Scholarships…where to start? Sure, there are athletic scholarships and academic scholarships. Everybody knows about these. But did you know that there are scholarships available for left-handed students? Red-headed students? Minority students with disabilities? No? Well, you should. While there is often heated competition for the big-name athletic and merit-based scholarships, specialty scholarships sometimes often go unclaimed. You could get one just by being the only person to apply!
One of the best ways to find out about scholarships is to look at the organizations you or your parents or grandparents belong to. Often, businesses, churches, and community organizations have scholarships for deserving young people. For example, a friend of mine won a scholarship from his father’s labor union for children of union members. Another friend I knew won a scholarship for speaking an obscure foreign language.
Another great resource to find scholarships is the school you are attending. Your high school guidance counselor probably has a fat file of scholarships and can help you figure out which ones you qualify for. I know that when I went to college, my guidance counselor was really helpful in identifying some government scholarships I’d never heard of, but which earned me thousands of dollars. If you’re already in college, your school’s office of financial aid can point you in the right direction.
You can also try looking online for scholarships, though it’s important to remember that not every scholarship online is for real. Make sure the offer comes from a trusted site, and don’t trust any offer that asks you to send money, a credit card number, or a Social Security or personal ID number.
No matter where you look, you’re bound to find a number of scholarships waiting for you. All you need to do is apply… The hardest part is writing the application essay to get the money flowing in!
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