Virginia Scholarship Program Offers Students a Path

Published on Tuesday, March 1st, 2011 by Ryan Collins Category: College Scholarships And Grants

VIRGINIA (CollegeToCareers.com) – More graduating high school seniors will now be eligible to receive scholarships for their high school tuition and books, thanks to the SOAR Virginia program.

A program called the Virginia 529 College Savings Plan announced plans to offer scholarships to qualifying seniors every year, a needed addition to the billions of dollars available to prospective college students in a bad economy with rising costs for tuition.

Under the so-called SOAR Virginia program, students will receive up to $2,000 in scholarships on the basis of the quality of their grades and conduct in high school. The same program aims to assist low-income families whose students are able to prove their sufficiently higher need.

What makes the SOAR Virginia program different from others is that it enables high school students to accrue funds for their post-secondary education throughout high school. Administrators hope that such positive reinforcement will encourage high school students with aspirations for college to sustain at least a 2.5 grade point average, speak with advisors on a monthly basis, participate in more community service projects, and avail themselves of class instruction on financial literacy.

Administrators claim that the last three requirements for financial aid eligibility will better help students to plan for their futures and take leading roles in their communities. This makes the SOAR Virginia program stand out as a potential blueprint for other financial aid and scholarship programs, which often fail to require financial planning and guidance measures.

Even if you’re not in Virginia, yet still aspire to a college career, you should consider the SOAR Virginia program model a helpful blueprint for your own future. You can begin by:

Meeting regularly with your guidance counselor to better understand and access university admissions criteria, scholarship and financial aid opportunities. Many high schools employ professional counselors to help students structure their futures and plan accordingly.
Enrolling in financial planning courses. It is no secret that financial illiteracy abounds in America. In order to reach your goals, such as receiving admission to a competitive college, you need to understand your financial circumstances, develop measurable goals to financial security, and prepare accordingly.

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