Cochise College will accept applications for scholarships and financial aid for the 2010-2011 academic year beginning in January, and there are a number of things students can do to prepare.
Scholarships:
Last year, the Cochise College Foundation awarded more than $525,000 in scholarships, including $176,000 provided by community organizations. This year, applications will be accepted Monday, Jan. 4 through Monday, April 19, with awardees notified in time for the fall 2010 semester.
A wide variety of scholarships are available. Some funds target the general student population, and others are designated for students enrolling in particular academic programs or for those residing in specific areas. Scholarships also are available for part-time students.
Scholarship applications are submitted using an online system called STARS, which is accessible from the Cochise College home page at www.cochise.edu. Applicants click their way through an online questionnaire and need to submit some documentation in support of their application. The application requests responses to questions about the student’s academic and career goals, financial situation, and extracurricular activities. Applicants also need to submit an unofficial copy of their most recent college or high school transcripts and a letter of recommendation from someone who is familiar with their goals and personal potential. Tips for requesting and writing recommendation letters are available online at www.cochise.edu/foundation.
Scholarship application review will take place from April through June, with awards made after July 1. Call the Cochise College Foundation at (520) 417-4100 for additional information.
Financial Aid
Students applying for federal and state financial aid are encouraged to do so as soon as possible after January 1 in the year they plan to attend school. In order to apply, students need to have a copy of their previous year’s tax returns or, if they are dependents, their parent’s tax returns. Students can apply for financial aid at www.fafsa.gov and seek assistance from the Financial Aid Office at Cochise College. In recent years, the college has processed more than $8 million in financial assistance annually, with the number of applications exceeding 3,000 during the current academic year. Details about applying for financial aid are available on the college website at www.cochise.edu.
Additional Information
Cochise College staff members will be available to provide information and answer questions about applying for scholarships and financial aid at a number of events scheduled in the new year. Participation is planned at high school financial aid nights, as well as at College Goal Sunday, an event to help students applying for aid. College Goal Sunday is scheduled for 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31 at the Sierra Vista Campus and the Nogales/Santa Cruz Center. A similar event is planned for the Willcox Center on Saturday, Jan. 30.