Choosing a College for Students with Learning Challenges

June 13, 2013

Choosing a College for Students with Learning Challenges

College is accessible to students with learning challenges, however, students and parents must carefully research colleges and universities as the level of support widely varies among institutions. In the article, “Stepping Up to the Challenge,” New York Times reporter Tara Parker-Pope writes about the transition from high school to college for students with ADHD. She notes that not only must students balance the physical and medical demands of making the transition, students must carefully choose the college or university they will attend based on the support services offered. The National Alliance on Mental Illness website provides information for obtaining accommodations in college, understanding your rights, and preparing for college. The U.S. News and World Reports article by Kim Clark, “8 Steps for Learning Disabled Students Who Want to Go to College,” provides other helpful tips for parents and students.

You may find the following websites helpful in identifying colleges with the best support programs for students with Learning Disabilities.

Refer toThe K&W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities or Attention Deficit Disorderfor additional assistance in identifying colleges. The following listing includes colleges known for providing a broad range of support programs:

Organizations providing information, support, and clinical expertise:

Additional resources and links:

Special Needs Scholarships

Identifying special needs scholarships simply requires performing an Internet search on the type of need, for example, “scholarships for students with autism” yields 1,130,000 results on Google. “Scholarships for students with adhd” yields 323,000 results.

It is critically important for parents and students to get an early start in their college planning efforts. Students will need to visit the colleges and parents should carefully assess the support programs and associated costs.

Anne Ford and Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarships

June 13, 2013

The Anne Ford Scholarship is a $10,000 scholarship ($2,500/year over four years) granted to a graduating high school senior with a documented learning disability who will be enrolled in a full-time bachelor’s degree program in the fall of 2013. The ideal Anne Ford Scholar is a student who:

  1. Articulates his or her LD and clearly demonstrates the importance of self-advocacy
  2. Is committed to completing a four-year college degree and has begun to set realistic career goals
  3. Participates in school and community activities
  4. Has demonstrated academic achievements consistent with college and career goals
  5. Plans to contribute to society in ways that increase opportunities for individuals with LD
  6. Excels as a role model and spokesperson for others who struggle with LD

The Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship is a $2,500 one-time scholarship awarded to a graduating high school senior with a documented learning disability who will be enrolled in a two-year community college, a vocational or technical training program, or a specialized program for students with LD in the fall of 2013. The ideal Allegra Ford Thomas Scholar is a student who:

  1. Articulates his or her LD and recognizes the need for self-advocacy
  2. Is committed to post-high school academic study/career training and has begun to set realistic career goals
  3. Has demonstrated perseverance and is committed to achieving personal goals despite the challenges of LD
  4. Participates in school and community activities
  5. Demonstrates financial need

 

Young, black and buried in debt!

June 12, 2013

The Importance of Research

In my work, I frequently speak to parents and students about the importance of developing both a college admissions and financial aid plan if students are to choose the right college and identify the necessary sources of financial aid to pay for college. I frequently share the story of how our older son was able to attend Amherst College due to their need-based “no loans” financial aid policy and how our younger son (pictured here) was able to attend Morehouse Collegeas a result of his having been selected as a 2012 Gates Millennium Scholar.

I recently received a message from one of a parent, who is also a member of our church, referencing the article, “Young, black and buried in debt: How for-profit colleges prey on African-American ambition.” In the article, Kai Wright reaffirms the huge financial hole thousands of students find themselves in after having made the wrong college choice, particularly as the result of pursuing their college degree through for-profit colleges:

“Between 2004 and 2010, black enrollment in for-profit bachelor’s programs
grew by a whopping 264 percent, compared to a 24 percent increase in black enrollment in public four-year programs. The two top producers of black baccalaureates in the class of 2011 were University of Phoenix and
Ashford University, both for-profits.

For too many, school has greased the downward slide.
Nearly every single graduate of a for-profit school — 96 percent,
according to a 2008 Department of Education survey — leaves with debt.
The industry ate 25 percent of federal student aid in the
2009–2010 school year. That’s debt its students can’t pay.
The loan default rate among for-profit college students is
more than double that of their peers in both public and
nonprofit private schools, because the degrees and certificates
the students are earning are trap doors to more poverty,
not springboards to prosperity.”

In my book, “Show Me the Money: Scholarships, Financial Aid, and Making the Right College Choice,” I share the following table as an illustration of just how important it is for students to carefully consider their college choice if they are to receive a degree and avoid thousands of dollars in student loan debt. As you will note from the illustration, private for-profit colleges contribute to the largest amount of annual student loan debt, while students attending such institutions have the lowest graduation rates among all postsecondary institutions.

Before attending college, students and families must do their research!

Ford Foundation Fellowships

June 11, 2013

Predoctoral fellowships will be awarded in a national competition administered by the National Research Council (NRC) on behalf of the Ford Foundation. The awards will be made to individuals who, in the judgment of the review panels, have demonstrated superior academic achievement, are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, show promise of future achievement as scholars and teachers, and are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.

Click on the links below to learn more about each aspect of the Predoctoral Ford Foundation Fellowship

Predoctoral Eligibility

In addition to the general eligibility requirements, eligibility to apply for a predoctoral fellowship is limited to:

  • All citizens or nationals* of the United States regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation (must have become a U.S. citizen by November 14, 2012),
  • Individuals with evidence of superior academic achievement (such as grade point average, class rank, honors or other designations,
  • Individuals committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level,
  • Individuals enrolled in or planning to enroll in an eligible research-based program leading to a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree at a U.S. educational institution, and
  • Individuals who have not earned a doctoral degree at any time, in any field.

*The term “national of the United States” designates a citizen of the United States or a native resident of a possession of the United States. It does not refer to a U.S. permanent resident who is a citizen of another country.

Criteria for Selection

The following will be considered as positive factors in choosing successful candidates:

  • Evidence of superior academic achievement
  • Degree of promise of continuing achievement as scholars and teachers
  • Capacity to respond in pedagogically productive ways to the learning needs of students from diverse backgrounds
  • Sustained personal engagement with communities that are underrepresented in the academy and an ability to bring this asset to learning, teaching, and scholarship at the college and university level
  • Likelihood of using the diversity of human experience as an educational resource in teaching and scholarship
  • Membership in one or more of the following groups whose underrepresentation in the American professoriate has been severe and longstanding:

Alaska Natives (Aleut, Eskimo or other Indigenous People of Alaska); Black/African-Americans; Mexican Americans/Chicanas/Chicanos; Native American Indians
Native Pacific Islanders (Hawaiian/Polynesian/Micronesian); Puerto Ricans

Eligible Fields of Study

Awards will be made for study in research-based Ph.D. or Sc.D. programs that include the following major disciplines and related interdisciplinary fields: American studies, anthropology, archaeology, art and theater history, astronomy, chemistry, communications, computer science, earth sciences, economics, engineering, ethnomusicology, geography, history, international relations, language, life sciences, linguistics, literature, mathematics, performance study, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, religion, sociology, urban planning, and women’s studies. Also eligible are interdisciplinary ethnic studies programs, such as African American studies and Native American studies, and other interdisciplinary programs, such as area studies, peace studies, and social justice. The complete list of eligible fields of study supported at the predoctoral level of the fellowship program is available here: Predoctoral Fields (.pdf),

Individuals enrolled in the following practice-oriented programs will not be supported: business, management, administration, occupational health, nursing, consumer science, library and information science, speech pathology, audiology, personnel, guidance, social work, social welfare, public health, physical education, physical therapy, kinesiology, rehabilitation science, education, leadership, fine arts, filmmaking, and performing arts. In addition, awards will not be made for work leading to terminal master’s degrees, the Ed.D. degree, the degrees of Doctor of Fine Arts (D.F.A.) or Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), or professional degrees in such areas as medicine, law, and public health, or for study in joint degree programs such as the M.D./Ph.D., J.D./Ph.D., and M.F.A./Ph.D.

Fellowship Institution

Fellowships are tenable at any fully accredited, nonprofit U.S. institution of higher education offering a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree in the eligible fields of study. All arrangements for acceptance into a doctoral program at the chosen institution are the responsibility of the applicant. An applicant need not be accepted by the chosen institution at the time of application.

Previous Graduate Study

Predoctoral fellowships are intended for individuals who are currently enrolled or plan to enroll in an eligible Ph.D. or Sc.D. program by the fall 2013 term. The 2013 predoctoral fellowships competition is open to the following individuals:

  • Undergraduates in their senior year who plan to be enrolled in their Ph.D. or Sc.D. program beginning with the fall 2013 term,
  • Individuals who have completed undergraduate study,
  • Individuals who have completed some graduate study, and
  • Individuals currently enrolled in a Ph.D. or Sc.D. program who can provide evidence that they have at least three years remaining as of the fall 2013 term before they would receive their Ph.D. degree and at least one of the three years is comprised of full-time course work.

Stipends and Benefits

  • Annual stipend: $20,000
  • Award to the institution in lieu of tuition and fees: $2,000
  • Expenses paid to attend at least one Conference of Ford Fellows
  • Access to Ford Fellow Liaisons, a network of former Ford Fellows who have volunteered to provide mentoring and support to current fellows.

Graduate School Support for Underrepresented Students

June 11, 2013

The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management is committed to increasing the representation of African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans in American business schools and corporate management.

Our approach is simple:
We connect people, institutions and companies who have shown a commitment to our mission, and we position them for even greater success. Specifically, we foster a network of the country’s best students, leading MBA programs and corporate partners, including Fortune 500 companies.

The Consortium awards merit-based, full-tuition fellowships to top MBA candidates who have a proven record for promoting inclusion in school, in their jobs or in their personal lives.

Of the 10,000 MBA students who graduate every year from top-tier business schools, less than 6 percent are African American, Native American or Hispanic Americans. At The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, we believe the best way to increase the representation of these groups in American business and education is to celebrate and uplift those like you who have dedicated their lives to inclusion.

That’s why we’re proud to offer you the chance to apply for membership. If you have worked hard to promote diversity in your community or your workplace we invite you to apply to The Consortium as a starting point to achieving your career goals.

Through The Consortium’s common application, apply to up to six of the country’s leading MBA programs. This is a time- and money-saving tool that can give you an edge as you seek to begin the next stage of your career.

Thanks to our supporters, each year we award hundreds of merit-based, full-tuition fellowships to some of the country’s top MBA programs. Typically, we are able to offer these fellowships to 70 percent of those admitted.

Benefits go beyond fellowships. As a Consortium Fellow, you’ll have the chance to personally network with representatives from our 80 corporate partners at our Annual Orientation Program & Career Forum.

Many of our students leave this conference with early internship opportunities – opportunities that often lead to jobs after graduation.

 

Charles Rangel Graduate School Scholarships

June 11, 2013

Summer Enrichment Program

The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program is a six-week summer program designed to provide undergraduate students with a deeper appreciation of current issues and trends in international affairs, a greater understanding of career opportunities in international affairs, and the enhanced knowledge and skills to pursue such careers. The Program usually selects 15-20 participants (known as “Rangel Scholars”) each year from universities throughout the United States. Students live at Howard University, attend classes, and participate in a variety of programs with foreign affairs professionals at Howard and at diverse locations around Washington, DC.

The Program has two major components. First, in order to enhance participants’ academic preparation to work in international affairs, the Program provides three courses that focus on enhancing knowledge and skills related to U.S. foreign policy, economics and writing. In addition, in order to provide greater insight into the foreign policy-making process and international affairs careers, the Rangel Program introduces the participants to a wide range of government and non-government professionals who work on global issues and also arranges visits to various governmental and non-governmental institutions involved in international affairs. The Program also helps students explore graduate school and professional options in international affairs.

The Summer Enrichment Program will take place from mid-June through the end of July 2013.

Graduate Fellowship Program

The Rangel Graduate Fellowship is a program that aims to attract and prepare outstanding young people for careers in the Foreign Service in which they can help formulate, represent and implement U.S. foreign policy.  Each year, the Rangel Program selects 20 outstanding Rangel Fellows in a highly competitive nationwide process and helps support them through two years of graduate study, internships and professional development activities, and entry into the Foreign Service.  This program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service and those with financial need.  Fellows who successfully complete the program and Foreign Service entry requirements will receive appointments as Foreign Service Officers, one of the most exciting and rewarding careers available.

Rangel Fellows are committed to serving their country and promoting positive change globally.  Individuals who have successfully completed the Rangel Program are now making a difference in countries throughout the world, including Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, South

How to Find Graduate School Scholarships

June 11, 2013

Scholarship America: 4 Places for Graduate School Scholarships

1. Your graduate school: Start your scholarship search right where you’re thinking of attending grad school. Check out the school’s website for a list of scholarships and fellowships. There may be scholarships available for specific fields of study or by graduate department, as well as scholarships for students showing leadership potential or other special characteristics.

It’s definitely worth your time to find out what’s available and how to apply. In some cases, such as mine, applying is as easy as checking a box (the “yes, I am interested in being considered for a scholarship” box that many of my classmates didn’t seem to notice) during the graduate application.

Others will require you to submit a formal, separate application. You may need to write an essay about your career goals and polish your résumé, but even if you don’t earn the coveted award, it’s still good practice for future job hunting.

[See U.S. News‘s rankings of Best Graduate Schools.]

2. Professional organizations: You can also take your graduate scholarship search to the professional organizations to which you belong. National Political Science Honor Society Pi Sigma Alpha and the Emergency Nurses Association are two that offer scholarships for graduate work.

The American Marketing Association Foundation offers scholarships for populations underrepresented in the marketing profession. According to its website: “Through its Valuing Diversity Ph.D. Scholarship Program, the AMAF seeks to widen the opportunities for underrepresented populations to attend marketing doctoral programs.” Several scholarships will be awarded; applicants must complete the online application found on the AMAF’s website by June 1, 2011.

3. Career-specific scholarships: Many graduate scholarships are career specific, including:

[Find a grad school grant in your field.]

4. What’s your sign? OK, so maybe there isn’t a scholarship for Taureans seeking a master’s degree, but many programs are organized by specific traits or causes, such as scholarships for women.

Two big ones: the American Association of University Women’s Selected Professions Fellowships provide opportunities for women to pursue graduate degrees in fields where women have traditionally been underrepresented. This includes fellowships in architecture, computer and information sciences, engineering, and math and statistics.

The Society of Women Engineers Scholarship Program offers scholarships to women admitted to accredited graduate programs studying for careers in engineering, engineering technology, and computer science.

Janine Fugate joined Scholarship America in 2002. She is an alumna of the College of Saint Benedict, Saint Joseph, Minn., and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Affairs at the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Fugate is the recipient of numerous scholarships at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

Beinecke Graduate School Scholarships

June 11, 2013

The Beinecke Scholarship Program was established in 1971 by the Board of Directors of The Sperry and Hutchinson Company to honor Edwin, Frederick, and Walter Beinecke. The Board created an endowment to provide substantial scholarships for the graduate education of young men and women of exceptional promise. The program seeks to encourage and enable highly motivated students to pursue opportunities available to them and to be courageous in the selection of a graduate course of study in the arts, humanities and social sciences. Since 1975 the program has selected more than 500 college juniors from more than 100 different undergraduate institutions for support during graduate study at any accredited university.

Each scholar receives $4,000 immediately prior to entering graduate school and an additional $30,000 while attending graduate school. There are no geographic restrictions on the use of the scholarship, and recipients are allowed to supplement the award with other scholarships, assistantships and research grants. Scholars are encouraged to begin graduated study as soon as possible following graduation from college, and must utilize all of the funding within five years of completion of undergraduate studies.

The Beinecke African Scholarship Program was established in 1996 in cooperation with the Wildlife Conservation Society. The program was established to enable African students to pursue graduate study in conservation or wildlife ecology at a University in the United States.

A single scholarship was awarded from 1998 to 2002 at which time the number of awards was increased to two per year and enrollment in Universities outside of the United States was permitted. One of these two annual awards is funded by The Sperry Fund while the other is funded by an endowment established in support of the program at the Wildlife Conservation Society. To date, a total of 22 Beinecke African Scholarships have been awarded. Of these, 16 have been directly funded by The Sperry Fund, one by The Prospect Hill Foundation and 5 by the endowment at the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Beinecke Scholarship Brochure

Download a Program Brochure in PDF format giving a complete description of the Beinecke Scholarship Program, a searchable list of all current and former scholars and a description of the Beinecke African Scholarship program.

LaGrant Foundation Graduate School Scholarships

June 11, 2013

Graduate Scholarships

Graduate student applicants meeting the following criteria and completing the application will be considered for The LAGRANT Foundation (TLF) scholarship in the amount of $10,000:

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Must be a member of one of the following ethnic groups: African American/Black, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino or Native American/American Indian
  • Must be a full-time student at a four-year, accredited institution, carrying a total of 12 units or more per semester/quarter
  • *Must have a minimum of 3.2 GPA (if you do not meet this requirement, please see the application checklist below)
  • MUST major in a field of study that has an emphasis in public relations, marketing or advertising
  • Must have a MINIMUM OF TWO ACADEMIC SEMESTERS or ONE-YEAR left to complete his/her Master’s degree from the time the scholarship is awarded
  • If chosen, the applicant MUST attend TLF’s career development workshop AND awards reception to receive the scholarship. The applicant must make a one-year commitment to maintain contact with TLF to receive professional guidance and academic support

Jack Kent Cook Graduate School Scholarships

June 11, 2013

The Foundation’s Graduate Arts Award is for up to $50,000 per year for up to three years to college seniors and recent graduates with financial need who will pursue a graduate or professional degree in the visual arts, performing arts, or creative writing. To be eligible, candidates must be nominated by the faculty representative at their undergraduate institution.

The Foundation’s Dissertation Fellowship is for up to $25,000 for advanced doctoral students who are completing dissertations that inform the Foundation’s mission: advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. To be eligible, candidates must demonstrate superior academic achievement, have successfully defended their dissertation proposals, and be enrolled full-time in a US graduate degree program.

The Foundation’s Continuing Graduate Scholarships are offered to students who receive undergraduate scholarships from the Foundation.