Posts Tagged ‘Scholarships and Financial Aid’
Avoid Scholarship Scams!
Scholarships can make or break your education. If awarded a scholarship, it can open doors for you that you would not have had been able to open otherwise. School will be much less stressful and you will have more opportunities available to you if you apply for a scholarship.
However, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Don’t count on the money from a single scholarship to carry you through to graduation day. In addition, make sure the organization administering your potential scholarship has a good track record.
You definitely don’t want to find yourself in the same position as the recipients of the “Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now” scholarship. The foundation, run by R&B artist Mary J. Blige, is reportedly missing thousands of dollars meant for the winners. Some recipients have had to take out loans on their own to pay for their education.
While this is a rare situation and not all scholarships will leave you in the dust, it is important to be aware of an organization’s past when you apply for funding from them. It’s also not a bad idea to apply for scholarships from multiple programs if you are relying heavily on these funds to get you through school.
Here are some things to ask as you search and apply for scholarships:
- Is the organization large and well-known or small and new? Neither is necessarily more reliable, but an established organization will have more experience dealing with scholarship funds (they may also have more applicants, and therefore be more competitive).
- Do you have access to any information on past recipients? Sometimes an organization will post praise on what their past winners have accomplished with the scholarship funds.
- Is there a fee to apply for the scholarship? Be very wary of any scholarship or sweepstakes that requires you to pay them first. You should not have to do this or pay any sort of redemption fee to apply.
- What are they asking me to do to earn this scholarship? Any legitimate scholarship requires work, filling out forms, and writing an essay with pizzazz. Any scholarship out to scam you will make it look painless and instantaneous.
The bottom line is do your research on any scholarship you consider. If your instincts tell you there’s something off or it’s too good to be true, you’re probably right. Don’t flush your hard work away!
Find tons of helpful scholarships for college at Cappex.
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Big Awesome June Scholarships!
June is the perfect time to apply for scholarships! You’re fresh out of school, so your brain is still working at topnotch speed, but you finally have the free time to donate to things outside of your homework.
While scholarships can feel like homework sometimes, you don’t get money for completing your book reports or science labs.
So think of scholarships as a treasure hunt! There’s tons of money out there; you just need to put in some effort to dig it up.
Here are great scholarships with June deadlines you should apply to today! See if you’re a match:
Abbott & Fenner Scholarship
Deadline: June 15, 2012
High school juniors through doctoral-study students can apply to this scholarship. All you have to do is submit a 500-1,000 word essay on the topic they provide. Average awards are $1,000.
Bruce Lee Foundation Scholarship
Deadline: June 15, 2012
Are you 16+ and attending college or a vocational school? Well, if so, you’re eligible for this awesome scholarships. Judging by the name of this scholarship, you may want to know a little bit about martial arts master, Bruce Lee.
BigSun Scholarship
Deadline: June 22, 2012
This scholarship is for athletes! High school senior and current college student athletes can apply–doesn’t matter what sport you play!
Teens Drive Smart Video Contest
Deadline: June 22, 2012
This scholarship is big! Three awards between $10,000 – $25,000 to three scholarship winners. The deal is that students must submit a short video relating to driving safety.
BBG Communications Scholarship
Deadline: June 30, 2012
For this $1,000 scholarship, applicants must submit two essays: one on the topic of communications technology and another on the importance of a college education.
Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship Award
Deadline: June 30, 2012
This scholarship is focused on deleting cyberbullying. With the rise of Internet use and the young people who use it, cyberbullying has unfortunately become a big issue. For this one, you’ll have to write an essay related to the theme of cyberbullying.
Looking for even more scholarships? Make a free profile on Cappex.com today!
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I Don’t Want to Pay for College Scholarship Winner Brandon C. from Fulton Ky.
Recent winner of the $1,000 “I Don’t Want to Pay for College” scholarship, Brandon C. took some time aside to share with his peers (you guys!) his experience in the college and scholarship search, plus some extra tidbits about himself. Hopefully you’ll find some very useful tips!
What is your secret to finding and applying for scholarships?
I log on to Cappex once or twice a week, and check my scholarship matches to see if anything new has popped up. I also spend a couple hours each week searching for new scholarships to apply for.
Why is higher education important to you?
Learning is one of the most important things a person can do in life. It’s important for me to continue to learn new skills and techniques in photography and journalism, and to prepare myself for a great job and career after college.
Name one to three things you cannot live without.
I can’t imagine any day without my iPod and my camera. I am a huge music fan, and I spend hours each day listening to it. My camera is like a third arm – I am constantly taking pictures at sporting and social events. It allows me to capture moments so I can relive them for a lifetime, and I couldn’t live without it!
If you could offer a younger student one piece of advice for the college search, what would you say?
Never abandon your dreams.
You can discover more scholarships from Cappex and beyond. Simply visit Cappex.com. And thanks again to Brandon for sharing his college and scholarship tips!
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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!
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Practicing for the SAT could also be a scholarship opportunity
Students across the country are preparing to take the SAT college admissions exam. From poring over study guides to using smartphone applications, college-bound high school seniors are doing everything they can to give themselves an edge. However, some preparation strategies could provide students with the chance to land a scholarship, too.
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a full SAT preparatory test, designed to give students firsthand experience of the kind of questions they will face in the SAT exam. As well as being a valuable opportunity to get some hands-on practice with a college admissions test, students taking the PSAT/NMSQT could also secure a National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) award that could help pay for academic expenses. In order to apply, students have to take the PSAT/NMSQT during the last three years of high school, plan to enroll in a college following graduation and be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. The maximum award is $2,500.
The PSAT/NMSQT measures students' aptitude in a range of areas, including critical reading, mathematical problem-solving and writing. Fortunately, these skills are tested in a more general way, so you won't have to study specific subjects to prepare for the test.
One major benefit of taking the PSAT/NMSQT is to identify areas in which you might not be as strong. As well as providing you with some valuable experience of college admissions exam questions, these tests can help you figure out where you need to improve. Sometimes, you may not even be aware that you need to brush up in a particular area until you take an exam like this.
As well as giving you an idea of the types of questions you'll be asked in the real SAT, these tests can also be a great way to experience the kind of environment you'll be taking the test in. Following directions carefully is something that some students overlook and, as a result, their results can suffer. Remember – it's not just about answering questions to the best of your ability, but also demonstrating that you can follow instructions.
The results of your PSAT/NMSQT can be a good indication of your general college readiness. You can compare your scores with other students and the overall standard of candidates applying to your prospective schools to give you an idea of how you measure up. This can be really helpful when you're doing a college search, especially if you're filling out college applications for competitive schools.
Of course, taking the PSAT/NMSQT also enables you to apply for a NMSC scholarship. Although earning a degree is a valuable investment in your future, attending college has never been more expensive.
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Scholarship March Madness!
In honor of March Madness, we’re going a little crazy ourselves. With scholarships! Here’s double the trouble of scholarships with upcoming deadlines than we usually post!
Take a gander through the “Quick Facts” and see if you could be in the running to win the entire bracket–we mean, uh, be awarded a scholarship. Think of it as an alley-oop, from us to you.
Remember, scholarships are wonderfully awesome ways to offset the cost of college. See if you’re a match!
Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship Award
Award: $7,500
Deadline: March 30, 2012
Quick fact: Applicants must be ethnic minorities and high school seniors.
Go Daddy.ME Scholarship
Award: $10,000
Deadline: March 30, 2012
Quick fact: Ten $10,000 awards will be granted! Open to high school seniors through college seniors who meet the academic critera.
Castle Ink Paperless Scholarship
Award: $1,000
Deadline: March 31, 2012
Quick fact: Applicants must explain through a YouTube video clip, tweet, photo, blog entry, or Facebook wall post how they reduce, reuse, and recycle.
DLG Viral Video Scholarship Contest
Award: $1,500
Deadline: March 31, 2012
Quick fact: High school freshman through college seniors can apply for one of two of the $1,500 scholarships by creating an original video that serves as a public service announcement.
Davis Putter Scholarship
Award: $1,000 – $10,000
Deadline: April 1, 2012
Quick fact: Thirty of these renewable (!! Always a good thing !!) scholarships will be awarded to applicants who are active in a movement for social and/or economic justice.
Google Science Fair
Award: $25,000 – $50,000
Deadline: April 1, 2012
Quick fact: Full-time students between the ages of 13 and 18 must create a science project in one of the specified categories and submit a video or presentation. It’s a big project with a big payoff!
NEW - Swackhamer Video Contest
Award: $300 – $1,000
Deadline: April 1, 2012
Quick fact: To participate in this contest, applicants must make a video of three minutes or less that addresses the topic: “What school didn’t teach us: the truth about nuclear weapons.
AFSA High School Senior Scholarship Contest
Award: $2,000
Deadline: April 5, 2012
Quick fact: Ten scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors who take an online test about sprinklers….weird but fun!
NEW - John Lennon Scholarship
Award: $5,000 – $10,000
Deadline: April 13, 2012
Quick fact: Three scholarships will be granted to songwriters and composers who are current students or alumnus/alumni of a college or university.
American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) National High School Essay Contest
Award: $2,500
Deadline: April 15, 2012
Quick fact: High school applicants must write an essay on a topic related to the Foreign Service. Weird twist: Your parents can NOT be part of the Foreign Service.
MyBookBuyer.com Textbooks for a Year Scholarship
Award: $250 – $1,250
Deadline: April 15, 2012
Quick fact: Applicants must submit an essay about a person who has had a significant and positive impact on their lives.
College JumpStart Scholarship
Award: $250 – $1,500
Deadline: April 15, 2012
Quick fact: Applicants must be committed to using education to better their lives and that of their family and/or community.
Ultimate Scholarship
Award: $500 – $2,000
Deadline: April 15, 2012
Quick fact: Are you a well-rounded student who has big dreams and ambitions, community involvement, academic achievement and determination, extracurricular activities, and capacity for self-sufficiency? Well then you might just be up for the ULTIMATE scholarship.
There are tons more scholarship madness here!
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Second White House college affordability meeting planned
The White House will host a second meeting of academic leaders and university presidents to discuss how to make higher education more affordable, reports Inside Higher Ed.
The news source received an email from an associate of an official who was invited to the event earlier this week. The message revealed that "administration officials will engage presidents and chancellors in exploring constructive solutions to bringing down college costs, making higher education more affordable and attainable, and regaining America’s global leadership in higher education attainment."
Details have not yet been released about who has been invited to attend.
Making college more affordable and accessible for students has been a cornerstone of President Barack Obama's education policies. According to the official White House website, the president vowed to change how universities are funded to reflect how much they are doing to make it easier for students filling out college applications to attend.
Measures outlined by President Obama during his State of the Union address earlier this year included the introduction of a $1 billion initiative to encourage colleges to keep tuition costs down and increase the number of students enrolling from low-income and minority backgrounds.
If you're doing a college search, don't forget to look into aid programs like scholarships. There is a lot of financial aid available for students who need it.
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Free tuition bill proposed in Michigan
Michigan students who are planning to fill out college applications could be in for some good news. According to Fox News, lawmakers in Michigan are expected to announce a proposal that would provide free tuition for students in need.
Known as the Michigan 20-20 Bill, the proposal could provide free college tuition for students who spend their K-12 years in schools throughout the state. The bill is expected to cover the full median cost of tuition, or up to $9,500 per year. Officials in Michigan acknowledged the importance of education to the future of the state and the country.
"We can find the $1.7 billion to pay for kids to go to college because we know education is economic development and they did it in Minnesota and Kalamazoo and we can replicate that here," Senator Gretchen Whitmer told the news source.
According to WLNS News, the bill – which is sponsored by Democratic senators in the state – still has to pass approval by Republican lawmakers before it is passed. Senators have recommended that certain tax loopholes be closed in order to free up the money needed to fund the plans.
Even if you're not from Michigan, there may still be financial aid available to help you pay for college, such as scholarships. Talk to your college admissions adviser about which programs you might be eligible for.
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Student loans – who’s borrowing them?
Filling out college applications and earning a degree can be a real investment in your future – but it's never been more expensive, either. Millions of students rely on financial aid packages such as student loans to help them pay for school, but who's borrowing them? New data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reveals who is borrowing, how much they are taking on, and how many people are making their payments.
According to the data, almost 40 percent of the 37 million student loan borrowers in the U.S. are under 30 years of age. This works out at just over 33 percent of the $870 billion total outstanding loan balance. Approximately 43 percent of students borrowed up to $10,000, with an additional 29 percent taking out loans of between $10,000 and $25,000.
Despite an uncertain economy, many students are keeping on top of their repayments. The data suggests that almost 40 percent of borrowers had no past-due payments, and their balances were smaller in the third quarter of 2011 than the second. For students thinking of filling out college applications and taking out a student loan, this could be encouraging.
College-bound students can use the savings calculator at studentloans.gov to get a better idea of how much they need to put away to make their repayments. If you're considering going to school, talk to your college admissions adviser about the various types of financial aid that are available before you commit to any decisions. According to the website, the government provides more than $150 billion per year in scholarships, student loans, grants and other financial aid packages to students who want to earn their degrees
Another option that can help you pay for academic costs are work-study programs. These initiatives provide undergraduate students with part-time jobs that help them pay for educational expenses. Students are paid by the hour, and many schools offer individuals jobs on-campus to make it easier to balance their studies with part-time work. Some colleges might have arrangements with private companies, too. If this is something you're interested in, talk to your school's financial aid officer.
Financial aid, student loans and paying for college can be daunting. However, with some careful planning and help from your college admissions adviser, it doesn't have to be. When you're doing a college search, think carefully about how the cost of earning your degree will affect you further down the road.
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