Etiquette and the Scholarship Search

Today searching for scholarships is easy for students—the internet has made it so. With scholarship databases containing millions of dollars in financial assistance at your finger tips, like Scholarships.com, you can literally earn a scholarship from a business or organization with which you have no affiliation. Getting out of the car, opening the door, and walking in to the scholarship provider’s office to pick up an application is a method of the past because of the effort and time it involves.

Scholarship providers want thousands of students to have a chance at earning their scholarship, and so many choose to list their awards in databases like Scholarships.com to make their gifts available. Most have even gone so far as to encourage students to apply online. When you are applying for a scholarship, consider the things that the scholarship provider has already done to make the process easy for you and show your appreciation accordingly. Think about it- they haven’t even determined that you will be the recipient, and yet they have stretched to extraordinary lengths to make the chance at financial assistance easy for you to take.

When requesting information about a scholarship:

• Write a letter expressing your interest in the scholarship and request an application if the application is not available online.
• Look for answers to your questions about the scholarship online before making a phone call or sending an e-mail. Take the initiative to find the information in the materials they have made available to you because usually it is actually there.
• If the scholarship is discontinued, do not write unreasonable e-mails or letters expressing your contempt for the removal of the award. Scholarships are gifts and, as such, nobody owes you one. Move on to another scholarship and apply elsewhere.
• If you place a phone call to the organization, be patient, polite, and appreciative even if you are just requesting certain information about the scholarship. Thank them for offering the award.

When submitting an application:

• Follow the guidelines for submission that the scholarship provider has given you exactly. They’re considering giving you free money, comply with their instructions and pay attention to detail.
• Include a cover letter if the application is submitted by mail, unless the scholarship provider specifically requests that you don’t. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with the correct amount of postage.
• Proofread any materials that are submitted along with your application and take any essays seriously. There is nothing that puts off a scholarship provider like an apathetic student applying for free donations.

When you receive the award: Send a hand-written note or an email thanking the scholarship provider. This is very important. Too often, as soon as the cash is in hand, students forget to acknowledge who gave it to them – please don’t let this happen. Scholarship providers are anxious to hear from you and excited that they are helping you attend college. The silence that falls when they hear nothing from a recipient after they have cut them a check for several thousand dollars is disheartening to say the least.

One year after you receive the award: Say thank you one final time if the award is not renewable. Write your scholarship provider and tell them about what their award has helped you accomplish in the past year, even if the award was small. Such a gesture will be greatly appreciated. If your scholarship is renewable you should still express your gratitude for their continued support and give them an update about your academic progress.

Thank you in advance for using proper scholarship etiquette. By doing so, you will help ensure that scholarship providers will continue to reward deserving students in the future and help another student like yourself attend college.

The Siemens Competition

Interested in science, math, engineering or technology? The Siemens Foundation is offering students an opportunity to compete for $100,000 scholarship!

The Siemens Competition promotes excellence by encouraging students to undertake individual or team research projects in science, mathematics, engineering and technology or in combinations of these disciplines. In 1999, the Foundation hosted the first national Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology. With its high academic standards, rigorous judging process and emphasis on authentic scientific research, it has quickly become the leading science and mathematics research-based competition for high school students in the United States.

Contact:
The Siemens Foundation
170 Wood Ave South
Iselin, NJ 08830

Phone:
877-822-5233

Email Address :
foundation.us@siemens.com

Application Deadline :
October 1, 2007

Maximum Amount :
See Description

Website Address :
http://www.siemens-foundation.org

Remember, there are millions more scholarships and grants at Scholarships.com, along with a huge resource section to help you deal with all phases of attending college including essay writing tips!

You could win $1,000 just for referring a friend to Scholarships.com!

As a member of Scholarships.com, you could win cash prizes just for helping us spread the word about our free college scholarship search. All you have to do is enter up to ten of your friends’ names and email addresses. If they join the site, you’ll both be eligible for the $1,000 sweepstakes. The more friends you refer, the more entries you’ll get!

For more information, visit Scholarships.com today!

Scholarship Strategy: Creating a Savvy, Successful Approach

One of the best things about scholarships is that for the most part, they reward the applicants who put forth the most effort. Like teachers who can instantly spot a sloppy homework assignment, scholarship judges can identify poorly composed applications without lifting a finger. Depending upon the award and how many students participate, the process of eliminating underqualified students can be competitive at best, and downright ruthless at worst. You may already be thinking “They won’t pick me, so why waste my time?” The answer: the financial assistance that is obtainable through scholarships is worth it, even if you don’t receive an award from each and every scholarship that you apply to.

Most of the students who succeeded in earning scholarships did so for two reasons:

1. They met the criteria outlined by the scholarship sponsor.
2. They approached the application process strategically and were selective in their pursuit of scholarship opportunities. It’s that simple.

There is no magic recipe that will help you win a scholarship. What there is, however, is a time tested strategy that many students find incredibly helpful in organizing their scholarship search. The students who apply these techniques usually come out ahead in the end.

Make a list. Gather the information for all of the scholarship offers that you are qualified to apply for. The latter part of this suggestion is essential—do not spend valuable time applying for scholarships for which your GPA, major, community involvement requirement, or any other criteria does not meet the standard. There are likely hundreds of awards for which you specifically qualify, so focus your attention on those. Read through your list and eliminate all awards that you are not qualified for.

Assess each individual opportunity. This will take time, but in the end your investment will pay off. After narrowing down your list so that it only includes the scholarships that are most relevant, consider the following categories:

• Deadlines. How long do you have to complete the scholarship?
• Difficulty of preparation. Considering the deadline, do you have time to thoroughly prepare for this award?
• Award amount. How much is the award worth? If it is only worth a couple hundred bucks, consider whether or not you are willing to spend your time on it. Keep in mind that every little bit does help and that you have a greater chance at receiving slightly smaller awards as opposed to full tuition grants, simply because they are less competitive.

Prioritize your opportunities. Now that you have determined the value of the scholarships that you have selected based on when the deadline is, preparation required, and the amount of the award, create a rating system. A simple way to do this is to rate each scholarship with a ( + ) or (– ) sign next to the award. For example, an award with three plus signs is a scholarship for which you must apply. The deadline is far off, average preparation is required, and the reward it $2000. On the other hand, a scholarship with two minus signs might cause you to reconsider before taking the time to apply. It could be that amount of preparation required simply exceeds the amount of effort you are willing to exert because the scholarship award in only $100.

Begin applying. Alright, you’ve determined what scholarships you are actually interested in applying for. Chances are your list is a good bit shorter now, and much more feasible. Begin submitting to the scholarships that you have ranked highest in priority. Good luck!
Check out Scholarships.com for more scholarship strategies and search tips.

Scholarship Winners Dish on Secrets to Success

It may be difficult to convince yourself to write a scholarship essay. All of that work, and you’re not even guaranteed to win? I mean, for all you know, there are hundreds of people competing against you, and they’re all overachievers. Yes, yes, you know that it’s silly to work for months for this money and not give a scholarship opportunity a few hours. Still, it’s just that there are no guarantees. If only you knew what the winners were doing, things would be different. Well, we’re here to help with that one. We have gone through winners’ testimonials to find out the secrets of their success. Here is what we found.

Be Persistent. Most of the winners who have contacted us have received numerous scholarships. Coincidence? Probably not. To win numerous scholarships, you have to apply regularly. Stephanie Sylvester, a college student who has received several scholarships is a great example. “Just because I’m a sophomore in college doesn’t mean I’ve quit the scholarship search here at Scholarships.com,” she said. “I’m still searching and don’t count me out.” Stephanie began her search as a junior in high school and is still going strong. You don’t need to throw your hands up if you haven’t received a scholarship by the end of your senior year. Systematically apply, and you will see results.

Apply Early. The same hints that apply to college applications apply to scholarship ones. Applying early may significantly increase your chances of winning. Once deadlines draw near, applications may be skimmed through by overworked readers. You have a greater chance at having your essay thoroughly reviewed if you get a head start. Let your seriousness and responsibility shine through by getting things done early. Readers are likely to take notice.

Carefully Read Required Qualifications. This is crucial. Your time is precious and so is that of the judges who will be reading your submission. Your ability and willingness to follow simple instructions is often one of the first things scholarship providers will look for. Using your profile, Scholarships.com will help you find scholarships that apply to you. To maximize the amount of scholarships you qualify for, make your profile as detailed as possible. Nikki from Chicago had this to say on the topic, “Scholarships.com was incredibly helpful in my search for scholarships that fit my criteria. When I knew that I wanted to study abroad, I went to Scholarships.com and found so many scholarship programs for students like me.” We can help you too. If you give us the details, we’ll show you the scholarships.

Stay Positive. Many scholarships are open to all prospective college students, regardless of GPA. Just because you are an average student doesn’t mean that you cannot write an excellent essay. That is what numerous scholarship reviewers are looking for. When you are asked to write an essay on a given topic, do your best to give solid support for your thesis. Do some research and include personal thoughts as well as applicable facts. Scholarship readers aren’t looking for the perfect person, but they are looking for someone who has put obvious effort into their essay. You may feel average, but your attitude doesn’t have to be.

There are plenty of scholarships out there, for all students. By taking the advice of those who have been awarded scholarships, you may save yourself the trouble of learning what works and what doesn’t first hand. You can get a lot more than a penny for your thoughts, but you have to share them first.

Start your road to success by visiting Scholarships.com!

Create Success: Find Money for College at Scholarships.com

It’s true, after you receive your first scholarship the sky becomes your limit. You’ve succeeded in gaining recognition and praise from someone other than a family member. Bonus cash aside, earning such recognition is an impressive achievement that should motivate you to continue achieving other great things throughout your life. Getting to college is just the beginning. Once you’re there you begin deciding who you will become by focusing on points of interest in your life. Having a passion for your interest will always put you head and shoulders above the rest in class, in your social life, and in your career.

If you are just looking for easy money, the truth is, a scholarship may be difficult to obtain. But if you are attempting to distinguish yourself from your peers, set a standard for excellence, and ease the financial burden of college so that you can focus on your studies, you have a much better chance at succeeding. Before you begin your scholarship search remember that success is created, not found. Likewise, money is earned and, not surprisingly, typically follows success.

How to Create Success.

Research. Research the scholarship opportunities available to you. You should have a good idea about what your options are before you begin submitting. There are millions of scholarships available, but you won’t qualify for all of them. Gathering information about your options should help you prioritize the offers in which you are interested.

Prepare. Research should give you an idea of the criteria for the scholarships for which you qualify. If you fall short in any areas like community service or extracurricular activities, get involved while you have the chance, and establish a background in these areas. Additionally, build your writing skills. This is critical because most merit scholarships require that you respond to an essay question or submit a writing sample. Prepare a couple of solid essays on vanilla topics like your future goals or interests. These are good practice, and you might even be able to use them for some of the scholarships for which you are applying.

Organize. Many scholarships will require you to submit the following articles:

• Letters of recommendation from teachers or employers
• A small photo
• Cover letter
• History of community service
• School transcripts
• An essay

Have these items compiled ahead of time so that when you find a scholarship you are interested in you are prepared to apply as soon as possible.

Submit. Submit your portfolios to the scholarship providers in whose awards you are interested. If you choose to send your application by mail, be sure that the address is correct. Follow the guidelines, and be certain that you meet all of the criteria for a specific scholarship so that you don’t waste your time.

To start your scholarship search or to find more financial aid information, visit Scholarships.com

Scholarships.com “Tell A Friend” Sweepstakes – Win $1,000

You could win $1,000 just for referring a friend to Scholarships.com.

As a Scholarships.com member, you’ve gotten free access to customized, detailed scholarship searches and other financial aid information. Tell your friends how they can do likewise and you’ll both receive a chance to win $1,000! Just enter up to ten of your friends’ email addresses, and for every one you refer who fills out a User Profile at Scholarships.com, you’ll both be eligible to win the $1,000 prize. Your friends will thank you for telling them about Scholarships.com (and giving them a chance at the prize), and you’ll be entered once for every valid referral you give.

For complete details, visit scholarships.com

Atlas Shrugged Essay Scholarship

Don’t worry- there are still some opportunities out there for those of you who continue to wonder how you are going to pay for your post-secondary education. Here’s an example of a scholarship most people will be able to enter – of whom several will be awarded $1,000 or more:

Annual Essay Contest on Ayn Rand’s Novel – Atlas ShruggedFor College Students
(Graduate and Undergraduate)

Contact
Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest, Dept. W

Address
The Ayn Rand Institute
P.O. Box 57044
Irvine, CA 92619-7044

Phone
949-222-6550

Fax
949-222-6558

Email Address
essay@aynrand.org

Application Deadline
September 17, 2007

Number Of Awards
48

Maximum Amount
$10,000

FIRST PRIZE: $10,000
3 SECOND PRIZES: $2,000
5 THIRD PRIZES: $1,000
20 FINALISTS: $100
20 SEMIFINALISTS: $50

Remember, there are millions more scholarships and grants at Scholarships.com, along with loan information and a huge resource section to help you deal with all phases of attending college.

And for tons more scholarship opportunities, just conduct a free scholarship search with us.

Beware Scholarship Scams

Scholarship scams are so common, that one could easily think they’re a new form of art. Don’t allow yourself to be duped by a scholarship scam artist; you’ll end up spending valuable time and unnecessary amounts of money for absolutely nothing. These scams are fairly easy to avoid as long as you recognize the warning signs which you’ll find in large clusters whenever you happen upon a scholarship scam.

Things to look out for:

• A large processing fee and a small award. Or a processing fee of any size coupled with a small award, really. When you see this, most likely, the scholarship provider is offering the award solely for the purpose of collecting the processing fee. Chances are that most scholarships with a fee attached won’t pay up in the end, even if they have received enough income from the supposed “processing fee” to cover the cost of the award.
• Scholarship databases that charge you to register. Scholarship information is and has always been public information. Stick to the reputable, free scholarship search services like Scholarships.com. Typically, scholarship search services that charge a fee claim to have awards in their database that you can’t get access to anywhere else. This is simply not true. Scholarship providers want you to learn about their scholarship, and as such, they make it as easy as possible to find information about their award.
• An announcement that you have won an award for which you have not applied. Even in the 21st century this still isn’t possible, so don’t be fooled. You always have to apply for scholarships in order to receive them. If you receive an e-mail that says you have won a scholarship from an organization that you have never heard of, let alone applied to, ignore it. Such e-mails could easily be an internet phishing scam or some other type of ruse.
• Companies who claim to do all of the work for you. You and only you can apply for scholarships. If a company requests compensation to apply for scholarships for you—don’t buy it. Scholarship offers typically request a fair amount of personal information, writing samples, and require a considerable amount of work that no one other that you can do.

Which Scholarships Take Priority?

The obvious answer is, “Whichever scholarship is worth the most money.” But only assuming you haven’t put things off for too long. If it is February of your senior year in high school, see which ones still have deadlines you can make – there should still be plenty. It is imperative that you respect their deadline and get your scholarship application and/or essay in on time. Put those with the closest due date at the top of your list, and don’t bother with one if you aren’t confident you truly qualify and stand a good chance of winning it. Once you have finished the ones that are a “slam dunk,” you may still have time to go back and apply to the ones in the “maybe” category. If you start early enough (think October of your senior year), you will definitely be giving yourself an advantage. You might not be able to get an application for all of them yet, but the rules and requirements of some great scholarships may be available. You can use these to get an early start on your application or to get a feel for what scholarship providers will be looking for. Start early, and time won’t be an issue. You will be able to base priority strictly on the largest amount of money being offered and on confidence in your ability to win each scholarship.