Posts Tagged ‘how to pay for college’
How to Find Non-Need Based Scholarships
If your family already has the money to pay for your college, then you’re all set! If your family doesn’t have any money to pay for college, then you’ll qualify for financial aid, and then you’ll be all set!
But what about when your parents have the money to pay for college but aren’t willing to, or can’t? There are many college students who find themselves in a very difficult position when it comes to paying for their college education: they’re not getting any help from financial aid and they’re not getting any help from their families. Not knowing where they’ll get the money to pay for school, or if they even can, is a tremendously stressful feeling.
A non-need scholarship may be an answer to those of us who find themselves stuck in the middle. A non-need scholarship is money given to students for reasons that have nothing to do with their financial situation. Instead, they require that you submit an application, provide details about who you are and what you plan to do, and sometimes write an essay.
The following is a list of places to look and people to talk to regarding non-need based scholarships.
Where to look:
Cappex: By signing up with Cappex and creating a detailed profile for yourself, you can search for, as well as be matched with, scholarships where you’ll benefit the most from applying. Visit www.cappex.com/scholarships to find out more information on the many scholarships Cappex can put you in touch with.
Media: Check your newspapers and watch for commercials. Look for advertisements, flyers, and billboards. Information on scholarships is everywhere.
Online: Do a simple web search for non-need based scholarships.
Bookstores: There are books you can buy that list the different scholarships you can apply for and how to do so.
Who to talk to:
Teachers and Councilors: Educators receive lots of information on scholarships and would likely assist you in the application process as well.
Organization Leaders: If you’re a member of a church or club such as scouts, your organization leader may have information on scholarships available for those groups.
Parents and Relatives: Ask everyone you know to keep an eye out for scholarships you could apply to. The more eyes involved in looking, the better your chances are of coming up with a few places to submit an application.
Best of all, find your matches on Cappex.com!
10 BIG Scholarships With Upcoming Deadlines
Scholarships! Scholarships! Scholarships!
Maybe over the last couple of months you’ve heard your teachers, guidance counselors, and parents tell you to apply apply apply, but you’ve just never quite gotten your act together. Well–now’s the time. And that includes students in any grade in high school and even college students. We’ve included 10 big scholarships that have a range of eligibility.
And for you high school seniors…Even while you’re hustling to get your college applications done and submitted on time, you can/should still be applying for scholarships instead of waiting until spring. They’re a great way to save money on college, and some are fairly easy to apply to. Just schedule some time in your calendar over the weekend (between practice and homework and applications and friends), and apply to a few scholarships. If you take time in the application, you may be pleasantly surprised in the future when you’re awarded a big hunk of cash to help pay for college!
1. Horatio Alger National Scholarships
Deadline: October 30
Average Amount: $20,000
Awards Granted: 104
2. Coca-Cola Scholars
Deadline: October 31
Average Amount: $10,000
Awards Granted: 50
3. Voice of Democracy Scholarship Program
Deadline: November 1
Average Amount: $10,000
Award Range: $1,000-$30,000
4. Intel Science Talent Search
Deadline: November 2
Award Range: $1,000-$100,000
Awards Granted: 300
5. FIRE’s “Freedom in Academia” Essay Contest Scholarships
Deadline: November 5
Award Range: $1,000-$5,000
Awards Granted: 7
6. PBA/NCA Sally Beauty Scholarship
(for cosmetology students)
Deadline: November 15
Average Award: $1,000
Awards Granted: 7
7. Susan G. Komen for the Cure Scholarship Program
(for breast cancer survivors and those who have lost a parent/guardian to breast cancer)
Deadline: November 15
Average Award: $10,000
Renewable
8. Ashley Soule Conroy Foundation Scholarship
(for students planning to study abroad)
Deadline: December 1
Average Award: $2,500
9. Most Valuable Student Award
Deadline: December 2
Award Range: $1,000-$15,000
Awards Granted: 500
10. Stephen J. Brady STOP Hunger Scholarships
Deadline: December 5
Average Award: $5,000
Awards Granted: 5
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Cappex.com Announces Rock Star and College Pro Scholarship Winners
Two high school seniors, Maria Zilberman and Walter Chang, have been awarded Cappex’s newest scholarships, the Rock Star and the College Pro, worth a combined $7,500.
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Rock Star Scholarship Winner: Maria Zilberman, from North Miami Beach, Fla., plans on attending college this fall to study pre-medicine.
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College Pro Scholarship Winner: Walter Chang, from Houston, Texas, will attend college in the fall to study engineering and musical performance. |
Zilberman and Chang qualified for the scholarships by playing the “Cappex Cap Challenge,” where students collect virtual “cap” badges for completing key activities in their college searches. After earning at least 10 badges in the Cap Challenge, students become eligible to apply for special Cappex-sponsored scholarships. Examples of virtual badges include:
- Leader (Abe Lincoln hat) : For sharing leadership examples
- Artsy (beret): For providing accomplishments in the arts
- Volunteer (halo): For detailing how you’ve helped your community
- Yeeehaw!!! (cowboy hat): For representing a western state
- Road Warrior (roadster): For using the “Cappex Campus Visit Planner” to plan a college road trip
- College Reviewer (fedora with press pass): For providing a college review
Zilberman, of North Miami Beach, Fla., qualified for the $5,000 Rock Star Scholarship by collecting 25 badges, but it was her outstanding leadership in founding her high school’s international humanitarian club that won her the scholarship.
“The Cap Challenge guided me to explore colleges, which allowed me to learn more about them through student reviews, seeing my chances and organizing my application,” Zilberman said.
Chang qualified for the College Pro Scholarship by earning 10 virtual cap badges.
“Cappex.com improved my college search process tremendously, with all the key facts of each college compiled into one page and several student reviews to provide further perspective,” Chang said. He was awarded the $2,500 scholarship for his dedication as the school orchestra president who helped fundraise over $30,000 to help the school purchase a new grand piano.
“We started the Cappex Cap Challenge to give students a fun and new way to discover colleges and find matching scholarships,” said Chris Long, Cappex president. “Maria and Walter took on the challenge and also clearly demonstrated their accomplishments improving their respective communities. We were thrilled to award our Cap Challenge scholarships to these deserving students.”
Interested in the Cappex Cap Challenge? Make your own Cappex profile now.
Looking for scholarships? Find more here!
Comments: 1 Comment »
The Most Expensive Public Colleges for Out-of-State Students
Does going to a public school mean you’ll be saving money on tuition? Well, it really depends. If you’re going to a public college or university as an out-of-state student, tuition can still be pretty steep. According to US News, the average out-of-state student at a public school paid $16,678 in 2010-2011 for fees and tuition.
Why are they so expensive? One reason could be that some of the schools on this list are not the most expensive schools for in-state students, meaning that out-of-staters are making up the difference.
If you’re set on an out-of-state school-especially a California state school– you might want to think about scholarships to off-set the cost.
In the meantime, here’s the list of the most expensive public colleges for out-of-state students:
1. University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Tuition and fees 2010-2011-$36,163
Cool fact: Michigan Stadium, or the Big House, is the largest college football stadium in the nation and one of the largest football-only stadiums in the world, with an official capacity of more than 109,901.
2. University of California-Davis
Tuition and fees 2010-2011-$34,863
Cool fact- UC Davis campus is the largest campus in the UC system, spanning over 5,500 acres and across two counties: Yolo and Solano.
3. University of California-Irvine
Tuition and fees 2010-2011-$34,792
Cool fact- UC Irvine has an underground network of tunnels connecting different buildings and have been the subject of much campus lore.
4. University of California-Santa Barbara
Tuition and fees 2010-2011-$34,509
Cool fact- In the late 1960s and early 1970s UCSB became nationally known as a hotbed of anti-Vietnam War activity. Other than UC Berkeley, no other California college received as much attention from the national media for its antiwar activities
5. University of California-San Diego
Tuition and fees 2010-2011-$34,185
Cool fact- The UC San Diego Sun God Festival, which is in its 28th year, has grown into a 20,000 person event with student org booths and performers, as well as an eclectic mix of musical acts across 3 stages.
6. University of California-Riverside
Tuition and Fees 2010-2011-$33,901
Cool fact- UCR is currently ranked as one of the most ethnically and economically diverse universities in the United States.
7. University of California-Berkeley
Tuition and fees 2010-2011-$33,747
Cool fact- Berkeley student-athletes have won over 100 Olympic medals.
8. University of California-Los Angeles
Tuition and fees 2010-2011-$33,660
Cool fact- Not to rain on Berkeley’s parade, but the student athletes at UCLA have won 214 Olympic medals – 106 gold, 54 silver and 54 bronze. But, hey! Anyone embarking on higher ed is a winner.
Mind that gap: the next school is not from California.
9. University of Virginia
Tuition and fees 2010-2011-$33,574
Cool fact-Since 1842, UVA has an established Code of Honor where students at the University have pledged not to lie, cheat, or steal. The honor system, for instance, would allow the freedom for students to take exams outside trusting that students would not cheat. Offenses of the UVA honor system are presented to the Honor Committee, a student judiciary body.
Don’t get too comfortable out of California state lines, because we’re heading back in:
10. University of California-Santa Cruz
Tuition and fees 2010-2011-$33,505
Cool fact-Imagine the Lord of the Ring’s Shire and now plop that into UC Santa Cruz’s northern campus where shrines, dens and other student-built curiosities are scattered around in the undeveloped forested area. These structures, mostly assembled from branches and other forest detritus, were formerly concentrated in the area known as Elfland,but relocated after new building in the 90′s.
Comments: 4 Comments »
Recent Cappex Scholarship Winners!
Cappex.com is very excited to announce our most recent scholarship winners from Spring 2011. These students have proven that with their leadership and volunteer activities, they can make a difference in the world. Congratulations!
You can be a scholarship winner too by making a Cappex profile! Your profile will then be used as your “application” for the Cappex scholarships, like, say, these two coming up:
A GPA Isn’t Everything and I Don’t Want to Pay for College.
That’s exactly what these two superstars did to win their scholarships:
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“A GPA Isn’t Everything” Scholarship – Winter II Scholarship Winner: Rebecca D. from Mt. Prospect, Ill., will be attending college next fall. During her high school career, she served as a member of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) and eventually its President for two school years. The program was recognized as one of the best programs in the state and won grants from the Operation Teen Safe Driver for its success. Rebecca was also a peer tutor and a member of her school’s service organization which works to better the community and help with special needs schools as well as the elderly.
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“I Don’t Want to Pay for College” – Spring Scholarship Winner: Matthew J., from Murfreesboro, Tenn., is currently a college student with a broad background in volunteer and service with his church and Boy Scouts including canned food drives, making care packages for the 101st Airborne and community clean up. Matthew’s a talented student who channeled his passion for music and science into an awesome project where he designed, produced and then performed with two homemade instruments. |
Want to see past scholarship winners? Check them out on our Facebook page!
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Often times, students nix the private colleges on their college search lists because they figure they’re going to be more expensive than public schools. But, that’s not always the case! A lot of times private colleges and universities have huge endowments and can offer many more, and often larger, grants to admitted students.
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