Scholarship Search Links

The best methods for finding private scholarships are to check with local companies and organizations, and to search on free scholarship search websites.

• FastWeb ( http://www.fastweb.com )
• Careers and Colleges ( http://www.careersandcolleges.com )
• Scholarship Experts ( http://www.scholarshipexperts.com )
• CollegeScholarships.org ( http://www.collegescholarships.org )
• AcademicInvest.com ( http://www.academicinvest.com/scholarships )
• CollegeWhale.com ( http://collegewhale.com/studentloans/college-scholarship-search.php )

Frequently Asked Questions

How do these websites work?

Most of the websites listed above will require that you set up a profile, listing many different factors and characteristics about you. They will then send emails with information about possible scholarships which match your profile. You may want to set up an email account through a free source such as Hotmail or Gmail to use for your scholarship search.

Will every suggested scholarship be a good match for me?

You may find that only some of the scholarships matched with your profile are really a good choice for you. This is simply because of limitations in matching thousands of scholarships with thousands of students based on very few details. If you see that you really are not eligible for a suggested scholarship, you can simply delete the email. However, we recommend that you apply for any scholarship for which you meet the minimum qualifications.

Which scholarships am I most likely to win?

Scholarship donors do not provide information to us regarding how many applications they receive and what types of applicants are selected for the scholarships. However, you can follow these tips to try to find the scholarships that are the best match for you:

• When you set up your profile on the above websites, be sure to include any information you think is relevant. Scholarships have wide ranges of requirements, and you may miss out on great scholarship opportunities if you limit yourself by not listing all activities and characteristics. For example, if you were ever in Girl Scouts, even if it was just one year in Brownies, mark Girl Scouts if it is included in the list of possible activities. You may find scholarships that are only for young women who completed the Gold Award, but you may also find awards that are available to anyone who has participated in any scout organization at any time.
  

• Focus in particular on scholarships that require an essay or letters of recommendation. Many students will see these requirements and decide not to finish the application process, resulting in less competition for the students who do submit a complete application.
  

• Apply for all ranges of scholarships. Don't focus on just the higher amounts or only the lower amounts. If you think the scholarship is a good match for you, apply for it, regardless of what the award amount will be. Even if you only win small awards of $500 or less, this can be book money or can be combined with other awards to cover a significant portion of your college costs.
  

How will I apply for the suggested scholarships?

This will vary widely from one scholarship to another. Read each scholarship's description and rules carefully to learn about application requirements, including deadlines and procedures for applying. Be sure to note any special information or documents that must be submitted separately from the application, such as recommendation letters.

What should I do if a scholarship requires an application fee?

While we can't guarantee that every such scholarship is a scam, we recommend that you avoid paying to receive information about or apply for a scholarship. We are not aware of any authentic private scholarship which has an application fee.

What should I do if a scholarship requires that I join an organization and pay dues?

We recommend that you look at the organization separately from the scholarship. If the scholarship wasn't part of the consideration, would you still join the organization? Does the organization have a positive reputation? Does it offer benefits other than the scholarship? Are those benefits worth the cost of joining? There are many great organizations that happen to offer scholarships as one of many benefits, but each organization should be considered based on its merits and reputation outside of the scholarship program.

Questions? Please contact us !