Aid Option: Scholarships

six (6) quick notes about scholarships

Begin Search
More Scholarships
About Scholarships
Scholarship Basics
Finding Scholarships
Getting the Award
Scholarship Scams

Begin Search

scholarship notes

You will find everything that you will need . . . all inside this tab. Access the net's largest and most comprehensive scholarship databases around — plus much more!

Over $1 Billion In Awards Waiting

Personalized matches available for all students in high school, college, grad school & beyond

FastWeb Scholarship Search

Internet's leading scholarship search engine recommended by 18,000+ guidance counselors and financial aid officers.

Chance to Win a $10,000

FCS gives away education scholarships every month. Time is running out! Registration is FREE!

College Board Search

FCS gives away education scholarships every month. Time is running out! Registration is FREE!

"GPA Isn’t Everything"

Scholarship available at any college or university. All you need is a Cappex profile.

Use this tally sheet

Next Topic: About Scholarships

More Scholarships

scholarship notes

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Listing of other scholarships that may be of interest. List is provided as information only:

Dailyline UP
Daily Lineups is offering two ongoing scholarships per year, valued at $1,000 USD each. We are interested in helping students who demonstrate a strong aptitude for higher learning who have a drive to improve themselves, and a desire to improve society in general. Winners will be determined by the Daily Lineups Executive Team each Spring and Fall semester.

Next Topic: About Scholarships

About Scholarships

scholarship notes

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Scholarships are FREE money that does not have to be repaid. Most scholarships are awarded for athletic and academic achievements. But there are many scholarships for artistic, affiliation, and other achievements or associations.

So complete a thorough search with an extensive database that targets all kinds of scholarship aid. Scholarships can go fast. So start your search early.

Types of Scholarships

College Scholarships:
College and Universities often award scholarships based on academic merit, athletic achievement, artistic talent, and in some cases, fellowship programs where you will be paid for performing some academic work.
Service Scholarships:
Scholarships for education in exchange for service following graduation. The most common form of service scholarships include military service, ROTC programs, and community service commitments.
Private Scholarships:
There are literally thousands of private scholarships that are awarded each year based on some achievement. These scholarships generally don't cover the full cost of college, but every bit helps.
Community Organizations:
Many communities offer scholarship money to a local student who demonstrates academic potential. Check with your community for ideas.
Religious Organizations:
Meet with local churches, temples, mosques or other religious organizations about scholarships. Many religious scholarships are not based on your faith affiliation. So don't be shy contacting religious institutions that are not of your faith.
Ethnic, Historical Or Racial Organizations:
If you belong to an organization that considers your ethnic background, you have a good chance to be awarded some form of scholarship. Again, the amounts may not be much, but it can help reduce your total college costs.
Employers:
Your parent's place of work often have scholarship opportunities for students. Many corporations offer programs to help employees' children defray the cost of a college education.

Next Topic: Scholarship Basics

Scholarship Basics

scholarship notes

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To some students and parents, the word "scholarship" is just another one of those confusing college terms: student loans, FAFSA, tuition and fees, EFC, grants, and work study.

Little do they realize that knowing more about the scholarship process could save them thousands of dollars when trying to cover the cost of their education.

What you should know ....

What are scholarships?

Scholarships come in a variety of forms, but are generally considered to be "free money" for college. Unlike loans, scholarships do not have to be repaid to the scholarship provider.

Some scholarships are awarded directly to the student in the form of a check, while other scholarships are written out to the student's college or university.

Several different types of providers issue scholarships: clubs and organizations, charitable foundations, businesses, schools, universities, government agencies, and others.
Who can get scholarships?

It is a common misconception that scholarships are only for straight-A students. In reality, there are all types of scholarships for all types of students, including those with less than perfect academic records.

Some scholarships are for athletes; others are for students planning to study in particular fields; and others for community service. Some scholarship providers just want to reward students for living in a certain city or state!

Students also mistakenly believe that only college-bound high school seniors can apply for awards. Scholarships are available for all levels of college study, from freshman undergrads to graduate and PhD students.
How do students find scholarships?

Finding scholarships can be a very time-consuming process, but not if students use a reputable and accurate scholarship search service on the Internet. There are several online resources for finding scholarships for college.

Students can also ask their high school guidance counselors about any local or state awards that they qualify for. Students should contact the financial aid office at the college or university they plan to attend to learn if they qualify for any awards provided by the school.
When should students start looking for scholarships?

Scholarship application deadlines vary greatly. There are thousands of scholarship programs with spring and summer deadlines, and thousands more with fall and winter deadlines.

The key is to never stop searching for new scholarship leads, even after beginning the freshman year in college. A good rule of thumb is to continue searching for scholarships for the duration of the college career.

So complete a thorough search with an extensive database that targets all kinds of scholarship aid. Scholarships can go fast. So start your search early.

Next Topic: Finding Scholarships

Finding Scholarships

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Okay, so you are ready to tackle that daunting task of finding scholarships to pay for college. And you want to use the Internet to expedite the search process. But there are so many scholarship search services out there -

which ones should you use?
how do you know what qualities and features to look for in a scholarship search service?
and how do you avoid getting scammed while looking for awards?

Use the following guide to determine what to look for and to assist you in finding the service that will best fit your scholarship search needs.

Search Guide

Profile Matches are Key

First and foremost, find a scholarship search service that has sophisticated matching technology. A good scholarship search service will match the personal information you provide to them with scholarships that you are eligible to apply for. This will minimize the time you spend browsing through lists of awards, and will give you more time to actually work on the application process itself.

Beware of simple keyword search services or services that only ask a few questions about your background. Many such services will return hundreds of scholarships for you to wade through, wasting valuable time that you simply don't have. Look for services with easy-to-use, thorough profile pages that generate results closely matched to your profile.
Up-to-Date Scholarship Information

Secondly, find a scholarship search service that provides accurate and up-to-date scholarship information. Reading requirements for scholarship programs from two years ago will not help you at all; in fact, using outdated information will simply slow your progress in actually securing scholarship funding for college.

Remember, you need to find a service that offers scholarship information for the current academic year. Don't waste your time on websites with out-dated contact lists, broken application links, and discontinued programs.
The Privacy Policy

Do not become part of a spamming list! When you fill out a profile with a scholarship search service, the service collects and stores your very personal information; such collecting of profile information is necessary for accurate scholarship matching. Make sure you read the privacy policy for any service you use so you know what happens to that personal information once you enter it into the website.

Some websites actually make money by selling your information to third parties that want to advertise to you, regardless of whether you give them permission to do so or not. Be very careful about giving out your personal information to companies without credible, clearly stated privacy policies - the last thing you need is an email inbox full of spam and a mailbox full of unwanted solicitations.
An Easy Process

Make sure the service is set up to save you time. If you take the time to fill out the profile, make sure the information is saved so you don't have to start from scratch each time you want to look for more scholarships.

Also, make sure there is a way to edit and update your profile, in case you change your major or improve your test scores or change your mind about the college or university you want to attend. Search services with such customer-oriented features will save you time and frustration in the search process, and that's what you should be aiming for - saving time, avoiding scams, and finding money to pay for college!

Next Topic: Getting the Award

Getting the Award

scholarship notes

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Searching for and finding scholarships is only the first half of the process. You still need to apply for each scholarship you are trying to win.

Applying for scholarships can be time consuming and takes dedication and motivation. But the thousands of dollars you could receive makes the effort worthwhile.

Below are some hints to help you apply for and win scholarships.

Winning the Scholarship Award ...

Be Proactive

No one is going to track you down to give you a scholarship; you need to do the legwork yourself. So when you find awards with eligibility criteria that you can meet, contact the provider and request a scholarship application packet.

Whether you have to request the application via email, phone or by sending in a self-addressed stamped envelope, do it. There's just no other way to get the ball rolling than to be proactive and assertive in requesting information for yourself.
Be Timely

Almost all scholarship providers set deadlines, and you MUST adhere to them. Make sure you have all materials submitted before the deadline.

If the scholarship deadline is approaching and you have not yet even received the application packet that you requested four weeks earlier, follow-up with the provider and request the application packet again. You do not want to miss a deadline, as most scholarship providers do not consider late applicants.
Be Organized

Good organizational skills can really pay off - literally! Keep your applications ordered by deadline date and give yourself plenty of time to complete them and send them in well before the due date.

Keep letters of recommendation and transcripts on hand so you don't have to obtain new ones every time they are required for an application. Make copies of your completed applications before sending them in, and file them in folders labeled with the deadline date and the mailing address and phone number of the scholarship provider.

Call before the deadline to see if your scholarship application was received. If it got lost in the mail, (the postal service is not perfect!) you still have an extra copy you can send in.
Be Persistent

The scholarship search process doesn't just happen overnight. You must be diligent about looking for new scholarships to apply for. Plan to spend several hours each month reviewing the scholarship programs with deadlines approaching, preparing application packets, and getting the applications in the mail on time.

And then the cycle should begin again - finding scholarships, sending away for application information, and applying in an organized, timely manner.
Be Positive

Finally, believe in yourself and in your chances of winning a scholarship. Hard work and time spent on the scholarship process will pay off eventually.

Keep your chin up and think about how great the reward will be if you can land even one of the scholarships you're trying for! After all, your education depends on it!