Scholarship News

College scholarships that will pay for most or all of your college tuition are few and far between, making it perhaps a better strategy to go for several smaller scholarships that may have less competition.

In the quest for scholarship money, don’t ignore even the smallest scholarships, because every award you receive—no matter how small—will help defer the tuition costs. Scholarship amounts range from as little as $50 to more than $30,000, and while it would be nice to get a huge chunk if money, your chances of getting those smaller, often overlooked, scholarships may be better in the long run.

Uncle Sam is another way many students help pay for college, which is something all college bound students should at least consider. The U.S. government offers several programs and grants that can help lower the cost of college. While many of these programs are directly tied to government service, others were created to encourage students to declare majors in specific programs, such as teaching. The TEACH Grant Program provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who plan to teach elementary or secondary schools. While this program is geared specifically to encourage low-income students, other programs do not have income limitations and are open to everyone.

The government also has scholarship programs for those who commit to join the military after college, as well as programs that grant full scholarships for students who commit to working for the federal government for at least two years. In this time of high unemployment, those kinds of programs cannot be overlooked because not only are you getting a free education, you also have a better chance of being hired than other graduates.

Expect to put in many hours of research to find the scholarship you qualify for. Treat this search for money seriously, or hire a certified college planner to assist you in your search. One thing you must keep in mind is to not apply for scholarships that you do not qualify for. It’s a waste of your time and the scholarship committee’s time.

As much scholarship money as is out there, you must be realistic about your ability to qualify for scholarships. Competition for scholarships is tough, and you should be prepared to miss some opportunities. Very few students get a complete free ride for college, including athletes. Just because you were a star athlete in high school doesn’t mean you’re going to get a sports scholarship. Sixty percent of all college athletes do not get a scholarship to play their sport.

That’s why it’s so important to apply to all scholarships. Don’t ignore those local scholarships, or those that pay only a small portion of your tuition. Those little awards can add up and end up paying a huge chunk of your tuition.

Author: Beth V Walker
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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