Scholarships
Scholarships are monetary gifts generally awarded to students with special qualifications, such as academic, athletic, or artistic talent. Awards are also available for students who are interested in particular fields of study, who are members of certain groups, who live in certain areas, or who demonstrate financial need. Scholarships may come from a community or professional group, a business, labor union, religious organization, or national foundation.
High school guidance counselors and college or university financial aid offices can be a great source of information on scholarships. The Internet is also an excellent way to search for scholarships. We recommend you try Xap.com, a free student service Web site that offers a scholarship search tool that compares your background, experience, and interest with a database of over 8,591 scholarship sources representing more than a million possible awards. Only those that fit your profile are identified as matches.
Community Organization-Sponsored Scholarships
Many civic and community groups such as Rotary Club, Elks, American Legion, 4-H, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Chamber of Commerce, PTA, and others offer scholarships and other assistance. Contact the various patriotic, civic, fraternal, religious, ethnic, social, and professional organizations in your community for more information.
Employer-Sponsored Scholarships
Many private businesses and corporations offer scholarships or loans to employees' children or to students who live in the community where the company is located. Others offer aid to students majoring in fields related to the company's activities or interests. Personnel offices at companies may have application information and forms available. Check with online sources and scholarship search engines, as well as your local library for more information.
Professional, Career, and Trade Association-Sponsored Scholarships
Libraries have directories of scholarships and loans offered by professional, career, and trade associations in your proposed career or field of study. Also, ask your art or shop instructor, coach, or bandleader about schools and colleges looking for students with your talents. Scholarship leads also may be listed in trade magazines related to your special interests and skills.
National Merit Scholarships
The independent, non-profit National Merit Scholarship Corporation awards approximately 5,000 scholarships each year. Students compete on the basis of test scores, academic and extracurricular achievements, and school recommendations. Taking the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) in the fall of your junior year in high school will enter you in the competition.