1. Start searching for scholarships as soon as possible. Don't wait until spring of your senior year in high school to start searching, or you'll miss half the deadlines. There are many scholarships available to students in grades 9, 10 and 11, not just high school seniors. There are even scholarships for students in grades K-8. Continue searching for scholarships even after you are enrolled in college.
2. Not knowing your audience: Once you have a stack of scholarship apps in front of you, take some time to get to know the organizations that are sponsoring the scholarships. Check out their websites and pay attention to their vision, history, and programs. Then think about ways you can make your essay appeal to their missions, or at least avoid offending them. And make sure you follow the directions.
Rest assured that there is financial support provided to those with average grades. More and more scholarships are becoming available for students based on creativity, community service, overcoming adversity and extracurricular activities. Regardless of your grades, test scores, or passions, there's bound to be an opportunity for scholarship money for you, too.
Answer the questions you've set out in your outline, but make sure every point you make is illustrated with a specific detail that shows you care about the subject. Don't just mention that you work with disadvantaged kids; tell them how your love of soccer got you into coaching those kids. Don't just tell them about your acting awards; show how the stage helped you conquer your shyness.
. there are ways for students to save thousands of tuition dollars without being confined to their home state, says financial aid expert Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of Edvisors.com.
One of the best things students and parents can do for their financial aid chances is to know how the facts stand up against the myths.
If you do decide to negotiate, you can appeal to the school's financial aid administrator for what's known as a professional judgment review. Gather up every piece of documentation of any changes to your family finances or special circumstances that could impact your ability to pay for school.
2. Get a great letter of recommendation. The folks who review your college application try to see if your test scores match your GPA and your letters of recommendation
According to a NACAC study, about 50% of colleges claim that a student's demonstrated interest in the school is either highly or moderately important in the admissions process.
I hadn't known until then I was undocumented. I was 16, a high school junior, with big ambitions. Was I going to have to give them all up?