SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH TIPS

1. Check Your Prospective Schools

Go to their website or call the financial aid office. If you meet the qualifications, find out how to apply. Don't assume that by applying for admission, you're applying for scholarships. It's often a separate process. Be aware that scholarship deadlines can be different from those set for the college admission application. Raising your GPA and test scores in high school will help increase your chances of earning merit aid.

2. Dig into Your Network

Do you belong to a church group or a local chapter of some national club? Are either of your parents a member of a union or civic groups? Does either of them work for a large corporation? Many of these types of organizations offer scholarships to members and their children. Check out the PTSO, Kiwanis Club, Chamber of Commerce, churches, foundations and others in your town, which often offer scholarships based on a variety of factors. There’s often less competition for these, since they have to be awarded locally.

3. Try Online

When searching online, it is recommend that you be as specific as possible. Simply typing in "scholarships" will yield thousands upon thousands of results. Use qualifiers such as the names of schools and programs of study to help narrow the field.

A word of caution: You should never pay money to investigate scholarships. Scholarship providers don't offer their awards to students who pay to find them; they offer them to all students.

4. Be Aware of Scholarship Deadlines

Deadlines vary by scholarship. Some are the summer before your senior year, others in the fall or as late as spring. To stay organized and keep track of due dates, we recommend keeping a calendar, and making your earliest deadline the deadline for all of your applications. Finally (and this cannot be stressed enough), do not miss deadlines. You'll have no recourse if your application arrives late, and you will have zero chance of receiving that award.

A final word on scholarships

You may review a hundred scholarships before you find one that applies to you. Be patient and continue your search. Eventually you'll uncover a good match!