| A minority scholarship may be exactly what you | | | | the additional beauty of it is that there is no law or |
| require if you are a minority and are looking at the | | | | regulation that prevents you from having several |
| mountain of literature about the colleges you want to | | | | college scholarships all at once. |
| attend, where it seems like every little thing has a fee | | | | You see, most people realize this but they think their |
| associated with it. What happens is that the total cost | | | | chances of getting a minority scholarship are minimal. |
| seems to add up to an astronomical figure, one that | | | | The reality of it is that nothing could be further from |
| you could only afford if you were to win the state | | | | the truth. In fact, there are hundreds of scholarships |
| lottery. | | | | available every year that simply are not awarded |
| Seriously, the cost of a good college education is very | | | | simply because nobody applied for them! The |
| expensive these days. The problem with this is multiple | | | | sponsors of those scholarships would have happily |
| things. First of all, many people are electing to only go | | | | given those scholarships to people who applied for |
| to a two year college, or may elect not to attend | | | | them, but NOBODY applied for them, so they had to |
| college at all. This is a drastic mistake, especially in | | | | take it back and do NOTHING with it. |
| today's economic and very competitive times. Your | | | | How sad is that? Prospective students need to be |
| college degree is your admission ticket to today's job | | | | familiar with what scholarships are requiring these |
| market, and without that degree, your chances of | | | | days, since it is very different from what it used to be. |
| getting the job you want or a good job are very | | | | For example, it used to be that the vast majority of |
| minimized. | | | | college scholarships were only awarded to the |
| But this presents another problem. If not going to | | | | academic geniuses or the football jocks or the chess |
| college is not an option, how are you going to get the | | | | club champion. It used to be that you would only get a |
| money to fund your college education? Good question, | | | | scholarship if your financial situation was so bad that |
| and surely your parents have mentioned that money | | | | you could not even feed a parking meter. |
| does not grow on trees these days. The option most | | | | Those days are long past. These days, college |
| prospective students take is to get a federal student | | | | scholarships are awarded to people who APPLY for |
| loan. The interest rate is low, the rates are extremely | | | | them. Most do not require any particular financial |
| competitive, and you don't have to start paying it back | | | | requirement or need on the part of the student, and |
| until after you graduate. | | | | have very reasonable academic requirements, some |
| Aha! The key problem is that last part where it says | | | | even being awarded to students with a grade point |
| "you start paying it back". Even with a student loan, it | | | | average as low as a 2.0. And if you are a minority, |
| needs to be paid back. After you graduate and start | | | | there are many minority scholarships available that |
| looking for a job in your field of study, perhaps | | | | cannot be awarded unless the applicant is part of a |
| relocating to a different city and then also having to | | | | particular minority group. |
| find an apartment or place to live, you have more than | | | | Remember, the key is that you need to apply for each |
| enough to worry about without having the additional | | | | and every minority scholarship where you meet the |
| stress caused by your student loan payments being | | | | requirements. Most can be done online so there is not |
| due. | | | | even the cost of a postage stamp involved with it, just |
| The beauty of a minority scholarship is that it does not | | | | the very simple requirement that you APPLY. Stop |
| need to be paid back, ever. It is money that is given to | | | | wishing and start applying today! |
| you and they do not expect repayment, not ever. And | | | | |