FINANCING YOUR EDUCATION

Pierina FilipponePierina Filippone

FINANCE YOUR EDUCATION

- Presentation- Q&A

AGENDA:AGENDA:

What We’ll Cover

• Faculty Scholarships (Types)• Timing of Scholarship Decisions• Grants• Online Engineering Portfolio (ePortfolio)• Basic information on OSAP/UTAPS/Work-

Study Program• Tips on Applying for External Awards• Useful Websites

Faculty Scholarships

• The breakdown of Faculty scholarships:

• OSOTF (Admissions & In-Course)

• Non-OSOTF (Admissions & In-Course)

OSOTF Awards

• Recipients must be Ontario residents and must be identified as having financial need; for the purpose of identifying need, the Scholarship Committee uses OSAP as a primary indicator.

• In addition, students are invited to complete the budget section of our Online Engineering Portfolio (ePortfolio) to demonstrate financial need.

Non-OSOTF Awards

• These awards are open to eligible students as noted in the terms; international students are considered for any awards in which citizenship is not identified in the terms.

Timing of Scholarship Decisions

• In-course Scholarships/Awards are awarded based on academic performance, financial need and/or extracurricular activity in first, second and third year

• Decisions are generally made in July; students receive their monetary award upon registration in the fall, prior to November 15

Grants for Domestic Students

• For students who have exhausted all other avenues of financial assistance.

• Generally, an email will be sent to all undergraduates in late September/early October with details on the Grants and a link to the application.

• The email we use is the one in ROSI. If you are not using that email, please redirect it to whichever email you use otherwise, you will miss out on these emails.

Grants for Domestic Students

• Grant decisions are made throughout the academic year with the bulk of the decisions made in late November; Grant decisions are made on the basis of financial need; it is important to complete all aspects of the application and provide any additional information regarding your overall financial situation, for example, if parental income is high but there is no support being offered.

Grants for International Students

• International students may also submit a Grant Application to my office, however, the applications will be forwarded to Enrolment services for a decision. I encourage International Students to come see me prior to submitting their application.

Online Engineering Portfolio

• The ePortfolio is an online form whereby students can upload their resume as well as keep a record of their extra-curricular activities; it allows students to maintain a record of their employment, the leadership events they’ve attended, and complete a budget to demonstrate financial need.

Online Engineering Portfolio

• The Scholarships Committee uses the ePortfolio to select recipients for scholarships where the terms indicate extra-curricular or leadership qualities. We also use the ePortfolio to identify potential candidates for external awards. For this reason, it is highly recommended that students complete the ePortfolio and keep it up to date.

Categories of the ePortfolio

• Summary of Activities– Arts– Athletics– Community Involvement– Clubs– Student Governments/Groups– Employment– Personal Leadership Development – Other Activities

Online Engineering Portfolio

Sample ePortfolio Section

ePortfolio Categories contd.

• Awards

• Financial Information– Budget– Special Financial Circumstances

• Leadership Information

• Personal Statement

Sample ePortfolio Section

Sample ePortfolio Section

ePortfolio Tips

• Start now!!!

• Deadline to finish will be end of May, the ePortfolio will be closed from June through to August

• Update your ePortfolio at least once every term

• The latest an “end date” can be is April of the current academic year

OSAP• To qualify for OSAP, students must be Canadian citizens,

permanent residents, or protected persons (Convention Refugee status); Out-of-province students apply to their own province for funding.

• OSAP is interest-free as long as students are registered full-time (at least 60%, 40% for students who have documented disability)

• Students are required to repay their loan within 6 months of last registration date. The interest does accrue during this 6 month period. This applies to students going out on PEY.

• Students who have been away and are returning to full-time studies, can advise the NSLC of this and repayment will stop.

• NSLC mails out information regarding repayment, it is critical that OSAP has an up-to-date address.

UTAPS• University has a guarantee that “no student shall not be allowed to enter

or continue their studies as a result of a lack of financial means”. UTAPS is the mechanism for meeting this guarantee. However, it applies to students receiving government funding only.

• UTAPS covers the difference between a student’s “assessed need” according to OSAP and the amount of funding received. Students must be registered full-time in BOTH the fall and winter terms.

• OSAP recipients are automatically assessed for UTAPS. • Students receiving out-of-province loans must submit an online UTAPS

application in order to be considered.• First round of UTAPS is usually available late October, early November

for OSAP recipients, (late November early December for out-of-province students).

• Direct Deposit information and a valid mailing address must be on ROSI in order to process UTAPS payments.

• There are several rounds of UTAPS throughout the academic year, the last being late February.

• There are no appeals for UTAPS; once a decision is made it is final

Work Study Program

• The Work-Study program provides opportunities for part-time employment.

• Positions are open to all students (i.e., domestic and international) who are studying on a full-time or part-time basis –if part-time, at least 2.0 credits over the fall/winter terms.

• Job are posted on the Careers website, www.careers.utoronto.ca. Details on how to apply are outlined on the website, however, the program is officially closed for this academic year. Hiring deadline is usually end of September of every academic year.

TIPS on Applying for External Awards

• Read the award criteria and guidelines carefully. Ensure that you are providing the information requested and addressing all the aspects of the criteria. Ensure you actually fit the criteria.

• Do your homework on the company or organization offering the Scholarship. Understand the purpose of the Scholarship; know your audience.

TIPS – External Awards

• Answer ALL questions being asked.• Proof-read your application carefully.

Have someone else proof-read it as well.• When selecting references, ensure that

you are abiding by the guidelines. • (i.e. character reference vs. academic

reference).

TIPS – External Awards

• Be sure to select someone who can speak to your involvement currently. In other words, if you’re in 3rd year, do not ask a high school teacher to provide a reference.

Tips – External Awards

• Provide award criteria to the person writing your reference letter. If there is something specific you want them to focus on, advise them accordingly. If they are providing a character reference, provide them with a resume that way they can touch on all of your activities, not just the ones they are aware of. Similarly, if you’re asking for an academic reference, provide a copy of your marks.

Tips – External Awards

• Start early and submit your application on time.

• If you feel you meet the minimum qualifications, submit an application. Do not worry about what your chances are or how many others are applying. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Useful Websites

• University of Toronto Enrolment Services www.adm.utoronto.ca

• Engineering Portfolio: www.apsc.utoronto.ca/ePortfolio

• Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) http://osap.gov.on.ca

• Scholarships Canada (list of external Awards) www.scholarshipscanada.com

Useful Websites

• StudentAwards.com (External Awards)http://www.studentawards.com

• Faculty’s website http://www.undergrad.engineering.utoronto.ca/Advising_Support/Scholarships.htm

• Canlearn (for a listing of external awards) www.canlearn.ca

• National Student Loans Service Centre www.canlearn.ca

• (Select National Student Loans Service Centre)

Contact Information

• Pierina Filippone• Assistant Registrar, Scholarships & Financial Aid • Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering• Engineering Undergraduate Admissions Office• 153 - 35 St. George St. (Galbraith Building)• Tel:     416-978-4159; Fax:    416-946-7027• Email:  pierina@ecf.utoronto.ca