Inside Financial Aid & Scholarships at Northwest High School

    Quick Link to: Scholarship Resources specific to Northwest HS Students | General Scholarship Resources | Application Links | Financial Aid Resources (including new videos to help with FAFSA completion) |

    COMING OCTOBER 4, 2023… NORTHWEST FINANCIAL AID SEMINAR for the Class of 2024.  Learn when to apply for financial aid, how to apply for financial aid and what’s new with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 6:30 pm.  Virtual.  A link will be published on the Northwest home page on the day of the event.

    NEW!  Career Council/National Hispanic College Fairs, Inc. 2023 Financial Aid Workshops.  "Learn how to apply for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA for Undocumented Students)".  Sessions will be in English and Spanish.  October 11th at Seneca Valley from 6-8pm | October 12th at Montgomery Blair from 6-8pm. Click HERE to scan registration QR-Code.  | Post 21 September 2023 |

     

    Financial Aid (FAFSA) - The CSS Profile  - MSFAA & Dates To Remember:

    Updates on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  FAFSA is changing for the Class of 2024.  Click on the link to learn more. 

     

    The CSS Profile:

    The CSS Profile may need to be completed for institutional aid consideration. The CSS Profile is a College Board financial aid application and is not required by all colleges.  There is a cost to complete the CSS Profile.  Deadlines may vary.

    RESOURCES FOR COMPLETING THE CSS PROFILE:

     

    The Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA):

    Students ineligible to file the FAFSA who live in the state of Maryland can file the Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA).  The MSFAA filing deadline is March 1.  More on MSFAA deadlines here.  The application is available through the MD CAPS portal. The MD CAPS account is required to accept Maryland State financial aid as well as file the MSFAA.  View this document on how to Create your MD CAPS account and then create your MD CAPS account. 

    Northwest Scholarship Resources:

    Northwest High School Scholarship Resource (PDF format)

    The JAG Scholarship 'Apply Now' Bulletin:  This bulletin will be updated as scholarship opportunities become available.  | Publication date:  22 September 2023 |

    Published weekly, this bulletin summarizes scholarship opportunities that are currently available to Northwest High School students.  The 'Apply Now' Bulletin is available to download using the link provided above.  Included in this publication are the links to the scholarship application, eligibility criteria and deadlines to apply.  The scholarship opportunities are listed by the scholarship application deadline to apply date.

    The JAG Scholarship 'Apply Later' Forecast Bulletin:  Published one-time only at the beginning of each school year.  The Forecast Bulletin lists all scholarships available to students at Northwest High School based on the prior year.  Included in this publication will be the criteria for applying, links to scholarship funder web sites and the general time line for availability and application.  The Forecast Bulletin is available to  download using the link provided above.  The Forecast Bulletin lists the scholarship alphabetically by the scholarship name.

    Back To Top


    Scholarship Application Links:

    If the JAG Scholarship 'Apply Now' Bulletin directs you to this web page for the application, download the application using the link provided below.

    Scholarship Transcript Requests: Scholarship Transcript Request Processing Form 

    The list below is reflects only NEW scholarships posted and REMINDERS for deadlines approaching. A complete list of ALL scholarship opportunities that have been made available to Northwest students can be found in the JAG Scholarship 'Apply Now' Bulletin, including criteria, ONLINE links to applications, and eligibility.  New scholarship information is posted in the order it is received.  Reminder post dates refer to the original post date in the JAG Scholarship 'Apply Now' Bulletin.

    NEW SCHOLARSHIP POSTS & REMINDERS for upcoming deadlines:

    NEW SCHOLARSHIP: OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC. INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY CONTEST.  SENIORS.  Awards range from $1,000 to $5,000.  All seniors eligible.  Essay title: With Politics gaining the bulk of discussion, what can the younger generation do to ensure that elected leaders understand the impact of gaining their vote? CLICK HERE to download the essay and instructions.  Essays must be submitted by email to Shawn.Joseph@howard.edu. DEADLINE FOR ESSAY SUBMISSION:  OCTOBER 20 | Post 22 September 2023 |

    NEW SCHOLARSHIP: The Jefferson Scholars Foundation offers Jefferson Scholarships for undergraduate study at the University of Virginia.  The goal of the Foundation is to attract the most outstanding students in the nation and the world to the University, student who are extraordinary leaders, scholars, and citizens.  Individual merit in these three areas is the sole criterion for selection.  Financial need, which the University meets through other resources, is not a consideration in making nominations, recommendations, or selections.  Jefferson Scholarships provide the entire cost of attendance at the University of  Virginia and many supplemental enrichment experiences. Students must be nominated by their high school to complete.  If selected as the Northwest nominee, you will be asked to complete the online Jefferson Scholar application, provide a recommendation and upload a photo.  The General Regulations can be found HERE.  More information on the program can be found HERE.  Submit this Google Form no later than October 10.  The one nominee will be selected by the end of October and will have until Monday, November 13 to complete the UVA Jefferson Scholars application. | Post 21 September 2023 |

    SCHOLARSHIP:  University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) Meyerhoff Scholars Program (Apply to UMBC Early Action) - Nomination is open for fall 2024 entering freshmen. The Meyerhoff Scholars Program is open to all high-achieving high school SENIORS who have an interest in pursuing doctoral study in the sciences, technology, engineering, or mathematics and who are interested in the advancement of minorities in the sciences and related and related fields.  Students can be nominated for the program and are most typically nominated by their high school administrators, counselors, and teachers.  The Meyerhoff award for in-state residents ranges from $5,000 to $15,000 per academic year.

    Northwest High School seniors should submit this UMBC Meyerhoff Scholars Request Nomination Form no later than October 10.  Once your request is received and your counselor is in support of your nomination, your request will be processed, and you will receive a confirmation email sent to your personal and mcpsmd.net accounts.  | Updated Post 14 August 2023 |

    REMEMBER A complete list of ALL scholarship opportunities that have been made available to Northwest students, including criteria, ONLINE links to applications, and eligibility, can be found in the JAG Scholarship 'Apply Now' Bulletin. 

    Back To Top

     

    General Scholarship Resources:

    Scholarship Resource:  HBCU College & Scholarship Resource Guide sponsored by Mt. Calvary Baptist Church

    Scholarship Resource:  Know the names of your elected officials and legislative district when applying for state scholarships.  Find your district and the names of your elected officials at mdelect.net.

    Scholarship Resource:  Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) website.

    Scholarship Resource: United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Scholarships presentation.

    Scholarship Resource:  United Negro College Fund (UNCF) web site.  Scholarship opportunities for all high school students, including for those planning to attend a Historically Black College or University.

    Scholarship Resource:  Montgomery College  Raptor Scholarship Series continues.  A conversation about Maryland State Programs.

    Scholarship Resource:  Maryland State Scholarship webinar hosted by Mount St. Mary's University.  Click HERE to access the webinar on YouTube.

    Scholarship Resource:  BigFuture Scholarship with CollegeBoard for the Class of 2023.  Become eligible by taking steps to plan for college.  Open to application until February 28, 2023.  Find out more...

    Scholarship Resource:  ARMY ROTC Scholarships

    Scholarship Resource:  The Howard P. Rawlings Program of Excellence Awards (Maryland Higher Education Commission):

    • Educational Assistance Grant (EA)
    • Guaranteed Access Grant (GA)
    • Maryland Community College Promise SCHOLARSHIP.  Are you planning to attend a community college in the state of Maryland? Do you plan to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA) by March 1?  Learn more about the Promise Scholarship and important next steps.  Download the one-page Information Sheet here.

    Scholarship Resource:  C. D. Motes, Jr. Incentive Awards Program (IAP) with the University of Maryland College Park and MCPS UMD Accepted Students.  If you are applying to UMD College Park and demonstrate qualities like leadership, being service oriented, committed to striving to be best and perseverance, you may want to learn more about IAP.  Applicants must apply to UMD by November 1 and be accepted.  The FAFSA must also be completed by January 1 and the applicant must be eligible for the Pell Grant.  The IAP application is completed between February 1 and March 1.  The program offers a summer bridge program, full tuition, room and board along with guaranteed housing and a study abroad component.  Learn more on the IAP website.  Click here to learn more about Becoming A Scholar. 

    Scholarship Resource:  StudentScholarships.org.  Newsletter includes multiple scholarship opportunities with deadlines through the end of the school year.  Click on the link for a list of current scholarships and links to applications. 

    Scholarship Resource:  Scholarships for International Students.  A resource from BestColleges.com.

    Scholarship Resource:  Immigrants Rising (undocumented) for Scholarships.  A National scholarship search engine.  

    Scholarship Resource:  MCPS College Career Information Center Scholarship Updates for Students

     

     Back To Top 

    Financial Aid Information & Resources:

    NEW Financial Aid Resource: MyinTuition Cost Calculation.   A college cost estimator for specific colleges and universities. @ https://myintuition.org/quick-college-cost-estimator/. Posted 14 August 2023 |

    Financial Aid Resource:  2022-2023 MCPS Financial Aid Webinar | Recording | Presentation PDF |

    Financial Aid Resource:  The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

    Financial Aid Resource:  The CSS Profile may need to be completed for institutional aid consideration. The CSS Profile is a College Board financial aid application and is not required by all colleges.  There is a cost to complete the CSS Profile.  Deadlines may vary.  Use the link provided to access a list of colleges that require the CSS Profile.

    Financial Aid Resource:  Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) website and the websites for the colleges you are applying to for financial aid updates and deadlines.

    Financial Aid Resource:  Help with FAFSA & MSFAA. TheTRiO Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) provides Financial Aid assistance, online and in-person EOC can also provide financial aid award package(s) review.  To schedule an appointment or sign up for a workshop:

    Financial Aid Resource:  StudentAid.gov Financial Aid Webinars for parents and students looking for assistance with the financial aid process.

    Financial Aid Resource:  Resources and Toolkit supported by StudentAid.gov.  Select your resource platform and topic.

    Financial Aid Resource:  Financial Aid Channel on YouTube.  Supported by Federal Student Aid (studentaid.gov).

    Financial Aid Resource:  Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) Financial Aid Questions Answered!  FAFSA workshop/webinar on YouTube.  The workshop was facilitated by Ed Prep PLUS and Outreach Specialist, Mr. Isaiah Ellis, with the MHEC Office of Student Financial Aid.Questions around finances, as well as various family circumstances including citizenship, divorce/separation, and much more are covered.  Additionally, how to search for scholarships and additional (federal) grants is also discussed.

    Financial Aid Resource(s):  Benefits of filing the FAFSA early!  Federal pell grant money likely will not run out but filing early gives students the best opportunity to receive other need-based aid, including state aid, grants and scholarships.  There is more time to file an appeal if dissatisfied with the aid amount or there has been a change in economic circumstances.  Read the full article here.

    Financial Aid Resource:  The CSS Profile is an on-line financial Aid application used by colleges and scholarship programs to award non federal aid (institutional).  There is a cost to complete the CSS Profile.

     Back To Top