* Insider Tips on Collecting College Cash! *

The early or late debate:
"While it's true that most scholarships are open to high school seniors, you should start your search even earlier," advises Tanabe, in order to get ahead of the game. You'll be pleasantly surprised, too, she says, to find that some college dollars are even earmarked for juniors, such as the Discover Card Tribute Award scholarship, and competitions open to high school students.

Organizing to-knows:
Although there are several thousand scholarship opportunities, there is only one of you to apply to them, says Tanabe. In other words, the bulk of your buck search should be to narrow down award opportunities that are right for you. "Prioritize the awards by how well they fit your background. Then put the deadlines of those on a calendar so you know which awards to tackle first," she says.

Where to find 'em:
Everyone knows about online search engines, but did you know you could also find scholarship listings in your local newspaper? "Look at the announcements section of your local newspaper to see which organizations are giving awards," suggests Tanabe. Not just that, you should talk to your parents about any awards their employers or affiliations may offer. One more tip: "Look for the Web sites of organizations in your future career field." Many professional organizations offer scholarships that are publicized online, points out Tanabe.

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