The Scoop on Scholarships

Merit scholarships can be helpful in financing your college education. In contrast to need-based grants or scholarships, merit scholarships are awarded to students based on their grades, accomplishments or other personal characteristics rather than financial need.

Few students receive merit scholarships out of the blue. Maximizing your chances of receiving a scholarship requires research to find the scholarships and work to complete the applications.

Finding the Scholarships
In your search for possible scholarships, start with the obvious. Call the financial aid offices of the colleges that interest you and ask about their merit or non-need-based scholarships. Different colleges have differing amounts, types and requirements for merit scholarships. If you might be eligible for a scholarship available at the college, ask how you can apply.

Another common source of scholarships are organizations in which you or your family are involved. Ask about these common sources of scholarships.

Many corporations award scholarships to children of employees, so ask your parents to check their place of work.

Local volunteer organizations, like the Kiwanis or the Rotary Club, may offer scholarships to worthy applicants.

Local or national religious organizations often have scholarships available to their members. Check with your clergyperson.

If you have a particular talent, like music or forensics, ask your advisor or teacher about national organizations relating to your talent that might offer scholarships.

Check with your guidance or college counselor for more suggestions.

To research scholarships outside your local area or personal contacts, look for directories of scholarships in the library, bookstore, or guidance office. You can also look for scholarships on a variety of Web sites (try www.fastweb.com or www.finaid.org/scholarships/other.phtml for a start).

Avoiding the Scams
Many students and parents receive mail from organizations with official-sounding names that offer to find merit scholarships for you for a fee. Unfortunately, many of these companies are scams whose only purpose is to take you or your parents’ money. And with the help of free Internet scholarship search sites and a few trips to the library, you can find the same information that these companies offer.

For more signs that a company may not be on the level, visit the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s site, Six Signs That Your Scholarship Is Sunk.

Following Through
Once you find scholarships for which you might be eligible, contact the sponsoring organizations and request scholarship applications. Complete the applications to the best of your ability and send them in by the deadlines. If you don’t have enough time to complete every application, choose the scholarships for which you are most qualified. You probably won’t receive all the scholarships for which you apply, but the more you apply for, the better your chances of receiving some merit money. Good luck!

Written by Jennifer Gross.