Financial Aid – Common Scholarship Misconceptions
One of the biggest challenges college-bound seniors face is determining how to pay for their college education. Applying for scholarships should be one of the first steps in their search, however, scholarship misconceptions often cloud their thinking.
Following are common scholarship misconceptions that need to be debunked:
* Myth #1: Billions of scholarship dollars go unclaimed. In reality, the number of unused scholarships is diminutive.
* Myth #2: Scholarships are only available for the best students. The reality is that most scholarships are awarded based on elements other than academic achievement, such as the student’s major field of study, involvement, ethnicity and geographic origin. Don’t count yourself out just because you are not the valedictorian, class president, or star athlete. The more scholarships for which you apply, especially local and regional opportunities, the better your odds are to be selected.
* Myth #3: Scholarship searches are worth paying for. Be wary of scholarship search services that charge a fee since many turn out to be scams. Instead, find a wealth of free resources available on the Internet or in the print media.
Following are some scholarship search tips:
* Begin early. Begin your scholarship search early (in December or January for the next school year) or earlier. In fact, experts recommend college-bound students and their parents start looking as early as their freshman year in high school. By identifying potential awards, students can choose classes and activities that will increase their chances for a specific scholarship.
* Utilize local resources. Speak with your high school guidance counselor and local library for a list of possible resources. Check with your college financial aid office and inquire about scholarships since most states and colleges offer them.
* Use the Internet. Search the Internet and organizational web sites for scholarship information. Again, keep in mind that this information should always be free. Validate the information you find by checking it with at least two sources. Examples of free scholarship search sites include: ScholarshipAmerica.org, FastWeb.com and Scholarships.com.
* Seek smaller awards. Sometimes it pays to think small since competition can be tough for the larger scholarships. Smaller awards of $1,000 or less typically have less competition and are easier to obtain.
Scholarships come from many sources, but it may require some detective work to uncover them. Though the scholarship application process can be time consuming, the advantage is most awards require similar information, so once you complete your first application you can easily reuse the same information for several additional awards.
Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com. At http://www.myguidesusa.com you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life’s major events. Whether you’re planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you’ll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com.
Find scholarships, grants and financial aid tips and resources for prospective and current college students at http://colleges.myguidesusa.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hilary_Basile
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