Travelers Rest High School -

can consist of a combination of grants, scholarships, loans, work-study, etc.

NONFEDERAL SOURCES OF FINANCIAL AID

% There are many nonfederal sources of financial aid information - state, private, and college. You should contact the South Carolina State agencies for information about state programs. You might also qualify for a private grant or scholarship for academic achievement, religious affiliation, ethnic or racial heritage, community activities, artistic talents, leadership potential, athletic ability, proposed field of study, or hobbies, and special interests.

% You can get free scholarship and search services information at www.finaid.org and college-scholarships.com/100college.htm.

O The South Carolina Tuition Grants Program is administered by the SC Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission and is made possible through an annual appropriation by the South Carolina General Assembly. The purpose of the program is to provide undergraduate grant assistance to eligible SC residents attending, on a full-time basis, certain independent non-profit colleges located in the state. You apply for a SC Tuition Grant by completing the FAFSA. By submitting the FAFSA to the federal government’s processor and by listing the SC independent college of your choice in the college choice section, the Tuition Grants Commission will be able to electronically receive your application information to calculate SC Tuition Grant eligibility. Be sure to accurately complete all questions on the FAFSA regarding state residency!

O Financial need is a requirement to receive a SC Tuition Grant. To calculate financial need, the Commission considers family income, family assets, cost of selected college, number of family members in the household, and the number of household members attending college. In addition to financial need, academic merit is also required to receive a SC Tuition Grant.

O One of the goals of the Legislative Incentives for Future Excellence (LIFE) Scholarship Program is to increase SC students’ access to higher education. The program provides funding for scholarships in the amount of $4700 to eligible students attending four-year public and independent colleges and universities.

O For a student entering as a college freshman in the year 2002 and beyond, LIFE Scholarship requirements are 1100 SAT (24 ACT), and a 3.0 GPA. or top 30% of class rank. A student must meet 2 of the three at the end of their senior year to qualify.

O The SAT/ACT score is not required for students attending two-year or technical colleges. If you attend a four-year college or university, it is permissible to select verbal and math scores from different test administrations. In addition, you must enter college within 1 year and 3 months of your high school graduation. If you enter college in a year other than your graduation year, you will be required to meet the required SAT/ACT score the year you enter college, not the year of your high school graduation.

O In order to be eligible to apply for a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, you must have made a 1200 on the SAT or 27 on the ACT; earn a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale at the end of the junior year; and rank in the top five percent of the class at the end of either the sophomore or junior year. The SAT score may be obtained by combining the highest math and the highest verbal scores. You must also be a resident of South Carolina.

O If you are selected to receive a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, you can be awarded up to $7000 to pursue a baccalaureate degree at a participating institution in South Carolina. Once the scholarship has been reserved at a college, the scholarship cannot be transferred between different types of institutions (public to private or private to public).

O South Carolina Need-Based Grants are available to students who are designated as needy based on Federal Financial Aid Guidelines determined through FAFSA. Need-Based Grants funds for private colleges and universities are transferred to the SC Tuition Grants Commission and incorporated into the Tuition Grants Program. For students attending public colleges and universities in SC, the Need-Based Grants Program is campus-administered. For initial and continued eligibility, you must be enrolled in an eligible program of study and be a resident of South Carolina. The Grant may not exceed $2500 per academic year if you are enrolled full-time and $1200 per academic year if enrolled part-time.

O You can learn more about South Carolina financial aid information by visiting the web site of the South Carolina Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators at www.clemson.edu/SCASFAA.

O The Greenville County Library and TRHS’s library have books with various scholarship and grants listed.

O Many businesses and industries offer scholarships to children of employees. Check out these scholarships in the Human Resources office.

O If you have a part-time job, check with your employer. There may be scholarships available.

O Civic clubs, fraternities, sororities, foundations, and churches may offer scholarships. Check with your local newspaper, grocery store bulletin boards, church secretaries, etc.

O Uncle Sam may be another option. You may want him as much as he wants you! Check with your local recruitment offices.

O College financial aid officers. They are the authorities on financial aid at their particular institutions. Discuss your financial situation with them.

O Scholarship information that is sent to the senior guidance counselor will be publicized through your senior newsletter, which will be issued every month and distributed to you in homeroom. This information will be posted in senior homerooms, senior English classes, and in the Guidance Office.

O The best financial aid information and programs are usually free. You should not buy expensive books that promise to lead you to financial aid, especially scholarship assistance. Nor should you pay an application fee to a scholarship program or scholarship search service.

O Investigate all federal and state government programs. Never assume that your income and your parents’ income will make you ineligible for aid.

O Greenville County students may apply for the J.E. Sirrine Scholarship Program. In addition to the scholarship application, a financial aid form must be completed. The scholarship is based on need and merit. You can pick up an application in Guidance after January 1. You must either complete the PROFILE or send a copy of your SAR to the Sirrine Scholarship Office.

O The Greenville Urban League’s Talent Search counselor visits high schools throughout the school year. He is an excellent resource person for financial aid information. Free SAT workshops are sponsored by the Urban League.

O The School District of Greenville County offers financial aid workshops at various high schools in the month of December of each year. You and your parents may attend any of these workshops. The dates will be announced as soon as they are set and printed in the PTSA newsletter and in the Greenville News.

O You may have heard people say that there are millions of scholarship dollars that go unclaimed each year. Thereare, in fact, many scholarships, but many of these scholarships have specific qualifications such as a certain (usually high) GPA, a rank that is in the top 5% of the class, a specific SAT or ACT score (again, usually high), a specific ethnic or religious group, a particular college major, outstanding leadership skills, talent, athletic ability, etc.

O Academic scholarships generally will require you to have a high GPA (3.5 or higher), high test scores (SAT 1200+ or ACT 27+), high rank in class (5-10%), outstanding recommendations, various extracurricular activities and/or community service.

O Information relative to the scholarships may change from year to year (criteria, dollar amount, and deadlines for applying). Many colleges offer scholarships through special funds, trusts, and endowments. It is beyond the scope of this booklet to include each college’s scholarship opportunities. You should contact a college’s financial office to obtain a list of their scholarships.

O The monthly “Senior Scoop” will list any scholarships that arrive in the guidance office. If the student qualifies, then he or she should

TEST DATES 2003-2004

SAT I

DATE REGULAR DEADLINE LATE DEADLINE

OCT 11 SEPT. 9 SEPT. 13

NOV. 1 SEPT. 26 OCT. 8

DEC. 6 OCT. 30 NOV. 12

JAN 24 DEC. 22 DEC. 31

MAR. 27 FEB. 20 MAR. 4

MAY 1 MAR. 25 APR. 7

JUNE 5 MAY 2 MAY 12

Travelers Rest High School’s Code Number = 41198