by Rebecca Whited
(Springfield, OH)
Scholarships for children- Scholarships can be easy, odd, exclusive and most of all intimidating. I am a 26 year old mother who is looking to go back to school to become a paralegal. As I began my search for Scholarships and Grants for College, I discovered something so unexpected that it brought on a new mission to my life: getting my daughter ready for scholarships.
by Desiree
(Xenia, Ohio, United States)
From the time I was in middle school, I believed that if I did well in school and appeared to be a well-rounded person, paying for college would be a breeze. So, I got good grades, became involved in various extra- curricular activities, and got a job. Before I knew it, it was time to apply for college.
I applied to The Ohio State University, Bowling Green State University, and the University of Cincinnati. Within no time, I was accepted and confirmed admission to the University of Cincinnati.
I was so excited to have been accepted into college, but the stress soon kicked in when I realized how expensive it is, and scholarships are hard to come by. Especially, when one procrastinates on applying for them, as I did.
As a 17 year old girl with tons of AP and honors work, a part- time job, and several school productions to maintain, I had no interest in spending my free time applying for scholarships and writing essays. I finally got my head into the game a few months ago and began to spend every weekend searching for scholarships, but unfortunately most of the scholarship deadlines had already passed so I was stuck at square one.
I had to take out federal student loans . They are more forgiving than private ones, but I’ll still leave college in debt. The loans still didn’t cover my tuition and books, so my mother had to take out a loan on her 401k, which still will not be enough for both books and tuition costs.
I regret not taking scholarship applications seriously. If I could go back in time and do it all again, I would spend my Sundays writing scholarship essays rather than watching Law and Order SVU marathons. I would also save money out of my paychecks to help pay for books and other expenses instead of spending my money on online shopping sprees.
Because I was irresponsible, I will have a significant amount of debt to pay off and my mother had to dig into her retirement to help me. Scholarship applications are no joke.
Read more scholarship applications advice from other students and parents who have been through process.
by Julie Jozenville
(orlando fl usa)
Finding scholarships and grants for college can be tough but there are resources and people to help you everywhere you turn.
When trying to find a scholarship or a grant, the number one advice I can offer is start filling out those applications early and as much as possible. Almost all scholarships and grants have a deadline and it is very upsetting to find a scholarship you had a chance to win but miss the deadline. Also, when you start filling out applications for scholarships and grants early, you have time to fill out plenty which better your chance to win.
When finding scholarships and grants, checking online will be your biggest friend. Using the web offers you a wide range of options and information about different scholarships and grants. There are also websites that will email you different scholarships and grants available and also their deadlines. Some of these websites includes fastweb.com and scholarships.com.
Another option you have is check the college you attend for scholarships. You can easily visit your school’s website for different scholarships and grants your school offers or you can visit your school’s financial aid office. Your school’s financial aid office should be able to provide all the scholarships and grants offered and all the information you need to know.
When finding scholarships and grants, do not be afraid of completing the applications that ask you for an essay. It may take up a little more time than other applications but less people tend to complete those applications, which betters your chances to win.
Last but not least, make sure you check your email frequently. You may receive emails about a possible scholarship or grant winner. You may also receive emails about other scholarships and grants that are available to you and their deadlines that maybe near.
Read more tips about available Scholarships and Grants for College from other students and parents who have been through process.
Scholarships for 2024 - It is never too early or too late to work on your scholarship searches. If you are part of the high school class of 2024, you should work on your scholarship and college search now. See our list of Scholarships for High School Seniors
FAFSA - The official 2024 - 2025 FAFSA will be available in December. FAFSA.
Scholarship Lists An overview of the different types of Scholarship Money for College.
Grants Learn more about grants, the other free money for college.
Need Tuition Help? Reduce the cost of tuition with these college Tuition Assistance Programs.
Tax Credit Claim the American Opportunity Tax Credit.
College Savings Plans Save money for college with these College Savings Plans.
Need a Student Loan? Yes, you qualify for these college Student Loans.
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