High SchoolCollegeEducators

LEAP College Student Union!

Financial Aid

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DON'T BREAK THE BANK TO
PAY FOR COLLEGE!

College costs are rising...

In today’s economy it is more important than ever to get funding for college.  You don’t want to end up with huge school loans to pay off after you graduate!

You have 3 choices of financial aid:  scholarships; grants; loans.  Scholarships and grants don’t have to be paid back, but you have to pay off loans!  Do your homework; look into every possibility before taking on the debt of loans.  Good sources of financial aid information are your high school counselor or the college financial aid office.

Most sources of financial aid require you to have a FAFSA form (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) filled out.  

MSCPA’s Education Foundation has scholarships available for high school and college students pursing accounting and the CPA Profession.

Listed below are websites and books you will find useful in your search for funds.


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The Educational Foundation of the Missouri Society of CPAs (MSCPA) provides scholarships so that high-achieving students have the opportunity to pursue fulfilling careers as CPAs.  There are three college scholarships available:  College Student; Minority College Student; Don Breimeier Memorial.  

Online applications will be accepted from September 1, 2009 through January 31, 2010.

The 2009-2010 winners of all categories will be announced in March 2010, and recognized on June 4, 2010 at the MSCPA Annual Members Convention. 

College Student
College students may win scholarships of $1,000, which will be awarded based on academic achievement, demonstrated leadership potential, and educator recommendation.  Points will be awarded for each category.  The college students with the highest total of points will be awarded scholarships.

Eligibility:
  • College student member of the Missouri Society of CPAs. College student membership is FREE. Join Here!
  • Missouri resident;
  • Enrolled in a Missouri college or university;
  • Enrolled in at least 12 course hours;
  • Pursuing an accounting degree.
Rules:
  • Applications will be accepted online only;
  • All current MSCPA college student members will be sent the link to the scholarship application at the beginning of September 2009;
  • Any accounting major who signs up for FREE MSCPA college student membership between September 1, 2009 and Noon (CST) on January 29, 2010 will be sent the link by email;
  • All applicants will be required to submit proof of school enrollment, number of course hours completed, and academic achievement to the MSCPA;
  • Scholarship dollars are intended for use by students attending a college or university in Missouri who are pursing an accounting degree;
  • The scholarship winner’s award will be sent to his/her requested school, payable jointly to the student and the accredited college or university;
  • Scholarship money may be used for educational-related purposes only
  • The scholarship recipient has one year from the date of being notified to enroll in an approved institution and utilize the award.  After that time, all obligations on the part of MSCPA and/or the Educational Foundation of the MSPCA to pay the stipulated scholarship shall be null and void;
  • All applications must be completed by January, 31, 2010.


Minority College Student

The Educational Foundation of MSCPA sponsors this scholarship to provide financial assistance to minority students who show significant potential to become CPAs.  Minority college students may win a scholarship of $1,000, which will be awarded based on academic achievement, demonstrated leadership potential, and educator recommendation.  Points will be awarded for each category.  The minority college students with the highest total of points will be awarded scholarships. 

Eligibility:
  • College student member of the Missouri Society of CPAs. College student membership is FREE. Join Here!
  • Missouri resident;
  • U.S. citizen
  • Enrolled in a Missouri college or university;
  • Pursuing an accounting degree;
  • For the purposes of this program MSCPA defines minorities as those of Black, Native American/Alaskan Native, Asian or Pacific Island races or Hispanic ethnic origin;
  • Overall GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale;
  • Completion of at least 30 semester hours of college work;
  • Enrolled in at least 12 course hours (undergraduate student);
  • Enrolled in 9 semester hours (graduate student). 
Rules:

  • Applications will be accepted online only;
  • All current MSCPA college student members will be sent the link to the scholarship application at the beginning of September 2009;
  • Any accounting major who signs up for FREE MSCPA college student membership between September 1, 2009 and Noon (CST) on January 29, 2010 will be sent the link by email;
  • All applicants will be required to submit proof of school enrollment, number of course hours completed, and academic achievement to the MSCPA;
  • Scholarship dollars are intended for use by students attending a college or university in Missouri who are pursing an accounting degree;
  • The scholarship winner’s award will be sent to his/her requested school, payable jointly to the student and the accredited college or university;
  • Scholarship money may be used for educational-related purposes only
  • The scholarship recipient has one year from the date of being notified to enroll in an approved institution and utilize the award.  After that time, all obligations on the part of MSCPA and/or the Educational Foundation of the MSPCA to pay the stipulated scholarship shall be null and void;
  • All applications must be completed by January, 31, 2010.


College Student

The top-rated college applicant will be honored with the annual Don Breimeier Memorial Scholarship, which is an additional $1,000 added to his/her LEAP Scholarship.  The award was established in 2005-2006 to honor the legacy of Don Breimeier, who served the MSCPA as executive director from 1965-1993.  He moved the MSCPA from its humble beginnings and built the foundation for much of the successes that the profession enjoys today in Missouri.


Websites
Here are a few sites for you to check out:

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid):
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov

FinAid Student Guide:
www.finaid.org

College Scholarships, Colleges, & Online Degrees:

www.college-scholarships.com

US Dept. of Education:
studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/index.html

AICPA: 
   Graduate Accounting Scholarships: www.aicpa.org/members/div/career/mini/jlcs.htm
   Minority Accounting Scholarships: http://www.aicpa.org/members/div/career/mini/smas.htm

For more information on the AICPA Scholarships please call Paulette Myers at (212) 596-6223 or visit: http://www.aicpa.org/members/div/career/mini/smas.htm


Books
These are books you might find interesting as well:
College Cost & Financial Aid Handbook by Joseph A. Russo
Complete Idiot's Guide to Financial Aid for College by David Rye
Paying for College Without Going Broke by Kalman A. Chany, Geoff Martz