6/29/15

FREE Tuition for Seniors over 60

IVY TECH SENIOR SCHOLARS PROGRAM 
FREE TUITION

The Senior Scholars program allows Central Indiana residents to take tuition-free courses in Indianapolis.  The qualifications are:
  • Indiana resident
  • at least 60 years of age
  • a high school graduate or GED recipient
  • retired from their primary vocation
  • not employed to such an extent that my employer considers me full-time 
  • complete the Senior Citizens Tuition Exemption Certification located at the Registrar Office
  • on-campus, distance education, on-line
***Scholars are required to pay their technology fee and books.***

If someone is interested in being a Senior Scholar they need to do the following:
  • Complete the Ivy Tech Community College Application
  • Complete the Academic Assessment by either taking the academic assessment placement test or by having prior college transcripts evaluated
  • Meet with an Academic Advisor (if taking a class for personal interest) or attend New Student Advising (if seeking an Ivy Tech Community College Degree)
Link:  https://indysecure.ivytech.edu/FAQ/afmviewfaq.aspx?faqid=1045

6/22/15

Student Loan Trap

I hate student loans!

Student loan money is easily handed over to 18-year-old college students with a wicked sneer....saying "Here little girl, do you want some candy?" or "You can have all you want little boy! Here take some more, and more, and more..."...and then the trap door slams shut *BAM*.

For example, I borrowed $3,000 of student loan money for my 2nd year of college (in 1994)...and now 20 years later I now owe $20,000. I am sure you are wondering how $3K of student loan money can turn into $20K. Well can you say subsidized? or involuntary consolidation fees? more fees? or interest accruing at a phenomenal rate? interest only payments? can you say TRAP!

Listen people! These are the facts:
  • You can not file bankruptcy on student loans.
  • You can not write-off student loan debt.
  • You can never get rid of student loan debt except through death...
  • Student loan companies can garnish your wages.
  • Student loan companies can take your taxes.
  • Student loan companies can haunt you for the rest of your life.
  • Student loan companies will not use Vaseline (harsh but true)
 ...You will owe this money until your death, even if you don't finish your degree.

I encourage everyone to exhaust all other possibilities before accepting more than your first year's salary in student loans.

For example, a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) student should never accept $65,000 of student loan money.

A BSW will never make $65,000/yr which means a lifetime of debt. Run Forest Run!  The research says that a student should only borrow up to their first years expected salary.  I say... get a college degree w/out going into loan debt. Learn How to Submit a Winning College at:

6/16/15

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

IUPUI Social Work Alumni Shay Spivey Debuts Second Published Book - How to Find Scholarships and Free Financial Aid for Private High Schools

Contact: Shay Spivey 317-509-4203/shayspivey@yahoo.com

  
Indianapolis, Indiana Jun. 16 – IUPUI social work alumni and scholarship expert, Shay Spivey published her second book How to Find Scholarships and Free Financial Aid for Private High Schools, Apr. 7, 2015 with NCM publishing group.

Shay Spivey, BSW, MSW promotes financial access to quality education for underserved populations by helping students understand and prepare to win scholarships for education. Spivey was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana and earned her Bachelor and Master of Social Work from Indiana University. She has studied scholarships and free financial aid extensively and developed a passion for helping others find free money for education. In her first book, How to Submit a Winning Scholarship Application, Spivey shared her proven tips and techniques that helped her win over $100,000 in college scholarships and free financial aid toward her own undergraduate and graduate degrees.

In How to Find Scholarships and Free Financial Aid for Private High Schools, Shay Spivey shows families how to access scholarships and financial aid.  Scholarships are a real solution and help families address/eliminate the financial barriers that prevent access to a quality education. How to Find Scholarships and Free Financial Aid for Private High School is a valuable guide for families that want to know where to find free money for private high school tuition. Inside, parents will find over 30 ways to locate, qualify for and win private high school scholarships and free financial aid.

To learn more visit: amzn.to/1vGK2Oc


Shay Spivey is available for interviews and appearances. For booking presentations, media appearances, interviews and/or book-signings contact shayspivey@yahoo.com


6/9/15

Nursing Scholarship

Attention Nursing Majors...
The Changes Home Care $1,000 Scholarship Application is due June 30, 2015 and is being offered to Nursing + Pre-Nursing  sophomore, junior or senior Students with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Website:  www.changeshomecare.com/changes-home-care-scholarship-program/

Indiana Latino Institute Scholarship


6/2/15

College Scholarships

College Scholarships:
How to Submit a Winning Scholarship Application


Private High School Scholarships

Private School Scholarships:

How to Find Scholarships and Free Financial Aid 

for Private High Schools





Letters of Recommendation Tips...  

• Mail a written request for a letter of recommendation. It shows that you are serious and professional about your request. An email is for reminders and verbal requests will probably not get a response.

• Ask the writer to address the letter generally to: "The Scholarship Committee".  So you can use the letter for several different applications.  Genius!!!!

• Be very accommodating to the people you are requesting a letter from. For example, send a resume or list of accomplishments with your written request. This way they have the information they need to write your letter of recommendation. If they have to work too hard they probably won’t write it. Remember, you know more about yourself than they do.

• Request (in writing) 3-5 original copies of the letters. Make 10-20 copies of each for each scholarship application you will submit. Some applications will ask for originals and some will accept copies. Be prepared!

• Provide your written requests well in advance. The writer is doing you a favor and good letters take time.

• You will need at least 3 letters of recommendation….so send out 9 written requests! You might actually get 3. Remember this is optional for the writer, so be very humble about reminders.

Who to ask:

• Past professors/teachers and current professors/teachers

• Employer: Manager, supervisor, co-worker, etc. Some scholarship applications specifically request a letter from your employer.

• Church: If so, ask your pastor, a minister, Sunday school teacher, etc...

• Community Service: Always request a letter when you do community service and add it to your binder/portfolio (see Prepare tab). These letters will be worth their weight in gold.

• Organizations: If you are involved with extra-curricular activities these letters will be worth their weight in gold!

Tricks of the trade: Be prepared to ask for an updated Letter of Recommendation (in writing) in November/December. You will want it to be dated for Jan. 1st or later. Most scholarship committee’s want current letters. You will be one step ahead of the game!!

Tricks of the trade: Ask for 3-4 envelopes with the original letters. Use them when the application requires a signed & sealed letter of recommendation. But black white envelopes are acceptable too.

More to Come...