Spend spring semester in...
Salamanca
Spain
with Southern California
Foothills Consortium and AIFS
AIFS Partnership Programs
is proud to offer
(5) $1,000
STUDY ABROAD
AMBASSADOR
SCHOLARSHIPS
For students studying in Salamanca, Spain, Spring 2016
S C H O L A R S H I P S A VA I L A B L E !
Spring 2016
SALAMAN CA, S PAI N
the Southern California Foothills Consortium is pleased to announce
(5) $1,000 SCHOLARSHIPS*
sponsored by the American Institute For Foreign Study
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
1.
Must have completed 12 units by the end of the fall 2015 semester with a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
2.
Must be currently attending a member college (listed below).
3.
Write a 500-word essay explaining:
•
Why you want to participate in the Salamanca program.
•
How the program meets your academic, professional and personal goals.
4.
Provide a letter of recommendation from a college professor who has directly observed your recent, successful academic performance in a college level class. The recommendation letter must detail your specific contributions to the
class, leadership abilities, and any other qualifying information that supports your candidacy for this award.
5.
Attach official college transcripts indicating 12 units completed with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better.
*Students receiving the AIFS Scholarships are agreeing to attend a study abroad info meeting upon their return and work with
AIFS student advisors on-site during the semester to gather pictures and video, and write a blog sharing their experiences
abroad with other students through our social networking sites.
Selection will be based upon previous academic achievement and strength of statement.
PLEASE SUBMIT THE REQUIRED FORMS TO YOUR CAMPUS COORDINATOR:
Antelope Valley College – Michelle Hernandez................................................................................ (661) 722-6300 ext. 6603
Barstow Community College – Ramon Vasconcellos....................................................................... (760) 252-2411 ext. 7329
Chaffey College – Tony DiSalvo........................................................................................................ (909) 652-6901
Citrus College – John Morris............................................................................................................ (626) 914-8560
College of the Canyons – Claudia Acosta......................................................................................... (661) 362-3530
College of the Desert – Kristen Nelson............................................................................................ (760) 862-1385
Crafton Hills College – Kris Aquistapace ......................................................................................... (909) 389-3347
MiraCosta College – Mia Scavone ................................................................................................... (760) 757-2121 ext. 6896
Mt. San Antonio College – Larry Silva.............................................................................................. (909) 274-6321
Mt. San Jacinto College – Shartelle Fears ....................................................................................... (951) 639-5261
Rio Hondo College – Dr. Adam Wetsman ....................................................................................... (562) 463-7463
Wendy Gonzalez............................................................................................. (562) 908-3429
San Bernardino Valley College – José Recinos ................................................................................ (909) 384-8607
Victor Valley College – Hinrich Kaiser............................................................................................... (760) 245-4271 ext. 2791
All forms must be RECEIVED by Monday, November 2, 2015
CITRUS COLLEGE
SEMESTER IN SALAMANCA, SPAIN, SPRING 2016
FINANCIAL AID FACT SHEET
1. Financial aid provided for the Semester in Salamanca, Spain only assists with the cost of the program.
Financial aid is limited and awards are likely to include student loans. Information regarding student
loans will be sent with your award email when your file is complete and financial aid eligibility is
determined. Although loans may be listed on your award letter, you must actually apply for the loans
to receive them. Student loans are optional AND MUST BE REPAID.
2. All students requesting financial assistance for the Semester in Spain must apply for financial aid by
completing the 2015-2016 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. List Citrus College’s school code #001166 under colleges on your
application. Submit signatures with your FSA ID (student and parent). Your application will be
invalid if they do not receive the proper signatures. It is also advisable for you to print out a copy of
your application and confirmation sheet for your personal file.
3. All students applying for financial aid must complete the attached ‘Request for Financial
Assistance’ form and the ‘Student Financial Aid Information Release Form’ and submit it to
Citrus College Financial Aid Office beginning October 1, 2015 until November 13, 2015.
4. Students who are attempting to receive financial aid must submit all supporting documents requested
by the Citrus College Financial Aid Office to complete their file. You MUST also submit a spring
online APPLICATION FOR ADMISSIONS to Citrus College beginning September 1. The Citrus
College Financial Aid Office will send Award emails to students after all documents are received and
verified.
5. If you are a Cal Grant recipient, it is your responsibility to notify CSAC of the change of schools.
Failure to do so may jeopardize your Cal Grant eligibility.
6. Checks for financial aid recipients are not available prior to departure. Checks will be sent to the
student’s U.S.A. address that is listed in Admissions and Records. Disbursement dates are listed on
the financial aid website. It is the students’ responsibility to pay all outstanding debts.
7. All students’ applying for financial aid at Citrus College must adhere to Citrus College’s
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards which includes but is not limited to:
completion of less than 72 total units, enrolled in an eligible program, and maintains a
cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above.
8. Any correspondence from the Citrus College Financial Aid Office must be responded to immediately
to insure prompt completion of files. The Financial Aid Staff at Citrus College can answer any
questions about the financial aid process. Call (626) 914-8592 for assistance.
CITRUS COLLEGE
Financial Aid Office / Semester Abroad Program
1000 W. Foothill Blvd.
Glendora, CA 91741-1899
(626) 914-8592
SEMESTER IN SALAMANCA, SPAIN, SPRING 2016
Request for Financial Assistance
Student Name: ___________________________________ Citrus ID: _______________________
Address: ________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________ Phone #: ____________________
College you are currently attending: ______________________________________________
Have you completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2015-2016
school year?
YES: __________
NO: __________
If you answer ‘NO’, go on-line to “www.fafsa.ed.gov” to file an application immediately. If you
answered ‘YES’, did you list Citrus College on your FAFSA? (Citrus College School code is
#001166). If Citrus College is not listed on your FAFSA application, we will not be able to process
your financial aid.
_______________________________________
Student
_________________
Date
RETURN THIS FORM TO:
CITRUS COLLEGE - FINANCIAL AID OFFICE, ATTN: SEMESTER ABROAD
Beginning October 1, 2015 until November 13, 2015
CITRUS COLLEGE
1000 West Foothill Blvd.
Glendora, CA 91741
(626) 914-8592
STUDENT FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION RELEASE FORM
(FERPA FORM)
STUDENT AUTHORIZATION FOR RELEASE OF INFORMATION
I hereby authorize Citrus College Financial Aid Office to release any financial aid award information to:
AIFS-American Institute for Foreign Studies
River Plaza
9 West Broad Street
Stamford, CT 06902-3788
AND
_____________________________________________
Name of person handling affairs in the U.S. for student.
________________________________________
Printed Name of Student
________________________________________
Signature of Student
____________________________________
Relationship to student.
______________________________________
Citrus ID Number
________________
Date
THIS IS A REQUIRED DOCUMENT FOR FINANCIAL AID THEREFORE
PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM TO:
CITRUS COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE
ATTN: SEMESTER ABROAD
1000 West Foothill Boulevard
Glendora, CA 91741
Beginning October 1, 2015 until November 13, 2015
INFORMATION WILL NOT BE RELEASED WITHOUT THIS DOCUMENT ON FILE
SEMESTER ABROAD
FINANCIAL AID RECIPIENTS
FALL SEMESTER-LONDON / SPRING SEMESTER-SALAMANCA
Please note, all financial aid disbursements are sent directly to the
student’s home address listed in the admissions and records office in
the United States.
All communication from the financial aid office will be sent via your
Citrus College email account.
Financial aid is to supplement the cost of the program. There will be fees
that you will have to pay before you leave for Spain. It is the student’s
responsibility to insure that the financial aid and/or loan checks be
properly deposited and final payments issued to “AIFS” according to
your agreement.
It is advisable to have someone, whom you can trust and who is
responsible, to manage your affairs in the United States while you are in
London or Spain. This person should be able to deposit your check(s)
into your account. You can add this person on to your checking account
or legally give them limited power of attorney.
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO
MAKE THESE ARRANGEMENTS!
For disbursement information see the financial aid website.
Scholarship Opportunities for Study Abroad Any hesitation about studying abroad is typically related to the cost. Although a real concern, there are a lot of opportunities available for students to help fund their experience. First, keep in mind that less than 10% of the US college population studies abroad, so having this international experience provides you an opportunity to differentiate yourself from your peers. This fact is especially interesting when thinking about your employability after graduation. A study abroad scholarship is a monetary award for students to use toward the expenses of their program such as travel, course credits, books and lodging. Students must apply for scholarships and some can be very competitive while others are underutilized. How to Begin • Know your finances and how much it will cost for you to go abroad compared to spending that time at home • Research scholarships, grants and other ways to pay for your program • Talk with your financial aid office to see how much of your financial aid package and university scholarships can travel on the program Scholarship Tips • Apply for every scholarship you can. Keep in mind that a scholarship doesn’t have to be specifically for studying abroad in order for you to use the funds on studying abroad. Always talk with the scholarship provider to see if funds can be used toward going abroad • Keep in mind that scholarship deadlines often fall long before program deadlines • Some scholarships require letters of recommendation and/or signatures from staff and you need to give them plenty of time to complete the necessary forms on your behalf • Some scholarships require service once you are back in the States • Don’t wait until the last minute to apply • Make sure to spell and grammar check and have several other people read your essay • Utilize resources on your campus, including the study abroad office and writing center • Print off your essay and read it aloud. If you are unable to read it out loud smoothly, you need to edit more • Pretend your scholarship will be the last to be read and make a compelling case with your first sentence Scholarship Resources • http://www.studyabroad.com/scholarships.aspx Over 145 links to scholarships applicable to study abroad • http://www.iie.org/en/Programs/Gilman-­‐Scholarship-­‐Program Open to students who are Pell Grant eligible • http://www.diversitynetwork.org/scholarships $500 scholarships for US students studying abroad with member institutions • http://www.studyabroadfunding.org/index.asp A search database for study abroad scholarships • https://www.scholarships.com/scholarship-­‐search.aspx A search database for college scholarships • http://www.studentscholarships.org/ The largest scholarship search database on the internet • http://www.internationalscholarships.com/ A search database for study abroad scholarships • http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/ A student guide to financial aid and scholarships • http://www.fastweb.com/college-­‐scholarships A student guide to financial aid and scholarships Creative Funding for Study Abroad Students often cite paying for their experience to be the top reason they are concerned about being able to study abroad. Although a real concern, there are a lot of opportunities available for students to help fund their experience. First, keep in mind that less than 10% of the US college population studies abroad, so having this international experience provides you an opportunity to differentiate yourself from your peers. This fact is especially interesting to family members who are thinking about your employability after graduation. Before You Begin Fundraising • Know your finances and how much it will cost for you to go abroad compared to spending that time at home • Research scholarships, grants and other ways to pay for your program before you talk with them • Talk with your financial aid office to see if your financial aid package and university scholarships can travel on the program Scholarship Tips • Apply for every scholarship you can. Keep in mind that a scholarship doesn’t have to be specifically for studying abroad in order for you to use the funds on studying abroad. Always talk with the scholarship provider to see if funds can be used toward going abroad • Keep in mind that scholarship deadlines often fall before program deadlines • Some scholarships require letters of recommendation and/or signatures from staff and you need to give them plenty of time to complete the necessary forms on your behalf • Some scholarships require service once you are back in the States • Don’t wait until the last minute to apply • Make sure to spell and grammar check and have several other people read your essay • Utilize resources on your campus, including the study abroad office and writing center • Print off your essay and read it aloud. If you are unable to read it out loud smoothly, you need to edit more • Pretend your scholarship will be the last to be read and make a compelling case with your first sentence In addition to loans and scholarships, there are several ways for students to fund their time abroad. Below is a list of some basic activities to get you started. Keep in mind that each campus has restrictions on the type of activities that are permitted on campus and you should consult with your study abroad office for more details on regulations, especially for events you want to host on your campus. Back-­‐to-­‐Basics Ideas Sometimes rolling up your sleeves and getting to work is one of the best ways to raise money for your time abroad. Consider doing one or all of the following activities on and around your campus: • Lawn mowing/yard work/snow removal • Homemade food, smoothie stand or baked goods sale • Bowl-­‐a-­‐Thon (or other types of “thons”) • Coordinate with a local store to offer giftwrapping services during the holidays • Ask local restaurants to donate 10% of their profits on a designated night for your cause in exchange for encouraging supporters to eat there • Coordinate with a local gas station to have volunteers serve as gas station attendants who pump gas and clean windshields for a donation for a day • Get artistic. Is there something you can make (at a low cost) and sell at a profit? We had an art student who made posters about the World Cup and sold them to friends to help fund his experience • Make business cards (with information on your crowdfunding site) and pass them out to everyone you meet Lifestyle Changes • “Keep the change” savings accounts that round up to the nearest dollar on your purchases and put funds directly into a separate savings account • Review and alter your current spending habits (for example, if you drink four coffees from local shop, consider buying a coffeemaker for home and brewing your own) • Ask families to give you money or travel-­‐related gifts for holidays and birthdays • Get a part-­‐time job (if you are not already working) Crowdfunding One of the most popular creative fundraising ideas currently is crowdfunding, which is the practice of raising small money from numerous people to fund a project (in this case study abroad). Previous AIFS students have found success from this practice and have raised thousands of dollars toward their program fees. Most sites charge either a per-­‐donation or one-­‐time fee for using their service and students should research the crowdsourcing platforms available online to determine which site best suits their needs. Once you have a personalized crowdfunding website you should share the link on your social media platforms to spread the word and consider getting business cards made that you can pass out to everyone. Strangers are often willing to donate to your cause if you have a compelling story and are only asking for $2. Keep in mind that every dollar counts. Letter writing campaigns In an age where most people are inundated by emails, sending a handwritten note can make a big difference. It shows that you took the time to sit down, write the letter, get stamps and put it in the mail. Getting a handwritten request can make you stand out from the crowd (and junk mail) and help you reach your goal. Offer multiple ways that people can support your goal: sending a check, donating online or purchasing items you need for your trip (your passport, travel books or supplies). Make sure your letter details how this experience will impact your educational and career goals and offer to send them postcards from your travels. • Reach out to companies and organizations you would like to potentially work for and explain how this experience abroad would be of benefit to you and them (as you hope to work for them one day) • Family and extended family • Co-­‐workers • Family co-­‐workers • Church • Social organizations (4-­‐H, Kiwanis, Rotary, etc) • Greek organizations • Students on your campus • Friends at other universities Use Your Network • You can and should use your social media network to do more than just post funny cat videos • Everyone you know should be aware that you are going abroad and how they can help to fund you • Edit your cover photo on Facebook to include your funding information • Include fun facts about the country and city you will be heading to, along with your funding website information • Let them know how the funds will be used and why their donation makes a difference • Be creative Tips for Success • • • • • • Leave no stone unturned. The worst someone will say to your request is “no” Remember you get back the effort you put in Be creative Start as early as possible (little efforts over a long period of time can pay off in a big way) Use your network Play to your skills. If you have talents in a particular area, try to use that to help fund your cause BENJAMIN A. GILMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP
https://gilmanapplication.iie.org/
The Spring 2016 application cycle is for study abroad programs beginning between December 15, 2015
and April 15, 2016. This cycle encompasses spring semester, quarter, calendar year, winter inter-session and
January term programs that are a minimum of four weeks in length. The Gilman Scholarship Program is open to
U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are planning to study or intern abroad. The program aims to diversify
the kinds of students who study abroad and the countries and regions where they go by supporting
undergraduates who might otherwise not participate due to financial constraints.
• Applicants must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant at the time of application or during the term of
study abroad.
• Complete the online application at the website above.
• Deadline to submit application including transcripts is October 6, 2015.
Gilman Winter/Spring 2016 Scholarship Timeline
Mid- August 2015
Online application opens for winter/spring study abroad programs
October 6, 2015
Student Deadline for submission of online application, including transcript(s). Must
submit application by 11:59pm Central Daylight Time.
Late November 2015
All Applicants are notified of the status of their application via email. Study Abroad
and Financial Aid Advisors will be notified of scholarship recipients via email. A list
of the recipients will be available on the Gilman website.
December 2015/
January 2016
Scholarship recipients must accept/decline their award and submit required
documentation.
Please be aware that the application deadline is in Central Time and take into consideration the
applicable time difference as you prepare to submit your application GILMAN CONTACT INFORMATION:
A-D
Phone: (832) 369-3477
Email: gilmanforms@iie.org
E-K
Phone: (832) 369-3484
Email: gilman@iie.org
L-Q
Phone: (832) 369-3475
Email: gilmandocs@iie.org
R-Z
Phone: (832) 369-3485
Email: gilmanapp@iie.org