How to Find Scholarship Applications

Scholarship Tips :

Paying for college these days is proving to be more difficult than ever. Tuition costs even for a single semester could be in the thousands. The type of scholarship you will be eligible for will depend a lot on what type of student you are--and plan to be. To find scholarship applications, be sure to try the following suggestions.

Instructions

1. Go to the career offices of either your high school, local community college or university. Career offices are generally run by educational or career counselors who will have a lot of relevant information about scholarships and eligibility requirements. Theses offices are usually loaded with literally shelves of different types of scholarship applications and other relevant information about furthering your education.

2. Talk with a financial aid representative from the university you plan to attend. If the college is local, go there and find a scholarship billboard. Universities usually have large billboards right outside their financial aid offices with pages of scholarship information. Most will also clearly outline eligibility requirements, too. They will also have large lists of where to get your applications. Some scholarship applications can only be attained by petitioning a benefactor.

3. Fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application is generally filled out by anyone wishing to attend college. Unless you are rich, everyone who meets basic eligibility requirements will get this free grant money. Even if you believe you will not qualify, try to apply anyway. You might be eligible for at least a portion of your tuition (see Resources below).

4. Contact the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). Both the federal and state departments of education will have a huge amount of information you need to help you find scholarship applications. Scholarship opportunities between federal and state entities can range in the hundreds (see Resources below). All you need to do to qualify for a scholarship is demonstrate a viable need.

5. Talk to a private business. Many local private business have their own scholarship application and educational resources. They will help you only if you plan to major in a field of study that will ultimately help their business. If you plan to study engineering, contact a private engineering or architectural firm, for example.

Source : http://www.ehow.com/how_4452306_find-scholarship-applications.html

How to Write a Scholarship Application

Scholarship Tips :

Scholarships provide financial aid for students. Need-based scholarships provide aid based on financial need and merit-based scholarships provide aid based on criteria such as academic performance, athletic ability and artistic talent. All scholarships require potential recipients to complete an application, and most require applicants to write essays.

Instructions :

1. Carefully read the entire application and follow the instructions. Pay attention to the due date and submission requirements.

2. Be honest. The scholarship committee wants to find out more about who you are, so let your voice come through in your application and answer all questions honestly.

3. Don't stray from the application questions. Make sure that all of your answers stay on topic. Read through your responses to ensure you are answering the questions. Even the best essays will be ignored unless they answer the questions that are posed.

4. Add lively, original imagery and action words to make your essay come alive in the reader's mind. The more memorable your essay is, the more the scholarship committee will remember your application.

5. Write in a natural, conversational voice. Don't use overly complicated words or make too much use of the thesaurus.

6. Edit and revise thoroughly. Invite teachers, friends and family to proofread your application. Ask them to check grammar, spelling and general content. The more you edit your application, the better it will be and the fewer errors it will contain.

Source : http://www.ehow.com/how_6947302_write-scholarship-application.html

Proven Tips to Get a Scholarship

Scholarship Tips :

Winning a scholarship is the dream of every students but somehow it can be very tricky. It is neither easy nor difficult to get it. We all want it, but only a few get it. In reality, there are many scholarships out there, ranging from Merit to full/partial scholarship that we can get but sometimes we do not really understand how to chase them. Importantly, scholarships do not usually just get handed to you (although some lucky people do find this fortuitous world). You must do your research. So what you have to do when you are planning to search a scholarship? These following tips & trick will increase your odds of winning one of the scholarships of your dream.

* First of all, you must recognize your own need and your own financial condition. Please understand what you can expect from scholarship when you apply for it. Some schools offer to pay all your expenses, while others only pay for some particular things like room and board.

* The earlier you start the better. Start looking for scholarship at least one year before you enter the university/college.

* Never underestimate the power of search engine. Use a search engine to find scholarships program. Online searches let you focus on scholarships that fit your personal characteristics, helping you target your search to only those scholarships for which you are most likely to qualify. But, be careful. Some sites offer the visitors with promotional scholarships that may turn out to be advertisements in disguise. Make sure you know what you are signing up for when you are about to giving any personal information.

* Write a well written essay, or study how to make a great scholarship essay if you find yourself unable to do it. Some scholarships require essays and they usually receive fewer applicants. So this is really your chance. A great essay giving you a better opportunity of qualifying. Even if you do not make it through at the first place, you can keep your essay for future applications.

* Always stay positive. Applying for scholarship need patient, persistence, and determination. Do not expect your application to be successful if you only send it to one place. Send them as many as possible. Apply up to 10 or 15 scholarships, and later you will get at least 1-3 good news. This is how it works!

Using the tips mentioned above you will likely to get the scholarship that you want. The most important thing is your mentality. You must have a great will power to winning the scholarship. All the talents, GPA, and achievements can be trained but the will only come from within. So get ready to hunting scholarship!

Source: ArticlesBase.com – Proven Tips & Tricks to Get a Scholarship

20 Most Selective Colleges and Universities in the United States

(By Allen Grove, About.com Guide)

Here you'll find the 20 most selective colleges and universities in the U.S. :

20. Olin College (Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering)

* Acceptance Rate: 18% (2009 data)

* Location: Needham, Massachusetts

* Enrollment: 308

* School Type: Private Engineering College

19. University of Pennsylvania

* Acceptance Rate: 18% (2009 data)

* Location: West Philadelphia

* Enrollment: 24,107 (11,851 undergraduates)

* School Type: Private Comprehensive University (Ivy League)

18. United States Air Force Academy (USAFA)

* Acceptance Rate: 17% (2009 data)

* Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado

* Enrollment: 4,537

* School Type: Undergraduate Military Academy

17. Swarthmore College

* Acceptance Rate: 17% (2009 data)

* Location: Outside of Philadelphia

* Enrollment: 1,490

* School Type: Private Liberal Arts and Sciences College

16. Amherst College

* Acceptance Rate: 16% (2009 data)

* Location: Western Massachusetts (Five-College Area)

* Enrollment: 1,697

* School Type: Private Liberal Arts and Sciences College

15. Claremont McKenna College

* Acceptance Rate: 16% (2009 data)

* Location: Claremont, California

* Enrollment: 1,212

* School Type: Private Liberal Arts and Sciences College

14. Pomona College

* Acceptance Rate: 16% (2009 data)

* Location: Claremont, California

* Enrollment: 1,532

* School Type: Private Liberal Arts and Sciences College

13. Caltech (California Institute of Technology)

* Acceptance Rate: 15% (2009 data)

* Location: Pasadena, California

* Enrollment: 2,126 (921 undergraduates)

* School Type: Small Private University with Engineering Focus

11. Dartmouth College

* Acceptance Rate: 13% (2009 data)

* Location: Hanover, New Hampshire

* Enrollment: 5,848 (4,147 undergraduates)

* School Type: Private Comprehensive University (Ivy League)

10. Brown University

* Acceptance Rate: 11% (2009 data)

* Location: Providence Rhode Island

* Enrollment: 8,318 (6,095 undergraduates)

* School Type: Private Comprehensive University (Ivy League)

9. MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

* Acceptance Rate: 11% (2009 data)

* Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts

* Enrollment: 10,299 (4,153 undergraduates)

* School Type: Private University with Engineering Focus

8. Columbia University

* Acceptance Rate: 11% (2008 data)

* Location: New York, New York

* Enrollment: 23,196 (7,495 undergraduates)

* School Type: Private Comprehensive University (Ivy League)

7. Annapolis (United States Naval Academy)

* Acceptance Rate: 10% (2009 data)

* Location: Annapolis, Maryland

* Enrollment: 4,488

* School Type: Undergraduate Military Academy

6. Princeton University

* Acceptance Rate: 10% (2009 data)

* Location: Princeton, New Jersey

* Enrollment: 7,330 (4,878 undergraduates)

* School Type: Private Comprehensive University (Ivy League)

5. College of the Ozarks

* Acceptance Rate: 9% (2009 data)

* Location: Point Lookout, Missouri

* Enrollment: 1,334

* School Type: Small Liberal Arts and Sciences Christian Work College

4. Yale University

* Acceptance Rate: 9% (2008 data)

* Location: New Haven, Connecticut

* Enrollment: 10,192 (5,277 undergraduates)

* School Type: Private Comprehensive University (Ivy League)

3. Stanford University

* Acceptance Rate: 8% (2009 data)

* Location: Stanford, California

* Enrollment: 17,833 (6,532 undergraduates)

* School Type: Private Comprehensive University

2. Cooper Union

* Acceptance Rate: 7% (2009 data)

* Location: New York, New York

* Enrollment: 972 (920 undergraduates)

* School Type: Small College with Engineering and Art Focus

1. Harvard University

* Acceptance Rate: 7% (2009 data)

* Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts

* Enrollment: 26,496 (10,156 undergraduates)

* School Type: Private Comprehensive University (Ivy League)

Source : http://collegeapps.about.com/od/collegerankings/tp/most-selective-colleges.htm

Applying for a Scholarship

Scholarship Tips :

[This article was submitted by Ankita Singh, an International Student, to help students in applying for admissions and scholarships in USA. Ankita have B.Tech. degree from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India and recently completed MS in Environmental Engineering from University of Pittsburgh, USA.]

In today’s world employers receive about 200-500 applications for each scholarship opening. They just received a bunch of dates and numbers and little personal information of candidates. Therefore is it very difficult to judge a potential candidate without having interview and personal discussion. But calling for interview is expansive and it’s not possible to call every candidate for the Interview. Therefore it is very important that your scholarship application should stand out exceptionally in the crowd and get selected for the next stage. Scholarship-Positions.com is trying to provide helpful tips about how to apply for scholarships.

Watch out for scholarship scams: Each year many students and parents are defrauded by scholarship scams. Never pay for a scholarship search. There is never a good reason to pay for a scholarship search. The information you will need is available for free.

Get full scholarship information: Each scholarship has its own application procedure. It is important to read the materials carefully and to understand what information is requested. Make sure you get as much information about the scholarship as possible. Write, call or e-mail the provider of the scholarship to ensure you have full details of application procedures and what will be expected of the successful applicant. If the scholarship entails a particular project, find out the full objectives and intended methodology of the project. If the scholarship is being funded by a private enterprise, gather as much information as you can about the company, its philosophy and its goals. You can never have too much information. Carefully typed applications make the best impression.

Eligibility: Apply only for those scholarships for which you are eligible. It is highly doubtful that you will be awarded if you are not eligible for a scholarship. Check thoroughly to ensure that you are actually eligible for the scholarship before you embark on the application process. It is pointless to submit an application, no matter how perfect it may be, for a scholarship for which you are ineligible. Check for any gender, age, nationality, indigenous or other special group restrictions on applications and only apply if you definitely match the eligibility criteria. If in doubt, check first.

Things to consider for your before applying for scholarship:

People who will judge your application don’t know you. They will just get a bunch of dates and numbers and little personal information. Even grades might be difficult to judge for them if they don’t know how they compare to those of other students in your local education system. Therefore, try to make as much of the more “personal” information as possible including your academic transcripts (but quality, not quantity!).

Take your time to write about “research experience” and “scientific interests”. Provide adequate reasoning as to why you want to do a study particular course and state your motivation in your own words. Marketing yourself is the key for a successful application.

But don’t overdo it! It is interesting to see applications from potential Nobel-prize candidates wishing to start a Masters/PhD thesis, but not even big leaders will buy this. After all, people don’t expect you to know everything before you have even started your PhD. What most group leaders are looking for are smart and open young people who show some enthusiasm for science and research or any other area you are applying for scholarships.

If you are applying from a country whose diverse educational system might not be very familiar to group leaders (e.g. China, India, Africa etc.), we encourage you to support you candidature with scores of internationally valid exams (GRE for aptitude and TOEFL/IELTS for English). However, this is NOT mandatory every where.

Prepare a resume/CV: Some scholarship applications will ask for your resume or CV. If you worked previously, list your experiences, but don’t sweat it if you don’t have much (or any!) work experience-many students don’t. Use your resume/CV to point out any awards and honors you’ve received, community service you’ve been involved with, and activities you’ve participated in.

Activities and Honors: List all relevant activities and honors, but be selective. If you have more activities than can fit in the space provided do not include the ones that are not significant; the two days you spent last spring on a community clean-up day, for instance.

Read the criteria for selection carefully to understand what the reviewers are looking for. For instance, the Presidential Scholarship looks for applicants who can show “leadership experience with [an] outstanding extracurricular record,” so include your volunteer and community service activities, emphasizing those in which you took a leadership role.

Most importantly, your activities should represent your varied talents and passions outside the class room. The reviewers are trying to get a sense of who you are and what you believe in. Make sure your activities reflect that.

Carefully choose your referees. Make sure the referee knows you well enough (e.g. from undergraduate work in his lab, multiple lectures, seminars, etc.) to give an opinion about you and write something on your behalf. This may be better than trying to get a letter from a “big fish” who might have seen your face but doesn’t know much about you and thus doesn’t need to have an interest in providing you with a good reference.

The ideal letter of recommendation: Your letters of recommendations should come from teachers or academic advisors who are familiar not only with your academic abilities, but with your personal interests and background and how those relate to your ability to carry out the program of study you wish to pursue. If the teacher or academic advisor is familiar with your extracurricular activities and leadership abilities, s/he should also incorporate that into the letter.

The letters should address the qualifications sought. Recommenders should address only those elements of your application on which they can comment confidently.

How to ask for a letter of recommendation: Start early. Discuss your plans with your recommenders now, before the application is even available. Let them know what you would like to study and why you want to apply for the scholarship. These discussions can help you clarify your goals and plans as well.

As soon as you have the application forms (applications for Incoming Freshmen Scholarships are available at your high school counselor’s office, the Office of Recruitment Services and the Scholarship Office around early October), schedule a meeting with your recommender. Give your recommender a written description of the scholarship and a copy of your personal statement and proposed academic program. You may also want to provide a copy of your transcript and an autobiography or resume highlighting activities and honors. You should also give your recommenders appropriately addressed envelopes with postage, if necessary. Be sure to also give them plenty of time to write the letter, do not wait until the last minute.

You may also want to remind the recommender that it should include your full name with middle initial. You would be surprised on how many include only the first name of the student within the body of the letter.

The Personal Statement: The Statement of Purpose (often called “letter of intent” or “application essay” by various educational institutions) is one of the most important components of your application process. This document provides the admissions committee with information that allows them to become more acquainted with who you are; what you want to study at graduate school and why; experiences you have in the field; and what you plan on doing with the degree once you have mastered it. A statement of Purpose also serves as a writing sample and interview.

The following section is an excerpt from the Yale University Undergraduate career Services’ publication entitled Applying for Fellowships.

“The personal statement presents an opportunity for you to speak about yourself. Your essay should show that you have ideas and opinions, are able to think logically, and can express yourself clearly, with economy and elegance.

Clear writing is the result of clear thinking. The first and most important task is to decide what you want to say. This is a short essay. You must be highly selective. Consider carefully what you wish to impress upon the reader. Remember the nature of your audience. It is composed of people who are probably as intelligent as you are, well educated, and vastly experienced in this work. Do not try to fool or second guess your reader; you will seem silly if you do. Do not write in a cute, coy, or gimmicky style: selection committees have heard it all already. Do show that you have thought deeply and broadly about what you have learned in your academic career and what you hope to learn next.

When you have written a first draft, start the work of refining, simplifying, and polishing. Do you say exactly what you mean? Is any section, sentence, or word superfluous, ambiguous, or awkward?

Are your verbs strong and active? Have you removed unneeded qualifiers? Are you sure that each accomplishment and interest you mention supports one of your main ideas? Do not apologize. Do not misrepresent yourself. You are writing as an adult who wishes to join the community of scholars and other professionals. You must write as a peer and potential member of such a community.

Correctness and style are vital. Neatness counts. Check and check again your spelling, the agreement of verbs and persons, syntax. Your thoroughness demonstrates that you have learned and mastered this art and that your future teachers and colleagues will not be troubled with sloppy thinking or writing.

Ask several individuals whose judgment you respect to read and criticize a draft of your essay. Possible reviewers include faculty members, writing tutors, and friends who can assess how well your essay represents you.”

Transcripts: If the application requires a transcript from all the schools you have attended, request this information as soon as possible. Whether you e-mail, fax, or call in your requests, mail a letter as a backup. Some schools charge a nominal fee for official transcripts. After a few weeks have passed, call the schools to ensure that the transcripts have been sent to the proper address. If by chance you have to hand-deliver a transcript, do not tamper with the seal – this may render the transcript invalid.

Proofread Your Application Carefully: Use your computer’s spelling and grammar check features. Let someone else (parent, teacher, or friend) read and evaluate your application, another set of eyes always helps.

Source : http://scholarship-positions.com/tips-on-applying-for-a-scholarship-2/2010/08/12/

Beware of Scholarship Scams

Scholarship Scams

Be alert for services that solicit money in exchange for guaranteed scholarships. Watch out for pitches that boast:

* "You're a finalist!" or "You've won!" a contest or scholarship you never entered. Be wary, especially if they ask you for a credit card or bank account number to hold your "winnings." Don't believe it. You must apply for scholarships first to receive them.

* "First come, first served." While you do need to get your application in before the scholarship deadlines, the “first come, first served” rule does not apply to scholarships.

* "Millions of dollars go unclaimed." Legitimate scholarship awards are predetermined. Sponsors work very hard to find the most qualified applicant.

* "It's guaranteed!" Scholarship searches can guarantee search "results". They can’t guarantee you the scholarship money.

* "We'll do the work for you, for a fee." The fee may be nominal and the offer may come from someone sounding official. So make sure you do your research before paying anyone to do a search for you.

If the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 

Source : http://www.collegeanswer.com/paying/content/pay_scholarship_scams.jsp#top

Scholarship Tips

Source : http://www.collegeanswer.com/paying/content/pay_scholarship_tips.jsp

There is no magic formula for applying for and receiving a scholarship. But these tips can start you on the right foot.

* Be organized. Stay on top of deadlines, gather all pertinent documents, and make copies of everything you submit. It is a good idea to send your applications by certified mail to ensure receipt.

* Be honest. Don't exaggerate your grades, memberships, skills, or qualifications. It is better to focus on the scholarships for which you might be eligible.

* Follow instructions carefully. Some scholarships require you to write an essay; others may want letters of recommendation. Send in what is requested and proofread everything. Typos and missing materials can cost you a scholarship.

* Proofread your application: Review everything. Typos are a sure way not to be considered for a scholarship. Consider asking a parent, teacher, or friend to read your application.

* Keep copies of everything you send: If your application is misplaced, having copies will make it easier to resend your information quickly.

* Send your application packet by registered mail: Many sources offering scholarships will not confirm

receipt of your application. Consider sending your application via USPS registered mail so you know your

materials arrived safely.

Makes a Highly Successful Scholarship Winner

Scholarship Tips :

Review the following habits of scholarship winners for tips on how you can make your scholarship quest successful.

* Successful students always remember the five P’s – Prior preparation prevents poor performance. Prepare for the scholarship search early. Do not wait until your senior year.

* Successful students do not rely on their parents to do all the work.

* Successful students vigorously avoid mistakes on their essays and applications. They always spell-check, proofread, and allow one other person to proofread their applications and essay for errors.

* Successful students do not ignore scholarships that may be local or those for small amounts. Scholarship amounts, even as small as $50, can add up.

* Successful students do not rely on only one source such as the Internet for their scholarship search. They use many resources. Many scholarships on the Internet or in the free scholarship searches that you find on the World Wide Web are nationally known and are harder to win due to greater competition.
Local and regional scholarships are not found as easily through an Internet search, although they may be easier to win because the applicant pool is smaller. You have to use a combination of resources to find as many scholarships to apply for as possible.

* Successful students market themselves well. In their applications, they highlight positive aspects about their lives, especially community involvement.

* Successful students do not apply to one or two scholarships and wait for the best. They apply for all scholarships they are eligible to win. They keep applying until the total they have won exceeds what they need to pay for the college they want to attend or until they graduate with a degree.

* Successful students are organized. They keep track of deadlines and materials required to complete an application.

* Successful students are well rounded. They participate in extracurricular and community activities. They write about these activities in scholarship and college essays in a descriptive manner. They try to benefit others as well as themselves with the extracurricular and community activities in which they are involved.

* Successful students understand that SAT scores and grades alone do not win most scholarships. Scholarship programs look at many factors such as community activities, leadership, presentation of your application package, special or unusual talents or skills, etc.

* Successful students do not look for the easy way out. It is harder for them to believe in a scholarship scam that promises to do all the work for them. They understand that those things for which we work hardest often bring the greatest rewards. Hard work in the scholarship process as a high school student could result in an easy college life without work later, or a loan-free life after college.

Avoid These Most Common Mistakes Made on College and Scholarship Applications

1. Not following directions
2. Not paying attention to the deadline and missing it
3. Not typing your application or sending in a sloppy application
4. Forgetting to spell check and to proofread after you spell check
5. Not including information such as a transcript or recommendation
6. Not answering the essay question or another question asked.

Source : http://www.scholarshipworkshop.com/tips.html

Warning Signs of Scholarship Scams

Scholarship Tips :

Scholarship scams

Scholarship scams are much to common on the internet. Many students applying for scholarships get ripped off every year by fake scholarships. Using these twenty-three tips, however, attentive scholars should be able to avoid losing money.

1. No Telephone Number – One common characteristic of scholarship scams is the lack of phone numbers. While they may have a email, scams rarely include a phone number – it is much too easily traced.

2. No Proof of Past Winners – If there is not record of anyone having ever won the scholarship, the “scholarship” may be a scam. However, this is not always the case. New scholarships, obviously, have not had prior winners. Therefore, do not ignore a scholarship based on this alone, but if you see other warning signs in addition to this – be cautious.

3. Claim of Influence with Sponsors – This trick is often used by scholarship search scams. No scholarship search has ever been know to have influence with scholarship sponsors. If, in some strange circumstance, they really do have influence, then most likely the scholarship they have influence with is another scam run by one of their friends. Avoid scholarship searches that claim influence with sponsors.

4. Application Fees – Some scholarship scams make money by charging an “application fee”. Never participate in a scholarship that charges a fee to apply. Most of these scams charge $10 – $20, but some charge as low as $2 or as high as $5,000. They might try to convince you that they charge so that they only get serious applicants. Do not believe them. Stay away from any scholarships that require money to get money.

5. Notification by Phone – True scholarships normally notify the winners by mail. If, therefore, you get a call telling you that you have “won” a scholarship, be very careful. Ask them for their name and number and tell them that you will call back. Next, visit the scholarship’s official website and contact the sponsors. Ask them to verify that the name and phone number of the person who called you are those of one of their representatives. If the caller was legitimate, call them back. Using this method should stop scammers from getting your personal information.

6. Exceptional Endorsement Claims – Beware of false endorsement claims. If a scholarship claims to be sponsored by the Better Business Bureau or some specific college or university, investigate their claims. Call the organization and ask if they really did endorse the scholarship fund. If a scholarship claims to be sponsored by a government group, be even more wary. The US Department of Education, US Chamber of Commerce, and the federal government do not endorse any private organizations.

7. Abusive Treatment – If the supposed scholarship sponsor becomes angry or abusive when you ask questions, the scholarship is probably a scam. Be very wary.

8. “First Come, First Served” – In order to get people to apply quickly and without time to consider, some scholarship scams say that the scholarships are given on a rolling basis. Few, if any, legitimate scholarships give preference to the first applicants. Take time to investigate all questionable scholarships before applying.

9. “Guaranteed to Win” – This normally applies to scholarship searches. If a payed scholarship search guarantees that you will win, start looking for the fine print. Either, one, the company is a scam, or two there is a whole lot of fine print. Two scholarship searches that I recommend are Fast Web (My favorite) and College Board.

10. A Florida or California Address - For some reason, Florida and California addresses are seen by the public as more legitimate. Therefore, many scholarship scams use Florida or California addresses. Of course, some scholarship scams have other addresses, and some true scholarships do have Florida or California addresses.

11. Newly-formed Companies – True scholarships have normally been around for many years. If a company is new, it could easily be a scam. Therefore, you should ask all “new” companies for references.

12. Requests for Personal Financial Information – Some scholarship scams try to get personal information from applicants. If they get certain information from you such as your name, your date-of-birth, and your credit card, bank account , or social security number, the scholarship scammers can commit identity theft. Therefore, if anyone asks for personal financial information, hang up immediately.

13. Fake Federal Agencies – Just because an organization has an official sounding name or a Washington, D.C. address does not mean that it is a government agency. Many scholarship scams try to look like federal organizations in order to gain their victim’s trust. Beware!

14. “We Apply For You” – The trick in this is obvious. How can a company fill out a scholarship application for you? They cannot write your essay; they cannot gather your letters of recommendation; they cannot even fill out your name and address unless you have given that information to them! Always avoid websites that promise to apply for scholarships for you.

15. You “Win” a Scholarship that You Never Entered –  Some scholarship scams will contact random college students and tell the that they “won” a scholarship. Often, the scammer will then tell the student that he must pay a fee or give his credit card number before the prize money can be sent. If you are told that you “won” a scholarship that you do not remember entering, research that scholarship before giving any information. If you are told that you must pay money to get you scholarship, hang up.

16. Mistakes in Grammar and Speling Spelling  – Surprisingly, many scholarship scams have multiple misspellings and grammar errors on their websites. For example, they may misspell the word “scholarship” as “scholorship”. If any scholarship application form or website includes errors in English usage, investigate that scholarship; it may be a scam.

17. Unsolicited Opportunities – Scholarship sponsors will not normally contact you unless you have first contacted them. If someone does call from a “scholarship” that you never contacted, beware. I could easily be a scam.

18. “50% of Applicants Win!” – If a scholarship professes unusually high success rates, then either all the world’s best students applied for it or the scholarship is a scam. Avoid all scholarships of this type.

19. Mail Drop Box Address – If a scholarship fund lists a P.O. Box or residential address as its location, the scholarship is probably a fake. Most legitimate scholarships have business addresses. To recognize disguised drop box addresses, use the mail drop search form.

20. Other Fees – Some fake scholarships charge a fee. They try to convince you that you must pay tax, postage, or some other fee before you can get you student grant. Never pay one of these companies. Legitimate scholarships will deduct any necessary fees from the scholarship amount.

21. “Everyone is Eligible” – All scholarship sponsors are looking for the candidate who best matches their criteria. Some sponsors are looking for the best academic students. Others are looking for minorities. Still other scholarships are available to excellent athletes. None, however, are given to students for just breathing. Watch out for scholarships that claim everyone is eligible; most likely, they want all students to be “eligible” to loose money.

22. Masquerading as a Non-profit – Many scams try to establish trust by pretending to be non-profits. Just because the company’s name has the word “fund” or “foundation” in it, does not mean that it is a true non-profit organization. It could be a for-profit business…or a scam!

23. “$6.6 Billion Went Unclaimed Last Year” – Many scholarship search scams use this method. They will try to tell you that some huge amount of money went unclaimed last year. This is not true. No scholarship searches has ever proven this claim. No scholarship search has ever shown the list of unclaimed scholarships.

Have you ever been ripped off by fake scholarships? What tips would you give beginning students?

Source : http://www.debtfreescholar.com/2009/04/23-warning-signs-of-scholarship-scams/

Killer Tips for Scholarship Applicants

Scholarship Tips :Preparing a well-written scholarship application is often a difficult process. This post includes ten essential tips for perfecting your scholarship application. The tips included here will help you meet the deadlines, please the scholarship sponsor, perfect your essay and more!

1. Identify and Meet the sponsor’s goals. Who wins scholarships? The student who best meets the sponsor’s formal and informal requirements. Therefore, to win a scholarship, you need to meet a sponsor’s goals. As simple as this may seem, many students simply meet the sponsors bare requirements and hope for the best. Do not do this! Read through all the scholarship information watching for details and clues about what the sponsor’s formal and informal requirements. By meeting the sponsor’s goals you increase you chance of winning exponentially!

2. Participate in extracurricular activities. Surprisingly, most scholarship committees do not simply choose the student with the highest grade point average (GPA) or SAT score. Instead, most scholarships are equally interested in a students extracurricular activities. Is he involved in his community? Does he have an after-school job? Did he start his own business? What hobbies does he have? The scholarship coordinators are interested in giving the award to the person they consider the most well-rounded student. Grades are important, but they are only half the story. Therefore, it is to your advantage to participate in extracurricular activites. Join 4-H. Volunteer at your local library. Start a business. Find a hobby. All these activities will help make you stand out to scholarship sponsors.

3. Watch the deadline like a hawk. We will never know how much scholarship money is lost simply because the applicant missed the deadline. When students are applying to many scholarships at once it is easy to confuse the deadlines and send the applications on the wrong date. To avoid this danger, students should keep a calendar either on paper or online. On you calendar, write the name of each scholarship in red on its deadline, and in black one week before the deadline. Try to get scholarship applications in before the black (early) deadline but make sure that you get it in before the red (final) deadline.

4. Proofread your application one more time. How can you increase your chance of winning in under 5 minutes? By proofreading your application. Most scholarship committees do not even consider scholarship applications that have major blunders. Did you get your address right? Did you get the scholarship name right? What about the coordinator’s name? Once you have verified the information on the application, read through you essay once more. Are their any major spelling errors? What about grammar errors? Is the header of the essay formatted correctly? Simply spending a little more time can vastly increase your chance of winning.

5. Search, Search, SEARCH! Persistence is the key to getting a scholarship. Finding good scholarships is often a difficult job. I know for myself, when I have spent two hours looking through scholarships without finding one for me, I feel like giving up. Don’t. You can stop for the day if you get too tired, but keep on looking the next day. Think of it this way. The harder a time you have finding a scholarship; the less competition you will have! So, keep on looking and eventually you should get a scholarship.

6. Organize your surroundings and your time. Keeping organized is one of the most important habits all college students should develop. It helps with study time. It helps with scholarships. When your surroundings are organized, is easy to concentrate on your application. On the other hand, when your surroundings are disordered, it is easy to get distracted or loose important papers. Organizing your time is equally important. When your time is well-scheduled, you can reduce “dead time” and meet your deadlines. However, when your time is not ordered, it is easy to miss important deadlines or schedule two things for the same time. Keep organized!

7. Watch for scholarship scams. Sadly, there are many scam artists who try to make money off gullible students. College scholars loose millions of dollars every year to these scholarship scams! That is the bad news. Now, here is the good news – most scholarship scams are easily recognizable … if you know the signs. The cardinal rule of scholarship scams is: “If it takes money to get money, it is probably a scam.” After all, aren’t scholarship sponsors supposed to be giving you money? Strictly following this rule will help you escape most scams, but some scams are not so easily caught. Certain scholarship scams do not ask for money. Instead, they request personal information, so they can commit identity theft or other crimes! For more information on avoiding scholarship scams read my post on the “23 Warning Signs of Scholarship Scams“.

8. Write an Accomplishments Resume. Often when writing scholarships, it is difficult to remember some important piece of information. The date that you started work at a certain job. Or what your boss said about your work. Looking for this information can break your concentration, lower your writing quality, and decrease your chance of winning the scholarship. Before you start applying for scholarships, write an accomplishment resume. On this resume include all the important information such as dates, a summary of your work, and recommendations. I have written my accomplishments resume online using LinkedIn. Because of the way LinkedIn works, it is easy to organize all the information and gather recommendations. By the way, if you do join LinkedIn, you are welcome to connect with me :) .

9. Use concrete examples in essays. If the scholarship requires that you write an essay (and most do), don’t simply use abstract information – use concrete examples. For example, instead of writing an abstract essay about volunteering in college, write about your experiences while volunteering. This is an excellent time to use your accomplishments resume. Scholarship sponsors want to hear about you and your experiences, not about some abstract topic.

10. Double check the eligibility requirements. Does the scholarship require demonstrated need? What about full-time enrollment? Or a minimum GPA? Double checking the eligibility requirements will save you time spent in writing unnecessary scholarship applications.

Armed with these ten must-have tips, you should be able to make your scholarship application and essay more noticeable to the scholarship evaluation committee. What are your favorite for scholarship applications tips?

Source : http://www.debtfreescholar.com/2009/04/10-killer-tips-for-scholarship-applicants/

How to Apply Scholarship

Scholarship Tips :

Education is invesment. Expensive of expense of education can be overcome with looking for source of fund like from scholarship. To submit the application of scholarship there are some tips which must be known:

* Do your research. Take the time to look for various scholarships and their requirements and deadlines. Ask your friends, guidance counselor, and local community foundation for information on scholarships. Look at scholarship websites like www.fastweb.com. Make sure that you qualify for the scholarship before spending your time filling out the paperwork! Apply only if you are eligible, and check that you are able to complete the requirements before the deadline.
* Start early. Give yourself plenty of time to fill out the application, ask for the necessary letters of recommendation and transcripts, and submit it in on time!
* Follow the directions. Don’t go to all the work if you’re not going to do it right and make sure you print legibly and that you have answered the questions asked. Do not leave information incomplete.
* Review the application. Edit your essay. Read it out loud to yourself. Have a friend or family member look over it for mistakes.
* Be honest and let the application show your true self. Your own stories and thoughts are great because they are your own, and they help your application stand out from the rest! Many applicant reviewers are looking for students who are more than their resume they want to help real people who are interested in furthering theireducation.
* Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Use your resources ask for help and do your research. You can quickly become a “pro” at filling out applications but it takes practice and patience to do it right. The time and energy will pay off if you receive a scholarship!
* Make a copy of the application for your file. Also, keep a written record of the scholarships for which you have applied.
* Follow deadlines! Late applications are not considered.

Source : http://www.infobeasiswa.net/archives/2007/02/07/tips-for-students-on-how-to-apply-scholarship/