Questions You Need to Ask When Looking for College Scholarships

admin — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:55:49 +0000

Finding college scholarships may be a daunting task, but there is no reason for you to not look. There are scholarships out there for almost everyone. When looking for scholarships, it really is as easy as going to Google and typing in something to the effect of “how to find scholarships for college”. You will probably have to register at some of the Web sites, but there are plenty out there ready, willing and able to help make some connections.

Remember, not every scholarship is going to be a perfect match for you and/or your family. From www.getreadyforcollege.org, here are some questions you may want to ask to see if you have found a good match.

· What is the maximum scholarship award? They can range from $100 to $10,000 or more.

· Is the scholarship based only on merit (no financial need requirement), or does it require both merit and need?

· How is financial need defined for scholarships that require need? Each program has its own definition of need. If you cannot find that information readily, check all the other eligibility criteria. If there is a good match overall, submit an application and your need will be assessed in the scholarship review process.

· How does the scholarship program define merit? Some scholarships are very strict, requiring a minimum grade point average of 3.0 to 3.5, along with other leadership skills that are highly competitive. Other scholarships have more flexible criteria.

· Does the scholarship require admission to a degree-granting program? This is a common requirement, but some scholarships offer flexibility.

· Does the scholarship require full-time enrollment? This, too, is a common requirement, but some are flexible and may fund students who are less than full-time.

· What are the other eligibility requirements? Is the scholarship targeted to a specific educational institution, specific field of study, resident’s of a specific geographic area?

· What is the application process? Many scholarship programs have their own application forms. Some you can apply for through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program.

· What is the application deadline? Scholarship deadlines can be six to nine months preceding the start of the academic year, while some may be closer to the start of the fall term.

For free and valuable information, visit www.Scholarshiphelp.org. Please don’t overlook resources out there to help you.

Paying for College…What Are My Options?

admin — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:24:46 +0000

My articles over the last two days have covered how to save for college. The focus has been on starting very young. Please know you really can start at any age, it is never too late. However, if you find yourself with a child in high school, getting ready to graduate and you have no savings, today I am going to cover your different options.

There are three ways you can get assistance to pay for college. They are:

· Scholarships – A scholarship is an award of access to an institution, or a financial aid award for an individual student scholar, for the purpose of furthering their education. Scholarships are awarded based on a range of criteria which usually reflect the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.

· Federal Student Aid – includes those programs of general student assistance, such as those authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Education, and similar programs provided by other Federal agencies. It does not include programs which provide fellowships or similar Federal awards to students on a competitive basis, or for specified studies or research.

· Student Loans – are loans offered to students to assist in payment of the costs of professional education.

Step one, check out what scholarships may be available for your student. There are websites out there specifically geared to help you find the perfect scholarship for your student.

Step two, start applying for Federal Student Aid. There is more than $83 billion in federal student aid available every year.

Step three, apply for student loans.

Over the next several days I will go through and break these down more. There is a lot of help out there, you just have to know where to look and be willing to do your research.

Mompreneur » Scholarships

Questions You Need to Ask When Looking for College Scholarships

Paying for College…What Are My Options?