Tips to Finding College Scholarships

Venturing into the world of college scholarships, I quickly became astounded at the intricacies of the process. I was also amazed to find that there is much more money out there than I ever imagined. There are so many options, in fact, that the chore can become overwhelming.

However, I have estimated that my time and effort in obtaining college scholarships for two of my daughters has resulted in obtaining scholarship money in the equivalent of $600 per hour. Nothing else I do earns me that kind of money, so I regularly work my "second job" as a scholarship hound.

Here are some tips I have gathered along the way:

FAFSA

The first stop on anyone's scholarship search should be the Federal student aid website (FAFSA.gov). While Pell Grants are based on financial need, fill out the forms even if you don't think you will qualify. I filled out the FAFSA my older daughter's freshman year and did not qualify for a Pell Grant. The following year, based on the previous year's rejection, I did not even bother. Bad decision.

With newspapers tightening the reins on their freelance budgets, my income had diminished. With my reduced income, my daughter qualified for the Pell Grant. Luckily, we had not missed the deadline for filing for the previous year, and she was able to obtain the grant and still have it applied to her account.

Specific Scholarships

Check with the school your child plans to attend. Many schools have internal scholarship money available. While most people only think of athletic scholarships, many schools have additional monies available. Some are tied to academic achievement or SAT scores; others may be available based on need. My daughter obtained an Opportunity Scholarship at Middle Georgia College to help defray her costs.

Next, look at your children's clubs and activities. Many organizations have exclusive scholarship money available. Two of my children are involved with the Civil Air Patrol, the Air Force Auxiliary. CAP offers annual scholarships for members.

For a time, my son was involved with a First Lego League robotics class. Competitive teams are formed all across the country, and the organization links members to scholarship opportunities. While some are school specific, for 2011 there is a total of $14.8 million available through 932 different scholarships for team members.

Search Locally, then Globally

Check local businesses and utilities. My electric coop offers several different scholarships. High school counselors should have information on local scholarships. This information should also be made available to parents who, like me, homeschool their children by simply contacting the appropriate school for your district.

Lastly, do an internet search. There are several scholarship search engines, including Fastweb and Scholarships.com, which allow you to input specific information and retrieve scholarship opportunities based on your qualifications. These sites also provide information on contests.

Don't rely solely on the search engines, however. Do a degree-specific search on your own. I found significant information at AvScholars.com., a website I discovered by searching specifically for "aviation scholarships," as I have a daughter studying in this field.

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