Thursday, April 14, 2011
Nine Mistakes That Destroy Scholarship Applications
Are there mistakes that can disqualify a college scholarship application? You bet. Generally speaking, most local scholarship committees may find a few minor mistakes acceptable, but the higher the level of competition, the less tolerance there is for a faux pas. And when you go for the gold at the national level of competition, no mistake is permissible. Even at the local level, if the competition is heavy, one error can result in the loss of money.
Even small spelling mistakes can cause an application to be thrown out. A judge reviewed a submission from a girl who was second in her class. She had a 3.95 GPA. The problem? She misspelled salutatorian. Believe it! How does that happen? Surely, it should have been noticed. Was it a keyboarding error? Maybe.
Another application from a boy on the baseball team noted that he won the league batting title with a .259 average. Know anything about baseball? Most likely, the number 2 should have been a 3, 4, 5, or even 6.
Yet, another listed the applicant’s age as “88.” Do you suppose she was the oldest high school student in the country…in the world? But wait, she listed her birth date as eighteen years earlier. Those are the kinds of silly little miscues that can disqualify good candidates.
Use the computer spell check and have someone read for context and spelling problems. Most people cannot do a good job of proof-reading themselves. Why take a chance?
Another blunder is leaving spaces blank. The committee may think that you are trying to hide something. If the question or statement is not applicable to you, write DNA on the line, which is the standard abbreviation or acronym for Does Not Apply.
Use a computer and keyboard whenever possible. Investigate the many inexpensive and free form-filling computer programs. No long hand here. Never write in pencil. And, NEVER, NEVER. EVER, EVER use whiteout.
Follow directions exactly. It is not unusual to see lists where paragraphs are required and vice versa. Sometimes a signature is needed with the name printed. A simple YES or NO may be necessary, Instead, an opinion is given.
Here’s a tricky one that trips many juniors and seniors with honor roll credentials. After ten years in school, they still have problems using to, too, two, and they’re, their, there.
Oops! I saw a sure regional and possible national winner disqualified, because her application missed the deadline date…by one day. Always beat the deadline. Mail early.
How could this happen? An app arrived without the parent permission slip signature.
Check, Check, Check.
This bears repeating: most mistakes can be eliminated when others proof the application.
Then read it aloud while someone else listens.
What can you do, if the mistake cannot be corrected? Be sure to make a copy before you start. If it says “copies are not permitted,” go back for one or two more originals.
Planning produces positive outcomes when the scholarship effort is truly a family affair.
Author: Dale Clifton, The Scholarship Doctor; Courtesy of ArticlesBase
Author: Dale Clifton, The Scholarship Doctor; Courtesy of ArticlesBase
12th ANNUAL OSU ENGINEERING EXPO
12th ANNUAL OSU ENGINEERING EXPO
11 a.m.-4 p.m. MAY 20. FREE ADMISSION
See inventions developed by OSU engineering students for their senior design projects in the following majors:
Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering; Civil and Construction Engineering; Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering; and Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Health Physics
Don’t miss the Robo*Palooza, a variety of robot activities with a TekBot(r) Triathlon, a "best dressed “contest, maze race, and freestyle events. A contingent of FIRST robots built by local high school students will also be moving about. Race cars built by OSU students for international competitions will be on display. along with other wheeled contraptions. Sustainability Showcase features wave power and biofuels; earth-friendly agricultural devices.
Support OHCC Programs!
Greetings!
The Oregon Health Career Center (OHCC) Board of Directors is holding its 2nd annual online auction starting the week of April 25, 2011. This event raises funds for our educational enrichment programs that support underserved youth in science, college preparation and health career exploration. Through programs such as our Health Careers Opportunity Program, our annual Health Career Day, and our Kaiser Permanente Health Care Career Scholarship Program, OHCC is supporting the career aspirations of youth while increasing and diversifying Oregon’s healthcare workforce. Learn more about us by visiting our website at www.ohcc.org.
We have a bunch of fantastic items up for bid, such as a Trader Joe’s gift bag, an instant wine cellar, a 3 night stay in a coastal rental, tickets to Les Miserables, dance lessons, a whitewater rafting trip down the Deschutes River for two, gift cards to many Portland restaurants, and much more!
We want to have a great auction this year and we need your help! Please watch for emails from OHCC for more information about the auction. On April 25, 2011 log on and bid to support our Health Careers Opportunity Program, our annual Health Career Day, and our Kaiser Permanente Health Care Career Scholarship Program!
If you have any questions please feel free to call Kaitlin Ellson at 503-682-1300 ext. 103 or by email at kellson@ohcc.org.
Best Regards,
Sara Diaz
Health Careers Program Manager
Oregon Health Career Center
25195 SW Parkway Avenue, Suite 204
Wilsonville, Oregon 97070
Office: (503) 682-1300, ext. 113
Cell: (503) 899-9802
Our annual online auction starts April 25th! Look for more information soon!
Please consider supporting our education programs for disadvantaged youth. Visit our website at http://www.ohcc.org/donation.
Legislative Blog; Economic and Political Information
DAILY UPDATES LEGISLATIVE BLOG
$5.7 Billion K-12 Budget Passes Ways & Means Ed Sub, Full Committee Vote on Friday
http://www.osba.org/Resources/
$5.7 Billion K-12 Budget Passes Ways & Means Ed Sub, Full Committee Vote on Friday
http://www.osba.org/Resources/
- Ore. Senate votes to take schools chief off ballot
http://www.edweek.org/ew/
http://www.edweek.org/ew/
Union-funded ads target GOP over Oregon budget
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/
Mt. Hood Community College's full-time faculty is prepared to strike
http://www.oregonlive.com/
http://www.oregonlive.com/
Beaverton School Board meeting standing room only for budget cuts, gifted students and charter schools
http://www.oregonlive.com/
http://www.oregonlive.com/
Warrenton schools face $1 million in cuts
http://www.dailyastorian.com/
http://www.dailyastorian.com/
Local educators voice concerns about bill to make all-day public kindergarten mandatory
http://www.lagrandeobserver.
http://www.lagrandeobserver.
The Greater Yamhill Watershed Council Needs Your Help! Volunteers Needed!
Dear Friends of the Greater Yamhill Watershed Council,
It’s spring (I think?) and time to start water quality sampling again! This season, we’ll be doing pesticide sampling as part of DEQ’s Pesticide Stewardship Partnership and need volunteers to help us collect samples throughout the Yamhill River basin. Volunteers will accompany GYWC staff to collect the samples and conduct water quality tests (conductivity & turbidity). From 1 to 3 volunteers are needed each sampling day. Also, if you have a vehicle that can carry 2-3 people and equipment and would be willing to drive to the various collection sites, that would be greatly appreciated. Your volunteer time and mileage counts as matching funds for the DEQ grant and is very valuable to the Council.
On sampling days, we typically meet at 9:00 a.m. and return by 3:00 p.m.. Please bring your own lunch/snack and water (I’ll have some extra drinks & snacks on hand), a rain coat and shoes or boots that you don’t mind getting dirty. If needed, we have a some boots in limited sizes available to lend. Please note that field monitoring involves some walking on uneven and steep terrain, wading in or collecting samples near moving water, and exposure to weather and other hazards associated with field work.
The sampling days are scheduled for Sundays to allow for folks who work during the week to participate. However, we are happy to schedule any sampling day for the following Monday if it is more convenient. Just let me know when you sign up.
Following is a list of the dates we need volunteers:
Sunday, May 1st (or Monday, May 2nd)
Sunday, May 15th (or Monday, May 16th)
Sunday, May 29th (or Monday, May 30th)
Sunday, June 12th (or Monday, June 13th)
Sunday, June 26th (or Monday, June 27th)
Volunteers will meet at the GYWC office parking lot (also the YCAP parking lot), located at:
800 NE 2nd Street
McMinnville, OR
To sign up, please email me at gywc_administrator@co.yamhill.or.us with your name, phone and email contact information. Let me know if you are able to drive, if your vehicle can carry coolers and 2-3 people, and the day(s) you would like to volunteer. Volunteers who offer to drive will need proof of a current driver's license and insurance. I will then follow up with everyone to confirm the schedule and logistics.
This is a terrific way to get outside, do something good for our “little part of the world”, and have some fun too! You’ll also learn about the water quality issues facing nearly every river system in Oregon. So please don’t hesitate to call me if you have any questions or want more information. Thank you for your help!
Bernadette Hansen
Council Administrator
Greater Yamhill Watershed Council
800 NE 2nd Street
P.O. Box 1517
McMinnville, OR 97128
Phone: 503.474.1047
gywc_administrator@co.yamhill.or.us
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