Scholarships not Working for You Neither, Huh?

We're going to college, and we need cash. We have tuition and food, housing, books... like I said, we need cash. We hear about these billions of dollars of unclaimed scholarship money just floating around, yet you can't seem to get your hands on any of it, nor on any other form of financial aid. We're out here working like dogs, trying to make time to study an keep from losing our insanity, until we finally just give up. This sounds like a pretty big problem. What to do?

First of all, you should know that there aren't billions of dollars out there just waiting to fall in your lap. In fact most counselors and financial aid assitants wonder why this rather enormous figure is stated so often, but its not the case. So don't feel bad or think you "suck" because you haven't won some of this dough. However, there IS some money to be made out there that many people either overlook or figure it isnt worth pursuing. Trust me, its worth taking a look at and worth pursuing.

Usual Suspects

Your first destination should be the government. The FAFSA needs to be the first thing you do. You may be eligible for grants or other special awards. Then go to your school to see if they have any special scholarships that are only available to students of that college or university. After that, sign up to fastweb.com and scholarship.com and become familiar with those two sites, they are two of the most used on the web.

There's something for everyone!

People commonly think that only minorities and people with really low incomes and awesome grades can get scholarships. This is just not so. There are plenty of scholarships out there that are aimed at people in certain national or local clubs, that serve different interests such as drawing, writing, or a sport, and even some that are strictly for those with work experience. Tons of scholarships for college students are aimed at specific majors and corresponding social networks, for example the Audio Engineering society and American Medical Association. Be creative when searching. There are plenty of companies giving money away in hopes of attaining a student base of prospective future employees. If you're working on computers, for example, see what top technological companies such as Qualcomm and IBM have to offer, if you're working in finance and economics, checkout some big time (and small time) Wall St. corporations, for instance.

Also, don't forget to checkout your own community. YMCA, churches, local youth groups and sports teams, they all give out money to deserving individuals, so do some homework on your hometown before moving on to bigger venues.

The essay contest

These are wonderful. Checkout what you like, what you know a lot about and are passionate about, and write an essay to submit to a contest or scholarship offer. Get friends in on it...help each other out and promise to share earnings.

Why isn't this EASY?

Now, I don't want to brag, but I won quite a few scholarships in my day. However, I remember always getting questions about "how do you do it," "you're so lucky," and so on. Well, it really isn't that complicated-- its going to take some work and dedication. Start early, make a list of scholarships, plan for scholarship-work time, and get busy. Don't feel bad when you don't win, most students are happy to win a few because that's usually what it takes. Just keep focused on what you're trying to do, hope for the best, and do NOT stress out about it.

Alternatives

There are a few alternatives. Never resort to credit cards. Ever. What you want to look for are student loans because they have lower interest rates and usually have friendlier grace periods and payback periods. Don't worry about being in student loan debt upon graduation...$10000-$15,000 is not bad at all (if being repaid in ten years). Stafford loans are the most common. They offer around $2600 for first-year, $3500 for second year and $5500 for third year students. Perkins loans usually don't have to be repaid until nine months after graduation and you have 10 years to pay. Checkout private loans, maybe from loan-specialists companies and your own school. Checkout the American Education Society which also provides private loans for people.

Don't Stress It

There is money to be made, just be focused, dont't get discouraged, and work hard at it. Well, what are you waiting for?

Vincent St. James is a writer and researcher for thecollegeguys.com, where you can find more of his work related to finance, health,and movies.

---

Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Student Loans ? Ensuring a Brighter Future Ahead

Higher education in the university gives students a chance to... Read More

MRCP and MRCPCH ? Preparation for the Examination

There should have been a time in the human history... Read More

Need Help Paying Back Student Loans?

Many college students and graduates are looking for a solution... Read More

Who Can Apply For Online Nursing Degrees?

Online nursing degrees are college degrees in the field of... Read More

The Oxford Student - Official Student Newspaper

Academics from Oxford University have mathematically proven long held suspicions... Read More

Who Should Earn an Online Associate Degree?

An online associate degree is a two-year general studies degree... Read More

Business and Academia!

The driving factor of any university is to make the... Read More

Limperts Academy of Design Opens Interior Design Education / US and Canada

You may be bursting at the seams with natural talent,... Read More

Graduation Quotations - Top 35

"Life is my college. May I graduate well, and earn... Read More

Mind-Body Secrets for College Success - Six Key Secrets

Embrace the secrets of the body-mind connection and tap into... Read More

Medical Assistant - Medical Assistant Distance Education

Considerations in Distance Education for the Medical Assistant InstructorMedical Assistant... Read More

Academic Research on the Internet : There Is a Better Way

Students nowadays start their research projects by looking up information... Read More

Hidden College Costs: Roommate Conflict

Parents, if you're already reeling from the costs of today's... Read More

Writing Effective (and Requisite) Essay Openers

When we write for college courses, we write for an... Read More

Balancing College Life and Academics

1. Control Your Schedule; Don't Let Your Schedule Control YouOrganization... Read More

Creating the Acceptable College Applicant

America's colleges and universities no longer have enough room to... Read More

The All-Important College Application

H.G. Wells once said, "Human history becomes more and more... Read More

Business Plan Competitions

The idea of a business plan competition first started in... Read More

Outstanding Business Professors at WVU, Part 2

Stratford Douglas enrolled at the University of North Carolina in... Read More

The Challenges College Students Face on Secular Campuses

What is happening on the campuses of secular universities across... Read More

Facing Your Fears as an Adult Returning to School

In case you hadn't noticed, career colleges aren't just for... Read More

IMT College - Full Online

IMT College - full online* Ensure Your Future* Immediate Use... Read More

Getting Into College No Longer A Numbers Game!

Sending your kids to college has never been more difficult... Read More

Online Nursing Degree For Busy Nurses

Many who work in the healthcare or nursing industry know... Read More

SAT Test Preperation; Prep Options

It's time to take the SAT's. How should you prepare?... Read More