The Scholarship To-Do List, Part 4: Online Search Strategy

Typically, the internet is the first place students and parents will search for scholarships. And, while this can work, it’s better to complete a couple steps to make the most of your online efforts. For review, I will quickly list those steps (you can also click on the links, they will take you to the full articles):

1. Understand the importance of an activity list.

2. Create a very specific activity list.

3. Visit your academic advisors.

Simple steps, sure. But, they’re essential to your online success. Here’s why: an activity list will help you create a strategic, focused plan of attack. Your counselors might be able to direct you to especially helpful sites you might have otherwise ignored or alert you to scholarships not listed online.

Once you’ve completed steps one, two, and three, you’re ready to search online. Now, before you jump onto Fastweb or another scholarship search engine, make use of your activity list. Follow the steps below to succeed online.

1. Use long-tail search terms.

A long tail search term is a phrase, rather than word, you type into the Google, Yahoo, or Ask search bars. For instance, instead of searching for “scholarships,” (which can return an overwhelming number of web pages) you’ll have better luck using a long tail search term like “art scholarships” or “scholarships for boy scouts.” In addition, use synonyms for scholarship like “grants,” “awards,” and “endowments.” To find scholarships that you’ll be especially qualified for, use your activity list. Type in “[your Activity] scholarship(s)” into the major search engines: you’ll be pleased by the return of more specific sites. 

2. Find activity-related groups.

Use your activity list to find specific groups that cater to your interests: most have scholarships. Associations, clubs, groups, and professional organizations offer many scholarships to students that participate in their activity or pursuing degrees in their area of expertise. For instance, if you’re interested in photography (yes, this is an example I use a lot, but bear with me) you would type in “photography association.” When I did this, my search returned the site for Professional Photographers of America. Using the site search function, I typed in “scholarships.” Seven results popped up. To do this with your specific activities, simply choose an activity, type in “[activity] associations.” You can also do this with your major or future profession. For instance: “physical therapy association.” In addition, use synonyms for association like: organization, club, group, etc. The key here is to have fun with this process and think creatively.

3. Use the news function 

Many times, I forget that I can use different search functions and get different (and sometimes better) information. It pays to use the “news” search function on search engines (you find this near the top of the page on Google, above the search bar on Yahoo.) Before you conduct a search, click on the link for “news.” Then, proceed with your search as you would normally. When you search using the news function, the results are media stories about your search terms. This is beneficial because most scholarship donors publicize the winners through newspaper or TV stories. When they advertise the winners, you can find out about the award, when applications are typically due, and what it takes to win. (Plus, if a scholarship related to your interests pops up, it validates the scholarship.) The only downside to this type of search is that you probably missed the current-year deadline. I use this function primarily to plan for the upcoming year. The lesson is that if you want to win awards, you must think ahead. 

4. Don’t limit yourself to one search engine.

I use Google all the time. And, while Google is a very good search engine, it’s not the only one. While other search engines like Yahoo and Ask may not be as appealing or familiar to you, they tend to churn up different search results. The different lists can lead you to different web pages, and more scholarship opportunities. Don’t be scared, explore and compare. You never know what you might find.

I hope that these steps will help you conduct a very fruitful online scholarship search. With a little creativity, dedication, and web surfing I know you’ll have much success. 

Check this website out!

If you want to quickly compare the merit scholarships offered by various colleges, you need to check out this website: www.guaranteed-scholarships.com. Although this site is just a list, it can be a useful tool for comparison purposes.

It's important to know that most schools offer automatic scholarships based on academic performance and ACT or SAT scores. If you know what you need ahead of time, you can prepare and score accordingly. Higher grades or test scores almost guarantee more money. Take a look at this example:

Visit Hamline University's website HERE.  You'll notice that a mere three point difference (25 to 28) ACT will earn you $2,000 more each year. That's $8,000 more over the course of four years. If you knew this before you took your ACT, wouldn't you try harder to get a higher score? 

Take a look at guaranteed-scholarships.com. Find out what you need to do to get more money for college. 

Have a great day!

Your College Scholarship To-Do List Part 1: Why an activity list will help you win scholarships.

When it comes to success, everyone knows what to do: develop a goal, devise a plan, and work hard. The formula is common sense. However, most people have trouble reaching their goals. Why?

In my opinion, we get caught up in the details, especially in the planning stage. We know we have to create a plan, but we spend hours deciding on the steps to take. We don’t know how to do something at some stage in the process so we put it off. We don’t know where to start, so we never start. We put off action by substituting it with planning. Unfortunately, when it comes to paying for college and winning scholarships, you don’t have time to plan: you need to take action. 

Why? 

If you don’t take action, you’ll miss opportunities. You’ll miss deadlines. You’ll lose money.

So, to help you take action (and help you win money for college) I’m providing you with the initial plan to jump start your scholarship search. These suggestions and information will come through many blog posts, so stay tuned. More importanty, ENJOY and USE THIS LIST. Take action now. You’ll thank me later. 

Step 1, Part A: Make a [very specific] activity list.

Before you get ahead of yourself, I think it’s essential to get reflective first. You need to take stock of what you’ve done, what you find interesting, and what you want to do with your future. Once you create a list of all the various “things” that make up who you are, it becomes easier to identify what scholarships you qualify for, and helps you develop a search strategy. I’ll explain.

It’s important to create an activity list for three reasons:

1. Creating a very specific activity list will help you “know thyself.” 

By listing your activities, you’ll know exactly which scholarships you qualify for and which ones you don’t. You will save time because you’ll only apply to awards that you can win. (Most people are tossed out of applicant piles because they don’t meet the requirements of the scholarship donors.)

2. You’ll create your own, specific scholarship search methodology. 

When you know your interests (past, current, and future) and your activities (past, current, and future), you can run a very specific scholarship search that again saves you time and energy. Instead of visiting Google and typing in “scholarships,” you’ll be able to seek out specific organizations that give you awards for participation in their activities. For example, if you enjoy photography, you might search “photography + scholarships.” Or, you might find a national association of photography. Usually these organizations give scholarships. Simply Google “national photography association.” In your specific case, “national (your activity here) association.” By using this type of search, you will find more qualified scholarship opportunities.

3. By listing your activities, you can develop an application theme that helps you stand out to scholarship judges. 

     Most people, when they apply for awards, simply list all the activities they’ve ever participated in. Unfortunately, most applicants have similar activity lists: student counsel, NHS, sports, language clubs, and youth groups seem to appear on everyone’s application. If you list these same activities, how will you stand out? By creating a very specific activity list before you start applying for scholarships, you’re giving yourself the opportunity to study your list, go over your activities and see what ties them together. You can give yourself a leg up on your competition by developing a theme for your activity list. 

     Let’s revisit the photography example. Say you have a deep interest in photography, and participate in the “normal suspects” list of activities. Perhaps you can capitalize on your interest in photography by having it become your theme. You start taking photos of student counsel activities, you volunteer to take pictures of premature babies at the local hospital, you submit photos from your sports activities to the high school newspaper and yearbook. Thus, when it comes time to list your activities for a scholarship, all of the “normal” activities become highlighted and interconnected with your love of photography. You prioritize your activity list to emphasize your photography abilities (typically, activities are listed chronologically. Instead, with the “theme approach,” activities are prioritized. In our case, activities with photography are listed first, followed by others). The result? Instead of being “Joe or Jane Doe,” you become “Fred or Fanny the Photographer.” Your theme helps you stand out from other applicants. 

Now that you understand how a specific activity list can help you, you need to create one. Stay tuned for my next post, I'll help you brainstorm and create an awesome activity list.

Scholarships are better than private loans.

There's been a lot of buzz lately about the decrease in private loans available to college students this fall. I understand: it's stressful. If you need information about what to do if you're in a crunch (your private loan amount is decreasing) please read this article. It gives tips on what you can do to make up the difference this semester.

I want to put my two cents in on this issue, however. I feel like private loans should always be the last option: after you pursue scholarships. It's a no-brainer that scholarships are better than loans (scholarships don't have to be paid back), but not a lot of people pursue them as diligently as they could--costing themselves money and stress in the long run. 

If you want to jump-start your scholarship search process, check out my previous posts on the subject here.  

Also, I want to hear your opinion on this subject: are you having trouble finding scholarships? What are your biggest scholarship search hurdles? Let me know, and I will help you navigate the process through this blog. 

Speaking of wine...

Alright, I am continually amazed by the scholarships available...

If you saw my last post, you know that I was a wine scorer at the MN State Fair. Just today, I found a scholarship foundation for those of you interested in pursuing wine studies. That's right! If you're a viticulture or enology student, pursuing research in this area, you need to check this out.  See the press release here. 

The scholarship(s) for this year have already been awarded, but now you can prepare for next year.

This scholarship is awarded by the American Vineyard Foundation.

Companies enticing potential engineers with scholarships.

If you're undecided about what major you're going to choose, you might consider taking up engineering. You'll enter a hot job market after you graduate, and you might just get some help while you're in school.

Right now, engineers are a hot commodity. There are not enough graduating to fill the number of positions available. To meet their need, companies are rolling out the red carpet and trying to woo potential engineering students with scholarship opportunities, company days, and more internship opportunities. 

If you want to increase the odds you land a job after college (or get a scholarship), be sure to take advantage of the internship opportunities and get to know the folks at companies you like. Then, you will not only have a degree (that might be paid for), you will also have logged years of experience that can separate you from other applicants for a competitive position. Even better? Your experience just might secure a higher paying position. 

For more information about this trend, read this article. Have a great day!

When to look for scholarships.

I am often asked: when is the best time to look for scholarships? The simple answer: it's ALWAYS a good time to search for scholarships.

Here's why:

1. Scholarship application dates are due at all times during the year. Sure, we see an elevation in due dates around January and February, but awards are available all the time. I know you don't want to miss out on the other 10 months of opportunity.

2. If you've found a scholarship that you would be perfect for, but have missed the deadline, you have an opportunity. That's right, an opportunity. You can plan ahead by putting the date on the calendar, bulk up your resume and experiences, and apply when the award comes due again. Believe me, you'll have a leg up with all your advance prep-work.

3. Scholarships are available to people of all ages. You might think that your chances are over because you've graduated from high school, or haven't even entered junior high. The fact is, there are many scholarships available to students at Junior High level, for graduate students, and for adults returning to school. There is no "right" age to be searching and applying for awards.

4. You'll be amazed and motivated by what you find. Most likely, you spend time surfing the web already. Take a while and search around for scholarships. It's very motivating that people can go to college on scholarships they've won for creating a duct-tape prom dress or for writing a cool blog.

If you want to pay for college using scholarships, the best time to start looking for free money is NOW. So get going.

YouTube=Scholarship Search Engine?

Looking for scholarships via the popular search engines like Fastweb and Scholarships.com is great, but there is another way you might want to consider. The best part? You probably spend time at this site already.

YouTube is fast becoming a place to find and apply for scholarships. For example, take a look at the video for a recent competition below:

If you want to benefit from YouTube scholarships, make sure you check the site often for ongoing opportunities. Each donor has different application times and due dates, so it's important to search for awards throughout the year (it is wrong to assume that scholarships are a one-time a year deal). 

Also, remember that a lot of times your scholarship committee is actually other YouTube viewers. You need to motivate people to vote or comment positively on your video. The best way to do this? Make sure your video is of high quality, has good audio, and is interesting. Make sure you have a solid concept and write out a general plan of action before you start shooting (trust me, this helps to stay on track and ensures your message comes across). 

Now, it might be tempting to spend a lot of time on YouTube (I hate to admit it, but it's so addicting!), but it is best to use this medium to support, rather than dominate, your scholarship search efforts.  The bottom line? It can't hurt to take a peak and see what opportunities you'll find in videoland. Happy hunting!

 

Scholarships for everyone!

As I was surfing the web, I came across an article that asked an interesting ethical question: should merit scholarships or financial aid be awarded to those who don't need the money? For the article and the question, read here.

In my opinion, there are plenty of scholarships to go around. Truly. The sad thing is that most people don't know about them or apply for them (two problems I try to help people with). So, here is a list of all the types of scholarships available to people from all walks of life. Please note, this is by no means exhaustive so if you have additions, please let me know.

1. Financial Need. With these scholarships, the need of the applicant is the number one criteria for awarding gifts. An applicant might come from a disadvantaged background or area, or family of a certain income level. Usually, the applicant is required to meet certain academic criteria in order to qualify.

2. Merit-based. If you have good grades, excelled at the ACT's or SAT's, belong to Mensa or are in some other way academically gifted, you have a good shot at these awards. Financial need is a non-issue.

3. Athletic scholarships. If you are a star athlete, check to see if your potential college will offer you some awards for your athletic prowess. Also, check with your guidance counselor or in your career center--many times, you will find that a former student, former coach, or community member has set up awards for students that have participated in certain sports. 

4. Music scholarships. Do you play an instrument? Sing in the choir? Have your own band? Check out awards for musically gifted students, there are a lot of them. You will most likely have to audition as part of your scholarship application.

5. Art/Drama awards. If you are planning on becoming an art major, research this area. Many times local art groups will offer scholarships to students as well as college departments and high schools. Sometimes, you will have to submit an art piece to compete.

6. Community awards. Do you volunteer? Have you been a girl or boy scout? Participated in Boy/Girl State? There are many awards set aside for you (often through the organizations that offer volunteer opportunities).

7. Military scholarships. If your grandparents or parents served in the armed forces, take a good look at American Legions, VFW's, and Elk Clubs. You might find a nice chunk of change. If you served in the military, there are government programs in place for you. 

8. Ethnic scholarships. If you are African American, Native American, Asian American, Hispanic, any combination or group not mentioned, look for scholarships specifically designed for you. Start checking at your high school, then the colleges you are thinking of applying to, and then the national organizations for each racial group. There is a lot of money waiting to be won in this category!

9. Scholarships for women. If you are a woman, there are many awards that are waiting to be claimed. Check with groups specifically designed for women. Things like the National Association of Women Business Owners, local women's groups, the Association for Women in Communication all have scholarships available. 

10. Geographic Region. There are many awards based solely on the county you live in. Ask your guidance counselor if there are any in your area.

11. Your major. If you are intending on pursuing a certain area of study (like history, english, biology, etc.) there are awards set aside just for you. Check out clubs, groups, and associations related to your area of study for awards. You will be pleasantly surprised.

12. Random awards. There are scholarships for everything under the sun. See my previous post on weird scholarships here.

Alright, my fingers are getting tired because I've listed so many options. My point is, there are many ways to earn scholarships and plenty to go around. Just look and apply.

Which scholarship database is best?

If you are supplementing your scholarship search by registering for online databases, you might be overwhelmed by the number of scholarships these companies send to your inbox. You may want to limit the number of sites you with which you register your profile to reduce your stress (there are only so many hours in a day, afterall). 

So, which search engine is the best? 

Before I tell you what I found, I want to stress that you need to register with a site you feel comfortable with. A site you like to use: one that seems to match up your skills, talents, and profile with the closest scholarship matches.

That being said, it appears that Fastweb gets high marks for its usability and information. Check out the details here.

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day, everyone. Today, take a moment to remember those who served our country.

Do you have Grandparents or Parents who served in the armed forces? Did you serve in the military? If so, you may be eligible for scholarships from the American Legion, the Elk's club, and other organizations that honor those that serve with scholarships for higher education. 

Check with your high school for scholarship opportunities through these organizations, or click on either of the links above for more scholarship information. 

Here's where you start.

Sometimes, getting started is the hardest part. Whether it's writing the first sentence in a term paper, cleaning your room, or going to the gym--motivating yourself can be tough. To help you overcome the inertia of hunting for scholarships, I thought it might be helpful to give you three places to start looking for awards. You'll notice these are not scholarship search engines (we will talk about those later).  

1. Your high school guidance counselor or career center. Obvious, right? Well, a lot of students never bother to check here and often miss out on scholarships as a result. The thing is, high schools are often notified about local scholarship awards by gift-giving organizations and have awards from alumni, local community members, etc.  Trust me, it pays to check here.

2. Your parents. Ok, so maybe your parents are going to pay for your college tuition--that is very nice of them. However, in this case that is not what I mean. Many companies have scholarship competitions for children of their employees. These awards are generally valuable in dollar amount and renewable if you maintain a decent GPA throughout college. Have your parents check with their employer about potential scholarship programs.

3. Civic groups and community organizations. Interested in pursuing a degree in business? Check out your local chamber of commerce. Did your parents or grandparents serve in the military? Check out the local VFW or Legion. The fact is, there are numerous community groups that give away money for college--don't be afraid to call up these organizations and ask! They are always happy to help.

The bottom line? You now have three ways to begin searching for awards, now get started!