Scholarship Basics -- What
You Should Know About Free Money For
College
Expert Advice provided by ScholarshipExperts.com.
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
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 look
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.
For additional information about this
topic, visit www.ScholarshipExperts.com.
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