Scholarships

Private Scholarships

Hundreds of thousands of scholarships are available through community organizations, foundations, religious organizations and businesses, as well as professional and trade organizations.

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• Your school will have a list of scholarships offered by local community organizations, such as Rotary International, 4-H and others, as well as those provided by neighborhood businesses.
• Ask your teachers, counselors or coaches about scholarships for students with your talents.
• Check magazines or Web sites devoted to your interests or skills.
• Contact your parents' employers or labor unions, as well as the personnel offices of large companies in your area.
• Be prepared: You may need to write letters and essays or be interviewed as part of the application process.

National Merit Scholarships

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation awards more than 10,500 scholarships each year, ranging from $500 to $10,000. Taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in the fall of your junior year in high school will enter you in the competition. Plus, you'll get a chance to practice for the SAT. See your high school counselor or visit the National Merit Scholarship Corporation Web site.

Free Scholarship or a Scam?

A scholarship or grant is free money-you should never have to pay to find, apply for or receive one.Watch out for companies that make scholarship promises, charge you money to apply for or receive a scholarship, try to get you to send money by claiming you're a finalist in a scholarship contest, or request your credit card or bank account number to hold a scholarship or grant for you. Also, be wary of free seminars that turn into high-pressure sales pitches for financial aid information that's readily available for free. Reputable companies neither guarantee scholarships nor use aggressive tactics.

• Do your own research before spending your money. Most scholarship information is available for free, whether from your school, on the Internet or in the library. If you choose to pay a scholarship search service, be sure you understand what you're paying for.
• Don't fall for claims that “guarantee” a scholarship. Any claim should include qualifications or disclaimers.
• Never give your credit card information, bank account information, Social Security number or student ID number over the phone or Internet unless you made the call and know who you're talking to.
• Never provide any personal or financial information to hold a scholarship or grant. Scholarships are free money.

To learn more, visit the Federal Trade Commission's Scholarship Scams Web site and the National Consumers League's Fraud Center Web site, or read the fact sheet, Looking for Student Aid , available at the U.S. Department of Education Student Aid Web site or by calling 800.433.3243.