There are millions of dollars in private scholarships available each year. Companies, unions, foundations, community organizations, churches, and others sponsor scholarships ranging from a few hundred dollars to a free ride for all four years of college. Searching for scholarships takes time and energy, but remember: IT'S FREE MONEY! Even if you spend five hours applying for scholarships and receive only a $500 scholarship, that's the same as earning $100 per hour--not bad! To make things easier for you and your teen, keep these tips in mind.
CRITERIA
Many scholarships are based on select criteria, like:
- grades
- chosen college
- chosen major
- gender
- race
- religious affiliation
- parent's place of work
- military background
- athletic ability
- leadership ability
RESOURCES
The Internet: Many web sites have huge scholarship databases that will do the grunt work for you. Enter your criteria and they will return a list of scholarships that match them. Most sites are free and only require you to register to use their services. . Some sites to check out are:
www.college-scholarships.com
www.fastaid.com
www.fastweb.com
www.finaid.com
www.review.com
www.thesalliemaefund.org
www.wiredscholar.com
DEADLINES
The listed deadline is the date on which the completed application must be received. That date will arrive before you know it, so get organized, get a deadline calendar, and give yourself plenty of time to find scholarships, request applications, receive them, and send them.
Deadlines usually occur between December and April, so get a head start and begin researching scholarships the summer before your senior year. Often scholarships are limited and are on a first-come, first-serve basis. So what are you waiting for?
SCAMS
Some websites/agencies will charge you hefty fees to find you the same information you can find yourself for free. Other sites and agencies are outright scams. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Check with you guidance counselor or the Better Business Bureau before engaging the services of any private scholarship search companies. Remember: No one can guarantee you a scholarship!
NETWORKING
You're not expected to know everything. Tell family, friends, teachers, and other people in your community that you are looking for scholarships. They may know something you don't!
REMEMBER TO SAY "THANKS!"
If you manage to snag a scholarship, be sure to write a small thank you note to the people who provided you with it. Make a good impression--you may want to reapply for the scholarship in the future.
Source: Mission Possible, Sallie Mae Fund and National Association for College Admission Counseling
