J Clark asked:


Each year, thousands of students compete for scholarships to fund their college education. It is common for students with similar academic and extra-curricular records to compete for the same scholarship award. Unless a scholarship has requirements that qualify a very small group in the population, trying to get a scholarship can be difficult or frustrating.

But don’t lose hope yet!  In order to increase your chances of winning a scholarship of your choice, you may have to apply to as many scholarships as you can. Unfortunately, some scholarships will ask you to submit a long list of requirements, making applications to multiple scholarships a bit of a challenge.  This is especially true if you consider the limited amount of time that you’re working with to complete your applications. In addition, many requirements and questions overlap among the different scholarships. Hence, it is very possible to confuse one scholarship for another.

 Keep in mind, too, that what you do in the application process can easily make or break your chances at getting the financial assistance you need.  Be sure to get your forms and requirements right the first time – after all, you don’t want to be wasting your energy by messing up your first attempt at applying for a scholarship! Here are some key points to remember when going through the scholarship application process. 

1)      Read the instructions thoroughly.

Although this seems like a no-brainer, many students get disqualified each year for scholarship awards simply because they failed to follow simple directions. Don’t squander all your efforts just because you submitted an oversized envelope. As mentioned, many application requirements and instructions overlap from one scholarship to another, so it’s very easy to mix up which requirement belongs to which.   Make sure that you follow the instructions of all your scholarship applications to the letter, and remember to double check what you’ve already double checked.  You can never be too sure when it comes to scholarship applications!

2)      Make sure your presentation is neat and organized.

It is always advisable to type out all your essay requirements. Typing your essays using a computer is convenient, and programs such as Microsoft Word or Open Office make it easy for you to spot spelling errors. Secondly, you can store your work in multiple backup drives so that you can reprint them if you ever need to resend your application. But most importantly, typewritten works give a sense of formality because they look neat and tidy.  

If the application form requires you to write by hand, be sure to write legibly. Take the time to write as best you can. Be careful of ink blots or any other blemishes like spilt coffee.  Submitting untidy work reflects badly on you, and will make you look sloppy or irresponsible.

3)      Consult your English Teacher for your Essay.

There is no better advice than that from an expert. If you want your essays to be free of grammatical errors, you may want your English teacher to review your work. Mind you, you don’t need to write like Shakespeare. All that matters is that you write in a way that conveys your thoughts in the most efficient manner without any careless mistakes. Your English teacher can give you valuable tips on how you can improve your essays before you submit them.   You must also remember that Microsoft Word’s grammar checker isn’t as reliable or accurate as its Spell Check function, so always consult someone else if you want to make sure that your essay is at its best.

Dale Clifton, The Scholarship Doctor asked:


Are there mistakes that can disqualify a college

scholarship application? You bet. Generally speaking, most local scholarship committees may find a few minor mistakes acceptable, but the higher the level of competition, the less tolerance there is for a faux pas. And when you go for the gold at the national level of competition, no mistake is permissible. Even at the local level, if the competition is heavy, one error can result in the loss of money.

Even small spelling mistakes can cause an application to be thrown out. A judge reviewed a submission from a girl who was second in her class. She had a 3.95 GPA. The problem? She misspelled salutatorian. Believe it! How does that

happen? Surely, it should have been noticed. Was it a keyboarding error? Maybe.

Another application from a boy on the baseball team noted that he won the league batting title with a .259 average. Know anything about baseball? Most likely, the number 2 should have been a 3, 4, 5, or even 6.

Yet, another listed the applicant’s age as “88.” Do you suppose she was the oldest high school student in the country…in the world? But wait, she listed her birth date as eighteen years earlier. Those are the kinds of silly little miscues that can disqualify good candidates. Use the computer spell check and have someone read for context and spelling problems. Most people cannot do a good job of proof-reading themselves. Why take a chance?

Another blunder is leaving blank spaces. This is not a good thing. The committee may think that you are trying to hide something. If the question or statement is not applicable to you, write DNA on the line, which is the standard abbreviation or acronym for Does Not Apply.

Use a computer and keyboard whenever possible. Investigate the many inexpensive and free form-filling computer programs. No long hand here. Never write in pencil. And, NEVER, NEVER. EVER, EVER use whiteout.

Follow directions exactly. It is not unusual to see lists where paragraphs are required and vice versa. Sometimes a signature is needed with the name printed. A simple YES or NO may be necessary, Instead, an opinion is given.

Here’s a tricky one that trips many juniors and seniors with honor roll credentials. After ten years in school, they still have problems using to, too, two, and they’re, their,there.

Oops! I saw a sure regional and possible national winner disqualified, because her application missed the deadline date…by one day. Always beat the deadline. Mail early.

How could this happen? An app arrived without the parent permission slip signature.

Check, Check, Check.

This bears repeating: most mistakes can be eliminated when others proof the application. Then read it aloud while someone else listens.

What can you do, if the mistake cannot be corrected? Be sure to make a copy before you start. If it says “copies are not permitted,” go back for one or two more originals.

Planning produces positive outcomes when the scholarship effort is truly a family affair.

To learn more about planning to win scholarships, visit:

http://ScholarshipDoctor.com

My newsletter is full of tips and ideas. No cost.

MailTo:signup@ScholarshipDoctor.com

Dale Clifton, The Scholarship Doctor asked:


A mother was at home, and there was a knock at the door. She opened the door and was surprised to see a person standing there with a bouquet of flowers. It wasn’t a holiday, birthday, or anniversary. The flowers were a total surprise!

They turned a rather ordinary day into an exceptional one to be remembered for weeks to come.

Little remembrances are cherished. And, the person who sends them is not forgotten. We all like to be remembered in unusual and caring ways.

The teachers and staffs of high schools aren’t any different and yet, it does not happen very often for them. Kind words are good, but a thoughtful note is better, and a small gift is best.

A teacher remarked that she once had a student who had many physical issues. It created some unusual classroom problems in her chemistry class. The mother of that student knew this

and constantly thanked the teacher with complimentary notes and small gifts throughout the school year not just on holidays. It made the teacher feel appreciated, needed, and

respected.

A typical high school has administrators, teachers, and a support staff. Who will be affecting your student? Who will your student have for classroom teachers in the coming year?

Find out who they are. You will want to know the

receptionist at the main desk. Don’t forget the secretary in the guidance office. Who cooks the lunches, sweeps the floors, and empties the wastebaskets? Bus drivers often have a particularly difficult situation. Also remember the principal and vice-principal. Many times all of these people are only remembered when something negative happens. Letting them know that you recognize and appreciate the jobs they’re

performing, for the benefit of your child, will make it easier for your student.

Favors and kindnesses are always returned. Find out when those birthdays and anniversaries happen and remember them with a card, note or even cookies. And, in those few short years, when college scholarship time rolls around, people

will be happy to write glowing testimonials for your student.

Remember this: everything in life is a decision, make the right ones today for your college scholarship success.

Anamika Gupta asked:


Get Free Money from College Scholarship, Apply Now

When you hear the word scholarship, what usually comes in to your mind? Many answers would be ‘education’. Education is indeed vital. Through education, you are able to discover things that you never imagined possible for you to learn. While many parents are struggling to give their children the best education, sometimes the costs that comes along with it discourages them especially if they can’t afford the very high tuition fees.visit now http://available-grant-money.blogspot.com

When parents send their children to school, they not only have to think of the tuition fees, but also of other school fees that need to be settled. They also have to consider the daily allowance of their children, their food, and many other things which require them to spend money. And this is probably the reason why many of them prefer to put an end to their child’s education.

Putting an end to education at an early age without attending college is detrimental to your child. This sad fact is experienced by millions of children around the world whose parents are financially unstable. Not only are they stripped of their future career, but also they are stuck in that difficult situation all their life. Without proper education, they cannot fulfill their dreams.

Scholarships awarded to qualified students are a great way to help financially incapable individuals. Aside from scholarships, grants are also given to some students who passed proposals and were able to find sponsors. These two options attract many students to apply and get free money to help them go through their college life.

Different states fund different scholarships. And within the state, there are private institutions, employers, educational institutions, and professional associations which help in funding grants and scholarships.

To be eligible for a scholarship, you must pass the following requirements:

- academic performance

- financial need

- athletic achievement

- minority status

- religious affiliation

- community affiliation

- heritage

- set of unique criteria of a particular organization that provides the fund

You have to start searching for that scholarship early, and you must be diligent and focused. Remember that every year, you need to make an application for the scholarship.

If you’re planning to go to college with a scholarship, you must familiarize yourself with the different requirements, how to go about your scholarship application, avoid scholarship scams, get a good help with scholarship essays, and see featured scholarship programs especially on the net.

You have to be honest when you’re searching or applying for a college scholarship. You should also be organized and be able to follow certain instructions properly and carefully. Before submitting your application, you must first proofread. You must have your own copy of the papers that you’ve sent, and be sure to send it through registered mail.

If you follow these things, you will find yourself a scholarship in no time at all. As mentioned earlier, you should stay away from any possible scholarship scam that might come your way. If a certain individual offers you hard to resist applications but you’re doubtful all the while, then trust your instincts and avoid them.

So, if you want free money, apply now for a college scholarship. It’s your ticket to earning a degree in college. Your parents will be most proud if you are able to pursue your studies independently.visit now http://available-grant-money.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Ian Koch asked:


HOPE stands for “helping outstanding pupils educationally”. The HOPE scholarship program is a high valued, famous and unique scholarship program of the state of Georgia. As the name indicates, it’s purpose is to help the outstanding students who study in the public as well as in the private colleges. The scholarship was created in 1993 and Georgia has since been followed by numerous of other states, as these have implemented scholarships with the similar

purpose. Statistics reveal that around one million students have been awarded this scholarship for their study. Diploma, Certificate, and Degree programs also receive this scholarship, which is available for those students who enroll for the half-time and the full-time programs of the institutions.

“The program is entirely merit-based, meaning that a student’s ability to pay for his/her own education is not a factor in determining if he/she receives it.

The basic requirements are:

The student is a resident of the state of Georgia The student graduated high school with a 3.0 (GPA ‘B average’) The student maintains a 3.0 GPA throughout college”

(Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Students who enroll for the half-time program, if taxpayer, can get tax credit for up to $1500 during the first two years of the education. During the first year they can get up to $1000 tax credit for the tuition fees paid and $500 for the second year. This amounts to a total of $1500 in tax credit. Hence the credit has to be got in two years time. Many students who enroll for the half-time program have benefited out of this student scholarship. The credit is made available on per-student basis.

For the full-time students the HOPE scholarship offers full tuition fees and other fees that are applicable during the admission to the college. A book allowance for about $300 is also available. Expenses such as room and board are not covered in this.

A full-time student can get $3000 in scholarship amount per year. They can also get a Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant for $900 per year. The requirement for this scholarship is that the student should be enrolled in either a full-time or half-time course in a public or private institution respectively.

This scholarship ends once they complete the degree or when they have attempted 127 semester or 190 quarter hours. If the degree program that the student has joined is more than 127 semester then they can receive grant for up to a maximum of 150 semesters only. For more details on the HOPE program check out their website.

Kevin Ihrig asked:


Have you heard of Ella Avery-Smothers? Want to win a scholarship? Then you can learn from her example. She wanted an opportunity to go to college, even with bad grades. And you can, too.

Ella wasn’t the greatest student. She wasn’t the valedictorian, or even considered a smart student. Her family had crops to bring in, and she had to work morning and night to help. Her future didn’t include much education, much money, or high expectations. She struggled, and in junior high and even in high school found herself at the low end of her class.

Maybe you can relate. Maybe you have failed a test or two, or even a few classes. If you feel down, don’t worry, it’s normal to feel that way. But keep trying. In Ella’s case, one of her high school teachers made a big difference in her future.

His name was Mr. Miller, and he said to her class that C-students had a gift to give, even if their grades were lower than others. He also said the backbone of our society is the good, solid-C student. Those words struck home with Ella, and came back to her over and over.

An Opportunity

One day an opportunity came for her to change her future. The school she went to made an announcement inviting all students planning to go to college to report to the cafeteria to take a scholarship test, to get money for college. At least one student made a surprised comment to Ella that she would take the test, but that didn’t stop Ella.

Remember her example in your life: when you get an opportunity, take it. And you have them much more often than you think. You might even be able to apply for a scholarship today. She went to the cafeteria; she stayed and finished that test, and received a scholarship. That award changed Ella’s life, with an opportunity to go to college.

Winning A Scholarship

No one can promise you will win a scholarship. But I can promise you won’t if you don’t apply. I can tell you that you will lose every single time that you don’t try. I can also promise that someone else has had a situation similar to yours, and they kept trying, and eventually they succeeded. You can, too.

Most scholarship applications will ask you to write something about you. You call this part the scholarship essay. You want this part to shine. Have others read it after you write it, and make changes to improve it. Get your spelling right, your punctuation, and use words correctly. Once it is as good as you can make it, send it in. Keep a copy if you can.

Then, do it again with another scholarship. And apply for grants, as well. The government has many grants to offer to help all kinds of people go to college, you included.

You have to make the effort.

Did Ella Keep Her Scholarship?

No, Ella lost her scholarship after one semester. Bad news. Just one, and it was gone. She didn’t quit, though. She found work, she took out a loan, and stayed and completed her elementary education degree.

Do you see her experience as failure or success? Her goal didn’t require a scholarship after she got to college. Her goal was to finish, regardless. And she did. She had a dream and great life ahead of her, and you do, too, if you’ll look for it.

And now? That little girl who worked on her parents’ farm and started in a one room schoolhouse gives other young people money for their tuition. And she while she did teach, she now owns Burger King stores, 7 of them. Not bad, right? I think she knows the value of a chance to succeed.

What To Do Next: Apply

To take your next step, like Ella did, you need to apply. Apply for colleges, a great school and state schools, even community colleges. You can transfer the credits later. The school matters less than finishing, and taking opportunities to move you ahead. And apply for scholarships and grants, and get money for college.

Ella Avery-Smothers proved she could follow through. Once she completed her first degree, she got hired by a city public school system for a year or so. After that, she decided she wasn’t finished, and earned an advanced degree.

When you look, you will see resources to help you go to college. It’s your choice, and you can do it.

Dale Clifton, The Scholarship Doctor asked:


Evaluating thousands of scholarship applications has definitely left an impression on me. I still remember some of them, because the students who submitted them managed to get into my head in a personal way. Many books and articles will tell you that “personalization” is good, but they don’t tell you how to accomplish that. I saw a photo attached to an app showing the senior student shaking hands with the President of the United States. Another enclosed an audio ! tape that revealed his talent to play the fiddle in a country band. A girl had her photograph taken with a well-known professional golfer after she had won a state tournament. A boy included a picture of his debating trophies. Another had won a two day fishing tournament and held the trophy in a picture to prove it. Another had built his own computer. Still, another had patented her own invention, a device for counting inventory units. In each case the items were part of the requirements of the scholarship award, not just thrown in for effect. These are super examples of “personalizing” a scholarship application, but it doesn’t have to be that noticeable.

There were also attempts at personalization not well received, a picture of a girl in a very tiny bikini. The word thong comes to mind. Another included prize ribbons with a request to return them when the judging was over. We had to send them back at our own expense! Another application had an algebra homework assignment inside, oops. We sent that back, too. Her siblings were probably blamed for its disappearance. One application had a Santa Claus hat inside. It came from Alaska. I’m still trying to figure that one out.

Why is personalization so important? Imagine that you are on the committee, sitting around a table with 247 scholarship forms. It is the committee’s job to pick a winner. All of the apps appear to look alike. All things being equal, which one is going to be chosen? It’s impossible to say. But, let’s suppose that one personalized his/her request and made it stand out positively from the rest. Now, someone has taken the time to be bold, inventive and creative. They have made it possible for the scholarship committee to know more about who they are. They are more than a just a piece of paper with a name on it. They have revealed intimate sides to their personalities. Who will win now? The choice is obvious.

Personalize don’t dramatize. Use good judgment and common sense when personalizing. Try to imagine who the people are making up the committee. Then, send in your request knowing that, out of all who sent their forms, you are the one who will win. You are the person who deserves the money.

Planning produces positive outcomes when the scholarship effort is truly a family affair.