Get Cash for College

October 1st, 2009

Maybe you’ve heard those urban legends about students who have earned so much in scholarship money that they even have enough left over to pay for part of grad school. News flash—those stories are true. There are a growing number of students who apply for college scholarships like it’s their job and they are rewarded handsomely. Do they all have 4.0 GPAs? Sure, a bunch of them do, but what all of them definitely have in common is a drive to sock away as much money as they can to help lower—or eliminate—their college bills.

So where do you start? Well, you can always put your Internet research skills to good use, but be prepared to be quite overwhelmed by search results when you Google the phrase “college scholarships.” There’s tons of money out there waiting for you, so here are a few options that we’ve narrowed down to help you get started.

Cash in, bookworms! Reading Area Community College in Reading, PA sponsors a–ha!–reading contest that offers students cash for reading books. Not in the Reading, PA area? Then try the national Ayn Rand Institute Essay Contest, which offers more than $80,000 in scholarships. The contest involves writing an essay about one of Rand’s three most popular novels: Anthem, The Fountainhead, or Atlas Shrugged (title depends on age and grade levell). All three novels are acclaimed for their engaging prose, but The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged are also known for being heavy enough to double as doorstops. That means that many would-be applicants will be turned away by such a hefty contest requirement, leaving a smaller pool of competitors for you to dive into.

Hey Mom and Dad, will your boss send me to college? If one of your parents or guardians works for a large corporation like Verizon, there is a very good chance that there is some kind of scholarship program for which you are eligible. CVS, Intel, and Lockheed Martin are just a few of the other major corporations that offer scholarship programs. Search the website of your parents’ companies—the info you are looking for is usually in the foundation or corporate responsibility section—and see how to apply for an award.

Don’t sweat the small stuff (or small scholarships). Just because a scholarship doesn’t have as many zeros at the end as you’d like doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply for it. Remember, a thousand dollars might seem small when compared to a $40,000 a year tuition bill, but it is just enough to cover your book bill for both semesters without having to bust out the credit or debit card. BookScholarship.com gives away a number of $1000 book awards with no purchase necessary. Chances are also good that the college you choose will also award small grants for books. In fact, many alumni are realizing that they do not have to break the bank in order to give back to their colleges, and book scholarships are becoming a popular way to show support for their alma maters.

Remember, the more scholarship applications you submit increases your chances of winning something—and lots of somethings just might add up to a whole lot. Just like college applications, these scholarship contests have deadlines, so mark them down on your calendar and get going!

-Barbara Bellesi

Entry Filed under: General,Scholarships