Scholarships, Scholarships, Scholarships!

There are an incredible number of scholarships for you if you are willing to invest some time and search them out. However, you should be cautioned that your first goal is to apply to college, complete necessary financial aid forms, and then, look for scholarships. Click here for the Top Scholarship Web Sites, Institutional and Merit-Based Schollarships at WNY Colleges, and Additional Scholarship Web Sites for more opportunities. Remember:

1. The earlier you begin your search, the better. Do as much research as you can, and apply for every scholarship for which you are eligible.
2. Meeting deadlines is crucial! Most programs have limited funding, and may not even consider applications received after the due date.
3. Follow directions. Provide everything that is requested, but no more than is required.
4. List all activities and honors. Highlight those that are relevant to the scholarship in your essays.
5. Neatness counts. Type your application.
6. Make a photocopy of the application before you begin. If you make a mistake, you can start fresh with a clean copy. Also make a copy of the completed application, so you can resend it if the original is lost.
7. Ask for help if you need it. If you have problems with the application, don't hesitate to call the funding organization.
8. Write an essay that makes a strong impression. Tell a story, use personal examples and be specific.
9. Choose references who know you well. Give them plenty OF time to write the letter of recommendation.
10. Give your application (and/or essay) a final "once-over." Ask a friend, teacher or parent to proofread it. (Information provided by: http://mappingyourfuture.org/collegeprep/apply.htm)

Scholarship Scams:

If you have to pay money to get money, it's probably a scam. Every year, several hundred thousand students and parents are defrauded by scholarship scams. The victims of these scams lose more than $100 million annually. Scam operations often imitate legitimate government agencies, grant-giving foundations, education lenders and scholarship matching services, using official-sounding names containing words like "National," "Federal," "Foundation," or "Administration." This web site provides advice on how to identify such scholarship scams, how to distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent organizations, how to protect yourself from scholarship scams; and what to do if you are scammed. In general, be wary of scholarships with an application fee, scholarship matching services who guarantee success, advance-fee loan scams and sales pitches disguised as financial aid "seminars".  For more information click on Scholarship Scams.