Are you considering lottery tickets in order to finance your college education? Before you scratch another ticket, consider putting your efforts into something a tad more promising: a scholarship application.
What many students don't realize is that their chances of receiving a scholarship are actually greater than those of winning the lottery. Often times, students dismiss the idea of applying for scholarships because they think their grades aren't high enough or their financial situation would disqualify them from competing. Not so! Today, scholarships are given based on what kind of person you are -- your outside interests, activities and community service, not just your grades (although good grades do help).
The key, it seems, is knowing where to look for these opportunities. One excellent (and frequently overlooked) source of scholarship information is -- are you ready for this? -- the library. In fact, MSU's undergraduate library has two librarians -- Jon Harrison and Anita Ezzo -- dedicated to researching grant, financial aid and scholarship information. Each has established a web site chock full of juicy award tidbits.
Undergrads and grad students alike should also scour the academic advising offices of their fields for awards. Non-academic offices on campus, including OPHS, often have award opportunities, too. Finally, the World Wide Web is a quick and easy resource tool, particularly for scholarship information. As with all on-line adventures, everything should be viewed with a healthy dose of caution. But many state, federal and educational sites offer insight into scholarships, particilarly for students with disabilities.
So forget the lottery. Invest your money in something more lucrative -- like yourself!
Free scholarship search on the Web!
Conduct your own personal scholarship search!
FastWEB allows you to enter information about yourself and your family and then scans a database of more than 275,000 private sector scholarships for those which most closely match your abilities and background. Link to FastWEB through the MSU homepa ge (via the Office of Financial Aid) or access it directly at: www.fastweb.com.
Also, try these pages for more information:
- MSU Library Scholarship/Financial Aid page:
http://www.lib.msu.edu/pubs/subject/su02.htm - MSU Library Grant Information page:
http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/grants.htm
Some grant, scholarship offers take money, not give it
With a new semester upon college students everywhere, offers for "guaranteed"scholarships, grants and loans may seem attractive to those in need of financial aid. But before signing up, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns students to do their home work.
BBB reports that unethical scholarship companies are "guaranteeing" to "match" students with sources of funding, regardless of their academic qualifications, scholastic credentials or family economic status. Some advertisements and sales pitches clai m there are millions of dollars in unclaimed scholarship monies just waiting to be tapped. However, in BBB's experience, few, if any, students receive funds.
In exchange for an up-front fee, which can range from $50 to several hundred dollars, students receive lists of possible scholarship sources. While the company making the offer may claim scholarships are "guaranteed," prospective students should unde rstand that only the sources actually granting the funds can guarantee approval.
These scholarship companies do not assist students in obtaining scholarships and they do not screen applicants. After purchasing the lists, it is the students' responsibility to research and contact each organization with a possible funding source.
Although many ads offer "money back guarantees" or $200 savings bonds to students who don't receive any scholarship sources or funds, students who are unsuccessful, or not satisfied, may find that refunds are difficult, if not impossible, to obtain. The company may require students to prove, through documentation, that they were denied a scholarship by every source on the list.
Many of the scholarship sources that these companies provide for a fee, are available at no cost from high school guidance offices, in the reference sections of libraries or from the university or college financial aid office.
For a reliability report on a scholarship company, consumers should call the Better Business Bureau where the firm is located. For a copy of the BBB's booklet, "Tips on College Financial Aid," send a self-addressed, business-sized envelope and $2 for postage and handling to:
Council of Better Business Bureaus
Dept. 023
Washington, DC 20042-0023.
Source: Better Business Bureaus, Inc.
American Cancer Society
The trustees of the American Cancer Society Foundation of the Great Lakes Division have established a new program that will award up to fifteen scholarships, each worth $1,000, to deserving students in Michigan and Indiana. The scholarships are for u ndergraduate degrees at any Michigan or Indiana college or university and will be awarded, based on need, to qualified Michigan and Indiana residents who have had a diagnosis of cancer before the age of 21. Applicants must be under the age of 21 at the time of application and must attend an accredited school within Michigan.
Scholarships will be awarded based on student financial needs, scholarship, community service and leadership qualities. Applications must be submitted by April 15, 1998. Contact an OPHS specialist, or Greg Bontrager at 517-371-2920.
MI Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired
The Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired is accepting applications for $500 or $1,000 scholarships for legally blind students who live in the 616 area code. Contact OPHS Specialist Michael Hudson or James Moore, MCBVI Scholarship Committee Chair at (517) 374-8681 for more details. Deadline for application is April 15, 1998.