The most advertised and competitive athletic awards are the NCAA scholarships, by far, but there are so many more opportunities that go under-advertised for student athletes: those with schools in the NAIA and the NJCAA open up exponentially more scholarships. And an especially hot trend: emerging women’s sports.
NCAA Scholarships

The NCAA is by far the largest collegiate athletic association in the U.S. with well over 1,000 schools in its fold. Divisions I, II, and III serve to demarcate the sizes and monetization of athletic programs: formal athletic scholarships can be extended to athletes that play for Div I and II schools, but not for athletes in Div III schools. What determines which schools fall into which divisions? Generally a combination of school size along with types and sizes of athletic programs. If you are interested in how to position yourself for a NCAA scholarship make sure to check out the eligibility rules and get yourself registered in the Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. The NCAA’s list of athletic scholarships is separated into categories: Undergraduate, Post-Graduate; and then further separated by Division.

Athletic programs at Div I and Div II schools are mid- to large-sized and extremely competitive. Coaches at these schools are in the business of wooing top athletic talent, the best of the best across the country. Div III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, per se. Their athletic programs are much smaller, but make no mistake—many are quite competitive.

Here are a couple of the unique “athletic” scholarships that the NCAA funds:

* The Freedom Forum NCAA Sports Journalism Scholarship Program. This award is given to college students with a fierce desire to pursue sports journalism.

* The NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women’s Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship Program is open to students heading into post-grad studies with an eye on sports administration, coaching, or a closely related career. Eligible applicants must be ethnic minorities to be considered for these awards.

The NAIA represents a much smaller contingent of member schools—about 300, and is located in Canada and the U.S. The NAIA sponsors athletic divisions I, II, and III—not to be confused with the NCAA divisions. Sponsored athletics are those generally outside the scope of NCAA Div I levels with a marked emphasis on the academic records of student athletes. Only about a dozen sports are represented and member institutions tend to be smaller. NAIA Div I and II sports programs may offer scholarships.
NJCAA Scholarships

Two-year colleges are represented by the NJCAA. There is divisional breakdown in some of the most competitive men’s and women’s sports, but not in others. Scholarships, called grant-in-aid by the NJCAA, may be available in the Div I and II sports. NJCAA scholarship sports for men are: baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, outdoor track and field, soccer, and tennis. NJCAA scholarship sports for women are: basketball, cross country, fast-pitch softball, outdoor track and field, soccer, tennis, and volleyball. Make no mistake, community college athletics can foster fiercely competitive athletes. If you’re considering transfer to a four-year school, a two-year athletic program can get you really prepared to compete.
Full Scholarships vs. Partial Scholarships

So how much money does an athletic scholarship include? Scholarships awarded for athletic ability typically fall into one of two categories: full scholarships and partial scholarships. These are completely dependent on the schools themselves. In the NCAA, over 125,000 student athletes are on full or partial athletic scholarships. Full scholarships regardless of division may include tuition, books, transportation, room and board, plus other expenses. Partial scholarships may cover various portions of those expenses just listed.

There are other sources to search for when you’re looking for scholarship money as well. First, browse our athletic scholarships by sport. In almost every instance you will find athletic scholarships from untapped sources alongside larger, “reach” scholarships. For example:

* Under hockey scholarships you’ll find memorial funds, money from hockey associations, and a scholarship from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

* Search rodeo scholarships you’ll find a blend of scholarships from colleges and universities that have rodeo teams, and a few good scholarships from regional rodeo associations.

* Browse archery scholarships and find a slew of archery and bow-hunters association scholarships alongside college and university scholarships.

The secret is to check out the less competitive scholarships, those especially from regional clubs and associations. Remember there are plenty of awards that are based as much on other personal attributes as they are on athletic skills: leadership qualities, extracurricular involvement, and community service.

Many schools offer partial scholarships to talented athletes in efforts to grow successful athletic programs. The opportunity just to play is as important.

So with a little education and some work, you might find that athletic scholarship just for you.

Now, there are so many types of scholarships, it helps to be abreast of the types, time ranges, amounts, and places to find them. Some high schools give away scholarships prior to attending college. Some scholarships are merit based, others need based, others interest based, other cultural based. The list goes on.

The best way to begin seeking scholarships is to do your research. Every college and university will have a dowry with various scholarships. Usually they will be listed on the school’s website; however, you can always inquire as to their prevalence. When you learn about them, you can find out how much, many, and reasons behind them. Essentially, scholarships don’t usually just get handed to you (although some lucky people do find this fortuitous world). You must do your research.

Here are some types of scholarships.

Merit Scholarships – Scholarships typically revolve around this type of award. People who excel in academics are awarded a scholarship on the basis of their overall academic achievement. This may come in the form of top GPA, excellent SAT scores, and so on. These are highly competitive and may come in various forms.
Need-Based Scholarships – This type of scholarship is given purely on financial means. They are designed to fund the less-fortunate students in their academic pursuits. Scholarship committees look at various reasons for this hardship: Parents’ income, number of siblings in school simultaneously, expenses, cost of living, etc.
Athletic Scholarships – Scholarships are popularly given to star athletes by universities to recruit them for the athletic teams. Many athletes complete their education free of charge, but also pay the price of overworked team sports. Usually full-scholarship athletes are recruited by “scouts” while in high school. You don’t usually pursue this type of scholarship; it is given to you.
School-Based Individual Scholarships – Every school offers specific scholarships relevant to specifics from the university: donors, individual name scholarships, personal scholarships, and so on. Sometimes you have to apply directly to the scholarship, and other times, just by being accepted, you are placed in the bowl for possible scholarship awards.
Full/Partial Scholarship – Many people look at scholarships as a whole and think that they sometimes cover everything. If you are lucky enough to receive a full scholarship, then yes, they cover living, books, and tuition. However, many scholarships are partial, meaning they may cover simply living, simply books, or part of the tuition. If you are awarded any type of scholarship, take it and run! They are prized, wonderful gifts, and you should feel honored to receive one.

While several scholarships are school based, others are based on almost every other personal element that can exist. Several websites and books are designed purely for the existence of finding scholarships. Here are some websites and books that serve as search agents and listings of all the scholarships that exist. If you try hard enough, you are likely to find at least one or two that match your interests and qualifications. It takes much patience and time, but you are bound to find a scholarship for you.

Website: www.escholar.info

Books:

How To Go To College Almost For Free by Ben Kaplan

The Scholarship Scouting Report: An Insider’s Guide to America’s Best Scholarships by Ben Kaplan

The College Board Scholarship Handbook 2004: All New Seventh Edition by Joseph A. Russo

Winning Grants: Step by Step, 2nd Edition by Mim Carlson

Scholarships, Grants, and Prizes, 2004 by Peterson’s

Complete Idiot’s Guide to Financial Planning for College by David Rye

BY JULIUS .B.OGUNBIYI[Goldberg]

www.goldbergdx.page.tl

more scholarship links,addresses,and help are on the above website for all.

What you must know before applying is important to be clear on the scholarship requirements. After all, you want to be sure you are eligible before you apply for scholarships. If you are not, you are wasting your time, as well as the time of the business or individual offering the scholarship.

In addition to making sure you are eligible before you apply for scholarships, understanding the requirements also helps guide you through the application process. Failure to follow the application requirements correctly when you apply for scholarships will almost certainly result in denial of the scholarship. This can include failure to include a specific form or even filling out the forms with the wrong ink color. Therefore, you absolutely must read all of the requirements and guidelines when you apply for scholarships. If you do not, all of the work you put into the scholarships will be wasted because your application will not even be considered.

If you have heard about a particular scholarship and you are not sure of the requirements, it is perfectly acceptable to write to the company or individual to request an application packet. Even if you do have application guidelines, be sure they are the most current versions before you apply for scholarships. Scholarship guidelines routinely change from year to year.

After you apply for scholarships, be certain to follow up with a telephone call. At the very minimum, you should call to make sure the application has been received. This is a time consuming part of the application process, but well worth the effort. The companies or individuals offering the scholarships most likely have dozens or even hundreds of applications to sort through. Making a follow up phone call is one way to make sure your name is remembered. Therefore, making sure the applications have been received is an essential step when you apply for scholarships.

If a particular post-secondary institution has already accepted you as a student, you might also apply for scholarships offered through the college or university. To learn about possible scholarship opportunities, contact the financial aid office of the institution. Once again, be certain to follow the guidelines exactly as they are described in the scholarship packet and personally check up on the scholarship application if possible.

Both a fellowship and a scholarship are considered grants, and sometimes the terms may be used interchangeably. Most fellowships are also scholarships, but scholarships may not be fellowships. Some differences exist between a fellowship and a scholarship, but these can be variable and depend upon the grant-giving organization.

A fellowship and a scholarship are usually differentiated because scholarships tend to be given to undergraduate college students, primarily for the purpose of general education expenses. They may be limited as to the type of major a student has, but most are more general and award gifts of money for education based on superior school performance. Some also take into account need, or may require specific skills. The Miss USA pageant and Miss America pageant are both scholarship programs. Women who win these pageants receive money to continue their education at the undergraduate or graduate level.

In many cases, you don’t need to get into a swimsuit in order to win a scholarship. Most are based on application only, and any qualifications that make you particularly eligible to receive the scholarship. There are many peculiar conditions which may make you eligible for a scholarship: your last name, your status as a single parent, your possessing a disabling condition, or your specific research goals as a student. More general scholarships given by countries and states may be given to students who will attend school full time, have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least a B average, and who can demonstrate financial need.

One difference between a fellowship and a scholarship is that most fellowships are not based on need. They are usually based on skill, GPA, and qualifications to work in a certain field. Another distinction between a fellowship and a scholarship, is that most fellowships are payment for some type of work, such as teaching at the college level, while obtaining a master’s degree or Ph.D, or doing extra training in a hospital to earn board certification as a specialist in a certain field of medicine after an M.D. has been earned. Fellowships tend to pay for internships or fieldwork, so that students, usually at the graduate level, can enhance their training in their field of interest.

There are some paid internships available to students at the undergraduate level. These may qualify as both a fellowship and a scholarship, or they may simply be referred to as scholarships. Many of the country’s top museums offer fellowship and intern opportunities to students at the undergraduate level, usually in their junior or senior year of college.

The fellowship further implies a limited timeline and a stated period of months in which work or internships will be completed and people will be paid. The main difference here between a fellowship and a scholarship is that most scholarships last for at least a semester in school, though some may be given more generally to pay for school expenses. Fellowships can last for a few days, a few weeks, a couple of months, a year, or a couple of years depending upon the scope of the work involved, and they normally pay in increments, by monthly stipend, instead of awarding the total amount of money at one time.

How to Apply for a Scholarship-simple tips

Finding a Scholarship

First most important thing is that you should know what kinds of scholarships and jobs around. Because if you don’t know about the scholarships then how will you apply? Therefore, make a good collection of scholarships websites. Some are top websites are listed here.

www.metroscholarships.page.tl

Application Tips

First impression is the last Impression:

Always make a nice, clean and organised application folder. It will give employers the impression that you an organised person.

Apply in First Round:

Always apply well before the application deadline. Most of the employers do their research and make their minds before calling someone for interview. Therefore give them plenty of time.

Check the Eligibilities:

There is no question of applying for a position if you are not eligible.

Arrange all documents in order:

If sending printed application, then arrange your documents in line as described in application form.

If sending online then convert all your documents in to PDF formats.

list can be as follows:

Cover letter
CV
BSc. And MSc. Transcripts
GRE/TOEFL scores
Scholarship forms
Essays or SOP
Letters of recommendation
Others requested by the employer

Letters of recommendations should be sealed and signed by your referees

Read your application carefully:

Always read your application carefully or ask someone to read and comment on it.

Make sure your application is complete:

Sending incomplete application will be disastrous. Always make sure that your application is complete.

Sending application:

Always use secured postal services where you can track your application and make sure your application has been received.

Now you have applied. What to do now?

Simply wait, but don’t stop here, because you never know whats going to happen with your application. Keep applying for new scholarships in your area of interest.

If you get selected for interview?

Well done, you have done a great job. Now prepare for the interview.
Our interview tips coming soon.

If Not get selected for interview?

Don’t worry, it happens with every one.

Check your application again and see what’s wrong? Make it better and apply again.

Key is keep applying.

”The will to conquer is the first condition of victory.” Ferdinand Foch

Please feel free to ask and post if you have any questions.

Good luck.

Julius .B.Ogunbiyi is an author and infopreneur.He specializes in scholarship counseling and education pursuit at all levels.

Every woman wishes for higher paying career along with better advancement opportunity. The trick is to strike a balance between work, family and education. Education often gets neglected when there are many other responsibilities to take care of. Another reason for which we keep education in back seat is its price. It must be a relief for you to hear that scholarships for women are available easily to get you the degrees that can get you most deserved promotion.

Degrees are not only for those with great GPAs in schools or who can afford big payments that college asks for. You must be wondering that how women can afford a luxurious life especially when they are single parent. Yes they are working but they certainly picked up some opportunity which others miss. If you are sure that you are looking for a better life for yourself as well as your kids while you also have to pay for school/ day care/ rent/ daily needs etc. You must use a computer today to apply for ‘Scholarship for women’. If you do not have a computer, you can visit a library and use a computer there.

Scholarships for women are not like loans and are free; there is no need to pay them back. You can attend your school online and there is no need to go to college. In case you wish, you can attend campus classes. If you grab this opportunity, you can enjoy far better life. You can choose type of degree desired and apply for scholarship/ school. It may be little difficult to find scholarship for mothers/ single mothers, but with little effort, you would be successful.

You need to fill an application form which goes through screening process to determine the eligibility for college scholarships. Screening process is quite lengthy and you must plan for delay and apply at earliest. You must keep in mind that scholarship for one year would not mean that it continues the next year by default. You need to update yourself regularly on college’s policies and can check campus occasionally for any changes.

Scholarships for women get importance because of rising prices of education. Nursing scholarships can also be availed. You need to do some research to find best possible thing and you must also put in continuous effort to get maximum part of your education free of cost. Higher education can help you in getting promotion or any other better paying job as you now have degree in your hand. Money is very important for all of us and everyone puts in his best effort to save money wherever it is possible.

Scholarships for women are a great way to get educated without spending any dime on it. Moreover, it not only saves you money but makes you earn more money by improving your status. It is even more important for single mothers who are taking care of their kid’s expenses all on their own without any support.

How To Win Merit Scholarships
he first step towards winning any scholarship is to search for such awards that you are eligible for. Students can search for them online at websites such as www.online-degree-scholarships.com, in scholarship search engines, at their local library and by contacting their student counselors or the financial aid department of their educational institutions. Students can look up information about the various < scholarship > that are offered and they can find out details about <scholarship application> or about <college scholarship> within a few minutes.

Students need to be prepared before they can apply for a <scholarship> or for a <scholarship for college>. They must have appropriate documents such as their transcripts, letters of recommendations, updated resume and the dreaded essay. Winners of the awards are usually highly organized and know how to make the right impression. if you want to win a merit scholarship you need to collect details of all the awards that you are eligible for and apply for them before the stipulated dead line. Write down the details for each award, the deadline, the documents required and then remember to send them in before they are due. Do check to see if the application has been received and keep copies of all documents in case you need to rush in an application that was not received.  Check out www.online-degree-scholarships.com to find out more about preparing for a scholarship.

Students can study the criteria stipulated by the sponsors of the award and see to it that they meet it. If students learn to identify the goals of the sponsors and prepare in such a way that they can convince the sponsors that they are ideal candidates, winning a merit scholarship will not be a difficult task. If you do not qualify for the award, do not apply for it and waste time. www.online-degree-scholarships.com is a great place to start your quest for more information about <scholarship> or any other <scholarship for college> that might be of interest to you.

One point that you have to remember is that the sponsors will be evaluating your application form initially, so prepare the application in a manner that will impress them. Write or print it legibly, keep it neat and tidy, put all necessary documents together and write your name and details on each copy of it. Put the completed application form in a clean folder and enclose the folder in an envelope. Check that you have addressed it to the right authority and that the address is correct. We at www.online-degree-scholarships.com recommend that you send it via registered post and that you follow up by enquiring if it has been received. Learn more about how to qualify for a <scholarship> and learn about <scholarship application> tips at our website.

If you are interested in winning a merit scholarship offered by a particular school, you can check out the details and tailor your application form in a suitable fashion. Many students do not apply for a merit scholarship, as they do not have good SAT scores. This is wrong, as most educational institutions do not consider the SAT scores anymore. If you are interested in one of the best colleges but are just barely eligible, you cannot hope to secure a merit scholarship, instead you can improve your chances of winning a award by applying to rival institutions, this may compel the institution to reconsider your application. Do contact the institutions and obtain details about the <scholarship> or the <college scholarship>. Many institutions offer awards to students who have exhibited an interest in their educational institution. Check out www.online-degree-scholarships.com and learn how to improve your chances of winning a merit scholarship.

Education need not be expensive and you need not just rely on student loans. It just takes some research online or at your local library to learn all you ever need to know about merit scholarships that are awarded and how to qualify for them. If you are interested in studying nursing all you have to do is make a search on one of the regular search engines such as Google or at a specialized scholarship search engines or at websites like our own, www.online-degree-scholarships.com. Within a few seconds you will have, a list of all the scholarships that are available, the task now is to filter the awards that you are eligible for. Then you have to study the individual eligibility criteria, fill in the application and send it well before the deadline.  It is possible for you to search for and get details about specific scholarships like <scholarship>.

It is also important to maintain a positive frame of mind. Apply for as many awards as you can as each award received will reduce the burden on the students. Study has shown that students who receive full-tuition awards finish their programs much faster that the others as they are not distracted by the mounting student debt. Check out www.online-degree-scholarships.com and learn everything you need to know about < scholarship>.

For more details visit our site linked below:

http://www.online-degree-scholarships.com

They turned a rather ordinary day into an exceptional one to be remembered for weeks to come.

Little remembrances are cherished. And, the person who sends them is not forgotten. We all like to be remembered in unusual and caring ways.

The teachers and staffs of high schools aren’t any different and yet, it does not happen very often for them. Kind words are good, but a thoughtful note is better, and a small gift is best.

A teacher remarked that she once had a student who had many physical issues. It created some unusual classroom problems in her chemistry class. The mother of that student knew this

and constantly thanked the teacher with complimentary notes and small gifts throughout the school year not just on holidays. It made the teacher feel appreciated, needed, and

respected.

A typical high school has administrators, teachers, and a support staff. Who will be affecting your student? Who will your student have for classroom teachers in the coming year?

Find out who they are. You will want to know the

receptionist at the main desk. Don’t forget the secretary in the guidance office. Who cooks the lunches, sweeps the floors, and empties the wastebaskets? Bus drivers often have a particularly difficult situation. Also remember the principal and vice-principal. Many times all of these people are only remembered when something negative happens. Letting them know that you recognize and appreciate the jobs they’re

performing, for the benefit of your child, will make it easier for your student.

Favors and kindnesses are always returned. Find out when those birthdays and anniversaries happen and remember them with a card, note or even cookies. And, in those few short years, when college scholarship time rolls around, people

will be happy to write glowing testimonials for your student.

Remember this: everything in life is a decision, make the right ones today for your college scholarship success.

scholarship application? You bet. Generally speaking, most local scholarship committees may find a few minor mistakes acceptable, but the higher the level of competition, the less tolerance there is for a faux pas. And when you go for the gold at the national level of competition, no mistake is permissible. Even at the local level, if the competition is heavy, one error can result in the loss of money.

Even small spelling mistakes can cause an application to be thrown out. A judge reviewed a submission from a girl who was second in her class. She had a 3.95 GPA. The problem? She misspelled salutatorian. Believe it! How does that

happen? Surely, it should have been noticed. Was it a keyboarding error? Maybe.

Another application from a boy on the baseball team noted that he won the league batting title with a .259 average. Know anything about baseball? Most likely, the number 2 should have been a 3, 4, 5, or even 6.

Yet, another listed the applicant’s age as “88.” Do you suppose she was the oldest high school student in the country…in the world? But wait, she listed her birth date as eighteen years earlier. Those are the kinds of silly little miscues that can disqualify good candidates. Use the computer spell check and have someone read for context and spelling problems. Most people cannot do a good job of proof-reading themselves. Why take a chance?

Another blunder is leaving blank spaces. This is not a good thing. The committee may think that you are trying to hide something. If the question or statement is not applicable to you, write DNA on the line, which is the standard abbreviation or acronym for Does Not Apply.

Use a computer and keyboard whenever possible. Investigate the many inexpensive and free form-filling computer programs. No long hand here. Never write in pencil. And, NEVER, NEVER. EVER, EVER use whiteout.

Follow directions exactly. It is not unusual to see lists where paragraphs are required and vice versa. Sometimes a signature is needed with the name printed. A simple YES or NO may be necessary, Instead, an opinion is given.

Here’s a tricky one that trips many juniors and seniors with honor roll credentials. After ten years in school, they still have problems using to, too, two, and they’re, their,there.

Oops! I saw a sure regional and possible national winner disqualified, because her application missed the deadline date…by one day. Always beat the deadline. Mail early.

How could this happen? An app arrived without the parent permission slip signature.

Check, Check, Check.

This bears repeating: most mistakes can be eliminated when others proof the application. Then read it aloud while someone else listens.

What can you do, if the mistake cannot be corrected? Be sure to make a copy before you start. If it says “copies are not permitted,” go back for one or two more originals.

Planning produces positive outcomes when the scholarship effort is truly a family affair.

To learn more about planning to win scholarships, visit:

http://ScholarshipDoctor.com

My newsletter is full of tips and ideas. No cost.

MailTo:signup@ScholarshipDoctor.com

about strained nerves. All the work to get the application ready, and now letters are halting the process.

This is a scenario that repeats itself hundreds and thousands of times each year. You can avoid this problem by taking important appropriate actions. Start by asking for your recommendation letters at least six weeks in advance. This allows busy teachers to take their time in

writing great responses. After two weeks remind them with a note in their mailboxes. Seven days after that make a visit to their classroom. Remind them in person that your application could be late and disqualified and that you will come by in a few days to pick it up. Thank him or

her again and then stop by once more.

One way to avoid total mayhem is to ask for more letters than is really needed (awards may vary in the number of letters needed).If the requirement is two for an award, ask four people.

If you are applying for more than a couple of scholarship awards (and you really should be), ask the teacher or whoever, if they would be willing to put their comments on a CD.

Remind them that you will be sending out dozens of applications. It will save them time. Then, you will bring the letters by for their signatures. They can inspect the documents before you send them in. A hand-written signature is always best.

Who should you ask? Does it make a difference? Yes, it does matter. Know this: English and foreign language teachers generally write the best letters. They personalize them and may write from a half to a whole page. They also

produce results that have no spelling or grammatical errors. Again, and this is a general statement, coaches and physical education teachers write the shortest remarks and may have mistakes in spelling and grammar. But, go with your best options regardless of teaching position.

Use your high school letterhead, when possible.

Remember to ask your teacher if they can write a positive response. If not, move on. A probable scholarship winner fulfilled all requirements with a big plus and was in line to receive an $8,000 award. Everything was super except for one recommendation letter. She assumed her coach would write a glowing response. He didn’t. Don’t

let that happen to you. She didn’t win.

Follow the same time-line for all requests, and remember this: everything in life is a decision, make the right ones today for your college scholarship success.

There were also attempts at personalization not well received, a picture of a girl in a very tiny bikini. The word thong comes to mind. Another included prize ribbons with a request to return them when the judging was over. We had to send them back at our own expense! Another application had an algebra homework assignment inside, oops. We sent that back, too. Her siblings were probably blamed for its disappearance. One application had a Santa Claus hat inside. It came from Alaska. I’m still trying to figure that one out.

Why is personalization so important? Imagine that you are on the committee, sitting around a table with 247 scholarship forms. It is the committee’s job to pick a winner. All of the apps appear to look alike. All things being equal, which one is going to be chosen? It’s impossible to say. But, let’s suppose that one personalized his/her request and made it stand out positively from the rest. Now, someone has taken the time to be bold, inventive and creative. They have made it possible for the scholarship committee to know more about who they are. They are more than a just a piece of paper with a name on it. They have revealed intimate sides to their personalities. Who will win now? The choice is obvious.

Personalize don’t dramatize. Use good judgment and common sense when personalizing. Try to imagine who the people are making up the committee. Then, send in your request knowing that, out of all who sent their forms, you are the one who will win. You are the person who deserves the money.

Planning produces positive outcomes when the scholarship effort is truly a family affair.

and waxing the car. We look forward to all of them with great anticipation. When the weather gets warm (no doubt about it), thoughts and actions turn to outdoor events.

One activity that gets forgotten by many college-bound students and their families is the inside expedition of hunting for college scholarships, searching for huge scholarship dollars, initiating the quest for money that will significantly reduce or eliminate college debt. This happens for four reasons. First, it is easy to forget because summer is now and scholarships are in the future, the distant future. Second, my child is not smart enough to win a scholarship. So, why bother thinking about it now or ever. A third possibility: our student has no desire to go

to college. Fourth, our family income is too high.

These are all relevant ideas. But, they are all bogus. Here’s why. Summer is the best time to begin scholarship activities because there is no rush to get the job done. One can take time to do everything leisurely and thoroughly. Rushing

creates anxiety and anxiety creates mistakes. The old maxim slow and sure wins the race also applies to going after scholarships.

Some students are slow in developing. The first two years produce mediocre outcomes, while the junior and senior years produce above average results. And, know this, scholarship committees often regard the last two years as more important

than the first two!

Got a seventeen year old that has no intention of getting a post-high school education? Attention, attention, attention: a high percentage of these change their minds. Have you made up your mind to use this summer in a profitable way, a way that could eliminate the need for future minimum wage summer jobs? There was a commercial on television a few years back. The slogan went like this: “You can pay me now, or you can pay me later. The choice is up to you.” By starting right now, this summer, you can cut your college educational bill by $10,000, $20,000 or even $50,000. Use your computer to investigate and sign up for college scholarship information.

Everything in life is a decision, make the right ones today for your college scholarship success.