DeirdreMcLoughlin ✭✭✭

Mikayla, if we do not receive a thank you note and/or photo, there are 2 scenarios. 1. the donor has already been part of the evaluation committee, so they already would have had a list of the student, college and major and high school. 2. if a donor has not been involved, indeed it is just the family, we usually just list…

We know that their thank you notes and high school graduation photo have value for our donors. For our new students we have the request for high school graduation photo and thank you note embedded in the Recipient Information form and that works most of the time. Colleges often make a "thank you note" as a prerequisite to…

Yes, I have one particular scholarship that is firmly based on financial need so we review their financial package from their college (which includes all of the above) and then ascertain their actual need and award accordingly. Great question on the limit the number of scholarships. If a student gets a Daniels or…

In the common application there is a question where I record the financial ranking (#1-#5) that is visible to the evaluators but they do not see any of the details.

Without the SAI number this year, we have ranked as above. We have asked for AGI and if they are receive free and reduced lunch. We always ask if there are any Special Circumstances that relate to the family's finances. Also mentioned this question to all the counselors so that they might emphasize the importance of it,…

This is the ranking system we will use for EFC/SAI, we also have a special circumstance of 1-3, and for more than one sibling in college at the same time 1-2 and we total all SAI SCALE DECEMBER 2023 5 -1,500 to 3,750 4 3751 to 11250 3 11251 to 18750 2 18751 to 26250 1 26251 upwards

So the new improved FAFSA opens on 12/31/23 as the ball drops! As discussed in theis forum, it would appear the majority of us do use the EFC now SAI number as one of the metrics to rank financial need. We used a scale of 1-5 with EFC 0 of zero ranked as 5 and any EFC over $12500 and above achieved a rank of 1 point (see…

@MarieFelver Trying to find this non-traditional, adult student market is very difficult to find. I tried posters and flyers all over the place, newspaper. Talked to everyone I knew and put-up posters in hairdressers, talked to employees in Verizon stores and cafe and supermarkets. Met with nonprofits for the working poor…

We have not done a survey but it has been something we are thinking of. Would like feedback too. Has anyone surveyed their scholarship applicants?

@ECPollickByrnes Question for Foundant - very gratified that you guys are looking at adding the texting ability that some other scholarship software has. Would that be in the near future? If not, I would also like to know about people's experience with text services. thanks so much

@ECPollickByrnes Texting is not the future, it is the present, so this feature might well be a game changer for a lot of efficiencies and time saving. I000 to 2000 would be great or will it be a feature that is so successful it will be used more often? Perhaps if the text says, check your email (i.e. has a limit to the…

Hmmm ... while I don't think this is the issue, I shall try it as it might draw attention to my email. Thanks so much for your idea and information. So useful. Deirdre

Good point on the email address Hailey - that might explain some of their lack of action. Lisa - what do you mean about adding a radio button question?

I should eventually like SLM to have a component whereby we can text as well as emailing from SLM.

Appreciate your comments.

We did have a similar situation where a student left mid semester due to illness. The college refused to return any monies - I thought they should have at least pro rated the funds. Student did return the next semester and there was no ramifications to him.

Hi Robin, I am actually interested in your scholarship that would help apprenticeships. Can you tell me a little bit about it? Deirdre McLoughlin

We have a scholarship that is for adult learners or non traditional students who are not interested in a four year degree. ($5000) suitable for people wanting to be cosmetologists, truck drivers, dental or medical assistants, technicians, linemen or women, auto mechanics etc. This was a very difficult group to find and I…

Yes and we are awarding a significant more than other presenters. We shall continue to do it as we have been doing so unless I hear a reason not to do so. Thank you for your comments.

Thank you for your comment. I see that most do not announce the amount. I will think on this some more.

Michelle your idea of such a late deadline is wonderful. Any one else doing the processing so late?

thank you for your comment. I do notice that Rotary Clubs and private or corporate donors do mention the amount at the presentation. Anyone else have any comments?

This is such a good topic and one I am grappling with for the first time. The vast majority of our scholarships are based on "financial need" and may be award to students from a group of students from say, a number of high schools. We have asked the counselors from this school district to join us as part of the reviewers…

We may be blessed with wonderful counselors in our areas but the AGI has not been an issue. You are correct that is easier to obtain rather than explaining what the EFC number means. We also have a fair number of DACA students. Actually I do have an issue with the AGI. I have a generous scholarship fund for an economically…

We also have a formula for those scholarship unique to each student's circumstance. For those, we do wait until we get their financial aid award letter. Cost of attendance minus (EFC + Grants + Scholarships + Loans) = Actual need. Good luck Deirdre McLoughlin

Let me put that one on my to think about list. Thank you

I am in the middle path, denials emailed and award letters mailed but after your comments I may review. Is there really another Deirdre out there? Deirdre McLoughlin Western Colorado Community Foundation

To determine financial need - we take into account four different factors and we rank then, total and come up with a number between 1 and 5 - 5 has great financial need and 1 has little or no financial need. The financial need is ranked by staff and the committee reviewers will only see a single number as the financial…

We ask for FAFSA (EFC), extenuating circumstances and the parent's AGI - then we rank this information and we get a number #1-5 which becomes their ranking number. we do keep an eye out on any thing that might be relevant to the extenuating circumstances which sometimes come up in an essay.