As college application deadlines start to come around, seniors face the difficult challenge of choosing a school. Universities can cost anywhere from $80,000 to $400,000 for just four years of education, so the process of applying to and receiving scholarships is often an essential one. Mrs. Claffey and Mrs. Fawcett, Old Saybrook High School’s scholarship coordinators, support students and guardians as they navigate applying for scholarships typically during the middle months of their senior year. Mrs. Claffey speaks to this, saying, “We help students understand what scholarships are out there and what scholarships students are eligible for, how to apply, requirements for different scholarships, and more.”
But where can students learn about these scholarships? On December 4th, 10th, or 16th, students can discover more; Mrs. Claffey shares, “In December, we hold informational sessions for our seniors to support students in the scholarships process,” adding, “We create and update a Google Classroom each year for each senior class where we house mostly local, some state and national scholarships for our students.” The code to the Google Classroom is O3AMLGRF.
Year to year scholarship offerings may change, however there are always many to choose that fit different parameters. Whether you’re seeking aid for achievement in athletics, community service, extracurricular activities, leadership, character, STEM, business, education, the medical field, mathematics, civic mindedness, engineering, EMT, Mrs. Claffey and Mrs. Fawcett can support you in applying. As these scholarships cater to your success in your interests, they can also support college applications, as typically they have an honor or award associated with them. Mrs. Claffey shares, “Many of our field hockey players know of Ms. Splain, former field hockey coach and P.E. teacher at Old Saybrook High School who still attends games each year and very much believes in supporting the current program and players. Each year, Ms. Splain and her committee of alumni field hockey players select one or two recipients to earn the Lorraine Splain Field Hockey Scholarship. What an honor and recognition! We have countless scholarships like this one that hold so much more than a financial perk, also.”
With so many offerings, seeking financial aid can be daunting and overwhelming, especially following a tough application process. OSHS’s scholarship coordinators understand this, and encourage you to still apply and seek help if you need it, especially with the price of school. Mrs. Claffey clarifies, “What we have come to see over the years is that students will take themselves out of the running of scholarships, thinking they don’t fit in the applicant pool. It is hard to comprehend just how expensive college is, life is, all the things are, etc. Every little dollar helps.”
Overall, scholarships are a principal part of the college admissions process, opening up
opportunities that may not be there without. The cost of living, schooling, resources is astronomical, and scholarships can help to lessen this financial stress and burden. Furthermore, scholarships are another way to be honored and recognized for the incredible accomplishments that OSHS students have earned. Mrs. Claffey finally exclaims, “There is SO much money out there just waiting to get into your pocket!”
