Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act(ARRA),more parents and students will qualify over the next two years for a tax credit, the American Opportunity Credit, to pay for college expenses.
The new credit modifies the existing Hope Credit for tax years 2009 and 2010, making the Hope Credit available to a broader range of taxpayers, including many with higher incomes and those who owe no tax. It also adds required course materials to the list of qualifying expenses and allows the credit to be claimed for four post-secondary (after high school) education years instead of two. Many will qualify for the maximum annual credit of $2,000 per student.
The full credit is available to individuals whose modified adjusted gross income is $80,000 or less, or $160,000 or less for married couples filing a joint return. The credit is phased out for taxpayers with incomes about these levels. These income limits are higher than under the existing Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits.
More information is available at IRS.gov. Look up Tax Benefits for Education and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Saving your money is equally important as winning scholarships so, be aware of every opportunity to save. April 15th is quickly approaching. Be sure to apply for this $2,000 credit if you are filing your own tax returns.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
A Winning Attitude
You may be the best candidate but, there is no quarantee that you will be selected for a particular scholarship. However, it is important that you think like a winner.
Double talk? Maybe, but in addition to completing an outstanding application, you need to believe that you deserve to win. It is important that a winning attitude show through without sounding arrogant. You need to convince the judges that you are the best candidate.
Read the application carefully to be sure that you meet the eligibility requirements but, don't automatically disqualify yourself. Read the application a second time and ask alot of questions before you decide that you are not a good match for an award.
Then proceed with making your application as visually attractive as possible. Remember,your personal statement is the most important document in your scholarship packet. It is your job to sell yourself in the best light possible. You are the product. You need to show enthusiasm for what you are studying and project a positive attitude. You will be competing with other very qualified students so your application needs to shine. Think like a winner and it will show in your writing.
Double talk? Maybe, but in addition to completing an outstanding application, you need to believe that you deserve to win. It is important that a winning attitude show through without sounding arrogant. You need to convince the judges that you are the best candidate.
Read the application carefully to be sure that you meet the eligibility requirements but, don't automatically disqualify yourself. Read the application a second time and ask alot of questions before you decide that you are not a good match for an award.
Then proceed with making your application as visually attractive as possible. Remember,your personal statement is the most important document in your scholarship packet. It is your job to sell yourself in the best light possible. You are the product. You need to show enthusiasm for what you are studying and project a positive attitude. You will be competing with other very qualified students so your application needs to shine. Think like a winner and it will show in your writing.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Letters of Recommendation
Please go to my website, www.findingmoneyforcollege.com and download the directions for writing letters of recommendation. You will also find more directions in this blog if you scroll down to the 2009 archives. If you have purchased the textbook, instuctions are also there.
Remember that the letters written on your behalf should be on letterhead and that they should be from a professional (professor, teacher, counselor, high school principal, employer).
In some instances, letters have worked against the student because they didn't address the issue or that they were poorly formatted. Please request that the recommender read carefully the Guidelines for Writing a Letter of Recommendation--you can download a copy from my website.
The writer will have little credibility if there are misspellings and grammatical errors. You need to read it thoroughly before submitting with your application.
Remember that the letters written on your behalf should be on letterhead and that they should be from a professional (professor, teacher, counselor, high school principal, employer).
In some instances, letters have worked against the student because they didn't address the issue or that they were poorly formatted. Please request that the recommender read carefully the Guidelines for Writing a Letter of Recommendation--you can download a copy from my website.
The writer will have little credibility if there are misspellings and grammatical errors. You need to read it thoroughly before submitting with your application.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Deadline for NOW Scholarship
March 12th is just a week away. If you are applying for this scholarship,you should have already started writing your personal essay. This statement will focus on answering the question on women's issues. For some of you this may present a problem because there is a strong slant toward women's reproductive rights.
Do not compromise your personal beliefs. You must write with conviction and that is difficult to accomplish if it goes against your values. Although $1500 is hard to pass up if there is a strong financial need, many are divided on abortion. Follow your heart and conscience and apply only if you support the views of the National Organization of Women.
Remember that this application is open to guys so don't disqualify yourself because this is a women's organization.
Let me know if I can help you before you submit your application.
Do not compromise your personal beliefs. You must write with conviction and that is difficult to accomplish if it goes against your values. Although $1500 is hard to pass up if there is a strong financial need, many are divided on abortion. Follow your heart and conscience and apply only if you support the views of the National Organization of Women.
Remember that this application is open to guys so don't disqualify yourself because this is a women's organization.
Let me know if I can help you before you submit your application.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
National Organization of Women (NOW Scholarship)
This scholarship application must be postmarked by March 12, 2010. Two scholarships of $1500 each will be awarded.
Application packets are available in the Career/Transfer Center. You will need two or more letters of recommendation. The following are the criteria guidelines:
1. Commitment to women's rights. (Candidate must express a strong pro-choice philosophy.)
2. Financial need.
3. Work and community activity.
4. Leadership/Membership
5. Academic performance
6. Academic potential
7. Professional and eductional goals and objectives
8. Recommendations
9. Family and life history
Application packets are available in the Career/Transfer Center. You will need two or more letters of recommendation. The following are the criteria guidelines:
1. Commitment to women's rights. (Candidate must express a strong pro-choice philosophy.)
2. Financial need.
3. Work and community activity.
4. Leadership/Membership
5. Academic performance
6. Academic potential
7. Professional and eductional goals and objectives
8. Recommendations
9. Family and life history
Pathways to Success Scholarship
This scholarship has a March 17th deadline so please concentrate on this one first. You need to be a full time student to qualify (at least 12 units)and it is NEED based so you must qualify for financial aid.
Be sure that you complete and submit your FAFSA by midnight today, March 2. You can access the FAFSA application on the College of the Desert website--click on financial aid and follow the prompts.
Go to www.cvpts.com for the application for the Pathways to Success scholarship. Remember that you have the choice of applying electronically or the paper version. The important thing to remember is that everything MUST be together before you submit. In other words, the application packet must be complete when Pathways receives it.
Should you want a copy of the paper application immediately, we have copies in the Career/Transfer Center. They are located in the plastic rack under the sign, What Can I Do With This Major?
In addition, you need two letters of recommendation. Please ask a couple of professors or someone who works on campus if they will feel comfortable writing a letter of recommendation for you. You can download the directions on my website www.findingmoneyforcollege.com--submit a completed Personal Data Form, Scholarship Resume, unofficial transcripts and a letter requesting a Letter of Recommendation.
If you want your unofficial transcripts before tomorrow, please come into counseling and someone at the front desk will print a copy. Otherwise, I'll put a copy in your folder for the class tomorrow.
Make an attempt to start writing your personal essay but,on Monday,March 8th, I will do a class presentation on Letters of Recommendation and the Personal Essay.
You have fifteen days before the deadline so please do not waste a minute in getting started but, don't panic either. Come see me if you need help. You can get it done in time if you use your time wisely.
Be sure that you complete and submit your FAFSA by midnight today, March 2. You can access the FAFSA application on the College of the Desert website--click on financial aid and follow the prompts.
Go to www.cvpts.com for the application for the Pathways to Success scholarship. Remember that you have the choice of applying electronically or the paper version. The important thing to remember is that everything MUST be together before you submit. In other words, the application packet must be complete when Pathways receives it.
Should you want a copy of the paper application immediately, we have copies in the Career/Transfer Center. They are located in the plastic rack under the sign, What Can I Do With This Major?
In addition, you need two letters of recommendation. Please ask a couple of professors or someone who works on campus if they will feel comfortable writing a letter of recommendation for you. You can download the directions on my website www.findingmoneyforcollege.com--submit a completed Personal Data Form, Scholarship Resume, unofficial transcripts and a letter requesting a Letter of Recommendation.
If you want your unofficial transcripts before tomorrow, please come into counseling and someone at the front desk will print a copy. Otherwise, I'll put a copy in your folder for the class tomorrow.
Make an attempt to start writing your personal essay but,on Monday,March 8th, I will do a class presentation on Letters of Recommendation and the Personal Essay.
You have fifteen days before the deadline so please do not waste a minute in getting started but, don't panic either. Come see me if you need help. You can get it done in time if you use your time wisely.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Welcome to the Scholarship Class
It is always exciting to start a new class!! I love new beginnings.
Please get in the habit of checking my blog everyday (except Saturdays and Sundays) for tips on requesting letters of recommendation; writing your personal essay; and general information relating to scholarships.
On occasion, I may write general directions for the class such as meeting in a different room or new directions on an assignment. On some days, I may do a little coaching on time management and organization. On other days, I may share an inspirational message.
Presently, there are several scholarship deadlines coming up in March. Namely, Pathways to Success, NOW (Nat'l Organization of Women and the COD Scholarship will be available on March 17th. The Girl Friend Factor is due the beginning of April and the LaQuinta Visual Art scholarship has an April 9, 2010 deadline.
I'm so glad to have you in class. Let's make this the best semester ever for winning scholarships.
Eve-Marie
Please get in the habit of checking my blog everyday (except Saturdays and Sundays) for tips on requesting letters of recommendation; writing your personal essay; and general information relating to scholarships.
On occasion, I may write general directions for the class such as meeting in a different room or new directions on an assignment. On some days, I may do a little coaching on time management and organization. On other days, I may share an inspirational message.
Presently, there are several scholarship deadlines coming up in March. Namely, Pathways to Success, NOW (Nat'l Organization of Women and the COD Scholarship will be available on March 17th. The Girl Friend Factor is due the beginning of April and the LaQuinta Visual Art scholarship has an April 9, 2010 deadline.
I'm so glad to have you in class. Let's make this the best semester ever for winning scholarships.
Eve-Marie
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