Editor's note: What are you doing over winter break? If you are college-bound, after you chill for a few days and enjoy the holidays with family and friends, consider spending some time searhing for college scholarships. Here, our friends at The Princeton Review offer 5 tips to help you find the scholarship that's right for you.
The college scholarship search is a significant undertaking. It's not something you can accomplish in one Saturday afternoon. Though applications and requirements may vary from year to year, it's never too early to begin. There are scholarships out there tailored to academic interests, talents, extracurricular activities, career goals, geographic location, and many more factors. Here are five steps you can take to jump start your search and yield strong results.
Check Your Prospective Schools
Go to their website or call the financial aid office. If you meet the qualifications, find out how to apply. Don't assume that by applying for admission, you're applying for scholarships. It's often a separate process. Be aware that scholarship deadlines can be different from those set for the admission application. In fact, some schools ask you to submit an application for scholarships prior to your application for admissions. Raising your GPA and test scores in high school will help increase your chances of earning merit aid.
Ask Your Academic Advisor
If you are currently a student, you likely have access to a school counselor. Take advantage! He or she may know about a scholarship that's a good fit for you. If there is a dedicated office at your school for students heading to college, find out what services they offer. Our college counselors can help you plan your financial aid strategy, too!
Dig Into Your Network
Do you belong to a church group or a local chapter of some national club? Are either of your parents a member of a union or civic groups? Does either of them work for a large corporation? Many of these types of organizations offer scholarships to members and their children. Check out the PTA, Kiwanis Club, Chamber of Commerce, churches, foundations and others in your town, which often offer scholarships based on a variety of factors. There’s often less competition for these, since they have to be awarded locally .
Try Online
A word of caution: You should never pay money to investigate scholarships. Scholarship providers don't offer their awards to students who pay to find them; they offer them to all students. We’ve got a free scholarship search tool right here.
Be Keenly Aware of Deadlines
Deadlines vary by scholarship. Some are the summer before your senior year, others in the fall or as late as spring. To stay organized and keep track of due dates, we recommend keeping a calendar, and making your earliest deadline the deadline for all of your applications. Finally (and this cannot be stressed enough), do not miss your deadlines. You'll have no recourse if your application arrives late, and you will have zero chance of receiving that award.
A Final Word
You may review a hundred scholarships before you find one that applies to you. Be patient and stay the course (and keep those grades up!). Eventually you'll uncover a good match. And you'll appreciate all your research when you secure some funds!
Watch this video for some extra incentive! Learn everything you want to know about financial aid
