Unusual Scholarships

Every time I speak about scholarships someone asks about a specific scholarship. Either it’s a student asking about a scholarship they’re sure isn’t available or a parent asking about an unique scholarship they’ve heard exists. Sometimes these scholarships exist, often they don’t, or they are extremely restricted.

For example, one mother asked me about the scholarship for red headed left handed students.  There’s no such thing, at least I haven’t found it. I haven’t even found a scholarship specifically for students with red hair. However, since many red heads are of Irish decent, they may be eligible for a “Irish Scholarship” such as this one, sponsored by the Irish American Society of County Will.  Of course to qualify for this one students must live in Manhattan.

As for a scholarship for southpaws, yes there is one. However, the left-handed student must be enrolled in Juniata College in Huntington, PA. Now, if you plan to attend Juniata College, and are left-handed, this is a good scholarship for you to add to your list. However, for the rest of you lefties, sorry you don’t qualify for a scholarship based on which hand you write with.
Students, may often ask about unusual scholarships for their own reasons. For example, earlier this month when talking to students living in a large town they asked about skateboarding scholarships.  Yes, as a matter of fact there is a scholarship for skateboarders, sponsored by the Patrick Kerr Foundation Skateboard Scholarship Fun.

You can see knowing about the unusual scholarships can be beneficial to you, IF you qualify. However, there aren’t enough of them to limit your scholarship searches to those unique scholarship opportunities. Just keep your eyes open for them as you compile your scholarships for the future. Apply for the unusual ones as well as the more common.

Some of the more unusual scholarships, with links or web addresses  can be found here.

Links to Scholarship Information

Today I’m going to give you some sites to check out that will be helpful in helping you reach your goals of attending college using scholarship money.

First, you need to narrow your college choices down to three or four.There is much to consider when selecting a college, and you’ll want to talk your choices over with your parents and/or an educator.   You can take virtual campus tours online by checking out the college’s website.The easiest way to locate the websites of any college is by checking out the list of four-year colleges and universities put together by the University of Texas at Austin, here. They also have a comprehensive list of community colleges, with links to their websites here.

A list of scholarship search sites, places where you can register for scholarships searches can be found here.  Once registered you will be notified of available scholarships you may qualify to receive. One of the scholarship searches, FastWeb, which is widely popular is found here,

If those links don’t work, you can try pasting these web address in your search bar.

Colleges and Universities in the United States, with links to their websites, listed by state:                                                    http://www.utexas.edu/world/univ/state/

Community colleges in the United States, with links to their websites:  http://www.utexas.edu/world/comcol/state/

List of scholarship search sites:                                            http://www.college-scholarships.com/free_scholarship_searches.htm

FastWeb, one popular search site:         http://www.fastweb.com/

Evaluate your Scholarship Grades

Now that a new year has begun and a new semester, it’s time for students to evaluate where you are in your educational goals, where you want to be, and what you need to do to get there.

One of the most important scholarship determining factors is your grades.  Scholarship committees look for students who can do the college work. They use your high school grades to help them determine your chances of college success.

Those of you in 11th or 12th grade will have a tougher time getting your act together, but it can be done so don’t quit.  Check your gpa (grade point average) if it’s below par you need to work double hard to raise your grades. A higher grade will raise the gpa. You may have to eliminate some extra activities; spending time with friends, sending emails and text messages, watching television. But, your future is at stake here, it’s important.

One former student told me about a time when algebra was tough for him, and he slacked off. Realizing his grades were dropping, he started spending an hour a day in his room working on algebra, no television, no radio, no ipod, no telephone, just  him, the algebra book, a pencil and paper. After a couple of weeks he’d mastered the algebra and was able to keep his grades up and enjoy other activities.

If your gpa is a 3.00 or lower, spend some time with your books studying, bring that gpa up. Even twelfth grade students can bring their gpa up with a little work and determination.Whether you’re in ninth grade or twelfth grade, now is the time to assess where you stand with your grades. If they are low, take action to raise them.

Remember, the lower your grades, the more difficult it will be for you to obtain, even qualify , scholarships. Take action now.

Scholarships Your Responsibility

Remember, this blog is all about helping you, the student prepare for, find, and receive college scholarship money. This is about your future, which means, you must find a way to get where you want to go. Doesn’t mean you can’t ask for help, but it’s your job.

Denise Witmer at her Parenting Teens blog,   has several good articles about college and college prep, including questions to be asked.While I agree with the questions, I disagree with who should be asking them and when.

Most of these questions can  be answered over the course of a year, assuming you start early in your high school, or preferably middle school years. Answers to these, and many other questions, are often provided group meetings, and handouts. You can also do a little research to discovery the answers on your own.

For example one question: What local scholarships are available, what are their deadlines? You can discover this on your own, and you need to have this information in your files.

Most high schools announce the scholarships their graduating students receive, either in the local newspaper, school newspaper, or assembly. Collecting the information yourself also allows you to include other area scholarships. Don’t limit your list to just students from your school, watch your local paper and find scholarship recipients other area students receive.

Remember this is your future. Your responsibility. Don’t depend on someone else to do the work for  you. Counslers don’t have all the information. Your counselor will only have the information for students at  your school. They don’t have the time to keep a record of all scholarships received by area students. You do.

Once armed with the information your counslor can help you locate the application, or assist you in completing the application. There are many ways your high school counselor can help you. Just don’t look to her to do your work for you.

Remember, this is your future and it’s your responsibilty, but you do have a great team on your side. Together with your team members, your counselor, your teachers,  your parents,  your friends,  you will reach your goals.

Ninth-Twelfth Grade Essay Scholarship Contests

Last week I highlighted several scholarships with deadlines in January. This week’s scholarships are due February 1. They are both fairly specialized, but are open to students nationwide. I hope some of my readers will consider trying for these scholarships.

The first one, the National Peace Essay Contest, is open to ninth through twelveth grade high school students. It is sponsored by the United States Institute of Peace. Check out there website, which includes information about the contest here.

The second one is the Courageous Persuaders Scholarship contest. It is also open to United States High School students in grades nine through twelve. The contest is sponsored by a variety of businesses, and involves students making a 30 second commercial to warn middle school students about the dangers of alcohol abuse. More information is available on their website here.

Good luck and happy essay writing.

Why College

This blog generally deals with making you scholarship eligible, as well as finding and applying for scholarships.  However,today  it’s about why you need  to consider college.

First,  “college” is more than a four year place of study. “College” includes two-year community colleges, technical/vocational schools as well as two-three year programs in either a two or four year school.

Employers are all  looking for that college degree. Jobs that, in the past, didn’t require certification or a degree are disappearing fast.

For example, kids used to be able to learn how to work on and fix vehicles by working on their cars, helping their dad or neighbor do repairs, even working part-time with a gas station mechanic to learn the skills. Today, there aren’t many “shade-tree” mechanics, and gas station mechanics have all but disappeared. Kids drive new cars now, so they don’t work on them, they take them to the dealer.  It’s almost impossible to get a job as a mechanic without either the experience or education to show the person knows how to repair vehicles. Since experience is hard to come by,  an education is the future mechanics best choice.

So many careers/jobs are like that now.   Look at the adults around you. Those who don’t have a college degree or certification have probably worked at the job for several years, their experience is their certification. You don’t have the experience, and many employers today aren’t willing to be the teacher. They want you to know the job before they hire you. They want you to have the certification or college degree.

This is why it’s important college (of some type) to be your goal.All higher education costs money,and  scholarships will help pay for college.

Seven Scholarships with January Deadlines

Christmas break is over.  Hopefully you continued working on you scholarship goals during the break. Finding scholarships you can apply for now, or later and writing essays for upcoming scholarships, as well as applying for any scholarships with December or early January deadlines while you were out of school.

If you slacked off during your break, now is the time to get cracking again on those scholarships.

Today’s scholarships all have January deadlines, all require an essay, all are  open to students in the United States, and most are open to more than high school seniors .

Check out these scholarships,  check that you meet the qualifications, and apply. These first four scholarships are all open to middle school as well as high school students:

The Grand Canyon Essay Scholarship

The DuPont Challenge

The Oklahoma City national Memorial and Museum Student Essay Contest

Dream Deferred Essay Scholarship

Scholarships available to high school students only are:  the JFK essay contest and the Reconnecting the Circle contest,

The The Sam Walton Community Scholarship, is for high school seniors.

Deadlines are:

1-10   JFK ESSAY CONTEST

1-23  RECONNECTING THE CIRCLE

1-24  GRAND CANYON ESSAY

1-30 OKC NATIONAL ESSAY CONTEST

1-31  DUPONT CHALLENGE

1-31  SAM WALTON COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP

1-31  DREAM DEFERRED ESSAY SCHOLARSHIP

Whether you’re a middle school student or a high school senior, these seven scholarships should keep you busy this month. Hopefully, one or more of them will add to your scholarship funds.

Middle school students, make a note of the JFK, Reconnecting, and Sam Walton scholarships, you can apply for them when you’re older.  High school seniors, I know this is a busy time of year for you, but try to find time to apply for those three at least.

Remember, the more scholarships you apply to receive, the better your chances of receiving funds.