Probably the most asked question on the minds of families today is, “Where can we find the money to pay for college?”
With the cost of a college education escalating wildly, it’s no wonder that financial concerns top our parents’ lists as their children engage in the college admission process. For many parents and students’, scholarships hold the key to the financial aid dilemma.
Finding Scholarships:
Scholarships are available throughout your college education. Eligibility requirements vary greatly, including: academic performance, academic promise, ethnicity, talent, athletics, community service, leadership, career interests, etc. The search for scholarship money is tiring; there are many forms to fill out and essays to write. Keep in mind that many students’ are applying for the same scholarships. Your best strategy is to apply for as many as you are eligible for, assuming that the more you apply to, the better your chances for getting at least one. A number of privately operated scholarship search services charge fees ranging from $50 to over $500 to aid you in locating scholarships, often with varying degrees of success. It is best to take this search into your own hands. Here are good places to start looking.
Individual Colleges:
Each college differs in the amount and types of scholarships they can offer to incoming students’. It is up to you to find out what types of opportunities are available at the schools you are applying to, and what steps you have to take to be considered for them.
Employers:
Many large companies and organizations make scholarships available to their employees and to immediate family of their employees. Parents, check with your employers to see if they have such programs available.
Hit the books:
Doing research can help you find scholarships you may not have otherwise known about. Most public and campus libraries carry scholarship guides. Ask your librarian or school counselor for help.
Search the Net:
Search using keywords like “financial aid,” “student aid” and “scholarships” can lead you to a wealth of free scholarship information on the World Wide Web. Some sites even allow you to apply online for scholarships.
Don’t Get Scammed!:
Unfortunately, in their efforts to pay the bills, many students’ and their families are falling prey to scholarship scams. You shouldn't have to pay money to apply for a scholarship. If you ever have questions about the validity of a scholarship, you can always stop by the counseling office for assistance.