| Traditionally speaking, school starts in late August or | | | | because nobody applied for them! |
| early September, but with colleges these days, | | | | There are several options for those in financial need, |
| students are starting almost any time. For students | | | | which include the federal Pell Grants, but many |
| who are preparing for next semester at college or for | | | | universities, corporations and various organizations also |
| those high school seniors looking to be in college within | | | | offer merit or academic based scholarships. The |
| the next year, the writing on the wall is: Apply Early | | | | amount of each scholarship varies widely also, such as |
| and Often. | | | | $150 scholarship from the local bicycle shop to a |
| As an example of a California high school who | | | | $10,000 scholarship from a corporation such as |
| advocates doing exactly that, the Poway Unified | | | | Nordstrom's or Macy's. |
| School District was awarded a total of $13.7 million in | | | | Some students think that they should only apply for |
| scholarships this year, and the graduates from | | | | the big-ticket scholarships, but that is simply untrue. Any |
| Westview High School were awarded $7 million of | | | | student can apply for and be awarded many |
| that. The graduating class was only 527 students | | | | scholarships. If a student is awarded 10 $500 |
| strong. | | | | scholarships, is that any worse than being awarded a |
| With the cost of college rising every year, students | | | | single $5000 scholarship? No, it is almost exactly the |
| need to pay more attention to getting those college | | | | same. |
| scholarship applications filled out. It is getting to the point | | | | Last year, a Florida high school senior spent almost |
| where very few students can get through college | | | | every waking hour over the course of two months |
| without some type of student loan of financial support, | | | | completing scholarship forms for any scholarship he |
| and without any scholarships, it is money that needs to | | | | could find and meet the eligibility requirements for. By |
| be paid back, and will put a severe dent in the family | | | | the time he started college that fall, he had been |
| finances or the student's budget after graduation, even | | | | awarded over 36 different scholarships, which |
| with tremendously attractive interest rates on federal | | | | covered more than 90% of his total college costs, |
| student loans. | | | | including tuition, books, and housing. |
| According to various studies, the cost of average | | | | It is important to note that not all scholarships require |
| tuition and associated fees increased approximately | | | | you to have a financial need or an exceptionally high |
| 6% over the past year. Currently, that means that the | | | | grade point average. While it is certainly important to |
| average annual cost (that means every year) is | | | | read the eligibility requirements before completing the |
| almost $13,000 for students who are enrolled at four | | | | application, there are many scholarships available to |
| year public colleges, and over $22,000 for the | | | | just about anyone. |
| equivalent four year private colleges. By comparison, | | | | The bottom line is to apply early and often! Fill out as |
| the cost of attending a college like Stanford or | | | | many college scholarship applications as you can find, |
| Harvard is almost $50,000 per year. | | | | and when you've done that, find some more. The cost |
| The number and variety of scholarships available | | | | of college is certainly not decreasing, and you will need |
| today is almost staggering. But even more staggering | | | | the financial help, and hopefully be able to graduate |
| is the fact that across the country, a good number of | | | | from college being debt-free! |
| scholarships actually go unawarded each year, simply | | | | |