
• Smith Scholarship (January 10)  Students who have overcome adversity, excelled in school and leadership  (It's a new application, so the prompts may have changed).
• https://smithscholarships.smapply.io/

Both of these scholarships are HUGE (both in the rewards of an astounding scholarship and in what will be expected of you).  BOTH NEED TO BE STARTED NOW.

After seeing HOW LATE everyone waited to do the actual Dell application, I've set up several additional dates to help you.

• December 7  Super Saturday  8:15--12:15  If you are working on scholarships, you need to be here, (and this would be a GREAT time to get help from MJB and other tutors).

• December 14  SPECIAL Super Saturday  8:15--12:15 You must sign up/cancel by 12:00 noon on Friday, Dec. 13.  (Again, this would be a GREAT time to get help from MJB and other tutors).  The Smith Scholarship is HUGE and will take at least 3-4 weeks to complete.  START EARLY!
• December 19-21  There will be SOME help available for editing essays, but the main parts of Smith/Linly Heflin should be done 

UM closes on December 16th, but I will have SOME time (as will other tutors) to help you with your applications.  DO NOT wait until December 24-25 to work on these.  I WILL NOT be available.  Furthermore, I will have limited time on December 29-30 because of family.  

Please plan to be at the December 10th Senior Success Seminar.  We will ALL be together and I will be leading the charge to make sure you know what to do.