It seems every day a new scholarship opportunity pops up on the Internet or makes the rounds on social media. Although many of these programs are legitimate, there are some that merely use the lure of free college money to collect information and sell it to others. These programs typically offer students the chance to win money for doing very little or no work at all. Unfortunately, these types of ‘lead generator’ programs are very attractive to students who are tired of writing essays or filling out long application forms. I know that it can be frustrating, but most people won’t give away thousands of dollars without knowing if the applicants will be willing to put in a little effort. Scholarship providers use essays, personal statements and application questions to find students who are likely to put the provider’s money to good use. If students are too lazy to write a 250 word essay, or complete a 2-page application, chances are they may become slackers in college, too. Besides the no work equals big reward ploy, here are some other red flags students should be aware of when researching scholarships. Read the rest of this entry »
Are you expecting your child to use scholarships to help fund her education? If so, you need to take an active role in your child’s scholarship strategy and help her create a solid plan. Before you begin, however, it’s important that you set realistic expectations. Very few students receive enough scholarships to cover all of their expenses, so be sure you have a plan that includes other funding, such as savings accounts, 529 plans and income from other sources. The most important thing is to start early; waiting until senior year puts your child at a disadvantage and may reduce her college options. I suggest implementing a plan in the fall of your child’s freshman year of high school, as this will help her develop good habits over time and increase her chances of winning. Here are a few suggestions for helping your child create an effective scholarship plan. Read the rest of this entry »
Students with disabilities often find the transition from high school to college a bit challenging. Unlike secondary school, where accommodations may have been easily accessible, college students must take the initiative to ask for assistance and locate resources. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, students have many protections, so they should take the time to familiarize themselves with these rights to ensure they receive the help that they need to succeed. One resource some disabled students often neglect to pursue is financial aid. Although they are eligible for merit-based and need-based aid, both federal and institutional, they may also be eligible for many private sources of scholarship aid. Here are just a few examples of scholarships that are currently open to students with learning or physical disabilities. Read the rest of this entry »
Heading back to college as an adult is never easy. Many of us have families, jobs and other demands on our time. Then, of course, there’s the financial strain it can place on our budgets. I know, because I have been there. Nine years ago, I made the decision to quit my job and go back to college to finish my degree. I was worried about being the oldest student in my classes (I wasn’t!) and how I was going to pay for everything without disrupting my children’s lives. I didn’t want them to give up any of their activities or make any huge changes to the way we lived. Why should my dream make their lives miserable? So, I did some research to see if I might be able to find some free money for college. I had a son, who was a sophomore in high school, and he was already applying for college scholarships. I found that many of these programs were also open to me. Unfortunately, he wasn’t really thrilled to be competing against his mother for scholarships, so I tried to find programs that were more suited to my skills and needs. I soon found several programs that targeted women and mothers, which meant I could apply without the worry of eclipsing my son. I’ll never forget the first award I won; it was right before Mother’s Day and my children put the notification letter in a box with a silver charm that said ‘winner.’ It’s still one of my favorite gifts to this day. Read the rest of this entry »
If you’re a foodie, you probably look forward to the winter holidays with much anticipation. There’s Labor Day, which my family celebrates with a huge barbeque and pie cook-off, and of course Halloween, the kids’ favorite holiday. It’s the one day that no matter how hard I try, I can’t resist sending myself into a sugar coma. November isn’t much better. Last year, at Thanksgiving, I counted over 30 different food items on our table, and yes, I tried every one of them. As soon as my stomach starts to settle, there’s Christmas and New Year’s Eve; just another excuse to shovel copious amounts of food into my belly. All those holidays usually lead to the annual New Year’s resolution of going on a diet and eating healthier, but I can only tolerate leafy greens and water for so long. Thankfully, today is International No Diet Day. This means I get a free pass from my restricted menu for 24 hours…and believe me, I plan to use it! If you are a foodie like me, here are just a few of the places you can visit to celebrate this gastric occasion. Read the rest of this entry »
Each year, a new crop of scholarship hunters venture into the world of college financial aid seeking their fortunes. Some are well-armed and have formulated a plan to navigate the scholarship jungle safely; they have reasonable expectations and understand that it will take a great deal of work if they want to succeed. Others, however, are not so savvy. They have devoured every piece of advice found online and may even believe a good portion of the scholarship myths that still litter the Internet. These ‘newbies’ are usually the ones who can be found on forums early each spring complaining about how they are not eligible for scholarships, either because of their skin color, grades or their parent’s income. Don’t get me wrong, I do feel for these misguided students, but they really should get their facts straight before launching into a tirade on Twitter or Facebook. Here are five of the most common complaints or misguided comments I have seen recently, and the facts that dispel each of them. Read the rest of this entry »
Whether you are a high school student, graduating senior or a current college student, chances are the price of a college education is weighing heavily on your mind. We’ve all seen the headlines about rising tuition fees and the staggering amount of student loan debt that most students accumulate, so it’s easy to understand why it’s more important than ever to find (and win!) scholarships. Although many programs had deadlines earlier in the year, there are still plenty of others just waiting to be won. Now is a great time to weed out those programs that may be perfect for you and start planting some ‘scholarship seeds’ that will hopefully blossom over the next few months, rewarding you with free money this fall. If you are looking for some money for college, here are a few scholarships with May deadlines that could shower you with some well-deserved cash. Read the rest of this entry »
In the past, I have written several posts advising students on how to write a scholarship essay, debunking scholarship myths and how to know if a scholarship program is legitimate. Although these articles give students the basic foundation they need to successfully navigate the world of college scholarships, I find that many still want to know one very specific thing… How do students win a scholarship? There really is no black and white answer, as most providers have their own set of criteria for choosing a scholarship winner, but students may want to consider these suggestions to increase their chances of making it into the finalist pool. Read the rest of this entry »
I have to admit that when I was younger, volunteering was at the bottom of my to-do list. I envisioned hours of hard labor for no pay and used every excuse possible to get out of committing to any charity work. Then, I became a member of Phi Theta Kappa and my world was changed forever. Although Phi Theta Kappa is an honor society, much of its work centers on service. It only took one project and I was hooked. I enjoyed helping others so much that I soon began creating my own service projects for our chapter and encouraged other students to get involved, too. It felt great helping people and I learned that a smile from a sick child or a hug from a woman battling cancer was worth more than any paycheck I could possibly earn. In fact, I was having so much fun that within a year I accumulated over 500 community service hours and soon found out that giving back has other rewards, too. I received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, made the All-Florida and All-USA Academic Team, and won several scholarships, too. If you volunteer, here are just a few of the scholarships that may be available to you. Read the rest of this entry »
If you won $3,000, you could rent a 500 square foot apartment in New York City’s East Village for one month or purchase a Samsung Smart 3D television. There are also a ton of gastric wonders you could afford, such as the world’s biggest hamburger ($2,000) or a white truffle and 24-carat gold pizza ($2,400), which (by the time you add drinks, tax and tip) could easily consume your entire winnings. If pets are your pride and joy, you could spoil your pooch or kitty with a 22-carat gold thread mattress (crazy!). Personally, I would probably use the money to go see my favorite football team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, play against the San Francisco 49ers in London this fall, but that’s only because I no longer have a college tuition bill to pay.
Although $3,000 might buy some lavish gifts or trinkets, those items won’t last forever. Your college education, on the other hand, will provide you with skills and experience that you can use for the rest of your life. Read the rest of this entry »
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