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Want
the bucks? Then get college cash crazy like these scholarship winners...
Methods to Scholarship Madness
By Feona Sharhran Huff
The CollegeBound Network NewsClick --
Joey and his best friend Justin did everything alike. They both made straight
As, scored 1300 on the SATs, volunteered with the same community projects, participated
in sports, and ranked in the top 10 percent of their graduating class. So, why
did Justin win over 13 scholarships, totaling $30,000, and Joey secured only
$3,000 and three student loans?
Perhaps
he didn't apply for enough scholarships, or didn't know where to look. Then
again, maybe he didn't put 115 percent into each essay.
Although
this is a hypothetical scenario, it's a reality for many. How can you be a "Justin,"
with $30,000 toward tuition under your belt? Follow these five tips:
Tip
#1 - Go On A Scholarship Campaign: That's what Benjamin Kaplan did. It paid
off, too -- nearly $90,000 worth. Now, Kaplan, a 1999 Harvard University (Cambridge, MA) graduate and a
self-proclaimed scholarship coach, talks about getting 'shown the money' in
his real-life-inspired book, How To Go To College Almost For Free (Waggle
Dancer Books, 2000). Use Internet search databases, school and community resources,
state scholarship agencies, specialized organizations, corporations and associations,
he advises.
It
works, says Lauren Falkowski, a student at Rutgers College (New Brunswick,
NJ). Lauren visited her high school guidance counselor every week to check for
scholarships. "If you put aside the extra time, you have a better chance
of getting scholarships," she says.
Tip
#2 - Apply For Everything -- That's E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G, says Mike Darne,
director of business development for WiredScholar.com, a site that provides
scholarship leads and information. "You keep yourself out of the recipient
pool when you only apply for one or two scholarships," he explains. If
you apply for a bunch, he says, chances are you may win a couple.
And,
adds JoAnn Acocella, assistant vice president of marketing for Sallie Mae (the
student loan big-wigs), there are all types of scholarships to apply for, including
ones based on hobby, geographical location, ethnic background, and nationality.
Lauren
found several she was eligible for, and went for them. Out of 30 scholarships
she applied for, she won 11, totaling $11,000.
Tip
#3 - Study Essays of Past Winners -- That's what helped Kara Choi beat out
the competition. A recipient of College Bound Magazine's Student Of The
Year 2000 scholarship, Kara read every essay written by scholarship winners
she could get her hands on since her freshman year. "I checked for their
writing styles," explains Kara, who won $1,000 and lots of cool prizes.
"I also looked for the types of topics covered."
Tip #4 - Focus the Essay on a Special Event - In the "Essay Excellence"
chapter of his book, Kaplan demonstrates how to write essays that stand out
from the competition. "Make the essay intensely personal," he says.
"No one else can write the essay you wrote because no one has shared your
life."
No
one could describe the emotions Kara felt the first time she worked in a hospital,
that's why her essay about that experience became her signature piece. The same
goes for Rick Herbst, now a freshman at University of Notre Dame, who was Kara's
Student Of The Year 2000 co-recipient. His personal experience about learning
a piano recital piece and how it helped him understand himself and others hit
just the right tune with the judges.
Tip #5 - Make Some 'Letters of Recommendation' Recommendations. These
'salutes to you' weigh heavily on a judge's decision, says Kaplan, that's why
just any ol' letter won't do. Don't tell someone you need a recommendation and
leave it up to him or her to give you the kudos you need to secure points...
help 'em out. "Present the person with a summary about you so he or she
can make the material fit," says Kaplan. Plus, get as many letters as you
can and piack the best one for each scholarship application.
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