Where To Begin Your College Scholarship Search?  Your Local Area

It is safe to say that the smaller the geographical area a scholarship covers, the better chance you have to obtain or win a scholarship.  A good place to start is with your high school guidance office. Counselors will know about scholarships for students graduating from your high school. They may also be aware of scholarships for residents of your town, county, and state.

Your next stop should be the college aid section of your public library. Most libraries will have a number of books about financial aid, including scholarship guides such as the College Board's Scholarship Handbook. They also may have information on local scholarships.

Then it's time to start looking at large national scholarships such as Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), National Merit, Gates Millennium, Intel Science, Coca-Cola, and Robert Byrd.

College Scholarship Search Within Membership Organizations and Employers

You should never have to pay for scholarship information. Organizations of all types and sizes sponsor scholarships, so check into everything. Look into areas you may not have considered such as religious organizations, community services, the military, unions, and various professional services.

And don't forget your parents. Many large companies offer scholarships or tuition programs for children of employees. If you are uncertain, ask your parent to check with his or her human resources department.

Don't overlook student jobs. Employers like fast food chains, department stores, and supermarkets often give scholarships. Awards related to student employment can come from unexpected sources. For example, there are a number of scholarships for golf caddies.
Use a Free Scholarship Search Service

A scholarship search company collects information on hundreds of awards and compares your student characteristics with scholarship restrictions. Based on your answers to a questionnaire, you will receive a list of possible scholarships. It is up to you to decide which ones you will try for.

You should never have to pay for scholarship information. If you're asked to pay a fee for "exclusive" scholarship leads, there's a good chance your scholarship service is really a scholarship scam.

Contact Your State Department of Higher Education

Almost every state has a scholarship program for residents, but keep in mind, however, that awards are usually limited to students who attend college in-state. For example, the State of Florida offers Bright Futures Scholarships to academically-qualified Floridians who decide to attend in-state colleges and universities.

Research Institutional Scholarships

Since the vast majority of all scholarship money is disbursed by colleges, it makes sense to research what kinds of scholarships are available at the schools that interest you. Check out college websites, catalogs, and financial aid offices for this information. Institutional awards can be offered on a university-wide basis, or within a particular college or major. Eligibility for such awards can be based on merit, financial need, intended major, ethnicity, or a variety of other factors. Here are some questions you might want to ask about these awards:

    * Are scholarships awarded automatically if a student matches certain criteria (such as GPA or SAT scores)?
    * What is the application procedure? What materials are required?
    * Is the award renewable? What are the requirements to maintain the award?

 

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