Finding Scholarship Opportunities

Over 85% of the nation’s schools offer various types of scholarship, granting money to college students based on a host of criteria such as academic merit, financial need, and in some cases, racial or ethnic background.

Though the application process can be complicated and redundant between scholarships, there is a great deal of money available for those who are willing to jump through the right hoops and prove their merit and/or need.

How Do I Find Out About Available Scholarships?

Your child’s high school guidance counselor should have an abundance of information on local scholarships. From there you can move on to the college financial aid office. Many corporations offer college tuition aid or reimbursement to their employees and some offer scholarships to their employees’ children. In addition, other private businesses, foundations, and religious organizations offer scholarships as well.

The internet is a great source to start researching what is available and what fits your college student’s interests, experience, or situation best. There are many websites that have college savings calculators and information on financial aid. Start with the website of the college or university you want to attend, as well as local and national banks.

Helpful Tips

You can significantly reduce the cost of your college experience using some of these helpful tips:

• Plan to spend your first two years at a community college.
• Live at home and commute, where possible.
• Work part-time, particularly in your desired field of future employment.
• Join AmeriCorps and earn education awards in return for national service.
• Join the Reserve Officers Training Forces (ROTC); it will pay for tuition, fees, and books and also provides a monthly allowance. You’ll have to serve four years as an officer in the military after graduation.
• Work full-time at a company that offers tuition reimbursement.
• Take advanced placement courses in high school; convert them into college course credits by scoring sufficiently well on advanced placement exams. Also, enroll in dual credit courses in high school which give college credit for certain classes. Some stated will pay for the dual enrollment tuition required.