| OK, you don't have a 4.0 GPA, you're not the | | | | colleges frequently "rebate" 30%-35% (or |
| senior class president, you can't throw a | | | | more) of their tuition revenue in the form of |
| football fifty yards, and your SAT scores | | | | institutional financial aid. When these funds |
| aren't generating letters or phone calls from | | | | are factored in, private colleges may |
| Harvard, Yale or Princeton. So, you'll never | | | | ultimately be little or no more expensive for |
| qualify for a college scholarship, right? | | | | some students to attend than public colleges |
| | | | and universities with lower published fees. |
| Not necessarily! There are lots of | | | | |
| scholarships, and other kinds of financial | | | | If you can demonstrate financial need, as |
| aid for which you might qualify. Some | | | | established by your answers on the FAFSAform |
| colleges may offer you academic grants with a | | | | at , you may want to apply to at least a few |
| GPA of 3.0 and SAT scores of 1000. Ashland | | | | colleges which meet 100% of demonstrated |
| University offers scholarships to twins. Many | | | | financial need and do so with a reasonable |
| church affiliated colleges offer grants to | | | | proportion of gift aid to self-help aid |
| students who are members of their religious | | | | (loans and/or work-study funds). Take note |
| denomination. And that's just the beginning. | | | | that although some relatively small number of |
| | | | colleges will meet the full need of all |
| If you are the son or daughter of a military | | | | enrolled students, many more will be far more |
| veteran, if either of your parents work for a | | | | likely to meet or nearly meet the full need |
| major corporation, if your mother or father | | | | of stronger students. |
| is a member of a fraternal or civic | | | | |
| organization, or if you are preparing for a | | | | To position yourself well to be a competitive |
| career in a particular profession, there may | | | | candidate for scholarships, students should |
| be substantial scholarships for which you can | | | | take the most challenging classes available, |
| apply, even if you're not a top student or | | | | work diligently to learn as much as possible |
| student leader. | | | | (not just to get grades), and get involved in |
| | | | co-curricular, community, charitable and/or |
| Are you good at writing essays? If you are, | | | | public service activities. Here's a good rule |
| your writing skills may be the ticket to a | | | | of thumb for all students; the more you have |
| scholarship. There is even a scholarship for | | | | to offer the more you're likely to be |
| students who agree to abstain from using | | | | offered. |
| tobacco and alcohol while in college. | | | | |
| | | | Remember three words...research, research, |
| You may even qualify for a scholarship | | | | and research. The more time you spend |
| because of where you live, your last name, | | | | investigating scholarship opportunities, the |
| your ethnic heritage or race, or a disease or | | | | more likely you are to find scholarships for |
| handicapping condition you may have. Get the | | | | which you may be eligible. |
| idea yet? There are all kinds of | | | | |
| scholarships, grants, and financial aid | | | | Don't let anyone discourage you. There are |
| programs out there. Some require economic | | | | lots of people "out there," including some |
| need or have other restrictions, others do | | | | educators, who are inadvertently spreading |
| not. | | | | their serious misconceptions about who may |
| | | | qualify for financial aid and what is |
| You can search through hundreds of thousands | | | | required to do so. Most important of all, do |
| of possible scholarships (free!) in more than | | | | not fail to investigate or apply to a college |
| twenty different data bases at While you're | | | | you like because you think it is too |
| there, you can sign up for a free email | | | | expensive. That is one of the most common and |
| newsletter with articles on college | | | | worst mistakes a family can make. Remember, |
| admission, scholarship and financial aid | | | | you never know what kinds of scholarships and |
| programs, college survival tips, and income | | | | or financial aid you might receive. |
| opportunities for college students. | | | | |
| | | | However, just like you should have "fall |
| At you'll find scholarships given by | | | | back" or "safety" colleges in case you are |
| individual college to all enrolled students | | | | not admitted to your first choice |
| meeting the listed criteria. | | | | institutions, you should choose and apply to |
| | | | colleges that will be affordable if you do |
| Student-athletes may visit to find the | | | | not receive the financial assistance for |
| information needed to secure an athletic | | | | which you hope. |
| scholarship (or an opportunity to compete in | | | | |
| a Division III or other non-scholarship | | | | Obvious as it may be, I feel obligated to |
| program). | | | | remind you to pay attention to details and |
| | | | deadlines when applying for scholarships |
| Don't forget your school counselor, as he or | | | | because so many students fail to do so. I |
| she can be a great source of information | | | | could hardly believe it when an independent |
| about local scholarship sources. In fact, | | | | educational counselor who probably earns in |
| most high school guidance offices maintain a | | | | the neighborhood of $1,000 for helping a |
| list of locally based scholarships. Parents | | | | student identify and gain admission to |
| and students would be well advised to explore | | | | appropriate colleges asked (on an email list |
| the range of scholarships for which they may | | | | serve) how many words above the limit one of |
| qualify as early as the ninth or tenth grade | | | | her counsulees could go on his college |
| so they can plan to meet the requirements of | | | | application essay. Don't make the mistake |
| as many as possible. | | | | that she did by assuming there will be no |
| | | | penalty if you "come close" to the |
| You should be aware that many private | | | | requirements or are "only a few days beyond |
| colleges offer substantial scholarships and | | | | the deadline". If you don't pay attention, be |
| grants in order to be more competitive with | | | | prepared to pay for your mistakes. |
| lower cost public institutions and/or attract | | | | |
| students who might otherwise enroll | | | | But, do it right and you have a great chance |
| elsewhere. These monies are often offered to | | | | of getting some scholarship and or financial |
| students with very little or no demonstrated | | | | aid help. Good luck. |
| financial need. In fact, many private | | | | |