Tag Archives: scholarships

Scholarship Friday, scholarships

Scholarship Friday: Fishing Scholarships

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fishing scholarships

The #1 searched item on my website is this: Snag a Fishing Scholarship. Who knew there were so many students and parents looking for fishing scholarships? But how do you win these scholarships in high school? First, you have to compete in competitions that award scholarships. If your high school doesn’t have a fishing club, start one. Then get registered for all the fishing competitions in your area. Check out this Washington High School State Championship, and search for others within your state.

”College-age anglers are getting the opportunity to keep casting, and it’s more than just a hobby. Bethel University, a college in McKenzie, Tenn., with an enrollment of 5,825, first laid the roots for its fishing program in 2009. They weren’t the first school to offer bass fishing, but they were the first to offer scholarships for anglers.”

As I’ve said previously, the best scholarships are often offered by the colleges themselves. But where do you find these colleges? Here are a few places you can look:

If you like bass fishing, these colleges will be right up your “lake, river, stream”. Here is a list of colleges, by state, that have affiliated with the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series. Each state is listed along with its College Series conference (Central, Eastern, Midwest, Northern, Southern or Western) Check to see if your college of choice is listed.

https://www.bassmaster.com/news/find-bass-fishing-college

Fishing League Worldwide surveyed National Guard FLW College Fishing anglers in the country on their clubs, their schools, their fishing lifestyles and more, and we scored the results based on the factors we thought most important for a college angler: proximity to bass fisheries, tournament opportunities, club activities, etc. We also interviewed club officers and tournament winners. We then tossed all the information together, combined our “editors’ rankings” – completely ignoring the Bowl Championship Series computer scores – and ended up with the results that follow: the top 25 bass fishing colleges.

http://www.flwfishing.com/tips/2010-02-01-top-25-bass-fishing-colleges

When searching for specific scholarships like fishing, you have to be a detective. Do a Google search for “fishing scholarships”, “fishing scholarship competitions” and “colleges with fishing scholarships”. Follow all the links and keep researching. This will take some time, but the reward will be worth it!

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Scholarship Friday, scholarships

The 5 Best Places to Search for Scholarships

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search for scholarships

I can’t stress enough the importance of adding a scholarship search strategy to your college prep. Even if you’re prepared to foot the entire bill, your student should have some “skin in the game”. Searching for scholarships is one way to make that happen.

Where does your student begin? Here are five great places to search for scholarships, but don’t stop there. Think outside the box and keep your eyes peeled for scholarships in the most unexpected places–like posters at fast food restaurants, info cards at retail cash registers, etc.

1. Search Locally

Always begin with local scholarship searches. Watch the news. Look on local high school websites. Get a list of organizations that provide scholarships at the library or from your school counselor. Get a list of local companies and inquire about scholarship opportunities.

2. Take advantage of social media

Since your teen is no social media 99% of the time, it’s one of the easiest places to search for scholarships. Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter provide students with a wealth of scholarship opportunity. Don’t forget about college prep blogs like this one–and Monica Matthews’ How to Win Scholarships and Jessica Velasco’s monthly scholarship list.

3. Use the best scholarship search engines

Scholarship search engines abound, as do reviews on these engines. I recommend several, but find the one you like the best and stick to that one. If you don’t, you’ll become overwhelmed with emails and trying to find the ones that best fit your student.

4. Ask friends and family

Never discount the help of friends and family, especially those with students who have already graduated and won scholarships. Ask your companies if they provide scholarships for family members. Ask friends who are members of local organizations like Kiwanis and Elks if there are scholarships available.

5. Focus on specific interests

Look for scholarships that are the best fit for your student. Is he interested in making videos and film? Is she a budding scientist? Is he a tech whiz? Are they fans of Star Trek or The Walking Dead? These are just a few of the areas that students can use when doing a scholarship search.

Use these five techniques and your student will be on their way toward winning free money for college!

Scholarship Friday, scholarships

Easy Community Service Scholarships

 

easy community service scholarships
photo credit DoSomething.org

DoSomething.org is all about “doing”–for your community. By signing up for one of their featured campaigns, students not only do good, but they could even win a scholarship — which means money to pay for school.

Following are some easy community service scholarships:

Treat Yo Friends-$1000

Give a friend a “voucher book” of fun activities so you can reconnect and fight loneliness and depression.

Deadline: March 28, 2016

You Teach!-$3000

Perform a rap with friends to show appreciation for your favorite teacher.

Deadline: March 31, 2016

Dunk You Very Much-$3000

Dunk recyclables on friends to encourage others to go green. Use a recycling bin as a hoop.

Deadline: March 31, 2016

Pregnancy Test-$2000

Send friends a sassy text baby to take care of for a day to start the conversation about teen pregnancy.

Deadline: March 31, 2016

Everyday Superheroes-$3000

Make a card celebrating someone who does super things in your community.

Deadline: March 31, 2016

Little Rock Nine Text-$2000

Share a day in the life of a Civil Rights student activist via DoSomething.org’s text messages.

Deadline: April 30, 2016

If you think there aren’t scholarships for everyone, these are a perfect example. And these are not only fun activities that raise awareness in the community, but they also have some good size scholarship awards to boot!

 

Scholarship Friday, scholarships

Are Scholarships a Scam?

red-dices-1418972-640x480

Wait. Did I just ask that question? I did. I asked it because many parents believe they are a scam. Their students work hard, apply, and never win anything. They are frustrated, discouraged and feel the promise of scholarships is a pipe-dream. You may have been there yourself, asking the same question: are scholarships a scam?

The truth? Scholarships are not scams. Students every day win thousands of dollars in scholarship money to pay for college. But you must roll the dice with the odds in your favor.

If your student isn’t winning, they could be making these mistakes:

You apply to the wrong scholarships

Many students apply to scholarships that simply aren’t fit for them. If you’re applying for a scholarship that requires the student to exhibit community service and there is not a record to back it up, you’re not going to win. If you apply for a scholarship that asks for exemplary leadership and you don’t serve in multiple leadership capacities, you won’t win.

Before you apply, read the criteria carefully. If you feel you are a poor representation of who the scholarship committee is looking for, don’t apply. Be honest with yourself and save the time and the frustration.

My daughter applied to the Coca-Cola Scholars program, a large scholarship of $10,000. The application reads, “Students are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, and their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities.” She had some service and very little leadership. She didn’t win, of course. Not because it was a scam, but because she applied to the wrong scholarship.

You apply to the scholarships that have thousands of applicants

The big scholarships for $100,00, $20,000,  and $10,000 have thousands of applicants. The national scholarships will have so many applicants, the competition for the scholarship rivals that of trying to gain acceptance to a competitive college.

The better bet is applying to local scholarships. There will be fewer applicants and a better chance of winning. My daughter won a substantial local scholarship because she was the best applicant in a smaller pool of applicants.

Your scholarship application is incomplete or doesn’t stand out from the other applicants

If your scholarship application arrives incomplete the scholarship judges will simply place it in the rejection pile. If your student can’t follow instructions, they won’t be placed in the viable applicant pile.

Imagine a scholarship with hundreds of applicants. If the application doesn’t stand out, isn’t properly completed, or doesn’t make an impression on the judges, your odds of winning will be slim. For tips on how to package a winning scholarship application, get How to Win College Scholarships–A Guide for Parents and Students in 10 Easy Steps.

Your scholarship essay has misspellings, grammar mistakes, or simply doesn’t answer the question

This goes without saying–proofread and proofread again. Answer the questions, check your spelling and grammar and have someone proof it before you submit it.

You haven’t focused your scholarship search

There are scholarships available for everyone in just about every category imaginable. Be specific in your scholarship search by doing a simple internet search. For instance, are you pursuing a STEM major, there are STEM scholarships available. Read this article: How to Search for STEM Scholarships. You can apply these tactics in any scholarship search.

You haven’t applied to a college where you are at the top of the applicant pool

Scholarships from the college are based on academic achievement and where you fall in the applicant pool. If you apply to a highly competitive college and have marginal test scores and a decent GPA, odds are there are applicants with better qualifications. The key is to apply to colleges that see you as a top applicant. These colleges will be happy to award scholarships to entice you to accept their offer of admission. You can research colleges on College Navigator. Look at the statistics for their applicants and see if you will be at the top or simply in the middle. Top applicants earn top scholarships.

You aren’t playing the odds

This is a simple formula. The more scholarships you apply for, the better your chances of winning. The time you devote to searching and applying for scholarships will pay off if you leverage the odds. If you aren’t winning, keep applying using the right tactics. Your efforts will pay off.

Scholarship Friday, scholarships

10 “No Essay” Scholarships with March Deadlines

 

"no essay" scholarships

It’s Scholarship Friday again and today I’m sharing 10 “no essay” scholarships with March deadlines:

Toyota TeenDrive365 Video Challenge
Amount: Up to $15,000
Challenge is open to legal U.S. residents who are at least 13 years of age and are enrolled in grades 9-12 who create a 60-90 second video that demonstrates the importance of safe teen driving.

Deadline: March 7, 2016

“Frame My Future” Scholarship Contest
Amount: $1,000
Applicant must intend to enroll as a full-time student at a U.S. college or university in the 2015-2016 academic year and be a legal resident; must submit an original creative image that shows “how you want to Frame Your Future!”

Deadline: March 8, 2016

Junior Duck Stamp Contest
Amount: Up to $1,000
Contest is open to students in grades K-12 who attend public, private, or home schools who draw, paint, or sketch a picture of an eligible North American waterfowl species.

Deadline: March 15, 2016 for most states

My Preparedness Story: Staying Healthy and Resilient Video Challenge
Amount: Up to $2,000
Challenge is open to students between the ages of 14 and 23 years of age who submit a short video to YouTube showing how you can help family, friends, and community protect their health during a disaster.

Deadline: March 28, 2016

“Stop Cell Phone Robocals” $1,000 Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors and current undergraduate students who submit a 140-character statement completing the following sentence: “Cell phone robocalls need to be regulated because..”

Deadline: March 31, 2016

$1,000 Scholarship Sweepstake: High School Edition
Amount: $1,000
Scholarship is open to legal residents of the U.S. who are 13 years of age or older and currently enrolled in a high school. Parents of high school students may also apply by registering on Noodle.com.

Deadline: March 31, 2016

2016 ABA YLD Law Day Art Contest
Amount: Up to $750
Contest is open to students in grades 9-12 in the United States who submit an art piece on the topic: “Miranda: More than Words.”

Deadline: March 31, 2016

Creative Patriot Art Awards
Amount: Up to $10,000
Applicant must be in grades 9-12 and submit an original piece of art to local ladies auxiliary organization that expresses patriotism.

Deadline: March 31, 2016

Superpower Scholarships
Amount: $2,500
Scholarship is open to students 13 years of age or older who are legal residents of the U.S. and are currently enrolled (or will enroll no later than the fall of 2022) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education. Applicant must explain in a short written response which superhero or villain they would want to change places with for a day and why.

Deadline: March 31, 2016

Yo Teach! Scholarship
Amount: $3,000
Applicant must show their love for their best professor or teacher by writing and performing a rap with friends about teaching.

Deadline: March 31, 2016

Scholarship Friday, scholarships

Creative Scholarships with February Deadlines

 

creative scholarships

Most Fridays I like to highlight scholarships and this week is no exception. You’ve heard me say that there are scholarships available for all types of students, even if they aren’t A+ students, athletes or student leaders. Today’s scholarships are for those students who exhibit creativity and talent in the arts. The deadlines are mid-late February, giving your student plenty of time to submit an application.

Courageous Persuaders Video Competition

Amount: Up to $2,000

This creative contest is open to high school students in grades 9-12 who create a commercial targeted at middle school students warning about the dangers of underage drinking.

Deadline: Feb. 11, 2016

BMI Student Composer Awards

Amount: Up to $5,000

This award is open to citizens of a country in the Western Hemisphere who are enrolled in a college, conservatory of music, or the private study of music with an established teacher. Students must submit an original composition.

Deadline: Feb. 15, 2016

John Lennon Scholarship

Amount: Varies

To apply, the applicant must be a current student or alumna of a U.S. college or university who is between the ages of 17 and 24 at the time of submission and submit an original song with lyrics accompanied by instrumentation.

Deadline: Feb. 15, 2016

Love Letters Scholarship

Amount: $5,000

Description: Applicant must be 26 years of age or younger and create homemade valentine’s cards for senior adults and give to Meals on Wheels for delivery by Feb. 10, 2016. Students will receive one entry for the first card donated, and an additional entry for every additional three (3) cards donated.

Deadline: Feb. 15, 2016

The Christophers’ Poster Contest for High School Students

Amount: Up to $1,000

Contest is open to students in grades 9-12. Student must create an original poster based on the theme, “One Person Can Make a Difference.”

Deadline: Feb. 17, 2016

Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest

Amount: $10,000

This scholarship contest is open to all high school, college and university students enrolled at any time during the latter half of 2015. Applicant must submit a photo, artwork or computer graphic for the front of a greeting card.

Deadline: Feb. 25, 2016

Student Video Contest

Amount: Up to $1,000

Open to students in grades 6-12 who create a short video about the human population growth that highlights one of the given global challenges.

Deadline: Feb. 25, 2016

The Atlantic & College Board Writing Prize

Amount: Up to $5,000

This contest is open to students 16-19 years of age who submit an essay based on a work of art of their choosing.

Deadline: Feb. 28, 2016

 

scholarships, test prep

Test Prep Week: Can Test Prep Help You Win Scholarships?

 

win scholarships

Why is test prep important? We all know that colleges use these test scores to evaluate a student’s ability to do well in a college environment. But is there more to taking time to prepare for standardized tests? Yes. In addition to good scores enabling you to apply to your dream college, good scores can also help you win scholarships.

You can win a scholarship if you are a National Merit finalist

The #1 way test prep can affect your scholarship chances is with the PSAT. This test, if scored well, can put you on the National Merit finalist list. You don’t have to be the winner to earn a scholarship. Many colleges award full-ride scholarships to National Merit finalists. Students often look at this test as a “practice” test for the SAT, neglecting to prepare. But it is so much more. Few students prepare for the PSAT so your odds of scoring higher than most students in your state are high if you take the time to study and prepare.

For more information on the PSAT, read my article for TeenLife Magazine: 10 Reasons the PSAT Is Not Just a Practice Test and a guest post from Anthony-James Green of Test Prep Authority: The Ultimate Guide to the PSAT

Colleges use these scores to award merit scholarships

It stands to reason that colleges will use these scores to determine who receives merit aid. Students with higher scores not only get bumped up in the acceptance line, but also receive priority consideration when it comes to scholarships.

Private organizations often ask for standardized test scores

According to Lauren Gaggioli of Higher Scores Test Prep, “Some scholarship advisors estimate over 60% of scholarship applications require test scores these days.” And, she’s seeing even higher percentages up to 75% recently.

The scholarship application process is becoming more and more competitive each year. If you want your student to have an edge, plan and prepare for these standardized test.

 

Scholarship Friday, scholarships

Scholarships with January 2016 Deadlines

scholarships with january 2016 deadlines

It’s almost the end of December and it’s time to share some scholarships with January 2016 deadlines. Just in time to spend your holiday break applying for scholarships.

Cappex list of 17 Scholarships with January deadlines

About.com list of 97 College Scholarships with January deadlines

JLV College Consulting list of 82 Scholarships with January deadlines

This list should keep you busy over the holiday break!

 

Scholarship Friday, scholarships

Scholarship Friday: Comprehensive List of Full-Ride Scholarships

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full-ride scholarships

 

There is great discussion among parents about whether or not scholarship applications are worth it. I happen to be one who believes they are. My daughter attended an expensive private university based on the scholarships she won from outside sources and from the university itself. Those scholarships allowed her to attend a school that was financially out of reach. Hence, I’m a firm believer in the value of scholarships.

Here are 3 reasons I believe ALL college-bound students should apply:

  • Scholarships help reduce the cost of college-Free money is always better than money you have to repay.
  • Many times, the effort required on your part is minimal-Numerous employers hand out money to worker’s kids without requiring much more than a one-page application. Grab that cash!
  • Your family might not qualify for need-based aid-In this case, scholarships can eliminate the need to dip into savings or retirement to fund college expenses.

Applying for scholarships, in my mind, is a no-brainer. But the BEST of the scholarship money train is the full-ride scholarships. If you can tap into that money, your student can attend college with little money woes and graduate debt free.

Our friends at LearnU, an education news site that strives to help people stay current on the most newsworthy topics in education, education technology, education legislation and the private education marketplace, has compiled an extensive list of full-ride scholarships (competitive, academic, and National Merit Finalist). Use the list, plug your son or daughter in, and start looking at these colleges to tap into that FREE money!

Full-Ride Scholarships: List of Scholarships for Full Tuition/Full Rides

Scholarship Friday, scholarships

Frame My Future Scholarship from DiplomaFrame

frame my future scholarship
2105 Grand Prize Winner-Olivia Nguyen

The Frame My Future Scholarship Contest is unlike most of the traditional scholarships, there are no essays to write, no grade or academic requirements—it is all about creativity.

Students are challenged to create a visual entry, whether it is a photograph, collage, painting, illustration, poem, short story—any single piece that demonstrates what he/she would like to do in their personal and professional life after college.

Entrants are asked to follow the theme: This is how I Frame my Future.

Entry Period:

October 14, 2015 – March 8, 2016

Prizes:

Five $1,000 scholarships and commemorative Frame My Future frames will be awarded to 5 Winners, plus a $1,000 donation check to the Grand Prize Winner’s 2016 attended college/university

19 Finalists will also be awarded commemorative Frame My Future certificates

For more rules and information about this contest, visit the main contest page: www.framemyfuture.com