Senioritis – there’s no doubt that every high school senior knows the feeling. With classes winding down and the start of college quickly approaching, you might be experiencing a decreased sense of motivation. Overcoming it involves the right balance of studying and fun. Bring your attention to a few of the following cures for some of the most common senioritis symptoms:

Lack of Motivation

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that once you apply to college, you’re free to slack off for the rest of the year. Even after college acceptance letters arrive, it’s required for most students to send final transcripts at the end of the school year. Admissions decisions can be revoked if your GPA takes a significant dip. Keep going to classes and remain focused!

Study Slump

With all the end of the school year excitement, studying sounds like the least appealing item on your list of to dos, but it will only become more intimidating the longer you procrastinate. Set a certain amount of time to study each day and stick with it. Keep your head clear by taking short breaks; go for a walk, have a quick snack, or exercise. Partnering up with a classmate for study sessions may also help. You can keep each other motivated by quizzing each other, creating flashcards, or comparing notes.

Party Plans

You’ve had a long four years, and now it’s time to celebrate! With prom and graduation parties, dresses, dates, and dancing on your mind, don’t forget that you actually have to be on track to graduate to fully enjoy these festivities. Create a schedule so you don’t lose track of major assignments that are due. By getting work out the way first, you will have more free time.

College Over/Under Excitement

It’s common to feel one or both of two extremes before you start college: (1) You’re more than ready to move on and already have your bags packed for new adventures, or (2) you’re feeling nostalgic and will miss high school friends and memories. Look forward to all the new possibilities of college while making the most out everything before it starts by spending time with friends and family. If you’re worried about losing touch, schedule time between breaks to hangout.

April showers bring May…dollars? Well we sure hope so! With this huge list of scholarships expiring in May, we’re giving you 37 opportunities to score some money for college. Good luck!

American Adademy of Chefs College Scholarships
Deadline: May 1, 2013      Award: varies
Applicants must have the career goal of becoming a chef or pastry chef.

Directron.com College Scholarship Program
Deadline: May 1, 2013      Award: $200 – $800
Applicants must submit a piece of writing on a topic related to computer technology.

Swim with Mike Physically Challenged Athletes Scholarship
Deadline: May 1, 2013      Award: varies
Applicants must be student athletes who have sustained a life-changing accident or illness.

DutchCrafters Amish Furniture Heritage Scholarship
Deadline: May 1, 2013      Award: $500
Applicants must submit an essay about how they will draw upon their cultural heritage to shape their vocational inspirations, offer creative value to their future employers, and to serve their communities.

ScholarshipRed
Deadline: May 1, 2013      Award: $250
Applicants must be natural redheads.

Math-O-Vision Contest
Deadline: May 1, 2013      Award: $1,000 – $4,000
Applicants must create a four-minute video that shows the world of equations we live in.

Congressional Black Caucus Spouses Heineken USA Performing Arts Scholarship
Deadline: May 2, 2013      Award: $3,000
Applicants must be pursuing a career in the performing arts, including drama, music, dance, etc.

Congressional Black Caucus Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship
Deadline: May 2, 2013      Award: $3,000
Applicants must be pursuing a career in the visual arts.

NURSE Corps Scholarship Program
Deadline: May 2, 2013      Award: varies
Applicants must be enrolled in a professional nursing degree program.

Dish Systems Essay Scholarship
Deadline: May 3, 2013      Award: $1,000
Applicants must submit an essay about one of four given topics related to media, censorship, or the internet.

The Greek Tweak Annual Scholarship
Deadline: May 10, 2013      Award: $1,500
Applicants must be active members of a Greek-lettered organization.

Educate It Forward ELL Hispanic Heritage Scholarship
Deadline: May 14, 2013      Award: $1,000
Applicants must be ELL students of Hispanic descent.

National Collegiate Cancer Foundation Scholarship
Deadline: May 15, 2013      Award: $1,000
Applicants must be cancer survivors or current cancer patients.

Samsung High School Student Scholarship Program
Deadline: May 15, 2013      Award: $1,000
Applicants must submit an essay on a given topic related to technology and the future.

ThanksUSA Scholarship
Deadline: May 15, 2013      Award: $3,000
Applicants must be dependents or spouses of US military service personnel.

Heinlein Society Scholarship
Deadline: May 15, 2013      Award: $500
Applicants must be majoring in engineering, math, physical science, or science fiction as literature.

Jane Austen Society of North America Essay Contest
Deadline: May 15, 2013      Award: $250 – $1,000
Applicants must submit an essay about a topic related to Jane Austen’s “Pride & Prejudice.”

Levitt Comninos Carlotti Foundation Scholarship
Deadline: May 15, 2013      Award: $1,000 – $4,000
Applicants must have a terminally ill or deceased parent.

FMAA Scholarship Program
Deadline: May 24, 2013      Award: $1,000
Applicants must submit a short video explaining what the American flag means to them.

I’m First Scholarship
Deadline: May 24, 2013      Award: $2,000
Applicants must be first-generation college students.

Design-A-Sign Scholarship Contest
Deadline: May 24, 2013      Award: $100 – $1,000
Applicants must create a sign that represents their dreams and goals.

B. Davis Scholarship
Deadline: May 27, 2013      Award: $1,000
Applicants must submit an essay on a topic related to societal issues.

1800wheelchair.com Scholarship
Deadline: May 30, 2013      Award: $500
Applicants must submit a poem on the theme of overcoming a personal challenge.

AmeriGlide Achiever Scholarship
Deadline: May 31, 2013      Award: $2,500
Applicants must use a manual or electric wheelchair or mobility scooter.

A Voice for Animals Contest
Deadline: May 31, 2013      Award: $200 – $750
Applicants must have participated in projects that promote the humane treatment of animals.

MyBookBuyer.com Textbooks for a Year Scholarship
Deadline: May 31, 2013      Award: $250 – $1,250
Applicants must submit an essay about an author they greatly admire.

Yes! Grace Rocks, Inc. Scholarship
Deadline: May 31, 2013      Award: $500
Applicants must be majoring in speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, special education, or nursing.

“Launch Your Dreams” Scholarship Competition
Deadline: May 31, 2013      Award: $2,500
Applicants must be a US veteran or the spouse or children of a US veteran.

Chely Wright LIKE ME Scholarship
Deadline: May 31, 2013      Award: $1,250
Applicants must have actively advocated for LGBT issues.

Abercrombie & Fitch Future Leaders Scholarship
Deadline: May 31, 2013      Award: $1,000
Applicants must be pursuing a degree in business.

Fraser Institute Essay Contest
Deadline: May 31, 2013      Award: $500 – $1,000
Applicants must submit an essay on a given topic related to the “war on drugs.”

Samsung Superhero Competition
Deadline: May 31, 2013      Award: $500
Applicants must portray a historical character in a digital video.

PBA/NCA Minerva Beauty Scholarship
Deadline: May 31, 2013      Award: $1,000
Applicants must be enrolled in a cosmetology program.

Art Renewal Center Scholarship Competition
Deadline: May 31, 2013      Award: varies
Applicants must be pursuing a career as an artist.

Kevin Dare “Life…Back on Track” Scholarship
Deadline: May 31, 2013      Award: varies
Applicants must be student athletes who have suffered a debilitating injury or illness.

Out of the Easy College Scholarship Essay Contest
Deadline: May 31, 2013      Award: $5,000
Applicants must submit an essay in response to a Charles Dickens quote.

Power Poetry “Slam What You Will” Scholarship
Deadline: May 31, 2013      Award: $1,000
Applicants must submit an original poem.

Want even more? Cappex has literally thousands of scholarships waiting for you! Log in to check them out. Don’t have a profile yet? It’s free and super easy to get started!

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be the nightmare you’ve dreaded. It doesn’t take a lot of effort or expense to freshen up your dorm room. With the end of the school year inching closer, it will also be worth organizing everything so you’ll have less to do come move-out day. Here are a few easy ways you can get your spring cleaning underway.

Declutter

Get the chaos of the first half of the semester under control by first organizing your desk. Filter though papers and assignments that might have piled up and determine what you need to keep. Make sure everything has a place by utilizing storage bins. If you share a dorm, divvy up responsibilities between you and your roommate. Empty the trash, dust, vacuum, sweep, and sanitize.

Re-arrange

Switch it up! Wait until the next school year to buy any new décor you might need; at no cost you can give your room a completely new look by rearranging the furniture. Coordinate with your roommate to change the location of your bed, desk, and wall décor.

Make the bed

Simply making your bed will give your room a cleaner appearance since it is the focal point of a small living space. Bedding can make a huge difference in the look and mood of your room. If you had a dark bed spread during fall and winter, spring is the time to liven it up with lighter colors. If possible, make use of any reversible décor.

Closet TLC

Now is the time to get that overflowing laundry basket in check, and get everything up and hanging in the closet or folded in drawers. Save space with closet organizers and identify clothes and shoes that you no longer wear and donate them to charity.

This morning I read an Op-Ed in the Wall Street Journal written by a high school senior addressing all the colleges that rejected her. You’ve read it too, right? If not you can read it here. Recently it’s been hard to read a paper, magazine, or my favorite blog without coming across a headline reading “Gen Y: Is there anything good?” or “Gen Y: Entitled, Lazy, and Can’t Pay Attention.” As a recent college grad (just off the job-search I might add) I can’t help but find these statements offensive, and I think to myself “Where are they getting these stereotypes?” Well, thanks to Suzy Lee Weiss, I think we know now…

Really, I understand how frustrating college applications are. I even understand what it’s like to be rejected from your #1 school. Even your #2 or #3…or #5 school…especially in the face of some unquantifiable trait like “diversity.” But as a graduate from UIC, a school that boasts “diversity” before “top research institution,” I can tell you that few of the people I knew would have fit into the profile you’re describing, Ms. Weiss. And when “they” tell you to “be yourself,” they’re not kidding. Colleges need to know who you are, what you’re all about, and that you would be a good fit for their school. Not only the other way around.

So I tell you, Ms. Weiss, and all other seniors both accepted and rejected from your dream schools, be yourself. But not only that, be proud of yourself and be accountable for yourself. Keep in mind what sets you apart from everyone else. Diversity isn’t only about your race or religion or extracurricular activities – it’s about what makes you different from the other 10,000 students who applied to your college program, internship, or job. It’s not only colleges that will tell you to “be yourself.” This is a theme that you will experience for the rest of your life – I can tell you it will also be part of your job search – so get used to it.

In the meantime, I beg you, fellow Gen-Yers, to do some serious introspection before you go sending articles off to the Wall Street Journal on behalf of the rest of us.

Vicki Jurkowski is a proud member of Gen-Y and Online Marketing Analyst at Cappex. Her passions include abstract algebra, west coast swing, and reassuring Baby-Boomers that Millennials can be trusted to take over the world one day. She graduated from University of Illinois at Chicago in December 2012 with her Bachelors of Science in Mathematics.

More than $2 billion in private scholarships is given to smart, hardworking students such as yourself. But sometimes hard to stand out in a pool of thousands of other students. Unfortunately  only 1 out of 13 students wins an outside scholarship. On top of competition, there are also fraudsters out there looking to get some money from you by charging application or processing fees. That’s so wrong! We want you to have the best possible chance, so we’ve gathered some tips from scholarship judges, fraud investigators, and previous winners to help boost your chances of winning that moolah.

Don’t enter any contest or scholarship that requires you to pay money.

At Cappex, we don’t list scholarships that require you to pay to apply or a credit card number to “hold” it, because we think it’s wrong! Legitimate scholarships never do this, according to Scholarship America, and we agree. Many applications require proof of financial need, but there’s no need for them to have bank account or credit card information.

Don’t copy previous winners.

In a pool of hundreds or even thousands of applicants, your goal is to stand out from the crowd, not blend in. Use that creativity and don’t copy others. Too many entrants in the $3,000 Duck-brand contest to make prom outfits from duct tape simply tweak the designs of previous winners, says Bethany Schmotzer, a Duck Products executive. Winners will be those who think outside of the box!

Follow instructions and do a spell check.

Applications with horrible spelling and grammar mistakes are going to end up in the trash, as are those that don’t follow instructions. Judges in the OP Loftbed essay contest say they discard about 60% of entries for not following contest rules and ditch 50% of those for bad spelling and grammar. Spend a few minutes making sure your application is clean and clear…or ask your mom proofread it for you.

Zig where the competition will zag.

On standard essay questions, there are going to be standard or “canned answers.” Lesley Wainwright, who won one of the prestigious Coca-Cola Scholars Foundations scholarships in 1994 and has judged for the $20,000 top prize, had to answer the question, “If you could go back in history, what one thing would you change?” She guessed that everyone else would write about saving Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. or John  F. Kennedy or abolishing slavery. So instead, she wrote about something she just studied: she’d prevent the burning of the library in ancient Alexandria. By not choosing something conventional, she stood out from the masses.

Moral of the story: be creative, be yourself. Make sure you submit something that you are proud of and your chances will increase tenfold!

It’s 10 pm and the prompt for that ten page paper is staring you in the face. You have six pages written and approximately two hours before the paper’s deadline. Reading it over, you realize that you can’t think of anything else to write, but terror washes over you as it sinks in that you’re not done yet. In fact, you need four more pages in order to call this paper quits.

Before you curse your procrastination, we have some tips to help you crank out the rest of those pages.

What Not to Do

You might think your teacher doesn’t know everything, but your teachers do know when you make the font a few sizes bigger, make the margins smaller, or increase the spacing. So don’t take that route. Don’t mess around with long-winded sentences and titles that often detract from your argument. They don’t help you or your paper.

Expand

So, since you can’t think of anything else to write, you’ve probably already written everything you know on your topic. Let’s say the topic is a dog. You’ve written about the dog’s fur, diet, play habits, breed origins, everything. Take these topics and branch out a bit. Yes, it’s a risk to go a little off topic, but sometimes the risk is worth the reward, no? Fluff your topic a bit by talking about why the breed of dog was important to the people who bred it. You can easily elaborate on your ideas for at least a page and then tie them neatly back into how the dog is viewed today. See how that works?

Argue With Yourself

Three more pages and you have no idea where to go. Read over your paper again and pick out your arguments. Then, spend some time thinking about the other sides of the argument. Flesh these out and write about them. By taking other viewpoints into consideration, you not only add length to your paper, but strength to your argument when you refute these other ones.

Minor Stuff

If you really need to, add a few sentences that aren’t quite necessary. Elaborate a little more on minor points that you made. Just make sure that these sentences don’t detract from the flow of your paper.

Conclusion and Intro

A good intro will grab your attention, introduce your topic, and state your argument in a clear and engaging way. Some people find it easiest to write the body of the paper first, and then go back to writing the intro and conclusion. Personally, I like to state my argument (or thesis) first, as it helps remind me what I’m writing about. Pick the way that works best for you. The conclusion might seem daunting, but never fear—it’s a great way to add length with ease. Don’t introduce anything new in the conclusion; it should be a reminder of your points and your original argument. Just reiterate these and there you go!

Ten pages, and it’s only 11:30…just enough time to proofread and send that baby in. Now, that wasn’t that hard, was it?

There’s nothing better than winning a scholarship that recognizes your effort in an activity that you’re passionate about – extracurriculars like sports continue to remain popular among students of all ages. Contrary to what many believe, athletic activities aren’t only about the wins; most importantly they encourage teamwork and cooperation, persistence, patience, and leadership skills. These are skills that carry over to high school, college, and beyond, so that’s a fact worth conveying in you scholarship applications! Here are a few scholarships that will get you started:

1. Positive Coaching Alliance Triple-Impact Competitor Scholarship Program – Chicago, New York, North Texas, Houston, Boston, San Francisco Bay/Sacramento Area, Washington DC Area

Award: $2,000                   Deadline:  May 31
For college-bound student athletes who are currently high school juniors.

2. Lou & Carole Prato Sports Reporting Scholarship

Award: Varies                    Deadline: May 31
For students officially enrolled in as college sophomores or higher with at least one full academic year remaining.  Students must plan to pursue a career in electronic journalism.

3. Alec Kessler Student-Athlete Scholarship

Award: $2,500                   Deadline:  April 6
For Miami, Florida-area high school seniors who not only participate in a sport, but excel in academics and community service.

4. American Legion Baseball Scholarship

Award: Varies                    Deadline: July 15
For high school baseball players who are part of a team affiliated with an American Legion Post.

5. Bill Dickey Scholarship

Award: $1000-$3,000      Deadline: April 30
For high school seniors who participate in golf and community service activities.

6. Billy Welu Bowling Scholarship

Award: $1,000                   Deadline: May 31
For students who compete in the sport of bowling.

7. AAU Karate Scholarship

Award: $1,000                   Deadline: May 3
For students who have participated in AAU Karate for a minimum of four years.

8. SHUT UP & SWEAT Athletic Gear Student Athlete Annual Scholarship

Award: $2,000                   Deadline: August 1
For graduating high school seniors who are student athletes.

And that’s not all. On Cappex you’ll find many more scholarships like these, especially local scholarship opportunities for students in various activities like track and field, football, baseball, basketball, soccer, swimming, and much more. Be sure to indicate your athletic activities in your profile and happy scholarship searching!

Take advantage of your spring break and apply for a few of these scholarships expiring in April!

Davis Putter Scholarship

Award: $1,000 – $10,000      Deadline: April 1
Applicants must be active in movements for social and/or economic justice.

Swackhamer Disarmament Video Contest

Award: $100 – $1,000      Deadline: April 1
Applicants must create a video that addresses a given topic related to nuclear weapons.

Friends of Hampton Roads Scholarship

Award: $2,000      Deadline: April 1
Applicants must be of African American heritage.

Project Yellow Light Hunter Garner Scholarship

Award: $1,000 – $5,000      Deadline: April 1
Applicants must create a video designed to motivate, persuade, and encourage teens to not text while driving. 

Beyond the Boroughs Scholarship

Award: Varies      Deadline: April 1
Applicants must be from a low-income household.

Virtual Business Scholarship

Award: $2,000      Deadline: April 1
Applicants must be prospective business, marketing, or personal finance majors.

CleanEdison Annual Essay Contest

Award: $500      Deadline: April 1
Applicants must submit an essay on a given topic related to clean energy.

AFSA High School Senior Scholarship Contest

Award: $2,000      Deadline: April 3
Applicants must read an essay about automatic fire sprinklers and then take an online test about it.

John Lennon Scholarship

Award: $5,000 – $10,000      Deadline: April 5
Applicants must submit an original song with lyrics they have written.

StraightForward Media Nursing School Scholarship

Award: $500      Deadline: April 14
Applicants must be pursuing a postsecondary education in nursing.

American Foreign Service Association National High School Essay Contest

Award: $2,500      Deadline: April 15
Applicants must write an essay on a given topic related to the Foreign Service.

College JumpStart Scholarship

Award: $250 – $1,500      Deadline: April 15
Applicants must be committed to using education to better their lives and those of their family and/or community.

AMVETS National Scholarship Program for High School Seniors

Award: $1,000      Deadline: April 15
Applicants must be children or grandchildren of US veterans.

Kelsey Harris Writing Scholarship

Award: $1,000      Deadline: April 15
Applicants must be pursuing a career in writing.

Charles R. Ullman & Associates Scholarship Essay Contest

Award: $1,500 – $3,500      Deadline: April 15
Applicants must submit an essay on a given topic related to marital domestic violence or marital communication issues and divorce.

ACE Foundation Scholarship

Award: Varies      Deadline: April 16
Applicants must be accepted to an accredited institution of higher learning.

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Scholarship

Award: $1,000 – $5,000      Deadline: April 16
Applicants must be Latino students with a history of performing public service-oriented activities in their communities.

Pearson Prize for Higher Education

Award: $1,000      Deadline: April 19
Applicants must have demonstrated leadership in community service.

Create Real Impact Contest

Award: $500 – $1,500      Deadline: April 20
Applicants must create an original work showcasing the problem of reckless and distracted driving.

Hark’s Scholarship

Award: $1,000      Deadline: April 20
Applicants must choose and answer one of three given questions related to digital media and the web.

Great Minds in STEM / HENAAC Scholars Program

Award: $500 – $10,000      Deadline: April 30
Applicants must be of Hispanic origin and major in science, technology, engineering, or math.

M. A. Lee Scholarship Fund

Award: Varies      Deadline: April 30
Applicants must be entering a four-year college or university.

Pretty Amazing Scholarship Contest

Award: $10,000      Deadline: April 30
Applicants must be young women and they must submit an essay on what makes them amazing people.

Americanism Educational Leaders Essay Contest

Award: $1,000 – $3,000     Deadline: April 30
Applicants must submit an essay on a given topic.

Joshua David Gardner Memorial Scholarship

Award: $2,000      Deadline: April 30
Applicants must submit an essay on a given topic related to leadership.

Want more? Cappex has thousands of scholarships available for you!

You know you can use your smartphone for good, right? In case you weren’t in the loop, a smartphone allows you to access more apps than just Instagram and Angry Birds. Check out these six free smartphone apps that will help you ace that next exam and get ahead of the school game.

1. Open Study Mobile

Two words: free tutoring. This mobile app gives students access to free study assistance 24/7.

3. Dictionary.com

Have an essay or paper to write? Keep this free app handy when you search for creative and advanced vocabulary words. This easy to use and lets you double check that you’re using that long word correctly.

2. AnyMemo

This free flashcard app will help you memorize (almost) anything. Download thousands of flashcards in a variety of languages and take sample quizzes to help you get up to speed and prep for tests.

4. Google Drive

On the go? This free app will help keep you organized by allowing you to view and edit homework, notes, and even spreadsheets!

5. NoRedInk

This is a free, teacher-developed, web-based app that was developed to help students avoid common writing and grammar mistakes. EVERYONE can benefit from a grammar lesson or three.

6. GPA & Final Exam Calculator

Sorry, iPhone users. This one is for the Android users out there. This app allows you to input your school’s grading scale and requirements for exams and critical deadlines. An easy way for you to stay organized, and ahead of the curve.

What apps do YOU find useful in helping you get the best education you can? Comment below!