College Admission Help

Making College More Affordable: College Scholarships the Secret Weapon
NEW YORK -- Scholarship money can often mean the difference between being able to afford college or not. According to Dr. Clifford Stanley, President and CEO of Scholarship America, the nation's largest scholarship administrator and parent of the national grass-roots community-based Dollars for Scholars program, the downturn in the economy and the steady rise in college tuition have created a real sense of urgency among families seeking scholarship assistance.
Dr. Stanley offers the following tips for students and families looking to win precious scholarship awards -- and how to ensure success in the scholarship search process.
It's never too early: Dr. Stanley encourages parents and students to start searching for scholarship opportunities before high school. Starting early will help you understand the application process and learn what it takes to win a scholarship. Some scholarship programs set aside tracking programs and make awards to students even in their pre-high school years.
Scan potential scholarship opportunities regularly: Every year of high school, parents and students should "scan" for potential scholarship opportunities as new sources of financial aid are constantly being developed. You can search on the internet as well as consult with your school counselor/career center.
Consult with institutions: Consult with postsecondary institutions you are considering attending. The financial aid office might be able to suggest local and institutional scholarship sources.
Make sure you meet the criteria: Once you identify a scholarship opportunity make sure you really understand the application criteria.
Be thorough and careful: Applicants frequently make BIG mistakes and don't answer the application questions thoroughly. Make sure you send in all of the necessary and requested documentation.
Be aware of deadlines: Make sure you send the applications in ON TIME. Deadlines can vary between late spring and late summer. If you are applying online, don't wait until the last minute as computer system can get clogged. Computer systems can get clogged with the large volume of applicants submitting materials at the same time.
Avoid careless errors: Take time to spell check. Take time to try to write a cogent sentence. Extremely talented students can be overlooked because they don't use basic syntax anymore after years of Tweeting and texting.
Talk to political officials: Students who hope to attend military academies should get to know their congressional representatives early so they can seek appointments later on.
9/11 Scholarships: Stanley also reminds Americans that scholarship help is available for family members of 9/11 victims through the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund.
Dr. Stanley concluded, "Finding a scholarship takes a lot of work -- and lots of diligence, but don't be deterred. Following this advice and asking the right questions will ensure that your child is on the right path toward a brighter future."
He also encourages people to visit the Scholarship America website for more information and to find out how to help.


Making College More Affordable: College Scholarships the Secret Weapon