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Searching for Scholarships

Searching for Scholarships

So...you have a 4.0 and you've been involved in all kinds of extra-curricular activities. The scholarship money should be rolling in, right? Not necessarily. No one is probably going to come looking for you to give you scholarship money. It is up to you to find scholarship opportunities and apply. So where do you look? Try the following:

High School Counselor
Your high school counselor usually has a list of scholarship opportunities in your community. Visit with him/her during your junior year to learn about the opportunities that might be available. Be ready when it is time to apply. You have the best chance of receiving local scholarships since you are competing with fewer people and have a connection to the community.

Internet
There are several free Internet searches you can use to get a list of potential scholarships. See our list of free search services to get started.

College or University Financial Aid Office
Check the college website or speak to someone in the financial aid office to find out about other scholarships that may be available to you.

Organizations
You may find that organizations you or your family are involved in could offer you money for college. For example, FFA, 4-H, your church, the union, companies you do business with etc may all be potential sources.

Be Creative
Keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities. Scholarships aren't just for the smart kids. There are creative scholarships out there as well. Do you know what you are wearing to the prom yet? Make prom outfits for you and your date out of duct tape, and you might have a chance at a scholarship!

See our scholarship tips for more pointers on how to win scholarship money!

Tip: Reputable education organizations will NOT charge fees for the scholarship searches they offer. Do not be fooled by “special offers” lurking on the Internet. Be wary of questionable claims and avoid fee-for-service offers. If you have a question about the legitimacy of a scholarship search service, please call the Commission at 877-272-4456. The Federal Trade Commission offers tips on recognizing scams and how to file a complaint.