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Connect With Scholarships for Sorority Sisters

By WTOP Staff

Anyone who’s ever seen a movie set in college knows plenty of stereotypes about fraternities and sororities. But no matter what you may have learned from Hollywood, the fact is that Greek organizations offer much more than just parties.

Lots of reputable, responsible fraternities and sororities provide a full array of benefits to their members, including lifelong friendships, community service and leadership opportunities, a robust professional network after graduation and numerous academic and service scholarships.

Last week, we covered scholarships offered by nationwide fraternities, so it’s only fair that this week we feature excellent scholarship opportunities for sorority sisters from some of the most well-known sororities in America.

As one of the oldest Greek organizations for women in the country, Pi Beta Phi promotes friendship, cultivates leadership opportunities and strives to develop women of integrity and intellect by supporting its members through scholarships. Last year, the foundation awarded more than 100 undergraduate and graduate scholarships totaling nearly $325,000.

[Find scholarships aimed at helping women pay for college.]

Opportunities range from chapter- or state-specific scholarships to those open to all members across the country. Members can start applying in November, and your applications must be submitted by Feb. 15.

Founded in 1870, Kappa Alpha Theta led the way for other women’s groups across the country and for women in higher education. Today, members hail from nearly every U.S. state and Canadian province and come from different professions, faiths and ethnic backgrounds.

Every year, the Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation supports more than 200 women through more than $500,000 in scholarships, which can be used toward academic tuition, books and course-related fees for undergraduate and graduate study. If you’re a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, you can start applying for scholarships in November.

[See scholarship opportunities for women in math and the sciences.]

Alpha Phi’s 160 chapters across the country have more than 200,000 members. The sorority strives to help women reach their highest potential by focusing on sisterhood, service, leadership, loyalty, character development and scholarship.

Every year, the Alpha Phi Foundation awards more than $140,000 to members through its various scholarship programs and grants. Though scholarships don’t open until Dec. 1, you can find out all you need to know about how to apply on the foundation’s website.

[Check out more scholarships for women.]

With nearly 180 chapters around the world, Chi Omega is the largest women’s fraternal organization in the world. The organization is committed to friendship, personal integrity and serving others — and academic excellence is a point of pride.

To recognize its members’ accomplishments, the Chi Omega Foundation offers a variety of national scholarships and grants. It awarded more than $140,000 to members last year. Be sure to check out the foundation’s scholarship page for more information on how to apply.

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Connect With Scholarships for Sorority Sisters originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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