Scholarship News

It’s that time of year when many high school seniors are solidifying which colleges they’re interested in and getting those applications ready. What things should a senior look for?

So many, many colleges to choose from – how does one make an intelligent decision? The first consideration in most minds is probably the type of programs offered at the school. Is your student interested in a medical field? Then the college should offer a good program in that field. Engineering? Likewise.

But what if you’ve already found several colleges with programs that fit your student? Or – even more decision-defying – your student doesn’t yet know what he or she wants to major in? Choosing the right program may not narrow down the potential list of colleges enough. What other things should you (and your student look for)?

Many other considerations make up the decision-making process. Here are a few:

(1) The school’s overall approach to education. Does its philosophy of education match yours?

(2) The academic level of students the school attracts. If the college chooses students whose ACT scores range from 24-30, and your student got a 24, will he have a difficult time being on the lower range?

(3) Average class size. If you live in a small town and your student is accustomed to small numbers, perhaps the large university (often placing 150 freshmen in core classes) may be a difficult adjustment.

(4) Types of financial packages available. Since finances are often a big hurdle to overcome, let’s look at this one in more detail:

Many colleges offer a number of scholarships to incoming freshmen. This is money right off the top of your tuition – money that does not need to be repaid (unlike loans).

Most well-known are scholarships for students with strong academic backgrounds and good test scores, as well as scholarships for athletic and talent. Colleges want these students to enhance the school’s image. But other “free money,” as it were, also exists. Often this money has been given to the school as an endowment from alumni who wish to aid today’s students in acquiring their education.

Who gets that money? It depends on the wishes of the person who donated the money. The requirements are as diverse as the individual’s wishes: a particular ethnic group; an interest in a specific field; a student from a particular county or high school; association with a club or church or civic organization.

One university in our state has a list of over 200 scholarships with such specific requirements. These scholarship range anywhere from $1000 up to full tuition. Paging through this list is both exhilarating and exhausting! Yet a thorough examination might be very lucrative.

So how does a student get that money? How do you even KNOW if such money exists? The best answer to that question is: ASK. Telephone the admissions office and ask what scholarships are available. If possible, look through the scholarship listing yourself. Sometimes they are available on the college’s website.

Once you find a scholarship your student may qualify for, be sure to carry through with the application. Look at what’s required to win the scholarship. Many times an essay or interview is required. Some scholarships require the student’s participation in a scholarship competition. The rewards are high for those who seek! And many times, the college you wanted but could not afford can be discounted to the point that you can plan it into your student’s future.

Ginia Dible offers an online program: Preparing Your Student to Win College Scholarships, a blueprint for parents, available at http://www.scholarshipprep.com