Before I became an impossible teenager, I was daddy’s little girl. I could count on him to take my side in any argument and he was always there to save me when I bit off more than I could chew. Most importantly, he made me feel as though I could do anything. Looking back, I realize that he made many personal sacrifices to make sure I had everything I needed or wanted. Instead of buying his dream car, he put that money into guitar and piano lessons for me. When he considered taking golf lessons, he put them on hold so I could attend a vocal competition in California with my school. I’m sure there were other dreams he put on hold, as well, to ensure his family was happy and secure.
Father’s Day is just around the corner and I would give anything to be able to thank my dad for everything he has done for me, but unfortunately, he passed away several years ago. If you know a dad who has put his educational dreams on hold and is now considering returning to school or even attending college for the first time, be sure to let him know how much he means to you and show him some support by sharing these scholarships with him.
At least once a day, I see some insane tweet from a guy about how he can’t find any scholarships for average white males. Apparently, he hasn’t been looking very hard because there are tons of opportunities out there. I think many guys simply make the mistake of not taking the time to read the eligibility requirements, otherwise they would realize that most programs are open to just about everyone, including the average Joe. I know it may seem as though many of the scholarships are targeting the top academic students or those from a minority backgrounds, but it’s just as easy to find awards that grant free money for artistic talent or even social media skills. Maybe, they should spend a little less time complaining and more time actually searching for scholarships. In fact, I’ll make it easy for them by listing a few scholarships they can start applying to now.
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 »
Nearly a decade ago, I stumbled across the Atlas Shrugged Scholarship. I had never heard of the author, Ayn Rand, but I needed money for college and this essay contest offered a $10,000 top prize, so I headed to my local library to grab a copy. When I finally located it on a shelf, I could not believe the size of the work – 1075 pages. Whoa! The scholarship deadline was in three weeks, and I seriously doubted my ability to absorb so much material in so little time. Fortunately, the characters in the novel were so compelling that I found it hard to put away and finished it in a matter of days. Although I did not win the scholarship, the novel’s underlying themes stayed with me, challenging what I believed to be essential truths about being human and how one should treat others. Ayn Rand was the creator of Objectivism, a philosophy she described as, ‘…the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.’ Most of her work introduces you to the tenets of this philosophy, but even if you disagree with many of its points, her novels do make you think about your role in the world.
Although Rand died in 1982, the Ayn Rand Institute continues to open minds, and doors, for students through its many scholarship programs. Each year, over 600 students receive awards to help further their academic studies, with prizes ranging from $25 to $10,000. Here is a short overview of each program and who is eligible to participate. Read the rest of this entry »
The first day of April is always interesting in my house. I have four kids, so they find it amusing to ‘punk’ mom throughout the day. Even waking up can be fraught with peril; I never know if I will be covered in some sticky mess or step into something disgusting. I’m not sure how April Fools’ Day started, but my children have embraced it as a day where even their most outrageous pranks will receive amnesty. They don’t know it yet, but one day (many years from now) I will be helping my grandchildren exact some serious payback. I could start by telling my daughter I lost her college fund while playing poker, but that seems a bit too cruel. Besides, saving (and finding) money for college is no laughing matter, unless you apply for these funny, and a bit weird, scholarships. Read the rest of this entry »
It seems as though some students are under the false impression that only straight ‘A’ students or those from low-income families are eligible to apply for scholarships. Although most institutional, state and federal programs are merit-based (academics) and/or need-based (income), a plethora of private scholarships are also awarded to students based on other criteria. Here’s another newsflash – students don’t have to be high school seniors either; many scholarship programs are open to students beginning their freshman year of high school (some even earlier!) and others are for adult-learners, or those pursuing graduate degrees and beyond. There’s really no excuse for not searching for scholarships to help keep college expenses to a minimum, especially when there are so many choices. Here are just a few of the many types of scholarships available to students.
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Could you imagine paying over $50,000 a year to attend college? What about $60,000? It may sound crazy, but according to this year’s list of most expensive colleges there are plenty of schools that will set you back a pretty penny. In fact, if you research the Internet, you’ll find dozens of ‘Most Expensive’ or ‘Highest Tuition’ posts and articles, all with figures so high it would cause anyone with chrometophobia (a fear of money) to break out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, many students do not end up paying the full price of admission to these schools. Before you cross any colleges off your list, take a look at the ‘list price’ versus the ‘actual price’ first. Read the rest of this entry »
Do you spend your free time pursuing interests outside of school? Chances are those extracurricular activities and hobbies could net you some cool college cash. Although many scholarships are merit-based or need-based, there are numerous programs that target specific areas of interest that may or may not have anything to do with your intended college major. Many organizations and clubs provide scholarships to students who demonstrate an interest in certain activities or show exemplary skills in certain fields, such as music and art. Every day, new scholarships are popping up and one could be perfect for you! Here are a few examples of how your hobbies or outside interests can turn into free money for college. Read the rest of this entry »
Foster and adopted children often face hardships in their lives, such as neglect or abuse. Some may also suffer from physical, emotional or developmental issues, making it difficult for them to progress in school. A 2010 study by Chapin Hall (University of Chicago), shows that only 50 percent of foster students actually graduated from high school, and of those who did, only six percent also received a college degree. Although there are many reasons why these students may not complete college, financial support is often a contributing factor. Many may have to navigate the college financial aid process alone and may be unaware of how to obtain federal, institutional and private aid. They may also be unfamiliar with scholarships, not knowing where to find them or how to apply. Foster and adopted children not only have access to general scholarship programs, but also those that are specifically designated for students who have been in the foster care system or recently adopted. Here are just a few of the available programs these students may be missing. Read the rest of this entry »
With the cost of a college education increasing each year, some people might say that a degree is no longer worth the time or the money it takes to earn one. It’s not uncommon to hear the horror stories about students who are drowning in student loan debt. Some students are leaving college with as much as $20,000, $40,000, or more in debt. Our economy has definitely not helped the situation, either. It’s no wonder many high school students are re-considering the value of a college education.
But for those who think an education doesn’t matter, consider this – Read the rest of this entry »
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