February 21, 2018
Oregon students and families wanting to learn more about planning and paying for college can attend one of 27 College Nights planned throughout the state between now and April 30. The events are sponsored by Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC), which provides college access and financial education resources to empower students to make informed choices about their futures.
During the next three months, ECMC will give away more than $40,000 in scholarships at the events. The company has sponsored College Nights in Oregon for the past 12 years.
"College is a critical decision for students, both financially and personally," said Jennifer Satalino, director of ECMC's The College Place (TCP) Oregon. "Bringing these college planning workshops to students and families will allow them to make more informed decisions and feel comfortable with the process."
College Nights are interactive events designed to help students and their families choose the right college, navigate the financial aid process and find scholarships while avoiding scholarship scams. In addition, attendees at each event will have the opportunity to win one of three $500 scholarships.
Attendees will receive a copy of ECMC's Opportunities booklet, a free college planning workbook that features worksheets, checklists, and helpful tips along with Oregon-specific information for high school students and their families. The books are also available free for download in English and Spanish.
A full list of the Oregon College Nights is available here.
Tips for filling out your OSAC application
Each year, the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission's Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) partners with private donors, employers, foundations and organizations throughout the state to administer more than 500 scholarships that students can apply for with one common online application.
With the March 1 deadline fast approaching, ECMC is offering tips for students completing the application:
- Do your homework: Before you begin the online application, research scholarships in the online catalog based on your GPA, extracurricular activities, test scores and more. Scholarships are also searchable based on your current high school and residence. Apply for to up to 40 scholarships with your submission.
- Share your skills and successes: When creating your personal statement remember to take credit for all your activities, accomplishments and awards. Check out OSAC's tips for writing compelling personal statements. Additionally, a key portion of the OSAC scholarship application is filling out an Activities Chart. This will help log all your accomplishments and will provide those reading your application with a snapshot of what you're like outside the classroom.
- Be on time: The application deadline is March 1, at 5:00 p.m., PST.
- Apply often: You are eligible to apply when you're in high school and each year you're in college.