Thanks to the generosity of people around the world, there are many thousands of scholarship opportunities for college bound students. And finding those scholarships is now easier than ever.
What Kinds Are Available?
The types of scholarships are many and widely varied. Many depend on academic achievement in high school, but certainly not all. Some are focused on ethnicity, some on athletic achievement, some on religious grounds, and others on hobbies, interests and employment. Some are even limited to students with a low GPA and low test scores. But you have to find them to begin the process.Where Do We Look?
There are a variety of sources for scholarships, and a student and his or her parents should not miss any of them.High School Guidance Counselors. Most high school counseling offices have listings of available scholarships. Something a student can do to further his or her scholarship search is to check regularly with the counseling office for new opportunities. Most counseling offices even offer help in applying including computer time, help with writing and editing essays, connecting students with college financial aid offices and the like. Don't ignore this resource just because it is so simple.
College Financial Aid Office. If you have a local college or junior college, make friends with the staff in the financial aid office. Even if that is not your college destination, they can be a significant resource for finding financial aid.
Employment, Hobbies, Clubs, Unions, Etc. Many scholarships are available through a parent's or student's place of employment, civic clubs, hobby groups and the like. Ask your employer's Human Resources Office about scholarships, matching grants, etc. And check your civic club or other association websites about opportunities.
Internet Resources. There are lots of sources on the Web for finding scholarships. Having been through this process in our family over the last couple of years, here are my recommendations for the best sources.
- FastWeb is the best of breed in scholarship tools on the Internet. When you register on FastWeb, you go through a series of questionnaires to help narrow the search. FastWeb will even notify you by email of new scholarships or approaching deadlines.
- CollegeNet offers its Mach25 Scholarship Search Program to students seeking financial aid. Students and parents can search by keyword, or can build a profile and find applicable scholarships.
- The College Board, the company that administers the SAT test, also has an extensive college scholarship database. Like FastWeb, you can answer questions and have a customized search report produced with possible scholarships for which to apply.
- College Tool Kit offers a wide variety of tools for prospective college students, including a free scholarship search tool, a number of very helpful articles and calculators and help in choosing colleges that will meet the needs and personalities of your children.
