Finding Scholarships

Getting a college education is an expensive undertaking, so competition for scholarships can be intense. The decision to award a scholarship to a particular student can be based on academics, athletics, community service, artistic ability, financial need, membership in an organization, and a host of other considerations. But to be considered, you have to apply for it. So where do you find these scholarships?

You can contact your college's admissions office or visit their website to find out what scholarships they offer. You can also check out departmental scholarships (i.e. one offered to English majors by the university's English department).

Outside of college, however, there are many opportunities available. Businesses, both local and national, often sponsor scholarships. Find out if your place of work sponsor scholarships for employees, contact your local businesses, and look up national corporations like McDonald's and Coca-Cola. Many community and scholastic organizations, such as Key Club and 4-H, also have scholarship opportunities. Another great place to look is the federal government. Take time to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

There are a lot of other great opportunities out there. For help finding them, you can use an online scholarship search. Be careful, though, about running into scholarship scams. Use a free, credible search company like FastWeb, which is run by Monster. Free Education Guide is a great source for information about colleges, grants, and obtaining financial aid. To get you started on your search, check out Free College Scholarships, which offers its own $10,000 scholarship.


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