Scholarships

Searching for Scholarships

Once you’ve got the FAFSA finished, you can then begin to search for scholarships that apply to you. Barron’s and Kaplan publish books, but your most accessible resource is definitely online scholarship portals.

Scholarship sites start by asking students create a login and profile, which includes detailed information about their school year, academic achievements, athletics, background (for purposes of special scholarship opportunities) and intended schools/majors of interest. Then the search engine matches their qualifications with scholarships that would be a good fit, giving students a higher chance of being awarded the needed funds.

Currently, there are five major resources for finding scholarships on the Web:

  • ScholarshipExperts.com: 2.4 million scholarships worth over $14 billion. They offer accurate and up-to-date award information that has been verified by scholarship providers within the current academic year.
  • FinAid.org: FinAid has earned a stellar reputation in the educational community as the best web site of its kind. It’s comprehensive, it’s informative, and it’s objective.
  • FastWeb: The largest scholarship resource with the most opportunities for students. FastWeb has a database of over 1.2 million scholarships worth over $3.5 billion, and has the ability to narrow your search based on various criteria, making sure you only get the scholarships you have a decent chance of obtaining. The site also has information about colleges, internships and jobs that can help pay for college.
  • College Board Scholarship: College Board, the organization behind the SAT, has put together a database of more than 2,300 scholarships totaling nearly $3 billion.
  • Scholarships.com: On Scholarships.com, students are connected with tools to aid in researching and finding college financial aid. Their regularly updated proprietary database allows students to search 2.7 million college scholarships and grants worth over $19 billion and quickly arrive at a list of awards for which they qualify. The site focuses heavily on local scholarships in addition to larger well-known ones.
  • Sallie Mae: American’s leader in college lending provides access to award-winning database with over $16 billion in scholarships from 2.8 million sources. Expanded and updated daily with a customized list of scholarship leads.

Applying for Scholarships

When skimming through search results for potential scholarships, it is important to thoroughly read the requirements and criteria upon which the committee will judge your application. This saves you time and money potentially wasted on filling an application, writing an essay, and sending transcripts to a scholarship that you have no chance of receiving. Always start with the applications you feel strongest about, also taking into consideration what they are worth.

Some of the typical requirements for scholarships include the following:

  • General Application
  • Transcripts
  • Essays (if applicable)
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Standardized Test Scores (SAT, ACT)
  • Financial Aid Forms/Results (FAFSA)
  • Tax Returns
  • Proof of Eligibility

The best practice for completing an application is to follow the instructions closely, and submit it earlier rather than later. Find what makes you unique, and convince the judges that the foundation’s scholarship money will be best spent on helping you achieve your goals in life.

Scholarships in the $500-$2,500 range tend to be less competitive and more plentiful, though, in this economic environment, students will be applying for every source of funds they can find. Though you might be passed over for one $5,000 scholarship, you may be able to obtain multiple smaller ones that equal it in value. Remember, it’s a numbers game. The more quality application you send in, the higher percentage you have of being awarded one or more of them.

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