Saturday, November 17, 2012

Uncovering the Truth About Scholarship Myths


One overlooked consequence of living in a world with a seemingly endless supply of information, being served up faster (and cheaper) all the time, is that some of that information is questionable. If you will soon be facing life-changing choices about both getting into college and paying for it, a crucial first step in the process is uncovering the truth about scholarship myths. Yes, the Internet has made information easy to get, but you still need to be careful about double-checking facts and verifying claims. You will have a lot of research to do if you intend to apply for scholarship funds to help your family pay for your college education.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

How To Get Money For College: Scholarships

Like many people, you might assume that money for college in the form of scholarships is only available to people with perfect grades or test scores, or for those with low income, or incredibly talented athletes. But times have changed, and so have scholarships. In fact, most private scholarships (and academic philanthropy is more prominent than ever in the United States today) do not require proof of income or high grades. Many are given to students for their personal backgrounds, ethnicity, special talents and affiliation with certain organizations or religion. 

Saturday, November 10, 2012

What Factors Determine the Scholarship Amount a Student Will Receive?

There are many different ways of applying for and winning scholarships, just as there are many different ways that scholarship winners are determined and paid. Even more than high school guidance counselors or college admissions staff, administrators of the various scholarship providers are obviously the best informed as to what factors determine the scholarship amount a student will receive. Although policies and procedures differ from group to group, company to company and college to college, there are certain fundamental similarities among them all.

Who Deserves a Scholarship?


If you think only geniuses and quarterbacks deserve to have their college education paid for, it’s time to realize college is expensive and many people deserve some help with the bills. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than 750,000 scholarships are available for qualified students, adding up to well more than a billion dollars. The federal government is the largest source of those funds. The average size of a Pell Grant, money that does not have to be repaid, is more than $2,000. 

Friday, November 9, 2012

Do I Need A Scholarship?

Its one thing to hear or read about the higher costs of secondary education, but it's quite another to actually look at a final budget for one to four years of college or graduate school. The sticker shock can be enough to make you reconsider whether higher education is worth it at all! But of course, it certainly is, and any way you need to get through it financially is worth investigating.  Student loans are certainly one way to pay for college or graduate school, and thousands of people do every year. But, there are obviously strings attached that can be onerous.

The Key to Understanding What Scholarships Are Available

Some students get unnecessarily flustered when it comes time to start looking for college funds, as if they need some entirely new skill or talent to begin the process. However, understanding what scholarships are available to them depends on the same sort of study and thinking habits that made them a good student in high school. There are no secrets or tricks involved, and for the most part it is just a matter of applying common sense. However, there are some basic procedures that scholarship seekers need to follow, and it doesn't hurt to be reminded how to approach this important topic.

How To Get Help When Subsidizing College Degrees

Many people need help paying for college. With costs escalating at a rate faster than inflation, here are some of the options available to you to help you subsidize your college education. 

JUNIOR COLLEGE 

By attending a community college or junior college for the first two years of college, a student can save literally thousands and thousands of dollars. The cost savings come from commuting locally so there are no dorms or long-distance travel costs, and the classes typically cost less than at four-year schools. Typically two-year schools emphasize teaching capabilities over research skills among their faculty, so you might even learn more in the basic requirement classes you’ll be taking.