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Getting a ScholarshipBy Miss. Ayers What You Need to Know About Scholarships; Undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships are forms of aid that help students pay for their education. Unlike loans they dont need to be repaid. Hundreds of thousands of scholarships and fellowships are awarded every year. Funding your kids college education may be one of the largest financial investments youll encounter in your lifetime. Its not getting any easier, as tuition continues to rise about 6% every year. And tuition, room and board at a 4-year private college is about $28,000 per year and going up every year but the benefits of a Bachelors degree greatly outweigh the costs. According to the U.S. census bureau, a college graduate in 2005 will earn about 70% more than someone with only a high school diploma. Lack of financial resources need not prevent a student from achieving academic goals if you aspire for your dream career. Also after a few years in the working world, many graduates find that they just cant advance any farther in their careers without having additional qualifications and credentials. Higher education is so accessible these days that a Bachelors degree can be right at your fingertips. This is particularly true in high technology areas, sciences and business management. You are probably going to have to earn a Masters degree or a Doctorate in order to move up the corporate ladder. Generally, scholarships and fellowships are reserved for students with special qualifications, such as academic, athletic, artistic talent. Awards are also available for students who are interested in particular fields of study or are members of underrepresented groups. They are also for particular states. Finding Your Scholarship; The best way to search for a scholarships or fellowships is to use a personalized search that compares your background with the different scholarships. You should only go for scholarships that fit your profile. Some colleges alumni and other private scholarship sponsors occasionally have scholarships with esoteric eligibility requirements. But always look out for scholarships that sound too good to be true may be a scam. Get some professional help too; Anyone thinking of entering college should ask your schools financial aid office about its outside scholarship policy, since this can affect how much you benefit from winning a scholarship if you are also receiving need-based student but you should seek the help of a tax professional for any scholarships or fellowships grant. A portion of your scholarship may be taxable. Usually, amounts used for tuition and required fees are tax-free, but you should review the rules to ensure you report your scholarship correctly. It is a good idea to have a professional help you with this. You should also check with counselors about scholarships that are based on academic accomplishments. You may be surprised that most schools offer these types of scholarships. Parents should check with their employer to find out if they offer some type of college assistance for dependants of employees. More and more companies today are moving toward these types of benefits. Some Simple Mistakes Can Cost You Your College Scholarships; Are there mistakes that can disqualify your scholarship application? Often a scholarship committee may find a few minor mistakes acceptable, but the higher the amount of competition, the less tolerant they are. And when you go for the gold at the national level no mistake is permissible. Even at the local level, if the competition is heavy, one error can result in the loss of money. Even small spelling mistakes can cause an application to be thrown out. Those are the kinds of little mistakes that can disqualify good candidates. Use the computer spell check and have someone read for context and spelling problems. Most people cannot do a good job of proofreading them selves. Why take the chance? Another blunder is leaving blank spaces. This is very bad. If the question or statement is not applicable to you, write DNA on the line, which is the standard abbreviation or acronym for Does Not Apply. Use a computer whenever you can. Never write in pencil. And, never, never use whiteout. Heres a tricky one that trips many juniors and seniors with honor roll credentials. Even the big guns some times make basic grammar and spelling errors with simple thing like to, too, two, and theyre, their, there. And of course ALL WAYS, ALL WAYS SEND IT IN EARLY!!! Check, Check, Check AND Check it again. Make sure every thing is done and done correctly! Most mistakes can be eliminated when others proof the application. Then read it out loud while someone else listens. What can you do if the mistake cant be corrected? Be sure to make a copy before you start. If it says, 'copies are not permitted,' get one or two more originals. You can get other tips to help you by doing some research. You should begin in; You should begin in junior high/ middle school is a great time to start. Assembling a plan of action requires time. Starting in the 8th grade is the best time. Even telling your children in the fifth grade to start working on winning scholarship contests and any other contests that we find out about can make a big difference. Many scholarships have a C+ qualifications or higher. Be sure to offer continuous encouragement. Personalization; Many books and articles will tell you that 'personalization' is good, but they dont tell you how to accomplish that. Show your student shaking hands with the President of the USA or enclosed an audiotape that reveals a talent to play a musical interment or other talent that has to do with what your going for. But make sure that it applies to the scholarship your trying to get. Get into the committees head in a personal way. No tiny bikinis. Personalize it dont dramatize. Use good judgment and common sense when. Show you are the person who deserves the money. You are the best qualified! Why is personalization so important? Imagine you are on the committee, sitting around a table with 300+ scholarship applications. It is the committees job to pick the winners. But many of them look alike. Which ones do you choose? A personalized request made well will stand out positively from the rest. Someone has taken the time to be bold, inventive and creative. They have made it possible for the scholarship committee to know more about who they are. They are more than a name. Who has a better chant to win now? Help With Those Extra Expenses; Many students and their parents often also start home businesses to help pay for the extra unexpected expenses that always come up. But you should stay with a well-known and trusted home business like 'Vibe' by Eniva http://www.bestvibrantlife.com , or Quextar with their Great Health and Beauty line http://cayers1.qhealthbeauty.com or their high quality affordable gift catalogs http://cayers1.ordermygift.com . These can be a great help with those unexpected expenses that sneak up on you. You want to make sure that nothing gets in the way of you doing the best possible with your education. About the Author: Brought to you by Ayers home, San Diego, CA The more you know, the better you can do. Your abilities are far greater than you know. Hoping you get the Scholarships that will help you have a better more prosperous life:)
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