How to Write an Effective Scholarship Application

The majority of scholarship applications require students to prepare an essay or statement that outlines their eligibility. Preparing these letters takes a certain amount of skill, as each student is striving to make their application look unique. Students should think carefully about how they craft these statements, as they are intended to help selection committees get a better sense of who the applicants really are.

Start your application early. 

Many students do not give themselves enough time to start their applications and find themselves rushing to finish before the deadline. The end result is often a poorly-constructed and weakly-written application. Starting your applications early will give you time to clearly think and articulate your position. Be sure to schedule extra time for editing, especially if someone else will be looking over your paper.

Read through the scholarship application thoroughly. 

Remember that you are not simply listing your accomplishments and goals, but rather responding to a specific set of criteria. Are you being weighed based on academic merit? If so, your application should highlight scholastic achievements and academic performance. Is the applicant being evaluated based on community involvement? Consider outlining you volunteer experience in school, at home, in church or other areas. Student should take time to think about what specific experiences and abilities demonstrate their eligibility.

Start your process by writing an outline. 

Selection committees will often read through hundreds of applications before making a decision. Using simple and concise language that clearly lays out how you meet-and exceed- the criteria will make it easier for the committee members to understand why you are a perfect fit for the scholarship. An outline, using bullet points with main statements, can make it easier for you to structure a powerful and effective application.

Showcase your strengths, but be realistic about your weaknesses. 

Many scholarships seem to look for the perfect, well-rounded candidate- such a student doesn’t exist! Rather, selection committees are looking to learn both about your achievements, and the attitude that got you there. Identifying challenges or adversity you have faced in achieving goals can be a highly effective way of demonstrating both ability and attitude, but be careful not to overdo it.  Discussion should be framed around your strengths, as they relate to the eligibility criteria- after all, why would you want to highlight your weaknesses?

College Costs - Financing Options for a Secondary Education

When children are in their preschool and elementary years, many parents begin saving for college with all the best intentions. Events often happen that aren't anticipated, and sometimes the college fund gets tapped into long before their kids start high school.

Many a parent has found themselves wondering how in the world they are going to finance their child's college education. Some give up not realizing there are options for attending college even when money is tight.
Here are a few things to consider when wondering how to finance your child's college education:

1) Many colleges have a student population containing a large percentage of attendees using financial aid benefits. Financial aid is often used not only toward the cost of tuition but also housing, meals, fees, and books.

2) Work/Study is another option for many students. Positions are available on or off campus on a part-time basis so as not to interfere with a student's college studies. Sometimes these positions even offer college credit in exchange for the work contributed.

3) Some consider a student loan a last resort, but you can find student loans with very low interest rates that are not scheduled for repayment until after the student graduates or ceases to attend college.
The idea is to allow a student to complete their education in order to qualify for a good job position that provides sufficient income to allow repayment of the loan over a period of time. The loan payments are usually very low and spread over an extended duration so as not to overwhelm or financially stress the newly employed graduate.

4) One excellent source of financial information is the financial aid office of the school your senior is planning to attend. The staff is knowledgeable and up to date regarding what is available in the way of loans, aid, scholarships, and work study programs; their experience will save you the time and work of having to research this information on your own.

5) There are many different types of scholarships. Some are affiliated with a specific school and others are not affiliated with any. High value scholarships tend to "reward" hard working students, so applicants are going to be strongly evaluated for their high school GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Not all scholarships are based on GPA and ACT/SAT scores, but generally the higher both of these numbers are, the better.

6) Many students who work co-op or part time during high school land themselves in good positions with companies willing to contribute to the cost of a college education. Some require an agreement to work during breaks from college or after graduation, while others consider the contribution as time already "served."

Consider All Options - The Good and Bad News
The good news is that assistance is available. The bad news is it does take some time and paperwork to apply for aid, scholarships, work study, and loans. Don't automatically assume that because your college fund was tapped out or maybe never even existed that your senior cannot attend college. You are not alone; many parents face this same dilemma.

Many college bound seniors have successfully completed secondary educations without having millionaires for parents. Using the steps above, start the process early in the high school year so you are certain to meet all deadlines and have sufficient time to explore all the opportunities available for your college bound senior.

Saving for College

College is expensive. We just stumbled on a report from the The Chronicle of Higher Education, which says there are now are 100 colleges which cost more than $50,000 per year!

In an economy when foreclosures are high and money is low, how can students and parents save for college?

Save Early, Save Often

Virtually every state now offers a 529 plan, allowing parents a tax-free or tax-deferred plan to save for their child’s higher education. The plans offer parents tax-based incentives to save early and save often for their children’s college tuition and expenses. 529 plans can be set up at your local financial institution.

The key is to get started early and contribute often. It’s become quite common for parents to start a college savings plan when a child is born (16 years of savings growth!), or when they graduate into high school (still 4 years of savings growth!)

Tip: Consider asking friends and family members to give donations to the child’s college fund at birthdays, holidays, and Christmas.

Find the Right Schools…

Is your child thinking of going to Berkeley? You’d better know that the average cost for new admissions in 2010 is over $49’000 for non-residents. If that price just gave you some sticker shock, you need to consider looking at what colleges your child can afford, and narrowing down your list of admission-worthy colleges from there.  

Rather than commit yourself to a particular college “brand”, consider what program your student is interested in going into, and then find the best schools in that field. Your goal isn’t to find the best all-round college; it’s to find the best college for your kid.

If money is tight, seriously consider in-state colleges, where tuition is typically half of out-of-state schools, and local colleges where your student may be able to live at home free. While finishing his/her undergrad, your student may then be able to save for a 1-2 year post-graduate program at a higher-end school.

… and the Right Scholarships

In the A2Z College Planning Guide “Time Management for College-Bound Students” we talk about how students should carefully choose extra curricular activities, to not only match their skills and interest, but also give them opportunities for scholarships and grants.

Each college has its own criteria for scholarships, based on a need for diversity and excellence in particular programs. Students are often automatically enrolled in college-specific scholarships and grants, but have to apply separately for private and state-based scholarships and grants.

Uncovering scholarship and grant opportunities can be a full-time job. If you’re serious about sending your high school student to a top college, it’s worth the time and