How To Find a College Scholarship

Type up a brag sheet – a page that includes your activities and achievements, which you should give to teachers and other mentors when you ask them to write you scholarship letters of recommendation.

Make an appointment with a financial or guidance counselor at your high school – or college, if you’re already attending. They can help you get organized, pump up your application, and inform you of scholarships that may fly under the radar.

Search online. There are several web sites offering free, personalized database searches that will match you up with both well-known and obscure scholarships.

You might be surprised at how many local businesses, churches, and community organizations offer scholarships to graduating seniors. Check with your school to get a list of local organizations that have awarded scholarships in the past.

Don’t be shy about contacting prospective colleges to find out what they offer. Once you’ve narrowed down your schools, contact their financial aid offices to inquire about scholarships available to incoming students.

Start applying – if you can, begin the process a full year before you intend to use the scholarship money. The earlier you start, the more applications you’ll be able to send out, and the more likely you won’t need a fourth job just to make it to graduation!