January Zoom Video presentation
The Susan T. Buffett
Foundation Scholarship
Prepared by: Susan Buffet Foundation and
EducationQuest
Revised by: TeamMates Mentoring Program
SUSAN T. BUFFETT
FOUNDATION
SCHOLARSHIP
Eligibility
1.
Be a resident of the state of Nebraska
2.
Graduate from a Nebraska high school or earn
a Nebraska GED
3.
Earn at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA
4.
Be a first-time freshman when entering college
◦ Students obtaining dual enrollment credits in
high school are still eligible
5.
Plan to enroll in a Nebraska public institution
6.
Be in need of financial assistance
Eligibility
•
A Nebraska public institution includes:
• UNL, UNO, UNK, NE College of Tech. Ag.
• Peru State, Wayne State, or Chadron State
College
• Southeast CC, Central CC, Metro CC, Northeast
CC, Mid-Plains CC, McCook CC, Western NE CC
*Students can transfer from a community college to
a four year college with the scholarship
Financial Eligibility
•
Students with an EFC below $15,000 are
encouraged to apply for the scholarship (Less
than $90,000 a year gross income)
*Students do not need to be Pell Grant eligible to
qualify
1. Refer to the EFC chart in your senior packet
2. Visit the ‘FAFSA’ section on our TM Post-Secondary
website page
3. Use the College Funding Estimator to learn more
about EFC www.educationquest.org/collegefunding-estimator/
Scholarship Details
Maximum Term (Semester) Awards 2015-2016
Full Time
(12+hours)
ThreeQuarter
Time
(9-11
hours)
MCC and SECC
All other
community
colleges
Nebraska State
Colleges
University of
Nebraska
$1,300.00
NCTA
Institutions
Half Time
(6-8 hours)
Quarter
Time
(3-5
hours)
Less than Quarter
Time
(1-2 hours)
$975.00
$650.00
$325.00
$162.50
$1,900.00
$1,425.00
$950.00
$475.00
$237.50
$3,900.00
$2,925.00
$1,950.00
$975.00
$487.50
$4,350.00
$3,262.50
$2,175.00
$1,087.50
$543.75
$2,800.00
$2,100.00
$1,400.00
$700.00
$350.00
The scholarship renews for up to five years at a four-year
college or up to three years at a two-year college or until
they graduate - whichever comes first.*
*As long as scholarship requirements are met
Changes This Year
1. Essay Question Format
•
Type in Text Box, no uploading documents
•
Word limit enforced (1500)
2. Mobile Friendly Application
•
Students and recommenders can use mobile
devices to complete application requirements
3. Videos
•
Tutorials to assist students
4. A Few Additional Application Questions
Deadlines
February 1, 2016 at 11:59pm CST:
1. Application – students must click “submit,”
answer final survey questions, and sign
consent to release by this date, or the
application will be locked
2. 2 Recommendations (on-line template)
3. High School Transcript
4. Essay – must be responsive to prompt
questions
March 15, 2016 at 11:59pm CST:
1. Student Aid Report (SAR) or College Funding
Estimator.
Recommendations
•
Type in Recommendations using on-line
tool
o Form available through link sent via email
o Recommenders can save and come back
o A PDF copy of the recommendation will be
emailed to recommenders when they submit
o Email reminders and confirmations sent to
both students and recommenders
Recommendations
•
4 specific questions and a place for
additional comments
1. Please speak to the student’s work ethic and
leadership skills.
2. Discuss the student’s understanding of
him/herself and how you have seen this play a
role in his/her life.
3. Discuss the student’s motivation, goals, and any
challenges they have overcome.
4. How have you seen this student be active in the
community and/or giving back to others?
Recommendations
Recommendations
Essay
Please compose an essay describing your reasons for
wanting to attend college. It is important that your essay
addresses all of the questions below throughout the essay.
1. What are your goals and how will you reach them?
2. Describe some of your strengths and weaknesses. How
have you developed/learned from these?
3. How have you demonstrated leadership in your life
(community, school, job, etc.)?
4. How are you involved in giving back to others and/or your
community?
5. Tell us about an obstacle or challenge you have faced.
6. Tell us about a time you worked hard to achieve
something.
We expect your essay to run about 1000-1500 words
Essay
Please compose an essay describing your reasons for
wanting to attend college. It is important that your essay
addresses all of the questions below throughout the essay.
1. What are your goals and how will you reach them?
2. Describe some of your strengths and weaknesses. How
have you developed/learned from these?
3. How have you demonstrated leadership in your life
(community, school, job, etc.)?
4. How are you involved in giving back to others and/or your
community?
5. Tell us about an obstacle or challenge you have faced.
6. Tell us about a time you worked hard to achieve
something.
TALK ABOUT TEAMMATES IN YOUR ESSAY!!!!
Essay
Essay
Email Communication
Subject: Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation - Application
Creation
• When students create account
Subject: Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation - Application
Submitted
• When the student signs the consent to release and
submits the application
o The email will let the student know if s/he has
submitted all required documents, and
recommendations have been received
o The email will indicate if the student is still missing
something due for the first deadline when they submit
(i.e. recommendation)
Email Communication
Subject: Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation - Application
Complete
• All application materials (including SAR/CFE) have
been received.
Email/Text
Communication
Deadline 1 (February 1) Reminder
Subject: Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation – DEADLINE
REMINDER
• To remind students who have missing requirements for
the first deadline (February 1)
• Sent via Email and Text 1/13, 1/20, 1/27, and 1/29
Deadline 2 (March 15) Reminder
Subject: Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation – ACTION
REQUIRED
• To remind students who are missing the SAR/CFE due
March 15 who have already submitted the required
materials due at the first deadline
• Sent via Email and Text 2/17, 3/2, 3/8, 3/12, and
3/14
Email Communication
(Recommendations)
Subject: Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation Recommendation Request
• Sent to Recommender when student enters a
reference on the application
• Also when student requests to “resend request” on
the application
Subject: Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation Recommendation Submitted
• Sent to student and Recommender when a
recommendation is submitted
Email Communication
(Recommendations)
Subject: Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation Recommendation Reminder
• Sent to student if they are missing one or more
recommendations: 1/15, 1/27, and 2/1
• Sent to Recommender if they have not yet submitted:
1/15, 1/27, and 2/1
Communication about
Decisions
Decision Emails
• Email sent to all students who completed the application
• Decisions always sent prior to May 1
Common Errors
ESSAY
• Essay prompts are not addressed
• Student gives general essay responses, without sharing
personal experiences/stories
• Forget to mention TeamMates Impact and plan to give
back in the future
GENERAL
• Incorrect documents uploaded
• Eligibility requirements not met (student does not have a 2.5
GPA)
• Students have all application materials complete, but do not
officially “submit” after the consent to release
• Students ask recommenders who cannot answer the questions
• Procrastination (Students and Recommenders)
• Forgetting to check the “status” page
Questions or Concerns?!?!
A Look at the Application
Questions?
For additional FAQ’s, visit the Susan Buffett
Foundation website at
http://buffettscholarships.org/collegescholarships