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Scholarships for Dummies: Common Sense Places to Look for Scholarships
Score a scolarship for being athletic, artistic, or wacky.
By Kathryn Knight
The economy is tanking. College tuition costs are rising. And somehow, you have to pay for college. Your only hope in paying for a higher education is with scholarships.
Being recognized as a valedictorian is totally out of the question. After taking the SAT three times, your results revealed limited improvement…and weren’t even that great to begin with. There is no need, however, to limit yourself to university-specific scholarships. Outside scholarships may seem like a far fetch…but they’re not as far as you think.
Service clubs, companies, and charities give out about $2 billion in private scholarships each year. Roughly 1 million students receive these monies—meaning 1 out of 13 students wins a scholarship. The average of these scholarships is $2,000. So are you ready to start looking?
Athletic Scholarships. Granted, this is only going to apply to a select few, but athletic scholarships don’t require a whole lot of brains. Rather, the importance lies in physical talent and drive.
Artistic Scholarships. There are plenty of art-specific scholarships available for students who do the research. Additionally, artists can use their skills to apply for non-artistic scholarships. Oftentimes, judges are looking for creatively convincing applications for “average joe” scholarships—think film, dance, song lyrics, paintings, etc.
Minority Scholarships. These scholarships are typically reserved for students from financially unprivileged backgrounds and ethnicities. Though these scholarships are not necessarily based on grades, they do require community service or athleticism—anything that sets you apart from the crowd.
Employee Scholarships. If you think your summer job is just a way to finance your love for video games or fashion, you’re wrong. Many employers, whether yours or your parents, offer scholarships to students just because of the relationship that exists between the two.
Wacky Scholarships. There are scholarships out there that are wacky enough for any high school student. Think Duck Calling and Duct Tape Prom Dresses. It just requires a little legwork in finding these scholarships. And by legwork, we mean typing “wacky scholarships” into a search engine. Was that too hard?
There is no reason that any student should pay full tuition for college. It just takes time and work to find ways to pay up. Remember, updating your FastWeb profile increases your chances of being matched with some of the types of scholarships mentioned above. So get on it!


wilmanelson
6 days ago
I started in college about 20 years ago and I was working at the time and hurt my back at work , so I had to have 2 back surgeries and ended up having to quit college and work ,so now, I'm 42 and going back to college. I have 1 year almost completed. I have one daughter in college and another a junior in high school, on her way to college. I need to know where to look for scholarships, because it's just so hard for me to make ends meet right now. Please help!
kellyrgilliland
16 days ago
i am a mother of 2 and trying to find as many schloarships as i can to go back to school and better myself not only for myself but for my kids as well. i work hard at work but just seem to make my bills. i hate living pay check to pay check. i would love to go back to school and better educate myself and wake up to a job i could love. where and what can i do?
pandora15
28 days ago
i am a single woman with no income im trying to start school next month and dont know where to look for legit scholarships. Where do i go, please direct me in the right direction.
kayla2008
about 1 month ago
I am a single mother looking to apply for as many scholarships as I can and grants. Where do I go?
angieeann
about 1 month ago
i am a single person with a very low income and i'm interseted in apply for as many scholarships a possible. Because with the way the ecomony is today witout an education you can't do anything these days help me please.
GarangA
2 months ago
Hi i want to know whether i can get any scholarship in music because i am a singer, rapper at the same time i compose my own song and at this movement i looking forward for any scholarship to sponsor me in my music,it's my hope and pray that i will get one, this my contact if i fail to visit this wed (samaritant@yahoo.com) i love you all.
Thanks advance.
tammyvent
4 months ago
Hi I am disabled But I hate just staying at home, so I started online college online thru Everest. I need Some help with financial aid. Could someone please help me? I need it very bad, I need to know where to go for special aid for the disabled. Thank you
brenjcks
4 months ago
are there any scholarship for any person having asthma or any other related problems?
angelbrockington
5 months ago
im a single parent of 5 beautiful children. 4 of them are adults and 1 still at home.Im not very knowledgeable on the internet or searching for scholarships, and I can use all the help I can get.Im interested in going to school at the cooking and hospitallity institute of chicago, and I need help with funding.Any thing you can help me with would be very much apreciated. Thanks.
toddandtoby
6 months ago
Thank you for your time and the opportunity to share my thoughts with all of you. I appreciate you immensely.
My name is Pecola Colby. I am a second year student with South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, Washington beginning September 21, 2009. I will have my Associate of Arts Degree completed the Fall 2010. From there I plan to transfer to the University of Washington - Tacoma to pursuit a Doctorate Degree in Social Work.
As a single/divorced, head of household, African American woman at sixty-four years old, I am testimony to the challenges and yes resilience related to me being socioeconomically and ethnically challenged when comparing me to the dominant culture. My observation and/or perception with social services programs is that of a system at times, lacks fairness, responsiveness and accountability to some of the families they serve. I believe it is imperative that social workers remain accessible to families for support, to establish at all costs, courtesy with integrity and respect for all people regardless of race or culture. Trust is essential and this is one way to build trust. Further, it is necessary to take appropriate and necessary steps to become as proficient as possible on cultural beliefs with protocol, respect, sensitivity and with care, to regognize cultural barriers, to embrace cultural differences and to learn how best to develop the relationship in order to provide the best possible service care.
My interest and passion then and now is to obtain a Doctorate Degree in Social Work. My heart's desire is to become a Social Worker because I am caring, compassionate, sensitive, and believe all families/people are significant, their voices count and should be heard. Further, obtaining an advance degree will allow me to have opportunities to embrace all families and cultures including attending to their needs and providing multiple levels for services with care. I envision my role as a Social Worker to be a voice for families as they journey through various programs for services and resources in order that they receive the very best with care. I will ensure families are not allowed to wander simply because they have come to believe no one cares about them or their well being. As a Social Worker, I will serve as an Advocate for families when necessary to ensure they receive the services and programs best for them. I will work with families to mobilize formal and informal resources; to support family development and to make certain families are on solid ground; to allow for flexibility; and to recognize emerging family needs and community issues.
I began my educational pursuit with Fort Steilacoom Community College, now Pierce College in 1981-1982. It was an honor and privilege to begin my educational journey with Fort Steilacoom Community College. The instructors were personal, engaging and worked as closely as necessary with students to ensure successes in the classrooms. However, without family support, eventually I became overwhelmed in my attempt to carry alone all the family and household responsibilities and I had to place my educational dream pursuit on hold until NOW. At this time in my life, however, there are no obstacles to deter or distract me from achieving a Doctorate Degree in Social Work. My vision is clear. I am determined to succeed AND I know I will be an asset as a Social Worker to any organization or organized structural body.
From May 2004 to July 2008 I was employed with the Family Support Center in Olympia, Washington. I served as the Family Resource Specialist and assisted in meeting the needs of low income families. My responsibilities were to work with families and support them in identifying and prioritizing their needs. I helped them identify the most appropriate resources to meet those needs and empowered them to follow through in accessing those resources. I also served as an advocate for families when necessary and worked with case managers from other agencies to ensure a complete network of services.
My volunteerism also demonstrates my commitment to families and communities. I serve as a Volunteer with my church, New Life Baptist Church, Lacey, Washington in many roles and functions. I have successfully brought for five years and with the assistance and support of a cadre of medical and non-medical volunteers multiple services and programs to the immediate and surrounding communities in Thurston County, e.g. The Smilemobile, a mobile dental unit for children from low-income families and ages fifteen years old and younger, a "FREE" Back to School Physical Examination Day, Health Fairs; Walk-a-Thons, etc. I served as Chair-person for the Unity for Excellence Tutorial Program. I also serve as Chair-person for the Senior Adult Ministry. I am an Usher.
My efforts were recognized in the community. In April 2004, I received the Making a Difference In The Life Of A Child Award from Thurston County and in June 2004, I received the Unique Achievement Award from the Thurston County Council on Cultural Diversity.
Again thank you for your time. It has been my privilege to share my thoughts with all of you. Please contact me if further assistance is necessary for clarification. Further, please note any amount of financial support is most appreciative.
Please contace me at: 9225 Windsor Ln., NE
Apt E-103
Olympia, WA 98516
OR my email address is: pediandsons@comcast.net
Respectfully,
Pecola Colby
mackedeli
6 months ago
My Grandson Jacob has always been an A STUDENT HIS MOTHER AND FATHER ARE BOTH ON DISABLE WITH NOT MUCH INCOME jACOB HAS 2 BROTHERS AND ONE SISTER SO THE FUNDS ARE LIMITED ANY HELP IN HELPING HIM FIND SCHOLARSHIPS WOULD BE APPERICATED
WendyT11
7 months ago
wow
JasmineG680
7 months ago
A lot of the alumni leaders at College Summit recommended me to look for scholarships locally. That means go to your bank, target, etc. See if they have any scholarships. There are two types of scholarships available to students: the first goes directly to your home (for you) and the second goes to the school, where they take whatever money you owe and then give the rest back to you for your own expenditures.
AnastaciaL7
7 months ago
hi,my name is anna and i come from kenya.i am looking for a scholarship to do my MBA because i really cannot afford it.i have no job and my mum is retired.please fastweb,help me get a scholarship.pleeeeeeease.
LabanM2
7 months ago
I am a astudent in Uganda offering MBChB (medine&surgery) in need of scholarship.iam called Munakenya Laban.