Important things to know:

• February 1 - Priority Deadline for the Oregon Opportunity Grant.

• February 15 - Early application deadline, chance to win a $500 scholarship if you submit an error free application. . If you submit your application before that date, then OSAC will notify you if there is a problem or something is missing from your application. If you submit after this date, then you lose this advantage and risk having your application disqualified if there is a problem with any portion of your application. 

• March 1 - Final Deadline, no exceptions.

• Not all scholarships take financial need into consideration, so do not forsake completing the application if you think you will not qualify for need-based aid according to FAFSA. An example is the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship which is entirely merit based.

• Make sure you do not hit "submit" until you are completely finished with your application. Once you "submit" you may not make any changes to your application except for personal information such as name, email address, school choice, etc. You will not be able to rewrite essays or change your activity chart, etc. If you need to stop part way through the application, simply "log out."

• The two main reasons applications are rejected: Missing or incomplete transcripts or late application packet. 

• It may take you three to five hours, or perhaps longer, to complete the application, but you do not have to complete the application in one sitting. START NOVEMBER 1 so you can make a complete and thoughtful application without so much stress!

Hints about the actual application: 

• Scholarship Section:  

1. When you set your filters to eliminate scholarships which do not meet your criteria, you will likely still end up with 50+ scholarships from which you will need to choose to apply.

2. When you first begin choosing scholarships to which you wish to apply, choose #1 "automatic" for the first slot. This "automatically" includes any for which you are eligible without additional materials.

3. When you choose the scholarships for which you wish to apply and enter them in the application, any required additional information (such as another essay or letter or recommendation) will immediately show at the left side of that page next to that scholarship. Pay attention to additional requirements. Make a list of what items you need. Do not "submit" your application until you have gathered extra items and uploaded them to your application.

• Personal Statements: Do not use any more than 1000 characters (about 150-170 words) on each of the four personal statements. If you type 1001 characters, the entire statement is deleted. Use the count mechanism provided.
  • Explain your career aspirations and your educational plan to meet these goals.
  • Explain how you have helped your family or made your community a better place to live. Please provide specific examples.
  • Describe a personal accomplishment and the strengths and skills you used to achieve it.
  • Describe a significant change or experience that has occurred in your life. How did you respond and what did you learn about yourself?
• Activities Chart: Import your activity chart from CIS. Be sure to have someone look over your chart before you import. List as much as you possibly can. Activities are not limited to obvious ones such as school sports or clubs. Examples: Have you been mowing your elderly neighbor's yard the last year or two? Do you provide child care during services at your place of worship? If you are involved in Torch Honor Society, also inpidually list activities in which you have participated as part of Torch. List everything you can think of all four years of high school.
• Transcripts: When you get to the transcript section, print the transcript request page shown in the application. The application should print with your personal information and eApp number shown. You will need to turn in the form to our NMHS Registrar so she can upload your transcript to your application. Do not yet "submit" your application. You need to wait to "submit" until ALL items are uploaded and entered. You can check your application to see if the transcript has been uploaded.
• Make use of the checklist to make sure you have everything before you submit your application.
• DO NOT "SUBMIT" until you have double and triple checked to make sure you have uploaded, entered, and completed everything!
• Submitting Application: Once you "submit," then log in to your e-Student Profile at http://app.oregonstudentaid.gov and check to see if your application was received. You should receive a message that says, "Valid eApp Accepted." If your profile says "Review Pending," then keep checking back. If your profile says, "eApp Problem," then read the instructions and submit corrections by the deadline. REMEMBER: You will only get the "eApp Problem" email if/when there is a problem if you submitted your application prior to February 15.

Get started, but don't panic! You will still have plenty of time to ask questions and work on your application.

NOTE: Remember your logon information! Beginning in Spring, you will need to frequently check your OSAC application to see if you have been awarded a scholarship and/or need to provide additional information or interview for further scholarship consideration. Once you submit your online application, you will receive an email confirming your submission, and a second email when it's reviewed. It's up to YOU to go online and check your review status, and to maintain an active email address with OSAC, which accepts our email alerts.

If your application is “invalid”, you will need to fix the problem by the final deadline. The sooner you submit, the better your chances of having a "valid and accepted" application - just be sure you're submitting the correct transcript(s), covering the required time period (high school transcripts with grades through 7th semester - senior year, college transcripts with grades through fall term of the current school year, etc.), and/or all required school(s) (possibly multiple colleges, etc). For detailed transcript requirements, go to http://www.oregonstudentaid.gov/scholarships-transcripts.aspx

As always, feel free to contact an advisor if you have questions and we will do our best to help you through the OSAC process.