Where do you begin?
Before you resort to looking for change under the couch
cushions, take some time and map out a plan to guide to your
scholarship search. There are literally thousands of scholarships
available across the country every year. The key to start early
to afford yourself the time you need to sift through them and
find the appropriate programs.
Don't know where to start? Check out our
Frequently Asked Questions!
When we say "start early," we're not kidding. Many scholarship
programs often have application deadlines that are 9-12 months
before the first semester begins. So, starting a year in advance
is not only common, it's pretty much required if you don't want
to get locked out of some of the best options.
Where do you start?
Begin with your high school guidance counselor. He or she
should be able to tell you about any scholarships offered by your
state. In addition, guidance counselors often have insights into
many of the private scholarship programs in your area. If the
guidance office is unhelpful, contact your state's department of
education for details on available state programs.
But don't limit yourself to your locality. Significant
scholarship money goes unclaimed because no one applies. Nearly
every civic group, union, and professional association offers
some sort of scholarship program—and you don't have to be a
member of the organization for your teen to apply.
Where do you find them?
Treat this like any large research project. Doing some
preliminary homework can save you lots of time.
First, remember: Many individuals who are paid to do the work
for you are not reputable; and every year people are taken
advantage of by unscrupulous scam artists. If you are set on
hiring someone, make sure to get references and to investigate
them thoroughly.
A good alternative? Look for books that provide you with
effective indexes. Having the most listings does not always mean
that it's the best book to buy. You don't want to waste valuable
time sifting through programs that offer only $50 or only benefit
those who are members of the Laverne, Iowa 4-H Club, etc. Books
that filter programs offered by only a specific school, have
small award amounts, or don't require repayment are generally the
best.
In addition, many parents and students are increasingly
turning to the Internet to launch their scholarship search.
First, don't just go to a search engine and type in the word
"scholarship." You'll find yourself wading through millions of
Web listings. Instead, look for scholarship databases where you
can search for programs based on criteria you enter. We recommend
the following:
