SCHOLARSHIPS
There are many scholarships available to college students, and most fall into one of these categories:
COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS: These are available to students enrolling or presently enrolled at a given college or university. They are a very important source of funds for students and you are only competing with other students at the university, rather than the general public. Most of these are given to students who have shown outstanding academic skills, but even average students can qualify for some. You can find out what scholarships are available to you by checking the college catalog or talking to a financial aid officer from your college. Some are granted automatically, if you meet the standards, and have submitted the college's "in house" financial aid application. Others will require that you formally apply. Athletic scholarships fall into this general category as well.
NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS: You have probably seen advertisements for national scholarships on television, in magazines, newspapers, or even in stores where you shop. These are sponsored by large companies, such as the Coca-Cola or Tylenol scholarships, and are open to most college bound students. You should apply for as many of these as you can, but keep in mind that you are competing with students from all over the country, so the odds of you winning are much greater.
LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS: Many communities have organizations, such as the Rotary Club, Lions Club, etc., that offer scholarships to students in one specific, or a few local high schools in a given area. These are usually not large scholarships, but they provide students with some extra money to help pay for their educational expenses. Your guidance office is the best source of information about local scholarships. Some are advertised in local newspapers as well.
SPECIFIC SCHOLARSHIPS: These scholarships are aimed at a certain segment of the population, such as a specific religious or ethnic groups, college majors, handicaps, or even the fact that you may be left-handed. A good source of information about these types of scholarships is the Internet (see Links to Financial Aid and Scholarships) or a number of books, such as The Scholarship Book, which can be found at major bookstores.
SCHOLARSHIP TIPS
SEARCH WELL: Take some time each day to check Internet sources. Many sites will allow you to enter specific information about yourself and then do the search for you. Have your parents check where they work. Many companies have scholarships available to children of employees. Some guidance offices have copies of scholarship books available for students to use. Send for applications or download them when possible. Some scholarships allow you to complete applications online.
APPLY: You can not win a scholarship if you do not apply for it. There is no guarantee that you will win any scholarship, but, if you can find the time, apply for as many as possible. Don't waste time applying for scholarships for which you do not qualify. Also, don't dismiss scholarships that require and essay. Many students do, so your odds of winning increase if you do make the effort.
PLAN AHEAD: Most scholarship applications require a high school transcript and many require references. It takes time to get these items together, so don't put it off.
ORGANIZATION: Keep your scholarship files in one place, such as a drawer or box. Keep a separate file folder for each one, and file them in the order that they are due. When you receive transcripts, letters, etc. Put them in the file immediately and review due dates every few days.
FOLLOW DIRECTIONS: Do not disqualify yourself by failing to follow directions, omitting required information, or missing a deadline. Be sure you understand the difference between a "due date" and a "postmark date" when submitting applications. Complete your application in ink or type it if at all possible. Some scanner software allows you to scan an application, fill it out on the computer screen, and then print it out.
SCHOLARSHIP SCAMS
College Counseling Consultants does not guarantee that you will receive any scholarship money. We do promise to help you to find scholarships and to present yourself in the best possible way when applying for them. Be wary of companies or individuals that promise dollar amounts in scholarship money or aid for a fee. Some may be legitimate, but some only find you aid that you could have gotten on your own, without paying a fee. Also, we do not recommend any scholarship that has an entrance fee. Many of these scholarship sponsors collect thousands of dollars in fees and award back a very small part of what they collect. Click below for financial aid and scholarship Web sites.
