| The search for private college scholarships is an | | | | LaCrosse. |
| integral part of the college planning process. Even a | | | | High school students should check with their guidance |
| small scholarship can help defray your college | | | | office, which keeps track of local scholarship |
| expenses and may allow you to turn down a loan or | | | | opportunities. Don't forget libraries and bookstores |
| reduce the amount one needs to borrow. | | | | are great resources for books that list scholarships! |
| High school seniors, haven't begun your college | | | | Use a variety of resources to maximize your |
| scholarship search yet? Now is the time to start! | | | | scholarship options. |
| Deadlines for private scholarships for the 2010-2011 | | | | WORK IT OUT! Students who are employed part |
| academic year for college bound students will start | | | | time may be eligible for scholarships through an |
| cropping up after the New Year and will culminate for | | | | employer. This is particularly true for those working |
| the most part by July. If you are planning to conduct | | | | for regional or national retail chains. Don't neglect |
| your own scholarship search, there are strategies | | | | checking with your parents' employers, as they may |
| that you can use to manage your search and | | | | offer scholarships to employees' children. |
| improve the effectiveness of your search. | | | | MULTI -YEAR OR RENEWABLE SCHOLARSHIPS--- |
| GET ORGANIZED! Your search could uncover 12 to | | | | WHAT'S THE CATCH? While most private |
| 25 scholarships for which you qualify to apply and | | | | scholarships are one time awards, there are some |
| managing them all can be overwhelming without a | | | | that are multi-year awards or allow you to renew |
| plan. So you will need to develop a system for | | | | your award for a second year. Find out if there are |
| tracking each scholarship's application description and | | | | requirements to maintain full-time enrollment and |
| requirements, forms, references, deadlines and copies | | | | what constitutes full-time enrollment. Often recipients |
| of all documents that you submit to support your | | | | must maintain a minimum GPA to retain or renew a |
| application. It would also be wise to set up a calendar | | | | scholarship or grant, as well. |
| to plot what you need to do and when for all | | | | GET TESTED! It is important to take the PSAT in |
| scholarships that you decide to apply for. | | | | your junior year and the SAT or ACT test in your |
| IT'S INVENTORY TIME! As you begin the scholarship | | | | senior year because you may qualify for some |
| search process, you will need to develop a list of | | | | important national scholarships. By taking the PSAT |
| your skills,interests and attributes. Don't be afraid to | | | | you could qualify for the National Merit Scholarship. |
| include your religion, ethnicity and unusual | | | | GO CLUBBING! Students and parents should draw up |
| characteristics. Did you know that Pennsylvania's | | | | a list of clubs and organizations to which they belong. |
| Juniata College has a scholarship for left-handed | | | | Often these groups will offer scholarships to |
| students? There is even a scholarship for little people | | | | members of their offspring. These can be social or |
| from Little People of America Association and one | | | | religious in nature. |
| for tall people from Tall Clubs International. Adopted | | | | NAIL THAT ESSAY! If an essay is required, make |
| or foster children will find that there are a number of | | | | sure your essay addresses the topic or question that |
| scholarships or grants for them on the national, state | | | | is given. Have your essay proofread by a parent or |
| or county/regional level. | | | | teacher to ensure it is on target and grammatically |
| RESOURCES- THE MORE THE MERRIER! There are a | | | | flawless. Often you will be allowed to determine your |
| number of reliable internet scholarship search sites | | | | on essay topic. You may recycle an essay that you |
| including finaid.org and You can also simply do a | | | | submitted with your college application in part or in |
| Google search for scholarships. To do a Google | | | | full, if it meets the scholarship's essay requirements. |
| search enter the word "scholarship" and whatever | | | | PAY TO PLAY? NO WAY! Occasionally you will come |
| topic/subject you want. For example: search for | | | | across a scholarship that requires an application fee. |
| "orchestral music scholarships" and you will find a | | | | You should not have to pay a fee to apply for a |
| number of scholarships including the John Belushi | | | | scholarship. This could signal that the organization or |
| Memorial Orchestral Music Scholarship and various | | | | scholarship may be scam. |
| scholarships at various colleges/universities such as | | | | So strategize, organize and watch those scholarships |
| the New England Conservatory,Truman State | | | | roll in! |
| University and the University of Wisconsin at | | | | |