How to Apply for a Scholarship: College Freshman’s Recipe

When we speak of college scholarship application, the burden is always on the parents. Since they have the responsibility over the education of their children and they know what will be good for them, parents apply personally for the college scholarship of their children.

What if we turn the tide? From primary to secondary education, your parents accepted the responsibility. But you are old enough to take care of a simple college scholarship application. It takes some courage, self-confidence, and some excellent academic records to apply for a college scholarship. Keep in mind that is you who will utilize the financial aid that comes with the scholarship and not your parents. Thus, applying for a college scholarship is now your business, and you can do it with less supervision from your parents.

The procedure for college scholarship application is similar when you apply for college. You need to learn every scholarship opportunity available and make a list of potential prospects that you think will fit your personal needs. Once through with the list, you need to create an application letter and state your achievements (good high school scholastic records and recommendation letters from your high school director and teachers) and you are now on your way on getting into college for less, if not for free.

The above-mentioned procedure is the most common way of getting a college scholarship. However, the chances of success lies in you, and you need to exert more effort to assure yourself of a financial aid when you go to college. To increase your chances, here are some pointers that you can consider:

• You should start as early as your high school years. There are many college scholarships that open during your senior high school year. In addition, these financial aid programs are only open in a specific period of time. Once the application closes, you have to wait for another year before you can file for your application. Starting early will give you better chances of getting the best financial aid available.

• Give importance to the scholarship requirements. Keep in mind that among all available scholarships, there are only few that will fit your qualifications. Read the eligibility standards of the college scholarship that you want to apply. If you found out that the financial aid does not fit with the qualifications that you have, search for another. Do not insist yourself on scholarships where your chances of success is minute.

• Do not forget to complete the requirements asked by the college scholarship. Prepare the documents that are commonly asked by the scholarship grantee to its applicants.

• Your application letter will be your “speaking alter-ego” to the sponsor of the college scholarship you have applied for. Thus, you need to create an application letter that will convince the sponsor that you honestly need the financial aid and you deserve to get one, state honest information in your application. Never include false information especially if your purpose is just to “flatter” the sponsor with your achievements.

After you followed the aforementioned recipe, you are now ready to submit your application to the scholarship screening committee. Be prepared for other requirements (such as interviews and examinations) that will determine if you are eligible to receive a college scholarship.

Follow the aforementioned college freshman’s recipe when you apply for a college scholarship. And best of all, do not forget to pray that the sponsor would consider you eligible for the college scholarship. Good luck!

College Scholarship: Guide to Parents on Getting Financial Aid for their Children

Many believe that being a parent is the happiest moment in the life of a human being. Probably you still remember the excitement that you felt when your wife gave birth to your first child. There are times that you will not sleep because you want to take care of your child even in the midst of the evening. You want to ensure that he/she will sleep soundly through the night.

It is true that happiness comes with children in the family. However, such happiness could be achieved if you are responsible enough with your children. You need to provide all of their needs, starting from their infancy until the time that they are studying. Although it will really cost you a lot, you have the responsibility to your children, especially in giving them the education that they need.

If you have children who are now going to college, you have to think of their financial needs. Probably you still remember your own collegiate years and you are aware of the financial needs of an ordinary college student. However, the difference is that you are now the parent—you will now be the one to think of the different payments that you need to settle for your children’s college education, such as college application, scholastic assessment test expenditures, transcript of records, and others. Add to it the lodging and food allowance of your children if the college or university is far away from your own residence.

Thinking all of these college-related expenses could be overwhelming and bothering as well, especially if your salary is not enough to support such expenses and your family’s financial needs at the same time. But if you know how to get a college financial aid for your children, you will find out that everything will work out smoothly.

How you will start your search for the college financial aid for your children? Here are some tips that you can start with:

• When your children are still on their high school years, you should start searching for potential universities that offer college scholarships for deserving freshman students as well as financial aid programs funded by different organizations. You may start your search on the Internet to look for possible college financial aid options for your children.

• Once you find a prospective university, visit their main office and inquire for any college scholarship or financial aid offers.

• Always ask for the cut-off dates of filing and submission of college financial aid application forms.

• Tell your children about the importance of a scholarship to their college education. Make them aware that they have plenty of options to consider as long as they have good high school scholastic records. In this way, you will be able to motivate them to study harder and make good grades, thus increasing your chances of a good financial aid.

• You may also consider filing an application for financial aid programs funded by the Federal government. State-owned colleges and universities offer this kind of financial assistance to qualified and deserving students who want to pursue their college studies despite of financial difficulties. You may submit the FAFSA (Free Application Form Student Aid) personally.

• Make certain that you have completed all the FAFSA requirements (such as present statement of bank accounts, monthly income records, present mortgage information, and others) and understand the rights or specialadvantages before accepting the financial aid for your children. You may also check if the financial aid is renewable.

With different financial aid programs such as college scholarships and federal grants, you are assured of a bright future for your children despite of the financial difficulties that you are currently experiencing.

Downside Of Online College Degrees

We know how important it is for employers to find post-high school academic credentials in our resumes. Those who have college education and training are more likely to land secure jobs. Understanding the importance of college education, there are some who would try to earn a degree by going back to traditional colleges or earning them through online college degree programs.

If you would search the internet, there are different testimonies on how online learning could cater to the needs and limitations of different students, whether they are single parents, working or with disabilities. Online education also tends to be more affordable than regular or traditional college. Its flexibility and lower cost are definitely among the primary reasons why there are about 3.9 million online students as early as 2007 according to the Sloan Consortium.

There are two sides of a coin, everything has it benefits and downside. One side could outweigh the other but knowing both sides would help a person come up with a guided decision. The same thing applies to online college degrees. Although there are many benefits, online college education is not for everybody. There are things that should be considered and there are also limitations.

• Time management is important for students who are studying online. Since they would be able to complete their assignments and school work on the time convenient for them, there are tendencies that students would procrastinate. Students must be able to juggle family, work and studying into their schedule.

• Self-discipline is important. Although students could work or set the schedule according to their free time, this could also work against them. Lack of self-discipline or self-motivation to do the assignments or lectures could lead to failure.

• Since online education requires familiarization and usage of technology, it is important that students would be able to navigate in software and programs frequently used by the educator or the course. While there are students who have limited access to internet connection or even use of a decent computer.

• If you do have a working computer and internet connection, you may encounter connection problems. This can cause to delays with getting your lessons done.

• Most of the courses online are self-learned. Readings and lectures are read by the students on their own time. There are no classroom lectures. However, there are some online programs that would require students and teachers meet during orientation or examinations.

• There are also some students who would get the motivation from classmates and teachers. However, with online education, there are no or limited face-to-face sessions, making human interaction less. Eventually, you would have to work on your own. For some lack of interaction with classmates could lead to poor participation while it may prove beneficial for others. Different from traditional colleges, online students would not be able to expand their horizons by joining different organizations, student unions, clubs, etc.

• Another limitation is that most online college degrees require students to be adept with the English language. Foreign students may encounter difficulties, but rest assured, internet and site developers would surely be able to address this in the near future.