College Scholarship

For our eligible Warrior families, the 11th grade year starts the scholarship program process. We will send a college planning guide during the fall of the junior year. This guide describes how to apply for the SOWF and other available sources of free money (not loans) During your senior year, you will receive your personal Student Scholarship Handbook which contains all application materials and instructions. It also explains the Warrior Foundation scholarship policy and rules.

The links below can be used to apply for Free Federal Financial Aid and VA benefits, browse colleges, or take a free interest survey online. Additional financial aid resource search sites are also provided.

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
SOWF requires all students to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is a direct link to the on-line application for Pell Grants and other federally sponsored financial aid. A paper copy of the FAFSA is included in the Student Scholarship Handbook. However, the US Dept. of Education is encouraging students to use the online application. It offers faster results (3-4 days versus several weeks with the paper application). If you use the online application, please follow all instructions for getting a PIN and results. Once completed online, all results and activities MUST be done online. All renewal FAFSA's must be completed online.

http://www.gibill.va.gov/
This is a direct link to the Veteran's Administration web site that discusses the VA educational benefits. Nearly all SOWF applicants are eligible for Chapter 35, also known as Dependents Education Assistance, through the VA. The application is included in the Student Scholarship Handbook and can be downloaded from the VA web site.

General Scholarship resources

http://www.studentaid.ed.gov/
All about free federal financial aid

http://www.finaid.org/
http://www.fastweb.org/
Free scholarship searches and other valuable information

Early Planning

http://www.collegeispossible.org/
Aimed at junior and senior high school students

http://www.collegeboard.com/
A top recommendation for college planning resources. A complete college planning guide with on line applications for federal grants, college planning tools, and much more.

Military

http://benefits.military.com/education/scholarship/ScholarshipSearch.jsp
Provides military-based financial aid

http://www.legion.org/?section=community&subsection=com_edaid&subsection2=com_scholarships&content=gi_needalift
Comprehensive resource for military resources - $3.50

http://www.nasdva.com/
State VA locator for information on possible state VA benefits

http://www.students.gov/
(Comprehensive listings of military aid including ROTC programs)
Army ROTC: 1-800-USA-ROTC (1-800-872-7682)
Air Force ROTC: 1-866-423-7682
Naval ROTC: 1-800-NAV-ROTC (1-800-628-7682)

Scholarships for service dependents (follow scholarship links located on each site)

http://www.aerhq.org/- Army
http://www.afas.org/- Air Force
www.navyleague.org/scholarship/- Navy
http://www.marine-scholars.org/- Marines and dependents
http://www.freedomalliance.org/
http://www.moaa.org/
http://www.legion.org/?section=community&subsection=com_edaid&subsection2=com_scholarships&content=gi_needalift

Official Academy Web Sites

Explore the Web sites of each of the Service Academies to get a better idea of the curriculums offered, institutional traditions, and the most up-to-date admissions information.

Army: U.S. Military Academy
Navy and Marine Corps: U.S. Naval Academy
Air Force: U.S. Air Force Academy
Coast Guard: U.S. Coast Guard Academy

Graduate School

We suggest a web-based search for current graduate school resource opportunities. Most can be found by searching under the field of study (e.g. medical sciences, education)

The Graduate Scholarship Book : The Complete Guide to Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants, and Loans for Graduate and Professional Study. Daniel J. Cassidy. National Scholarship Research Service. Englewood Cliffs, N.J. : Prentice Hall, Inc., biennial.

Financial Aid for Veterans, Military Personnel, and Their Dependents (current version 2004-06). Gail Ann Schlachter and R. David Weber. Reference Service Press, El Dorado Hills, California, biennial

http://www.nces.ed.gov/
This is a listing of 7,000 colleges and universities in the United States with direct links to each. An easy r esource for browsing colleges by location, programs and more.

http://www.gradschools.com/
A concise online directory for information about graduate schools can be found at gradschools.com.

www.careerkey.org/english/
www.college911.com/express/precog/index.asp
These web sites offer free interest surveys. Take one or both and find out what career suits you.

Updated June 15, 2008