An Introduction To Scholarships

Money does seem to make the world go round these days and that is not always a
good thing for anyone looking to advance himself or herself. If you cannot
afford an education then you are missing out on the chance to fulfil your own
potential. This can actually have a knock on effect on the rest of the
surrounding area. You may have skills that could be of great service to another
and yet never have the opportunity to develop them, and that is why it is
extremely important to seek out any way possible of fulfilling your potential
and developing yourself to the fullest extent. That is in fact where
scholarships come in!

Scholarships and grants can provide a fantastic source of financial aid for
individuals who either deserve it in terms of their talent or are struggling as
a result of financial hardship. In some cases, the individual actually falls
under both category headings. Regardless of where they fit into the scheme of
things, talented individuals that need help can get it from a scholarship or
grant.

A scholarship is a financial merit-based award that a student would have to
apply for. The scholarship may be a package of financial aid to help the
student. It could include housing and course materials as well as tuition, or
just the tuition. It may only be a percentage of the tuition. This is dependent
on the terms and conditions of the scholarship itself and what it offers. It may
last for an academic year or for the duration of your degree course. However, it
will always have conditions attached, and this will most likely relate to your
grade point average. It would have to remain above a certain level for you to
qualify for the scholarship.

A grant is totally different. Again, you would have to apply for it, but it
would be a one off payment that would be awarded to you for a specific purpose.
It may be a specific topic you are working on would be eligible for funding and
you were given a grant of a set amount to help. You may be eligible for a
housing grant if your family's income level is below a certain level. Whatever
the reason for the award, it is a one off payment of a set amount.

Scholarships can be applied for by anyone attending an academic institution for
a period of time. The application forms are usually quite extensive and can take
hours to fill in properly. One slight mistake on the form could get it
discarded, so the most important thing for you to do is actually read through
the instructions and comply with what it is asking from you to the letter!
There will literally be thousands of candidates for any scholarship so you have
to be able to make your application stand out from the crowd in order to obtain
the funding. It does help if you have a gift for certain ones, but the majority
just want to help someone who needs the funding and stand out from the crowd.

The one rule is do not lie. If you do they will find out during the course of
their investigations and considerations, and your application will immediately
be rejected! Always be honest and show your awards and merits up in the best
light possible if you want results. It may also be worth applying for several
scholarships and grants at any given time so that you are not putting your eggs
in the one basket. It never hurts to have a back up, especially where college
and money is concerned!

Scholarships and grants can be difficult to get to grips with if you have never
had experience of them before so it is essential that you fully understand the
process and concept before beginning to apply. Financing is important for
college students these days so you owe it to yourself to do the best you can in
terms of your application. It is your future after all!

A Guide To Scholarship Applications

Scholarship applications can be extremely complex and confusing. Not only does
every different scholarship body want something different, but none of them
seem to set the deadline dates for the same week, which no doubt would confuse
you even more! When you are applying for college, it can seem like you are
going round in an endless circle, trying to finish tasks that you have already
started but seemingly getting nowhere. It can be a chore just to finish one
application to a college, let alone fill in several for scholarships as well.
However, help is at hand and you can make life easier for yourself with these
basic tips:

Read every application carefully.

Every scholarship requires something different because no two are the same, so
you cannot just fill out one for them all and hope that you will get a measure
of success. It does not work like that. There will always be something
different expected of you, whether there is a word limit on your personal
statement or fewer letters of is recommendation. If you do not read it and
comply with the guidelines then you application will be discarded straight away.

Prepare in advance.

Before you even begin to research scholarships in depth, you should practice
your personal statement. Style is extremely important so you should write it
out the summer before you plan to apply to ensure that get it completely right.
If a personal statement reflects you then it is perfect for your applications.
Keep the copy of the draft you wrote and then use that as a foundation on which
to build your actually personal statements when it comes to applying for real.

Work with the space you have.

Try not to use continuation sheets on scholarship applications because the
likelihood is then that representatives or assessors will get bored half way
through. Try to keep all of the information to a minimum but include as many
activities as you can in your list. You could even add a few into your personal
statement if you run out of space. However, if you do not have enough space then
leave out the ones that are not important, and plan this out in advance because
there is nothing worse that Tipp-ex marks on an application.

Look at what they want.

You should always look at what the provider of the scholarship is asking or and
give them what they want. Never ever lie on an application form but tailor your
own personality traits to your advantage. If they are looking for someone with
character then communicate that in your writing style. If they are looking for
integrity then mention an example of it. Always back up what you have to say by
just tailor what you know about yourself to what they are looking for in you!

Always give your reasons why you want to study a certain subject.

Many individuals fall down at this step because they do not justify their
reasons for wanting to take a certain subject. There must be a reason behind
your choice but failing to communicate it or failing to put your reasons across
in a logical and well-reasoned way can ultimately ensure that you fall at the
last hurdle!

Read it through.

Never send an application form for a scholarship without reading it trough
first. Make sure that you have said everything that you want to say and in a
clear and concise but logical way so it is easy to read. If it passes your
critical eye then I should pass theirs!

The Scholarship Application And Making It Yours!

Every scholarship application is perfectly unique, which is great for the
people who have to read through thousands of them every year in order to decide
to award it to! However, although they are unique and no doubt very personal, it
must be mundane to read persona statement after personal statement if nothing
catches your attention. Some will be well written, others will not, but that
makes no difference if it cannot attract another individual's attention!

A personal statement is actually your selling tool. It is all you have because
the representatives or assessor who can discard an application at the drop of a
hat will never meet you. You will not get a second chance to make a first
impression so you have to make the most of what you have and the personal
statement is it! Before you even start looking into the scholarships you will
apply for, you should begin to plan out your personal statement. It is the one
thing that will speak about you so you have to make the most of it and more
effort should going into composing a good one than anything else you will do
relating to scholarships.

There are various ways to catch an assessor's attention, but making the page
really talk to them is the main way. Anything too fancy, like a different font
will have them reaching for the scrap pile, but a great statement will prevent
them from discarding your application. The first thing you should remember then
is ensuring that your words are perfectly clear and flow well together. In other
words, your personal statement must make perfect sense. If it does not make
sense and instead is just a bunch of random words thrown together in the hope
that it will work, I guarantee that it will not! It needs to flow in order to
say something. It is the flow that makes it work, that makes it speak and that
can give the assessor a good idea of who you actually are. If your statement is
clear and flows well then it will say so much bout you.

Flowing language denotes a conscientious individual who is capable of logical
thought and reasoning. That person would not be impulsive but instead put his
or her instincts to better use. He or she would also be capable of making sense
of even the most complex of problems by simplifying them. Therefore, if you also
make your language direct and straight to the point without adding floral extras
that could most definitely be left out then you would also be honest and direct
without being cutting. It would indicate that you do not procrastinate and are
usually 100% focused on a task! You can see from the description of a specific
style that you can say so much about yourself by simply implying it, thus
leaving you more room to sell yourself in terms of your achievements!

It is well worth spending extra time on your personal statement, as you can
see. If that is the most important part of your application, it could also
feasibly win the assessors over, and that alone could ultimately win you a
scholarship. You should put a little of yourself in there, but by tailoring
your style, you can get yourself noticed in a positive way.

Scholarships, Grants And Your Family

The best feeling in the world for a mother is to see her son or daughter off to
university and feel inordinately proud of him or her, upset and yet knowing that
they will be fine as they embark on their new lives! However, can you imagine
the opposite feeling? A mother seeing her children off to university, proud as
anyone could be, and yet worried to death that they are going to face the
hardship and struggle that all college students should be spared from, not
knowing when the next meal is coming and taking on two jobs as well as their
studies just to make ends meet. This is not the case for the vast majority of
students, at least not to that extent. However, the poor mother must feel so
helpless consider she does her best to make sure that this scenario never
happens. With scholarships and grants, the latter need not be an issue!

Scholarships and grants have been put in place to try and help individuals to
make ends meet whilst at university, regardless of the financial situation of
the family in question. Believe it or not, scholarships and grants can involve
the whole family too. Obviously they would not pay for anything other than the
college education of one member of the family, but in terms of confidence. Most
parents feel that it is their responsibility to send their children to college
and nobody else's. However, this is not always possible. I have read stories of
parents resenting their children because they happen to be funding themselves
instead of being provided for by the parents. This is extremely rare, but it
does happen and can cast a cloud on the whole experience. They may feel as if
you no longer need them and they are being cast aside, and so involving them
would make it seem like they were actually contributing to a college education.

In fact, when it comes to finding and applying for a college scholarship, it is
never a bad idea to have all hands on deck! The amount of scholarships there are
out there really can send the whole process of researching them into chaos if
you only have a limited time to research them and compile the details before
the closing date. By involving your family, they are part of your big adventure
and it can really be of benefit to you as well. There is absolutely nothing
wrong with involving them in your plans, even though some may think otherwise.
Although it is your experience, they are lending a helping hand.

Your family may not be able to afford the best in college education for you,
but if they are on the poverty line or below it then they can help you by
providing the details you need in order to claim a grant. If you plan to claim
as a low-income household then you will be able to get a certain amount of help
from the government to get you through college. You will need to include salary
before and after tax, other expenses and dependents and a variety of other
information on the application form. The only way you will get all of the
necessary information is if your parents are willing to help you. In effect,
their struggle to make ends meet can actually improve your chances of finding
funding! Although this is of no comfort to them, they do not have to struggle
to put you through college, and that should give them peace of mind.

The Questions To Ask About Grants And Scholarships

Much is known about grants and scholarships in general. Their existence has
been much documented over the years and everybody who has ever known anyone who
has been to university or college in the recent past will know the rudimentary
basics, but there is a lot more to scholarships and grants than meets the eye.
There are fundamental questions that should be asked of every single
scholarship before anyone wanting to go to college even applies for them
because those questions often determine which ones are the best ones for you.
If you ask the questions below then you will not go far wrong!

How long will my scholarship last for?

This is a question that needs to be asked of every scholarship purely and
simply because every scholarship is different. Some may only last for a year,
others last for two and a few will last for the duration of your degree course.
If you are counting on funding for the duration of your degree then you will
need to ensure that the scholarships you apply for actually fulfil that want or
need, whichever category that falls into. It may be that you need to contact the
provider of the scholarship to check this detail because it may not be
publicised in the literature that you receive.

What does my scholarship encompass?

Again, this answer all depends on the individual scholarship. Most scholarships
tend to be full scholarships so they encompass tuition and housing. The grants
you can apply for usually only cover one aspect or another. In fact, that is
not always the case. Some only designate a set amount of money for books or
similar materials. You need to make sure that you know exactly what you will be
applying for and what your scholarship or grant will be paying for because it
does drastically vary. Certain scholarships actually designate a certain amount
for you rather than covering a certain aspect of your study. For example, one
school-based scholarship offers between $10,000 and $3000, depending on the
nature of the award.

Where will my financial aid check go?

The majority of financial aid check will not go to you, but instead head
straight to your school. The checks need to be payable to the college you will
be attending because they are then used against costs, such as tuition and
housing. If so much of a scholarship is towards living costs and has covered
the rent then you may have that back, but the rest will go into your account at
the college. There are very few exceptions to this rule. However, you may need
to contact your college before applying to see what their procedure is.

What are the requirements I must meet in order to maintain my scholarship?

If you have been awarded a scholarship then you will almost certainly be
awarded it on a conditional basis. You would usually have to maintain a certain
GPA in order to qualify, although that sometimes translates into certain
subjects or classes rather than overall. Different bodies and colleges set
different targets for the students that they have awarded money to, but this
should be in the literature for you to read before you accept the offer. Every
scholarship is conditional, but it is up to ascertain what those conditions are.

Can I hold more than one scholarship at the same time?

That all depend on the terms and conditions of the scholarships as set by the
body that administers the individual ones. The general rule is that you cannot
hold more than one scholarship, but this is slightly different with grants. If
you are awarded help from several bodies then you can take it, as long as you
inform all sources that you hold more than one because this may affect their
assessment. For example, you can hold a college and a federal hardship grant
and you cannot have one without the other, but you do have to inform both
parties of the help you are getting!

Welcome To The Wonderful World Of Federal Grants

If you are planning to go to college or university but know that you would
never be able to afford it on your own, or with the help of your family for
that matter, one of the first places you need to look in order to find
financial aid is the United States Department Of Education. Acting to try and
lift the educational level of the masses and to provide a brighter future for
its citizens, the government's federal aid packages can really help to fulfil
your hopes and dreams and make education affordable. There is so much help
available out there via federal grants that there is no reason at all why an
individual with talent should not go to university.

Financial circumstances can indeed prevent some of America's brightest sparks
from fulfilling their potential and going to university or college. Families
with a low income may not be able to afford to lose a wage, a single parent may
have children to look after and cannot give up his or her source of income or a
family may not be able to afford to send their child to college for fear of
draining the finances they need to look after the second and third children.
Whatever the reason, federal grants are designed to ensure that these factors
do not play a part in major decisions and that the university spot can be
filled if an individual does want to go.

It might not come as a surprise to find out that the majority of the funding
given to students all over America is provided by the federal government. It
now has the power as the largest student aid source on the continent to ensure
that individuals from lower class families can afford to send their children to
school. In truth, it adds up to over $80 billion a year in aid at the moment and
that looks set to rise into the future because there are actually more grants
added to the list every single year. However, it is not just the grants they
offer that can help out poorer families, it is also the work-study assistance
payments that are made to single parent families and those that cannot afford
to drop a wage but live just above the poverty line. Whatever the situation,
there is a way to help individuals in need that do want to fulfil their
potential.

The beauty of federal aid is that it does not charge an individual to apply for
funding. If you wanted to apply for a scholarship, for example, then you would
have to pay an administration fee that does not even guarantee that your
application gets read. However, if you do apply for federal aid funding then
you do not have to pay a single penny and you application will always be
reviewed before you are informed of the decision. You will always get a reason
why too, which makes a nice refreshing change!

By going to the website at http://studentaid.ed.gov, you can check whether you
are eligible for federal aid yourself. There is a calculator on there with
complete instructions that pertain to how to use it. By inputting your personal
or family income figures, you can see just how much you may be entitled to. Of
course, it has to be properly assessed first, but at least you will know before
sending off an application and hoping for the best!

The federal aid website is an excellent resource for any student looking to go
to university or college. Not only is there a wealth of information on the
federal grants available, such as the low income grants, there is also an
entire section of the website dedicated to other sources of funding so that an
individual can browse through at his or her leisure. It comes complete with
instructions on how to apply for all of them so that you can really take a good
look at what is out there for you to grasp! All in all, it is the complete
website as far as financial aid is concerned and every student should take the
time to look at it for inspiration and a little guidance!

Online Degrees And Scholarships: Supplementing Your Education

Online degrees are an excellent solution to the age-old problems of not having
enough time or money to go to college. The time issue is often what put
individuals off because they may have a full time job, a family or other
commitments that need attending to before an individual can even think about
doing something for his or herself. However, it is easier to fit an education
around a family with an online degree. The next question, of affordability, may
actually provide the stumbling block here. Although an individual may still be
working, a drop in income would probably not sustain an education as well. That
is where scholarships for online degrees come in useful! There is funding for
online degrees available out there. You just have to take the time to find it!

Scholarships and grants for individuals looking to complete an online degree or
course, just the same as they would be available for individuals who are
attending a campus based degree. He guidelines for searching for scholarships
and grants are as follows:

Federal grants -- Federal grants are available to any individual wanting to
pursue an education in the face of hardship, and those individuals whose income
falls 200% below the poverty line can actually get a federal hardship grant
without exception. In this way, the government are committed to making sure
that anyone wanting an education can have access to one regardless of his or
her social status or class. In this way, they are as committed to their goal as
the online institutions that provide the classes. There are also other
government approved grants for those unable to work, looking after a disabled
dependent and in various other problematic situation that may otherwise prevent
them from getting an education.

College scholarships and grants -- Various online schools also offer their own
scholarships for individuals that deserve it. You can request information from
the schools that you are thinking of applying to and actually apply for the
scholarships when you send your application form in. Online schools are no
different to regular schools in that they aim to take as many gifted
individuals in as possible and designate so many scholarships for every intake
as possible. However, if you think that you have a gift or will struggle to
support yourself financially whilst completing your online degree then you
should compare the various scholarships that you choice of colleges has to
offer. If one will help you and another will not then it is a no-brainer when
it comes to choosing the right one for you!

In order to locate various scholarships, you have to really do your research.
You can look in student magazines, on websites, call the careers advisor at
every school that you are thinking of applying to... There are many people that
you can contact if you so wish. However, you have to put the effort in to locate
them. When you have enough information then you can apply for various grants and
scholarships. As you would be applying for online courses and degrees then you
would have to substantiate your arguments as to why you would be the best
person to award a scholarship to if going for private funding or federal
funding. However, you can do nothing but try, and if you do not ask then you do
not get!

Managing Scholarship Requirements And Your Health

If you are considering applying for a scholarship then it can be an absolute
nightmare if you do not know where to begin. You would have to trawl through
books, articles and website in order to get the information that you need to be
able to complete an application form without making one of the many mistakes
that could get it discarded. And then there is the fact that you have to hype
yourself up to get noticed amongst the thousands of other applicants... All in
all, it can be an extremely stressful experience if you do not know what to
expect before you begin to fill out the required forms. In truth, this makes
research extremely necessary before you put pen to paper. This can ease the
burden on you and save you from a few sleepless nights.

However, it is only after you have filled in the application form that the
problems really start for you on a very personal level. Waiting for a letter
that could make the difference between you going to college and not can take
its toll on your health in the short term. It can be extremely stressful
waiting for a letter that would mean so much more than simply having money in
your bank account. Be prepared for sleepless nights and days in which you are
unable to eat. Of course, this would only actually apply if you would face
financial burden whilst at college without it, or maybe would not even be able
to go at all. If you are financially secure and able to go to college as a
result of your parents' income then you have nothing to worry about.

If this strain is taking its toll on you during the weeks waiting then could
use your nervous energy for another purpose. Many individuals apply for the
scholarship they want and need before even looking at others, but if you have
not already looked at other opportunities that you may be eligible for then
this is the time to do that. Why not use your nervous energy to scour
scholarship and grant databases? There are hardship grants available to those
who sit below the poverty line, and other similar grants designed for
individuals that cannot afford an education without it. You could also get a
job to save some money to put towards your college fund. The stress at this
stage is actually manageable in comparison to the stress that would come if you
were awarded the scholarship!

Stress can take a massive toll on your health so it is extremely important that
you manage and channel the stress so that you actually work it off as you are
going along. Focussing on working or a task that you have always meant to get
around to but never had the chance, like volunteering somewhere or decorating
your room, can actually be beneficial to your health as a result. This advice
is all the more important when you are accepted for a scholarship and have to
maintain the levels they expect in order to keep the scholarship.

The majority of scholarships are awarded for the term of your university
course, depending on you maintaining a certain grade point average (GPA), which
will almost certainly be a high one. Very few scholarships are awarded that
allow you to fall below a 3.2. This does put you under immense pressure and can
actually cause depression, anxiety and a variety of physical illnesses because
you will be working so hard that your body will no doubt become run down. If
you couple your academic work with the fact that you will probably have to get
yourself a job to see you through and allow you to eat then you may have very
little time on your hands for anything else, but you should always make time to
relax. Relaxing allows your body to unwind and will keep you in far better
health than any amount of lotions and potions ever would.

You must always look after yourself whilst at university. The amount of
pressure put on students these days is immense, and a scholarship usually
serves to apply even more pressure than is absolutely healthy. To succeed in
college, you must look after your health and finding a way to manage your
stress is the only way that is possible!

Lending A Helping Hand: The Difference Between A Hardship Loan And A Hardship
Grant

The majority of students can get to grips with the terminology behind degrees
and the associated scholarships and grants extremely quickly. However, there
are still small elements of financial aid that cause much confusion and can
really cause problems when it comes to applying for money. The main culprit of
this happens to be the hardship grant. Many students do not know the difference
between a hardship grant and a hardship loan. This is understandable considering
there are many variations of both around and, although the hardship grant is
also known as federal hardship funding, it can certainly cause problems in the
aftermath of the award.

Coming from a low income family or experiencing financial hardship through the
stresses and strains of modern university life is never fun. It is easy to get
into extreme financial difficulty whilst taking an educational course these
days as a result of the expensive rents, books, other course materials and then
also being able to live. It often comes as no surprise when individuals say that
they cannot afford to eat because they have to spend so much of their hard
earned cash on books that they are expected to have. The education system does
put too much financial pressure on an individual and it is not fair. However,
there is help at hand if individuals do want to turn to the right people for it.

Funding and scholarship offices for every school and college will offer
hardship loans to help see students through the rough time. These students will
be assessed via the need based system but are not necessarily from low income
family backgrounds. As a result, they will only get a loan. This is a specific
amount of money that is lent to the individual student with a time frame for
paying it back placed on it. It is then up to the student to make a payment
plan to return the funds. Most colleges have this facility and it has caught on
elsewhere too. It is important that students try to stick to the payment plan
because what started out as an interest free loan can soon equate to a massive
headache!

The hardship grant is completely different though, mainly because students are
not expected to pay it back at any time. Those from low income families will
struggle to make ends meet more than most because they cannot call on family
members to help them out in their hour of need. In fact, they may not be able
to make it to university at all if there was no funding available to help them.
The federal and local governments as well as some individual schools offer
hardship grants. An individual from a low income background is welcome to apply
for all three if he so wishes and does not have to pay a penny back.

The hardship grant and loan are thus very different, as you can see. In truth,
they probably appeal to different types of student; the former appealing to
those with very little in their own name and the latter for those who may
struggle towards the end of an academic year or semester. However, they are
both there for an individual to call upon to get them through their education
if need be.

How To Write The Ultimate Grant Proposal

Anybody who has looked into the possibility of getting a grant before will know
that there are two distinct types of grant application. The first is a grant
application concerning funding for undergraduate degrees. For example, an
individual coming from a family 200% below the poverty line will most likely
attempt to obtain a grant to make life a little easier whilst attending
college. In this instance, the student will most likely be sent a form to fill
in asking for the annual income, personal details, dependent details, a quick
summary of what the student intends to study an other similar information. This
is pretty straightforward and requires very little effort because the federal
government education department will do the calculations for you. You are not
asking for a specific amount of money, just a little help.

The other king of grant proposal and application is at the opposite end of the
spectrum to a hardship grant. These grants are usually requested by individual
students, or those intending to be students to fund research or invention.
Certain schools and colleges accept certain grant proposals for different
things, for example, one college may accept an application for an
archaeological dig, whereas another may only look at scientific research and
inventions. This is of course down to the discretion of the school and the size
of the budget. If you do happen to be a Masters or PhD student and want to make
a difference, then you can apply for a grant, but you would have to make it
unique so that it catches the eye of the individual in charge of grants and
stands a better chance of approval.

To help your grant proposal stand out from the crowd then always remember to do
the following:

* Include a comprehensive research proposal -- This must be in plain English
with a little jargon for effective, but easy to understand and laid out really
well so that the professor will not scan the first page and throw it away. If
it is cluttered or messy, or even too long, then he will. 6 pages, no more and
no less, double spaced and in 12 point font is the standards layout, but do not
use a fancy font because it will look as though you are trying to make up for
something.

* Put forward a well-reasoned and logical argument -- never back track or try
to argue against yourself because you will seem uncertain of what it is that
you are trying to discover. Make sure the aims are clearly defined, preferably
in bullet points, and demonstrate that you have already started basic research.

* Plan out your time -- Break your work down into manageable sections that show
you have thought out what it is you are to do and have set reasonable goals.
When you get to the analysis and fieldwork, make sure that it is clear how you
will reach your conclusion and highlight any unique issues that you expect to
come up during your investigation and analysis.

* Include the extra material that gives you credibility as a researcher -- This
should include a recommendation from a respected member of the faculty who will
supervise your throughout. He or she should clearly state how they will become
involved, what his or her function is and exactly how much of the workload her
or she will be taking on. You should also include a resume for yourself, which
should be no more than two pages long.

* Finally, the all-important budget -- lay out your sums effectively so they
show that some thought has gone into them. You will have covered all angles and
probable costs, even those that it may take to get your research back on track
if something goes wrong. This is the one page that most grant applicants for
get to include. It need only be a side of A4, but enough to show the college
just how committed you are!

* Finally, never ever try to jazz the proposal up too much because it will look
as if a monkey completed it! Make sure that it is all your own work and is
delivered in the traditional, plenty of white paper layout! This will impress
them more because it shows professionalism, and thus it will appeal to them!

Financing Your Education: Coping With Financial Strain

Every individual on the face of the Earth has a right to an education,
regardless of what certain individuals think. In first world countries, we are
lucky enough to be able to choose whether we progress in school, and indeed how
far we can progress. The options after high school are endless, with individuals
being able to choose whether they go to university or college, or even go to a
trade school as part of a work based training program. This, of course, is
personal choice because everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, but
there are certain factors that may dictate the direction we choose to head in
as we embark on our journeys in the big wide world. Financial limitations and
worries may be the main factor for the majority of individuals. Problems with
funding may actually prevent someone who is extraordinarily talented from going
to university and making the most of their potential.

However, there are solutions to this problem, which in itself has existed for
centuries. Individuals have their own way of solving the problem if they do
choose to make the most of their potential and head to university. Some
individuals may choose to drop in and out of school when they have the cash.
They may attend for three semesters and then spend a year working to build up
enough funds to attend for another semester and so on. They may also choose to
continue working through college to supplement any help they may get from their
parents or to preserve their savings. However, this can put individuals through
severe stress as the financial burden begins to tell on them and it ultimately
may affect their health. There is now an easier option though.

Scholarships and grants, collectively known as financial aid, can really boost
the financing that you have behind you and can make all the difference between
eating and starving. A scholarship or grant can give you the funding you need
to make sure that you get through college in one piece and go on to forge a
successful career on the back of obtaining your degree.

There are various packages available to individual students out there and some
providers actually offer several scholarships rather than just the one for
students to literally fight over. There is a variety of ways or an individual
to benefit from a scholarship. They come in a variety of guises, including
athletic, federal and school scholarships, so you could feasibly apply for
several, and that may give you a better award ratio! The award of even the
smallest scholarship would enable you to avoid at least a little stress on your
finances. You may still have to work through college but would have that little
bit to fall back on if need be.

The main function of a scholarship is to enable an individual to make it
through college unscathed. Some come out with huge debts so this is not always
possible. However, at least you would have a base to work from, you could
figure out a budget to stick to and work from there if you did happen to come
into some money along the way. Unlikely as this scenario may ultimately turn
out to be, dreaming for a little while can at least make you forget the
financial burden that you may well be carrying after a while!

Making Your Own Destiny With Company Scholarships

Company scholarships are big business in the United States today because they
represent the competition between the companies in the race to sign the most
promising students up. In business and law especially, the competition is
fierce and not between the students. The trick that most companies play is to
offer the brightest and most talented individuals scholarships and bind them to
the company so that they are guaranteed their services after graduation.
Although this may sound like a dream come true to the majority of students, it
is usually only masters and PhD students that receive such honours. It is very
rare that bachelor degree students are offered them, and then it is only if he
or she has worked for the company or shows extraordinary potential at a young
age.

There are three ways to earn yourself a company scholarship. The first is
completely out of your hands. Some companies headhunt for promising students as
they would if they wanted a particular member of a competitor's workforce. They
may lure you with a comprehensive package that would fund your education from
start to finish, with the provision that, if you accept, you will be obliged to
work for them for so many years. Very few of these scholarships have a get out
clause in them and they usually stipulate five to ten years because of the
nature f the scholarship package. It usually covers tuition, housing, course
material, living expenses and what is tantamount to a small wage. It is
important though, before you sign this type of agreement that you are OK to
sign your life away. It is a fantastic opportunity, but is it what you want?

The second way to get a company scholarship under your belt is to apply for it 
yourself. There are many advertised every academic year that anybody can apply 
for. Depending on the nature of the company, there may well be minimum 
requirements, such as the subject of the degree or a minimum GPA, or both. You 
would have to have passed these before your application will see the light of 
day, and even then it is often impossible to make yourself noticed amongst the 
thousand of other applicants. You do have to really shine to be chosen for this 
type of scholarship.

If you are an older student with a bachelor degree under your belt then it is
possible to attract the attention of the larger companies and bring about your
own scholarship. This is the third and final type of scholarship. You literally
petition a company and ask them for a hand with your degree tuition. You
highlight your skills and portray yourself in a shining light so that they will
sit up and take note. Not many people actually do this in comparison to the last
and some companies not offering scholarships have even created them for
promising individuals who have had the audacity to petition them. Do not get
your hopes up though because this is extremely rare. The example is just meant
to highlight the fact that it can be done if you're determined enough and you
seem to have a gift that they can use.

As with the first example, the latter two do usually have some sort of
contracted time tied to them. You may, for example, have to work for a company
for several years to pay back the debt, as such. You will almost certainly have
some sort of GPA requirement attached as well so do not do the final option
unless you are absolutely 100% positive that you can meet them. If you cannot
then you will have made a fool of yourself. That may not be your fault but it
will feel that way nevertheless!

It is worth remembering that nothing ventured is nothing gained and you should
sit about and wait for something to come to you. If it does then all the
better, but if it does not, it is better to have plans rather than feel
bitterly disappointed!

Low Income Families And Educational Financial Help

Many potential college students look upon scholarships out of their reach if
the do not thing that they are talented or gifted enough to win one on personal
merit. It is a common perception that only the most gifted students are eligible
for grants and scholarships to get them through the final phases of their
education, and this then gives rise to the popular thought that those residing
in low income homes cannot afford to further their education to that level,
that high school is their limit. This could not be further from the truth.
Anybody that is capable of managing the college workload and completing a
degree of some sort should go to college or university, even if it is the local
community college. There are provisions out there to help the people who cannot
afford it because their parents cannot afford it.

Parents have the instinct to do what is best for their children built into
their makeup right from the time the fist offspring is born. Everything they do
tends to be aimed at providing a good home and life for their children to ensure
that they do not experience the same struggle and strife. Although there are
bound to be a few parents out there who denounce college as a waste of time,
even in this day and age, the majority would be unbelievably hurt if they
thought for one minute that they could not give their children the promise of a
better life. They will no doubt do all they can to help out, but some will still
not be able to help their children though college. If this is the case, then
there is financial aid out there just waiting for you to apply

Certain scholarships focus on those students that cannot afford to go to
college because their parents are classed as low income. They are few and far
between but they do exist. You just have to take the time to find them! A
scholarship search may be able to identify them for you. A list of the possible
scholarships will be provided after a quick search and would be composed of full
scholarships, those intended to help with housing, those designed to cover
tuition and a whole host of other smaller scholarships. You would also be
eligible to apply for funding not aimed at low income families. Obviously the
full scholarships would be far better for your personal circumstances than a
half scholarship, but anything less than a full one could be supplemented with
several of the grants available to you.

Grants can be a great way of topping a scholarship up or indeed providing
funding on their own. A grant is a type of loan that does not need to be paid
back and there is both government and independent funding available for grants.
Many local governments will offer a grant to help with the cost of sending a
child to university or college. However, federal grants for hardship are
usually far more comprehensive and can actually be higher in terms of the help
that they are willing to give. If you fall into a family 200% below the poverty
line then the help is more comprehensive than if you were only slightly below
it. This grant is perfect for offspring from a single parent family.

There will also be school awards to consider too. The college or university
that you have been accepted to may offer something in terms of a hardship grant
or loan. They are designed to enable individuals from low income families to
continue with their studies, and there is usually no closing date on these
grants because students may need to apply all year round.

If you do need a little guidance as to where you can actually apply for
scholarships, grants and financial aid then a guidance counsellor is the best
person to make an appointment with. He or she should be able to tell you
exactly where to apply, who to go to and when you would have to apply by. You
can visit the one at your high school or communicate with the one located at
your college. Both would be glad to help an individual displaying such
determination to get ahead in life!

Scholarships, Grants And The Internet

The Internet is a wonderful resource that unites all of the information in the
world that you could ever want or need. Most individuals use the Internet to
scout universities and colleges that they may want to go to and do so in depth
to ensure that they know everything they possibly an about it before applying.
They may also research how to write a great application to enhance their
chances of getting accepted onto the course of their dreams. However, the
majority of students rely in the information that they are sent through from
the various universities and high school guides when looking for funding to get
them through college, but they should be tapping into the wonderful resource if
they want to world of scholarships and grants to really open up!

The first thing an individual looking for a grant or scholarship should do is
take a look at the finance pages of the university or college website that
happened to be their first choice destination. Although there may not be many
grant and scholarship names and details of how to apply on there, it would give
an individual an idea of where to start. Many of the websites actually give a
brief outline of the funding out there and will also touch on any department or
college funding available too. You do not have to wait to apply for those
either. Regardless of whether or not you have had an acceptance letter back or
not, you can apply. The worst that could happen is that your application never
makes the light of day if you do not get accepted. However, if you wait for an
acceptance letter then the scholarships may have already been designated to
others by that point. There is absolutely no harm in trying.

The next place to look is specialist websites. There are websites dedicated to
pursuing grants and scholarships alone so they would be a good place to start
looking for more in depth information. Many will describe just how to write a
grant letter and apply for a scholarship. Obviously the requirements are
slightly different for the various scholarships on offer and you have to read
the requirements carefully to avoid your application being binned before it has
even been read for consideration. It is important to read guidelines and advice
articles because they will actually give you excellent guidance. They make
points that you would not actually think of yourself and these points and tips
could seriously enhance your application.

You can also find hints and tips on Internet sites that may not actually
specialize in academic information. They can often be found on general websites
that provide advice for teenagers in general and also those that offer careers
advice. Finance is obviously a big part of career advancement because without
adequate financial backing, it would be impossible for an individual to go to
college or university at all.

Those websites will list the sources of scholarships and grants so you can
investigate them further for yourself. You should write asking for information,
visit the websites detailing the requirements and shortlist the grants and
scholarships that you want to apply for before actually putting pen to paper,
or starting to type as the case may be. Make sure that you have the full
picture before you actually apply and you will get far better results!

Help Is At Hand With Scholarship Searching Services

There are so many scholarships available for individual students to apply for
out there that it can take months of research to locate them, and even then it
will not be a complete list because some are so small and obscure that very few
institutions will be aware of them. Although the majority of them can be found
on listings websites and by looking more closely at search engine results, some
will still elude you and is often those that may provide you with a source of
financial help during your time at university or college. There is only one way
to find them, and that is by using a scholarship searching service.

The scholarship searching services out there actually list every single
scholarship out there available for students to apply for so you do not have to
trawl through all of the information at your fingertips yourself. It is like a
one stop shop for university funding and can really help you find every single
award that you may be eligible for. One particular website has 2.7 million
scholarships and grants available for students that total more than $19 billion
and students can search it without limit.

Scholarship searching services, or scholarship matching services as they are
sometimes called, will ask you for a few details before you begin to search and
you have to be honest with them if you want to apply for the correct
scholarships and grants. They will ask for your specific course information and
intentions. They may even ask for the location of the university that you plan
to attend so that you can search the database for appropriate funding. In more
simple terms, they will match you with the best funding opportunities for the
subject area and university location.

Some searching services will also ask you personal questions such as income
bracket, ethnicity, mobility status (meaning whether you are disabled or not)
and gender because these factors will also help to determine whether you are
eligible for other funding. For example, some scholarships are only available
for certain ethnicities or disabled students. There are very few of these but
they still apply to some individuals that may otherwise remain oblivious to
their existence.

There are a few scholarship searching services that do not ask for any money in
return for their services, but others will. The best one out there is free
though, and really easy to find. www.scholarships.com was established in 1998
and gives you unlimited access to the database they hold there. They also offer
a variety of other services that other search engines will not. For example, the
database is updated every time another scholarship or grant becomes available
for any number of students to apply for. These constant updates make it the
most comprehensive search facility for students on the Internet. They also list
deadlines in real time so you are able to keep abreast of developments as and
when they happen. Each one will be matched with the value, requirements and
information regarding how to apply. Finally there is a custom service that they
do charge for, and that allows you to compose your own letters to the companies
or bodies offering the scholarship or grant adhering to their tried and tested
template. This can be a godsend to those that have no idea where to even begin
to apply.

The whole idea of a scholarship and grant search facility is flawless in terms
of its ability to help the minds of tomorrow shine through because scholarships
can actually help to put individuals through university that otherwise would not
have been able to go. The system is not easy to decipher without the help of
search engines like the one mentioned above. Although that is only one of those
available, it is one of the best facilities available students could do far
worse than check it out. It is, after all, completely free!

Scholarships For The Older Generation

More and more older individuals are choosing to go to college. It is an
extremely modern trend that sees a higher number of mature students wanting to
attend lectures and obtain a degree than ever before. It is no surprise
considering the educational opportunities that are available now were probably
not available to them when they left high school ten, twenty or even thirty
years ago. Going to university is not a novel concept but it may seem that way
to individuals that never had the opportunity. Now that they do have the
opportunity, they want to make the most of it!

A mature student may apply to go to college for any number of reasons. It may
be that they feel a career change is in order, or that they want to do
something for themselves now that their children are old enough to fend for
themselves. These are the two most popular reasons why individuals apply to
college in their twenties, thirties, forties and even fifties, but what about
the financial wrench that their families will experience as a direct result of
one less income to deal with when they do attend a campus based university or
college? Education would then be their full time pastime, but what of the lost
income?

There is financial aid available for mature students, and only for mature
students. This means that you do not have to compete with the general public
for grants and scholarships, only people over the age of twenty-five. Some may
actually stipulate that the minimum age is thirty, but they are in the
minority. There is national, state and college funding available for mature
students because the government is dedicated to getting a high number of
individuals over a certain age into education as part of their initiative to
bring education to the masses. Most colleges and local governments have
followed the federal government initiative and recognised that a massive
section of the workforce would be neglected if older individuals were not
encouraged to apply.

Applications from older individuals usually depend on whether or not the
potential student's family can survive without his or her wage coming in. In
the vast majority of cases, the answer would be no, unless of course that
individual was not working in the first place or they had some sort of funding
behind them. As we all get older, it becomes harder and harder to afford to
live without a wage coming in. As soon as this was brought to the attention of
governmental officials, more funding became available.

Grants are offered by local governments and individual schools to encourage
mature students to apply. This can actually be as much as needed to cover
tuition fees or just a small supplemental income, because it is largely based
on the family annual income following the deduction of the applicant's salary.
However, you can apply to more than one source for funding and low-income
family grants may also be available to you too.

In terms of scholarships, there are those dedicated to financing the mature
student, most of which can be found via a quick search at www.scholarships.com
by inputting your date of birth. However, you would also be eligible to apply
for all funding and scholarships open to younger students too.

The funding offered to individual mature students does not just stop with a
bachelor or associate degree though Mature students can also apply for Masters
and PhD funding if they are simply looking to extend their education instead of
starting it. There are many grants and scholarships that can be found via a
simple search that are tailored to this purpose. Therefore, regardless of your
individual intentions, it is wholly possible to find funding to enable you to
achieve whatever dream it is you have as a mature student. You can make your
own destiny without seeing your family fall below the poverty line!

Scholarships And Nationality: Your Guide

Studying abroad, whether on a temporary or permanent placement, can be
extremely exciting and is a fantastic opportunity to really experience the
world whilst living a different culture for a set period of time. You get the
chance to meet people of different backgrounds, values and ideals and immerse
yourself in their way of life. It will change your perspective and make you a
more complete person. When the opportunity to study abroad comes up, all of the
above means that only a fool would turn it down. The last thing you think about
is exactly how you will afford it. You would be surprised at how much more
expensive studying abroad can be, even if you are only going to be elsewhere
for a semester. As a result, it would be wise to look into scholarships and
grants. The one question you should ask yourself, though, is does nationality
make any difference to your chance of getting funding. The answer is a
resounding yes!

However, it is not an answer in the affirmative to the end that you think it
would apply to! Studying abroad does not hinder your chances of getting a
scholarship or grant. In fact, it helps it because there are so many more
bodies you can apply to and petition to get funding so you can truly experience
the world by living somewhere else. There are literally thousands of
scholarships around the world that are aimed at study abroad students, although
some are only offered to individuals that plan to spend an extended period of
time elsewhere in the world. Nationality does not seem to matter because most
stipulate geographical bounds in terms of study or are aimed at a specific type
of person. Gender, age and ethnicity are popular categories.

If you do want further information about studying abroad, nationality and the
scholarships that you could apply for, take a look at www.studyabroad.org. This
is a comprehensive website that allows individuals to take a look at what
exactly is on offer for anyone to apply for. The list is fantastic and it gives
you all the information you need to get started.

So what about nationality and scholarships in this country? Nationality may
actually make it easier for an American citizen to get funding than it would a
non-American student. There is no hard and fast rule that states no foreign
national can apply for a scholarship offered by an American company or body if
studying in this country, although it is imperative that they do study in this
country. However, a high percentage of the scholarships on offer to students do
have clauses in the terms and conditions stating that applicants do have to be
an American citizen in order to continue onto the next phase of selection.

It is completely up to the company or body as to whether they consider
nationality as a reason for exemption, but this does mean that the money is
kept within the USA, which is why many companies do attach that clause to their
scholarship terms. Many see it as unfair if an individual with another
nationality applies because they stand a chance of beating an American out.
Although this is effectively discrimination and a foreign student may actually
look the best on paper, it still stands and will probably never be removed from
some of the scholarships that carry it now.

Funding, especially scholarships and grants, are designed to help students.
Some will help all comers whereas others do discriminate on nationality. This
has become even more pronounced since the terror attack on September 11, 2001.
This is understandable because by reducing the applicants to only United States
citizens, they are cutting the risk that their scholarships could admit
terrorists to the country. Although it is the university or college that issues
the visa, scholarship committees want no part of it. Considering all of the
terror suspects were admitted on student visas, you could see why they want no
part of it! However, this does not help legitimate students one little bit and
these rules will not be broken any time soon!

Looking Closer To Home: Institutional Scholarships

When individuals think of scholarships, they automatically think of those
offered by large companies and the larger academic bodies. In other words, they
automatically think of those named after major academic figures that the
majority of students consider applying for, meaning they get close to a million
applications every year. However, there is an easier way to get a scholarship
and that is to look far closer to home. Indeed, regardless of what university
or college you plan to attend, you will find that the institution awards at
least one scholarship every year, with the majority of the larger colleges
offering scholarships in almost every department as well as for academic
excellence, outstanding ability and specialist scholarships that are, again,
named after famous alumni. It is therefore feasible that you could apply for
several scholarships within the institution that you wish to attend!

Institutional scholarships are nothing new, but a low percentage of students
apply for them when they are compared with more nationally renowned scholarship
programs. They also tend to offer more scholarships overall. Of course, only a
few of them would be full scholarships, but even a minor scholarship to cover
housing or course materials would be better than nothing and would save you
stress and heartache in the short term.

If you need an example of the level of scholarships offered at the larger
universities and college, the university of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
actually has a department dedicated to scholarships and financial aid! They
have advisers ready to assist you in your search for help, and they are trained
to assess your need for need based, non-need based and outside sources of
scholarships and aid. They also offer guidance on merit based scholarships too.
In fact, if you do get chance to visit their website, you will be shocked at the
sheer options every student is given! It is the same at any other large
institution. There have to be a vast number of aid packages available because
students may otherwise be unable to get through their degree course.

The application process for individuals looking to apply for help with college
fees via scholarships is basically the same as if they were to apply for an
outside scholarship. However, all scholarships have slight differences between
them in terms of the application procedure so make sure that you read all
guidelines very carefully before filling anything in. You may also need to
assess your eligibility first, and there are a number of online calculators
that can be used, but you will often find one alongside the application
instructions of every scholarship online.

There are distinct benefits of applying for institution offered scholarships.
The first is that you are not left hanging for as long as you would be if you
applied for a nationally recognised scholarship that you could take almost
anywhere with you. As there are less applicants to sort through and the
university recognises the value of giving you chance to look else where for
funding if necessary, they generally tend to let you know within a few weeks
instead of keeping you hanging on for months. After all, you are attending
their university!

Another advantage is that, even if you get turned down, it gives you knowledge
of the scholarship and grant system within your institution, which will
ultimately prepare you for applying again the following year if you so wish! An
innate knowledge of the way the funding system works is essential if you are to
attempt it again, so the first attempt should be looked upon as a trial and
part of the learning process if you do happen to be turned down.

As far as institutional scholarships are concerned, you have absolutely nothing
to lose by applying. You do not have to compete with the rest of the country,
just the university applicants who are going for it at the same time as you.
Applying can be a chore, but if you do not ask then you do not get!

College Financial Advice And Where To Seek It Out

Getting through college is one of the most financially straining experiences
that you will ever have during the course of your life. The expense is
phenomenal and still rising, despite the fact that more and more families are
falling below the poverty line. Without money though, there is no way that you
could even consider going to college or staying on if you have already started,
stay on there. This is unfortunately not very fair and the system does not tend
to help students in need out, but there are individuals that you can go to for
financial advice if you ever think you may be in need of a boost to keep you in
college.

Getting a job is obviously the first step to help you get through college
somewhat intact. Campuses often have job websites or notice boards that you can
tap into if you need money and need it quickly. There are usually various
resources of this nature available because it keeps any of the jobs going in
student hands rather than giving the jobs to individuals outside of the college
when the need is greater elsewhere. Depending on the size of the campus, the
variety of jobs may actually be extensive. Failing that, there are probably
experiments going on in the psychology department that will usually pay for the
pleasure of exploring your mind. For a quick fix, this will do, but what about
the more long term problems of staying at college when dubitation fees and
housing fees come around again?

Every good college or university will have a financial office as well as a
student guidance centre. They may not be called that because they go under a
variety of different guises. However, I guarantee that they will be there
somewhere. If in doubt, just head to the administrative centre of your
university and you will most likely find it there. If not, you will no doubt be
redirected to the right place.

Guidance counsellors at your college and university can be found in the student
help departments and are employed for the sole reason of finding a viable
solution for student problems, and money and funding often dominate their time.
So many students find themselves in need of a cash injection because they live
on the poverty line that the individuals employed there will most definitely
know their stuff and be able to advise you far better than any individual
elsewhere in the school or outside of it ever could.

The guidance counsellors at your school will be able to point you in the right
direct for grants, scholarships, hardship loans and quick fixes that will
enable you to get your head back above water again. They will also be able to
provide you with information to help avoid another similar circumstance
occurring as well as providing you with ongoing advice and support. You will
probably find shelves stacked with manual and books that could also be used to
help you because they will be able to enlighten you on the wonderful world of
scholarships and grants that are there to keep you on course for completing
your education as well as enhance your future prospects.

The majority of individuals working in such an office will be highly trained
and you will probably be referred to a particular guidance counsellor so you
can return to him or her whenever you need help in the future. This will give
you peace of mind straight away and will remove most of the strain and stress
that you would most definitely be under!

Athletic Scholarships: Getting And Keeping Them

Athletic scholarships are much sought after amongst the students of today. They
appear to be some sort of status symbol that marks them as more talented than
their peers and can indeed pave the way for the individual to move onto bigger
and better things in the future. A good number of individuals receiving an
athletic scholarship will probably go on to become professional sports stars
one day, whether playing basketball, American football, soccer or another sport
such as wrestling or golf. The options are endless but to get and keep an
athletic scholarship an individual student must work extremely hard. After all,
there can be no bigger heartache than getting there and then losing everything
you have technically earned.

Athletic scholarships are like gold dust, especially those that take the
individual it was awarded to way on to the next level. It is extremely
important that a good athlete maintains a certain academic and personal level
in order to maintain the gift that he or she has been given. After all, it can
be hard to earn an athletic scholarship in the first place. Not only does the
individual have to be good at the sport of his or her choice, he or she also be
getting a decent grade point average throughout his or her high school career in
order to be considered. It is not that they will not be offered an athletic
scholarship if their GPA is not up to scratch, they just will not be able to go
to the better colleges unless it is elevated. This also applies when they are
there!

Although college sports stars are just that, stars in their own right, they are
not exempt from the rules of the university and have a strict code of conduct to
adhere to. They need to be able to maintain good grades and keep up with
midterms and papers, as well as other assignments because they can actually be
suspended from their sports duties if they are not maintaining a high standard.
There have been rumours in the past that the GPA of an athletics scholarship is
somewhat lower than the GPAs set for other awards, but that is largely not the
case at the more prestigious universities.

An athletics scholarship covers just about every expense that the individual
athlete would have. It includes housing, tuition, course materials and
everything else that you could think of. In truth, it gives them the easiest
financial ride out of every single student on every campus across the United
States, because they bring glory for their college. It was also a practice some
time ago to give them gifts such as cars to lure the star athletes away from
other universities. This has since been outlawed because it is considered a
bribe.

Although they will miss having a car as a present, this demonstrates how much
time has altered the way that athletes on scholarships are supposed to behave.
Any scandal and they are out, low grades and they are out, and any hint of
drugs in their systems and they are out. It may be tough to get to the top and
earn athletics scholarship, but it could be even tougher to stay there if
individuals do not stick to the rules!

The Outsider: Funding For Out Of State Students

An individual living anywhere else in the world probably would not realise the
significance of calling a town or city outside of the state that they go to
school in home. Anyone crossing a state border in America to go to college has
to pay extra in terms of fees, and the difference between the fees of home
students and out of state students is quite significant. In fact, it is almost
double at some colleges. For example, if you chose to go to The University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill but were from Mississippi then you would pay
double the fee that a student from Raleigh would pay per credit. Non-Americans
do have a problem getting their heads around it because it is within the same
country that they are travelling to school, but it is state that counts here.

No other country in the world actually has this particular rule because it does
not matter where the individual lives as long as they go to college or
university in the same country. For example, if you lived in Liverpool in the
UK but went to school in London then you would pay no extra, despite the
university and home being in different counties. It is only if an individual
were to go to Europe that there would be a price hike.

This rule may actually help individuals staying in their home state because it
would keep the costs low, but what if you wanted to go to California to study a
one of a kind degree and lived in Florida? Not only do you have the expense of
travelling, but you also have the added expense of paying double fees. This
would render some potential students poverty stricken before they even set off,
but not with a little help!

If you were starting college for the first time then you would have to find
specific scholarships that catered for out of town applicants. There are
actually very few of those around. As a result, there is a great deal of
competition for them. The application process is extensive and can take months
to complete. As with any other scholarship application, you have to fill in the
application form as well as writing an essay and a list of interest and
activities. However, you also have to justify your decision to move out of
state. Any argument that you put forward would have to be logical and well
reasoned for it to be considered. However, if any hint of emotion comes through
then they may doubt your motives. If you were going to school elsewhere because
of a specialist course though, that would undoubtedly go in your favour.

If you happen to have completed your first year and then be transferring to an
out of state college, then finding funding is much easier. There are a number
of scholarships offered for those looking to transfer, and those include some
set up by the individual schools to attract talent. The talent would have
already been proved at the college that you are transferring from so they are
not taking a chance on an unknown quantity and less justification is required.

Whether you happen to be looking for funding for your first trip to college or
want to move on from the one that you are currently at, you can use a
scholarship search engine to locate potential sources of funding as well as
visiting the website of your intended school to see what help they will offer.
You should apply for as many scholarships as you can because the competition is
fierce. This is a result of many individuals wanting to brighten their horizons
and try something new away from home. It can be a daunting experience and
moving over state boundaries will make any financial troubles you face more
poignant. However, when you look back on the experience, you will realise that
the preparation made it easier. It is not an experience that you will look back
and regret in any way!

The Search Engine And The Scholarship: An Unhealthy Relationship

The Internet search engine has revolutionized the way we search for information
these days. No longer do we trawl through book after book, taking half an hour
to find a simple fact and painstaking writing down everything else we discover
along the way. Today, you can search with just one or two words and copy and
paste the results onto a word document to refer back to later. The nature of
the world is changing as a result of the technology that we have at our
fingertips today, but that may not be a good thing in certain ways. So Internet
search engines are fantastic for looking information up when you need it then
and there, but not so much if you are looking for a specific piece of
information that you need virtually immediately!

If you are looking for scholarship information online to help you to find
awards that you apply for, or information concerning general scholarships so
that you can learn more before applying, then you will soon come to regard the
search engine as your worst enemy. In terms of quality material, it will barely
turn up any with various keywords inputted into the search field, and refining
your search will bring back more obscure results that you had previously.
Search engines like Google and Yahoo respond to keywords, but yet very few
educational websites have keywords laced in the text and this makes them
difficult to find. Instead, every article that even mentions a scholarship is
keyword optimised and consequently turns up at the top of the results list.
Those articles are actually of little or no help to you!

Keyword optimised articles may not yield any helpful data and information
because they are simply designed to draw more individuals to the website in
question, and usually for money making purposes. There are some little gems out
there, though it becomes increasingly hard to find them as the days go on! In
truth, they could actually direct you to a more comprehensive site that could
act as a guide but very few do.

The keyword articles that can be found on the Internet that regard scholarships
and grants should not be taken as gospel if they do offer you information
because it may not be accurate. There are some well researched and thoughtful
articles out there, but it is always better to back them up with a reliable
source before acting upon their advice. In fact, as far as academic funding and
applications for it are concerned, it would be advisable to find helpful hints
and tips in a couple of articles before actually acting upon them. This is your
future ad one mistake could render the heart and soul that you poured into the
application useless.

Unfortunately, you may actually need a printed guide or a website address given
to you from a careers or guidance counsellor to find the information you need.
When you do get to the correct website then there will be more than enough
information for you to be able to use there. Some printed information is
available on certain websites too and can be downloaded. Most downloadable
material will actually be the official guides of certain educational bodies and
can thus be trusted. There may be a guide on the website of the school that you
want to go to, and that would be a very trustworthy source indeed, but if not
they will be able to refer you on so you can get the help that you need.

Although this sounds like very surprising information and is easy to disregard,
it is perhaps the best advice anyone could give on scholarships, grants and
other opportunities because it puts the ball firmly back in your court.
Applying for a scholarship or grant should be all about you, and only about
you. There is enough pressure to make a successful application, without having
several sources of information telling you completely different things.

Showcasing Your Talents: Attracting Sponsorship

Whoever said that if you wanted something in life then you have to go and get
it was not far wrong. Nothing comes easily and we all have to work for
everything we get, especially in this day and age when it is absolutely
impossible to fight your way through the competition without putting yourself
at the forefront of everything! Every aspect of life is like this today, and
education is no different. Those who want to get ahead have to fight for it.
There are most definitely subtle ways of doing this though, especially when it
comes to attracting scholarships and sponsorships for college.

Every individual has a talent, whether they know it or not. It may be a
personal talent, and arts talent, or a practical talent. Some people know of
those talents and can use them in the degree of their choice when they get to
college. However, it is usually a question of whether or not they can afford to
go rather than if they want to. Funding is a problem because education is so
expensive, and so the majority of people are seeking an answer to their prayer
through scholarships or sponsorship from a large company. Logically thinking,
though, if you apply for one of the above amongst thousands of other, what are
the chances of your voice being heard? If you do not want to take the risk of
it being silenced, you can make things happen on your own!

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a little self-promotion. You do not have
to be arrogant and conceited, nor outgoing and confident either for that matter.
You just need a little ingenuity and careful thought to help get yourself
noticed. Here are just a few of the things that you can do to get sponsors
flocking to you:

Build up a list of activities that you were involved in and events you have
organised

The majority of scholarship and finding committees always look for social
events and activities that you have been involved in. This is only a major
issue in the United States because the rest of the world does not look as hard
at accolades, instead concentrating on the academic achievement. Obviously it
is the academics that make scholars, but the accolades will chow the complete
person. Colleges like to develop you into as complete a person as you can be
and they like you to get involved, but if you were awarded a scholarship or a
sponsorship then you would be representing them for that college. By showing
yourself to be an individual who can work off his or her initiative and be
socially adept then you application will be better for it! If you can also
organise something yourself then that is better still

Draw attention to your name through your work

If you were a poet, you would not want to advertise that fact to others without
actually being published because it would not make you look credible. If you
draw attention to your work by letting committees deciding scholarships and
sponsorships know where it can be found as well as letting them know that you
have done the work then that will add more credibility to you application too!

Make a shortlist of the recommendations you could get hold of

Representatives will almost certainly want to get hold of all of your glowing
recommendations so give them a choice! Do not list too many or else the
representatives will get suspicious, but by offering up to five, you will get
their attention. They could call on any one of them for a glowing report, and
again that would make you look far better and stand out from the crowd.

Keep it simple

This is the final but most important point. If you do not keep it simple then
the representatives will put it down virtually straight away. Make sure that
you keep it simple and attract their attention, and the lure them in will all
of your fantastic achievements, which, by the way, it is never too late to
begin accumulating!

The Travel Bug And How It Will Affect Scholarships

Modern students tend to want so much more than previous generations ever did,
and they have every right to now that technology has enabled us all to live
more advanced lives with the means to conquer the world at our fingertips.
However, although the technology is awe-inspiring, it is the travel bug that
grips students more than anything else today. They dream of studying abroad,
with Europe being the choice of destination for the majority, but this leaves
them ineligible to apply for a scholarship or grant does it not? This is the
common train of thought for those looking to go abroad for at least a year, but
this is most definitely not the case.

Students looking to spend part of their degree in a foreign country and yet be
based at a specific university or college in the United States are usually
eligible for special grants to help with the cost of obtaining knowledge from
another country that can actually help to enhance that specific individual's
education. These grants may take the form of a scholarship if that individual
student has something special to offer, or a grant to help fund travel
expenses. Of course, with travelling abroad, awards that are unique to study
years are one time only offers and will not continue with that specific student
until he or she finishes college and successfully graduates.

If you were lucky enough to have been awarded a scholarship to help fund your
way through college before you began your freshman year then the likelihood is
that the awarding body would allow you to receive that scholarship if you spent
a year abroad. It would still be a vital part of your education, although it
would no doubt be subject to you maintaining any terms and conditions that were
laid upon it in the first place, such as maintaining a certain grade point
average or theme of study. This all depends on the type of scholarship that you
were awarded of course and you should always notify the body that awarded it to
you before you begin studying abroad.

However, studying abroad also opens up new opportunities to you as well. Some
universities abroad offer help to exchange students. They seem to recognise the
fact that you may struggle to make ends meet in a foreign country, especially
when geographical constraints are considered in terms of visa laws too. Some
visas will actually regulate whether you are able to find work abroad, or
determine where you can work as well. A foreign student heading to a US college
can only actually work on campus, and it would usually work both ways.

However, if you plan to study abroad for the entire duration of your degree
then the financial help that you will get is totally different. The majority of
scholarships and grants on offer stipulate that you actually have to attend a
university on home soil to benefit. This would make you ineligible for the
majority of them, although it would still be possible to apply for some
independent ones and those local to your area and the individual rather than
the institution. However, some British universities, for example, offer
international student scholarships for the individuals that actually look to
study in their institution. The majority of the large universities do have this
facility available for those wishing to take advantage so it would definitely be
worth applying if you are absolutely certain that you will see the degree
through to an end within that country.

As a result of the going abroad to study trend that has presented itself within
the last decade, there is plenty of help available for students out there now.
This certainly allows individuals to broaden their life experience as well as
their college one. In terms of a future career, the experience itself will
enhance an individual's ability to his or her job, and this can only be a good
thing for the future of this country as well as the world! If the money is
taken care of, then the student can simply relax and enjoy!

Passing the Test: Scholarships And The PSAT

In your sophomore or junior year of high school, if you live in the United
States, you will take a series of test called the PSAT. It will measure you r
critical reading skills, math ability and your writing skills. It is noted as
the PSAT because it is the preliminary test associated with giving a teenager a
taste of what it would be like to take the actual SAT test in their senior high
school year. The SAT is a college admissions tests that often determines the
college you get accepted into. The higher the score the better because you are
more likely to get into the school of your choice.

However, there is a tendency to disregard the PSAT as a practice run when it
can in fact have a massive impact on your future in terms of scholarships and
other financial awards that are made to individuals as they head off to college
for the first time. In truth then, the SAT determines which college you go to,
in accordance with all round school performance of course, but it is the PSAT
that may give you the head start that you need via National Merit Scholarships.

The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test is marked out of 80 in all three
sections, meaning a total of 240 points are available. However, if an
individual were to score over 200 then he or she would be placed in the 99th
percentile and would then go onward and one step closer to being chosen for a
National Merit Scholarship. Individuals progressing to the semi-finals, or
those that come in that percentile to put it plainly, are recognised for
outstanding academic achievement, but it is the offer of a scholarship that
makes it all worthwhile. Doing well on the PSAT could ultimately save a lot of
hassle later on when it actually comes
to applying for various scholarships!

If you are lucky enough to get to the semi-final stage then you can actually
apply for a National Merit Scholarship. In truth, this is simply filling out an
application form for the funding, and a panel of judges chooses the winners of
the scholarships. The application consists of a regular scholarships form, an
essay about yourself and a list of every single achievement, as well as a list
of the activities that you have taken part in, both inside and out of school.
This is then reviewed along with your academic record before the winners are
chosen and awarded a scholarship to take with them wherever they choose.

The money for the Nation Merit Scholarships comes from various large American
corporations. Many of them offer their own scholarships, but smaller. In
effect, a National Merit Scholarship is one of the most prestigious to be
awarded because you would be competing with the entire country of children your
age to try and win it. It can be extremely competitive but the goal must not be
lost. A scholarship like that could most definitely help you when it came to
affording college, and the prestige that came along with it could actually help
you to get into the college of your choice! In truth, the PSAT is there to gauge
what level you are at in terms of your peers and should be used as a practice
run for the actual SATs, but with a little bit of an edge!

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