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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!
YolandaG114
4 months ago
I'm a senior at Wayne State University and I'm seeking money because I have reached my loan limit and I have only three classes to go. We all know how expensive WSU can be; I have a 2.94 GPA and majoring in Fashion Design. I'm also in the process of applying for my MBA and JD Program at WSU I need all the help I can get. Any help would that your can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you and have a nice day!
MarkH601
4 months ago
i am entering my senior year and am seeking scholarship money for my college expenses. i am a computer science major. thanks. mark h
MrAbbs23
4 months ago
I'm about to start college really soon and I tnhink this cpuld help me out a lot!
FundaAsenaA
4 months ago
I'm a senior genetics student who is desperately in love with opera. Perhaps these scholarships could show me the way for succeeding in two majors !
SusanS896
4 months ago
Hello, My name is Susan Shenold ,I am 44 years old and have one more semester of school left until I earn my degree. I have been going to school for two years now. I am a jeweler and this can be quite costly. I am searching scholarships for my last semester as it is hard for me to pay for my supplies on my income. I am a dissabled individual and have a limited income.
LaludeD
4 months ago
Hello, I am Lalude Wale, a 26 year old and will be a graduate by October 2009 from higher diploma school Nigeria study Biochemistry and i will like to further my carrier in Canada or UK studying Neurology or Forensic. I hereby search for free scholarship and grand aid because i am an orphan whom is helpless, i need aid to let my dream comes to reality.
BrittanyH441
4 months ago
Hello, My name is Brittany Howard. I'm a 20 year old college junior and I owe my school a 7,000 dollar balance. I've applied for scholarships since I graduated early from high school, i was 16, and i even waited a semester to see if anyone would respond to me. i got nothing. But my school says i owe them so much money because some of my financial aid was revoked. Can they do that if it's already been offered and then not notify the student?
DurjanG
4 months ago
Hi jermaine grey I am 16 years old and will be a graduate in the earlie summer of 2010 from western high school.
will be attending at the university of California State university River Side.
NancyM475
4 months ago
Hi Nancy Medellin I am 18 years old and will be a college freshman this fall of 2009 at California State University Los Angeles. I need money for college in order to graduate and be able to pursue my dreams and become a better person of tommorow.Thanks for your dedication and time.
sbhuiyan
5 months ago
Hi, my name is Subrina Bhuiyan and I am looking for scholarships so that I can pay for tuition and housing at the University of California, Santa Cruz. My major is bioengineering with a molecular concentration. My family isn't poor, but we struggle to pay for college. I have two sisters who are also attending Universities and it is too expenisive for all of us to attend. Financial aid wasn't any help because my family didn't qualify for grants, and loans have an 8 % interest. I did get a loan last year. Please let me know if there are any scholarships out there for me.
OtisY
5 months ago
This artical is good for touching the surface of scholarships. The Wacky addition was great too.
My name is Otis Yawea and I'm a 22 years old Native American. I'm looking for scholarships for Computer graphics; I'm mainly looking for Game Design scholarships. I'm currently looking to head back to school. If anyone has any information about game design scholarships, you would be a great help
BlancaR50
5 months ago
Hello my name is Blanca Reyes amd I'm 18 years old, looking for scholarships so i would attentd the Academy of health care prodessions. And i will enroll this month but they told me that i can get Financial Help from the goverment, because of my status. But i really want to do something with my life, i want to set up an example from my brothers since i'm the oldest, i know is going to be a big challange from my parents. But i'm trying something to do in my own , and the only thing i can do is to look for scholarships. My parents are proud of me for finishing High School, but i want to be even more proud of me, when i see that i'm finally some body in life.
I have faith that God is going to put some body in my life to help me archive my goal, and I declare who ever helps me God is going to bless their lifes in a supernatural way. Thank you and God bless you.
JONNYCAGE
5 months ago
HELLO TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN MY NAME IS SHAWN POOLE AND IM 26YEARS OLD LIVE WITH MY MOMS CAUSE IM SINGLE FATHER OF TWO.I HAVE RAN THE STREET AND DOWN AND KNOW GOT MY HEAD TOGETHER AND WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING SO THE VERY BEST THING IS TO GO TO SCHOOL SO I CAN BE SOMEBODY MY KIDZ CAN LOOK UP TO I WANNA GO TO COLLAGE OF CANYONS AND TAKE WELDDING SO I CAN HAVE A TRADE SO I CAN TAKE CARE OF MY OWEN .SO THAT I CAN FEEL LIKE A BETTER MAN INSTEAD OF WORKING AT DALLOR TREE PART TIME CAUSE THAT ONLY PLACE TO HIRE U ..SO IF THEIR ANYONE OUT THEIR THAT CAN FEEL ME AND HELP DEEPLY RESPECTED THAT
ShantaviaR
5 months ago
Hi My Name is Shantavia Richardson I am a graduated senior of 2009 class at Gainesville High School. I am look for scholarships in cheerleader, or just to help pay for my tuition, books, housing, ... I have lived with my aunt since I was five days old and she take of me. She also have other children and not able to send me to college. I have been accepted at Bethune Cook-man University and looking for funds to pay for it. I really do not want to start out with loans to pay back if I can get scholarships to pay for school. Please help me find the money to go to college. Is there any scholarships to help student that's being raised by relative?
ReanaG2
5 months ago
I am a single mother. I am 36 years old and am just now working on my college education. My industry is the hardest hit by this economic downfall (real estate) and I have been struggling for the last 3 years, also partly due to major surgereries I had to undergo. I've always done it all on my own. I am of ethnic background, the only one in my family to ever graduate high school, and have an above average intellect. Why can't I find decent scholorships?? Everyone tells me I am the 'perfect candidate' for many scholorships but I have had a heck of a time locating it. I need assistance with my living expenses...any ideas I am overlooking??