The essay: It's the most important part of your scholarship application, and it can be the hardest. But the essay shouldn't keep you from applying. Take a look at some commonly asked essay questions and use them to prepare for your scholarship applications. Brainstorm ideas, do some research or create your own "stock" of scholarship essays. When the time comes, you'll ...

Aside from any special essays, there are a few subjects that should always be in your scholarship essay. Your financial situation. You’re asking for money, so be honest of your situation. On the other hand, don’t turn it into a sob story unless it really, truly is a sob story. Background and accomplishments. The scholarship committee wants to know about you ...

Writing a scholarship essay is no easy feat. You could stare at the essay question for three hours hoping inspiration will strike, but outlining your essay is the better path. Ask yourself: How can I organize the information so the reader can understand? How can I make the subject compelling? Likewise, you should be asking the same questions of your readers. ...

Summer is a time to relax, but it's also a great time to uncover some financial aid, if you know where to look. FastWeb has highlighted a few summer-themed scholarships that are open now (or will be soon) that you can work on while taking breaks from your beach reading. You may not be eligible for all scholarships. FastWeb recommends that ...

Obviously, the economy is President elect Barack Obama's main focus as he takes the reigns from Bush in January. However, let's not forget that Obama has many other initiatives he hopes to tackle during his presidency. If you haven't heard by now, Obama wants to make college more affordable for all Americans and his plans to do so will soon affect ...

Paying for a college education can be financially taxing. Fortunately, the Treasury Department has set up the Hope Scholarship Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit for students and their families. These credits can help soften some of the impact that higher education can have on the family budget. Tax Credits: How Much Can You Save? Unlike scholarships that reduce tuition payments or ...

How would you like to be rewarded for all those skipped parties, midnight cram sessions (and the good grades they got you) with a scholarship to Hometown U? OK, would you still like it if the administration told you that you’d have to take a job with a company in the state and keep working there for several years, despite other ...

Students in Kalamazoo, Michigan, recently learned they could get a free college education. A program called offers students who've spent their entire academic career in Kalamazoo public schools a free ride to any public college or university in Michigan. Anonymous donors interested in furthering economic development set up the scholarship fund. In 2007, 458 students were accepted to receive the Kalamazoo ...

College costs are going through the roof. The average debt of a student finishing college is almost $20,000. Follow these strategies to reduce the sticker cost of your education. Ask about application fee waivers. The cost of applying to college, taking standardized tests and having those scores sent to schools can add up. If you're strapped for cash, consider asking about ...

College is a great way to build on your education and advance your career, but paying for it can be stressful. Fortunately, there are lots of financial assistance programs specifically for Native Americans. Eligibility Many Native American scholarships require that you establish eligibility. Eligibility requirements vary depending on the award. Often, you must be an enrolled member of a federally recognized ...

With the tuition at both public and private colleges skyrocketing, contemplating the total cost of a college degree can be daunting. Luckily there are millions of dollars available in scholarships, grants and other financial aid that you usually don't have to pay back. And if you're Hispanic, there are many scholarships earmarked especially for you. "Once you start doing some research, ...

Paying for college is tough. Luckily, many schools and organizations want to encourage access to higher education for African Americans and other minority students. Examples of some of the good financial resources available for African-American students are listed below. Organizational Scholarships Several national African-American organizations have established scholarships specifically to help students finance their college educations. The dollar amounts of the ...

I’ve been thinking lately about scholarships. It could be that we’ll be financing three college educations next fall and the need for scholarships has increased exponentially. As I search through FastWeb, it seems there are scholarships of every imaginable kind. Some require a great deal of time and energy to complete the application process and others only require a few simple ...

Don't let winter's chilly weather get you down. Warm up with these winter-themed scholarships. Note: Many of these scholarships are school-specific. Also, you may not be eligible for all scholarships. FastWeb recommends that you check the scholarship sponsor Web sites for availability and eligibility. Snowboard Scholarship Hit the half-pipe with your pockets full of cash by applying to this snowboarding scholarship, ...