Scholarships ExplainedTo some students and parents, the word "scholarship" is just another one of those confusing college term along with student loans, FAFSA, tuition and fees, EFC, grants, and work study. Little do they realize that using an online college scholarship assistance service can not only save them time, but thousands of dollars in educational costs as well.
Scholarships come in a variety of forms, but are generally considered to be "free money" for college. Unlike loans, scholarships do not have to be repaid to the scholarship provider. Some scholarships are awarded directly to the student in the form of a check, while other scholarships are written out to the student's college or university. Several different types of providers issue scholarships: clubs and organizations, charitable foundations, businesses, schools, universities, government agencies, and others.
Scholarship Misconceptions
It is a common misconception that scholarships are only for straight-A students. In reality, there are all types of scholarships for all types of students, including those with less than perfect academic records. Some scholarships are for athletes; others are for students planning to study in particular fields; and others for community service. Some scholarship providers just want to reward students for living in a certain city or state! Students also mistakenly believe that only college-bound high school seniors can apply for awards. Scholarships are available for all levels of college study, from freshman undergrads to graduate and PhD students and may be classified into the following primary groups.
Merit-based – the award is determined by a student’s athletic, academic, artistic or other ability. The purpose of this type of scholarship is to help motivate the student and promote the study of the subject.
Athletic - based upon athletic ability. In the United States and other countries, student athletes who perform well in various athletic programs are offered athletic scholarships.
Need-based – an award based solely upon the student and family’s financial situation. This type of scholarship can often cover all or part of the tuition, and in some cases, the student’s living-costs.
Ethnicity-based – an award that is limited to those applicants who qualify by race, religion, gender, or national origin with the final recipients being screened by additional factors such as their academic GPA or volunteer activities.
Institutional-based – an award presented by a specific college or university to a prospective student.
General – awards are open to anyone or limited to children of employees at a particular corporation.
Some scholarships may also contain a promissory note type of requirement. This is when the recipient agrees to accept the scholarship in return for promising to work for a particular employer for a specified period of time, or to work in a disadvantaged area in lieu of having to repaying amount given to him/her. If they fail to commit to this promise, they may be required to repay the amount given to him/her for their education. Examples of this would be teachers and other health professionals who receive scholarship aid with the understanding that they will teach or practice in those areas deemed at a disadvantage with the rest of society, for a specified period of the terms.
Scholarship Services
All in all, there are many scholarships available for practically anyone. While students are often encouraged to speak with their high school guidance counselors about any local or state awards that they qualify for, or contacting the financial aid office at the college or university they plan to attend, the process of searching for an online college scholarship is a tedious task that often ends in frustration for many people. Fortunately for many, Online college scholarship services are becoming the norm for many Americans looking for scholarship assistance to help them pay for the rising costs of tuition.
Most online college scholarship services understand how difficult it is for individuals to search for scholarships. It is often a very time-consuming process made more strenuous by the different application deadlines. There are thousands of scholarship programs with spring and summer deadlines, and thousands more with fall and winter deadlines. Using an online college scholarship assistance service greatly increases your chances of getting the scholarship you need for the career that you want, decreasing your chances of missing deadlines. You can spend your time focusing on submitting the scholarship application, not spending hours searching for a few.
Many individuals are finding great value with using online college scholarship search programs to assist them in searching for hundreds of college scholarships in moments. Not only does it save time, you can also find an online college scholarship that you would not have been able to find on your own. One such service is a premier site offering a “best of class” scholarship search service called the Scholarship Experts.
A member of the Better Business Bureau, Scholarship Experts has been endorsed by Sallie Mae, Kaplan, and Yahoo! Education. Their search service has been voted "Best of the Web" by Forbes.com since 2003. For over the past five years, Scholarship Experts has been helping parents and students find scholarships. They constantly update their database to provide you with the most accurate scholarship information available. By simply completing a FREE scholarship profile, you can get instant information about scholarships that fit your unique needs, interests and background. Their free service includes:
A time-saving list of scholarships that match your hobbies, interests and academic background
Unlimited access to our scholarship database of 2.4 million awards worth over $14 billion
Tips on finding and applying for scholarships
Scholarship application request letters and scholarship applications available for download
So if you are a Parent, a High School Student, currently enrolled as an undergraduate, graduate or international student, COMPLETE A FREE REGISTRATION TODAY.
Another resource to consider is the Fastweb FREE Scholarship Search Tool
. Fastweb is an online college scholarship service that offers the most complete source of local scholarships, national scholarships and college-specific scholarships. You can also search and compare different colleges, including the scholarships they offer. And if you are currently enrolled at a college or university, this program can help you locate any internships for students in your field, as well as part-time job openings near your home or school. FIND FREE MONEY FOR COLLEGE OR AN ADVANCED DEGREE TODAY WITH FASTWEB. Don't delay - give yourself plenty of time to prepare the best application that will guarantee you funding BEFORE THE DEADLINE DATE!
Other Financial ResourcesWhile you're searching for scholarships and grants for college, also consider your grant and loan resources. These other resources are often used in combination with scholarships and grants to pay for college educations.
Did you find this page helpful? Do you need additional information about online college scholarship services? If so, use the SiteSearch toolbar below to search for more information on the web.
Return to Top - Online College Scholarships
Return Home
