So why is THIS year your year?

Well, it mostly has to do with the new pair of awesome boots you bought on sale in August that will undoubtedly catapult you into a higher social status, but it’s also the fact that you’ve been hustling on Cappex to keep up with your college goals.

So here is why THIS is your year:

1. You have your college search under control
This is your year because instead of fretting over how you’re possibly going to find your perfect college match, you’ve already taken the time to find which colleges and universities suit you best. That frees you up for putting your anxiety where it should be: on your social life and/or homework.

2. You have some scholarships under your belt
Thinking about staying in on Friday nights to save mullah? Too bad. You’ve already saved money by applying for scholarships that you’ve been matched to. That means you have to go bowling even if you don’t feel like it because you have the extra cash (bring your own socks…trust me).

3. You’ve visited colleges or have plans to do so
This is your year because now when your buddies go, “Hmm, I wonder what college is like?” You can be all like, “It’s like this: [insert explanation]” because you’ve actually visited colleges and discovered which ones appeal to you.

4. You have your college future on track
This is your year because you are keeping up with your college goals. You have done what it takes to research which schools you want to apply to, you’ve worked on your essays over the summer, you’ve asked for a teacher recommendation, and you’ve scored well on the ACT or SAT. You have your college future in your hands, and you’re doing well.

Not feeling that this year is yours yet? Grab the reigns of your college search. The more control you have over your future, the better you will feel in general.

See if you’re a match!

1. Womenetics Advancing Aspirations Global Scholarship
Amount-$1,500-$5,000
Deadline-August 12
Quick fact-Don’t be turned away men! This scholarship is open to both men and women enrolled in college.

2. AFSA Second Chance Scholarship
Amount-$1,000
Deadline-August 24
Quick fact- 5 scholarships will be awarded.

3. “First Kiss” Scholarship
Amount-$500
Deadline-September 1
Quick fact-Available for high school students to adult college students, all you have to do to apply is write a 250 word story about your, yep, first kiss. Haven’t had one yet? Make it up.

4. Go! Study Abroad Scholarship
Amount-$1,000
Deadline-September 15
Quick fact- This is for students who are planning on studying abroad.

5. Ayn Rand “Atlas Shrugged” Scholarship
Amount- $50-$10,000
Deadline-September 17
Quick fact-Yes, a book and an essay are involved, but there will be 84 scholarship winners!

6. Hit the Books Scholarship
Amount- $500
Deadline-September 30
Quick fact- Scholarship award must be used for educational books and materials.

7. Just Poetry Scholarship
Amount-$100-$500
Deadline-September 30
Quick fact-9 scholarships will be awarded to applicants who submit their original poetry.

Looking for more scholarships? Check out www.cappex.com/scholarships.

So yes, tuition can be pretty steep, but there are ways around it if you stay ahead of the game and keep your eyes peeled for scholarship opportunities.

On the other hand, there are some costs to college that are a bit unexpected, and we don’t want them to catch you off guard. So here are five unforeseen expenses that you might have to dole out  some cash for that are not included in your college tuition:

1. Tutoring
You are a very intelligent person, but your physics class is much more difficult than you could have imagined. You totally thought you owned that exam, but when you got your grade back, you realized you need to work a little harder. So you visited the physics resource center, you went to your professor’s office hours, you met up with friends in the class, and the concepts were just not hitting home. Sometimes, the many resources your school provides for you won’t cut it–you need a couple one-on-one sessions with an expert who can give you all their attention and focus on what you’re missing.

Yes, tutoring can be a bit pricey, but failing a class can cost you much more.

2. Labs and materials
This mostly goes for art and design students who can’t simply use a pen and paper to do their work. If you’re an art and design student, you might have to pay lab fees (that goes for science students as well), and you’ll probably have to purchase your materials for your art, which can add up. Try to budget in your lab and materials costs before the semester starts so you don’t overdraw your bank account on canvases and oil paints.

3. Printing
It depends on your school, but usually your college or university will give you an allotted number of pages you can print for free (or that’s already included in your tuition), and then it will start charging you. Be careful for this because many professors will have you print off your own course packs which may be hundreds of pages.

4. Healthcare
Being a student is hard. You’ll study hard. Work hard. And probably party hard. With that entire combination, there’s no doubt you’ll ultimately wind up with some sort of illness. Just be weary; a trip to your university care center isn’t free of charge. Don’t be surprised when you get a bill for the tests you took. Also, don’t be taking CAT scans just for fun. Well, you probably knew that.

5. Computers and computer emergencies
Most college students have their own computers. It’s an expensive tool, but it’s also incredibly helpful–you can do you work on your own schedule, not the computer lab’s.

So there’s the cost of the actual computer, but there’s also the chance that your computer might need to be fixed. Too often it all begins with an ill-positioned cup of coffee, a clumsy roommate, a banana slip on the floor, and boom! Your keyboard is drenched in hot coffee and making weird noises. Or, maybe you downloaded a shady file. There are so many reasons your computer can go rogue–like, maybe it’s one of those computers from the future that was sent back in time to take over the human race–but it’s one of the most important tools you have with you at college, so you’re probably going to put the money down to fix it.

What are some unforeseen costs you experience during college? Leave a comment!

	Rock Star Scholarship Winner: Maria Zilberman, from North Miami Beach, Fla., plans on attending college this fall to study pre-medicine.
	College Pro Scholarship Winner: Walter Chang, from Houston, Texas, will attend college in the fall to study engineering and musical performance.

Zilberman and Chang qualified for the scholarships by playing the “Cappex Cap Challenge,” where students collect virtual “cap” badges for completing key activities in their college searches. After earning at least 10 badges in the Cap Challenge, students become eligible to apply for special Cappex-sponsored scholarships. Examples of virtual badges include:

• Leader (Abe Lincoln hat) : For sharing leadership examples
• Artsy (beret): For providing accomplishments in the arts
• Volunteer (halo): For detailing how you’ve helped your community
• Yeeehaw!!! (cowboy hat): For representing a western state
• Road Warrior (roadster): For using the “Cappex Campus Visit Planner” to plan a college road trip
• College Reviewer (fedora with press pass): For providing a college review

Zilberman, of North Miami Beach, Fla., qualified for the $5,000 Rock Star Scholarship by collecting 25 badges, but it was her outstanding leadership in founding her high school’s international humanitarian club that won her the scholarship.

“The Cap Challenge guided me to explore colleges, which allowed me to learn more about them through student reviews, seeing my chances and organizing my application,” Zilberman said.

Chang qualified for the College Pro Scholarship by earning 10 virtual cap badges.

“Cappex.com improved my college search process tremendously, with all the key facts of each college compiled into one page and several student reviews to provide further perspective,” Chang said. He was awarded the $2,500 scholarship for his dedication as the school orchestra president who helped fundraise over $30,000 to help the school purchase a new grand piano.

“We started the Cappex Cap Challenge to give students a fun and new way to discover colleges and find matching scholarships,” said Chris Long, Cappex president.  “Maria and Walter took on the challenge and also clearly demonstrated their accomplishments improving their respective communities. We were thrilled to award our Cap Challenge scholarships to these deserving students.”

Interested in the Cappex Cap Challenge? Make your own Cappex profile now.

Looking for scholarships? Find more here!

]]> http://www.cappex.com/blog/news-announcements/cappex-com-announces-rock-star-and-college-pro-scholarship-winners/feed/ 1 http://www.cappex.com/blog/news-announcements/recent-cappex-scholarship-winners/ http://www.cappex.com/blog/news-announcements/recent-cappex-scholarship-winners/#comments Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:11:38 +0000 editor http://cappex.com/blog/?p=2784 Cappex.com is very excited to announce our most recent scholarship winners from Spring 2011.  These students have proven that with their leadership and volunteer activities, they can make a difference in the world. Congratulations!

You can be a scholarship winner too by making a Cappex profile! Your profile will then be used as your “application” for the Cappex scholarships, like, say, these two coming up:

A GPA Isn’t Everything and I Don’t Want to Pay for College.

That’s exactly what these two superstars did to win their scholarships:

“A GPA Isn’t Everything” Scholarship – Winter II Scholarship Winner: Rebecca D. from Mt. Prospect, Ill., will be attending college next fall.  During her high school career, she served as a member of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) and eventually its President for two school years.  The program was recognized as one of the best programs in the state and won grants from the Operation Teen Safe Driver for its success. Rebecca was also a peer tutor and a member of her school’s service organization which works to better the community and help with special needs schools as well as the elderly.

“I Don’t Want to Pay for College” – Spring Scholarship Winner: Matthew J., from Murfreesboro, Tenn., is currently a college student with a broad background in volunteer and service with his church and Boy Scouts including canned food drives, making care packages for the 101st Airborne and community clean up.  Matthew’s a talented student who channeled his passion for music and science into an awesome project where he designed, produced and then performed with two homemade instruments.

Want to see past scholarship winners? Check them out on our Facebook page!

To give you a head start, here are 11 scholarships you can apply to this summer.  See if you’re a match!

1. Abbot & Fenner Scholarships
Deadline-June 18th
Amount- $1,000
Quick fact- Available for high school juniors through doctoral-level study!

2. I Don’t Want to Pay for College Scholarship
Deadline-June 30th
Amount-$1,000
Quick fact- To apply, all you’ll need is a Cappex profile

3. Win-Win Scholarship
Deadline-June 30th
Amount-$500-$25,000
Quick fact- Fairly easy application and lots of scholarship money!

4. Castle Ink’s Green Scholarship
Deadline-June 30th
Amount-$2,500
Quick fact- Not academic-based

5. BBG Communications Scholarship
Deadline-June 30th
Amount-$1,000
Quick fact- Easy application process and need a 2.5 GPA to qualify

6. Share Your Story Scholarship
Deadline-July 15th
Amount-$1,000-$5,000
Quick fact- Financial need considered

7. A GPA Isn’t Everything
Deadline-July 31st
Amount-$1,000
Quick fact- All you need to apply is a Cappex profile! 

8. Lincoln Forum Scholarship
Deadline-July 31st
Amount-$250-$1,000
Quick fact-3 awards will be given away

9. Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship
Deadline-July 31st
Amount-$1,000
Quick fact-Easy application

10. AFSA Second Chance Scholarship
Deadline-August 24th
Amount-$1,000
Quick fact-5 scholarships will be awarded

11. R2C Scholarship
Deadline-August 31st
Amount-$1,500
Quick fact-Application should take very short time

Want more scholarships? Here you go!

We’ve put together a list of 5 broad and easy-to-apply-to scholarships with deadlines approaching at the end of May and early June.

See if you’re a match and apply today!

1. CarDonors.com Scholarship
Deadline-May 31 Amount-$500

2. C.I.P. Scholarship
Deadline-May 31 Amount-$1,500

3. Proof-Reading.com Scholarship
Deadline-June 1 Amount-$1,500

4. The Big Dig Scholarship
Deadline-June 1 Amount- $3,000

5. Akash Kuruvilla Memorial Scholarship
Deadline-June 1 Amount-$1,000

Want more scholarships? Make a profile on Cappex.com to get your scholarship matches.

So, what are ways to avoid getting caught in this messy web of debt? For one, you can try to avoid it in the first place with these measures:

1. Scholarships Scholarships Scholarships

One of the easiest and best ways to avoid student loan debt is to find scholarships. Apply to as many scholarships as you are eligible for because you have nothing to lose.  Scholarship money is good money because you don’t have to pay it back–no interest, no nothing!  If you make a Cappex profile, you will be matched to all the scholarships in the database you are eligible for–start there!

2. Choose a Practical Major

If you are losing sleep at night about paying off your student loans, then maybe it’s time for a major change.  Yes, that was a pun. We are strong believers that you should follow your passions in life, but if the idea of paying off your student loans is causing premature wrinkles on your forehead, you might consider a college degree that is more likely to land you a job. We did a post on college degrees to land a job earlier, and some of those degrees included:

Registered nursing

Accounting

Computer software engineering

and plenty more here.

3. 1-2 Years Community College

The 1-2 year community college trend is becoming increasingly popular as college tuition is on the rise. Community college might not be your dream school, but spending a few semesters taking care of prerequisites at a community college can save you tons of money on tuition. Just make sure to double check that there’s an articulation agreement with the 4-year university you plan on eventually attending.

One example is the articulation agreement that the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) has with Oakton Community College. Students who take their first two years of college at Oakton and earn Associate of Arts and Science degrees are guaranteed admission to IIT. Students who want to take advantage of this program need to apply for it before they start their freshman year and meet minimum academic standards. The program saves students $40,000 over two years.

You can read more about how a year or more of community college can help you save on college here (go to page 19).

Do you have any tips on avoiding college debt? Comment and let us know!

It’s a crazy world in those high school halls, especially for a newbie.  What’s even crazier is that it’s actually not that crazy to start thinking about college once you catch your breath.  It may seem unnecessary at the time, considering you still got 4 more school years to go, but in the long run, it will actually ease the stress your college search.

Here are 6 things college-bound high school freshman should keep in mind:

1.  Start Early
Freshman year of high school seems early to to start your college search.  But, it’s more about mental preparedness than anything else.  The college application process is like a 3-ringed circus that you have to run while keeping up with your high school classes. The more you can prepare yourself for it, the smoother time you’ll have.

Sit down with your high school counselor.  Make sure you’re on the path to graduate on time and that you’re taking classes required for most colleges.  Discuss your future with your parents so you can all be on the same page about your goals. College is a big deal–financially and academically–and will have a huge impact on your life. So, how could it hurt to start thinking about it?

2. Find a Passion or Hobby
There are too many students out there who just phone-in volunteer hours so it will “look good” on their college application.  Yes, extra-curricular activities, leadership and volunteer services will make your college application appear more well-rounded.  But, college admissions folks weren’t born yesterday. They can tell the difference between surface-deep involvement in an activity and a heartfelt one.

A passion or a hobby can be anything.  Sports, birdwatching, an after-school job, tutoring, etc.  Find or continue doing what you love and what interests you.  It will be easier, and far more fun and motivating to grow and find leadership positions doing something you love versus something you think will look good on a resume.

3. Reach Out to Teachers
Your teachers are probably the most underused resource you have.  If they’re teaching at your school, they went to college and can offer up words of wisdom.  Ask questions about how they discovered they wanted to become teachers or if they know any field of study that you’d be interested in.  Just because it’s not on the syllabus doesn’t mean you can’t ask.

It’s also great to keep up a healthy relationship with a couple teachers because you might need a letter of recommendation in a few years.

4. Every Year Counts
Certain colleges will tell you that they disregard Freshman year from your transcript and GPA. For the most part, this is not the case. Do not throw away your freshman year out of the belief that “it doesn’t matter”. All of your grades go into your GPA, so keep up with your schoolwork.

Also, if you get involved in activities your freshman year, you’ll have more flexibility to move up and take on leadership opportunities that a person who starts in a club their sophomore or junior year won’t have.

5. Plan Your Summer Smartly
The summer going into your sophomore year can really set the pace for the rest of your high school career and college search.  Think about your priorities.  What do you want to be able to tell colleges when you apply to them?  If you want to show them your work ethic, perhaps taking on extra hours at your summer job is key.  If you want to show them you’re passionate about volunteering, volunteer! Apply for an internship at a local charity.   Use your time in the summer not only to have fun, but to keep yourself growing as a college-bound student.

6.  Keep an Eye Out for Scholarships
Paying for college is no small feat. In fact, if it were feet, it’d be huge feet.  There are tons of scholarships out there. Some are small. Some are huge.  The earlier you start looking and applying for scholarships, the more likely are you to acquire some scholarship money before you head off to college.

The sooner you start, the more ahead you’ll be in your college search.

Do you have tips for high school freshman about beginning their college search early? Comment and let us know!

And now, presenting a very important series of blog posts regarding the college decision.  We’ve already given you

Maybe you’ve already fallen head over heals for the college of your dreams, but if you can’t pay for it, you won’t be able to go. So make sure your college expectations aren’t completely crushed by not giving your tuition a little forethought.

The Cappex Can You Afford Your College Choices worksheet is a simple way to figure out what you probably can or cannot afford.   It’s super easy to fill out, and here are the pieces of information you’ll need for each of your college choices:

1. Cost of Attendance
What will going to college cost you?

• Cost of tuition
• Cost of room & board
• Estimated cost of books and supplies
• Travel expenses

2. Expected Family Contribution
Do you have money set aside for college or is your family contributing a certain percentage of your tuition?

3. Scholarships
Have you received scholarship money? Do you want scholarship money to help pay for college? Find tons of scholarships here.

4. Federal Student Loans
Do you plan on or have you already taken out student loans?

5. Work Study
Will you be working for your tuition?

Once you have that information in order, or at least guestimated information, download the Cappex worksheet and see what colleges are realistically in your range.

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