IS YOUR CHILD SEEKING A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP?
Search these places…
- Check with your high school counselor first
- Check with the college/colleges you want to attend to see what they have available. Incoming freshmen with a certain GPA and SAT score are eligible for some type of funding
- Check scholarships in your area of study. Minorities often receive scholarships in certain sectors such as engineering, mathematics, etc. The internet is your friend. Research, research and research some more. For instance, the Woods Hole Undergraduate Fellowship for Minorities offers scholarships to minorities interested in marine sciences, oceanographic engineering or marine policy
- Check with your church. Many churches have scholarship funds
- Check with organizations/corporations (McDonalds, Best Buy, Bill Gates, Chick fil A, etc). Also, check educational organizations in the community
Next, your child has to write CONVINCING ESSAYS to get a scholarship. There are millions of dollars in scholarships, but most students don’t take the time and energy to write the essays needed to obtain them. Think about if you were on a scholarship committee, what would make you give a student a scholarship? Here are four things your essay must have…
FOUR THINGS YOUR ESSAY MUST HAVE
1. It needs a hook.
You need a hook. Every song has a chorus or hook. It should be catchy and memorable. The hook is what draws people to the song. The hook for your essay should draw readers in. Consider the hooks for the following songs…
- OMG-Usher
- Single Ladies-Beyonce
- Baby-Justin Bieber
2. Feel Them.
You are writing an essay to be critiqued by people who may be thousands of miles away. That shouldn’t stop you from feeling them. No, you can’t feel them physically but you can emotionally. In order to feel them, you need to know more about them. You need to research their history, mission statement, core values and etc. By feeling them, you can appeal to their mission and values.
Real life scenario
Jacob applied to a company who required a written essay. He researched the company’s mission statement, which was centered on great customer service. In the essay, he wrote how his excellent customer service skills fell in line with the company’s mission. Not only did he hook the reader, he was able to feel them.
3. Make Them Commit. Show your loyalty.
You will have a higher rate of success if you make them commit to you. Consider this example of showing loyalty in an essay for entrance into law school.
Greetings Admissions Council,
My name is Jane Doe. Since I was 8 years old, I dreamed of attending the University of…. My dad and I watched your football team play every Saturday. He has been waiting on the day when I was accepted into your prestigious university. Your law school has ranked in the top 10 law schools for the past 15 years and I want to help continue that tradition. Being accepted into your institution will not only be a dream come true for me but for my father also.
(The beginning of the section is showing loyalty to the university. It states how long the applicant has been interested in the institution. To finish strong, it should include why you want to attend the university, why they should accept you and how you plan to use your degree)
4. Keep It Simple.
Most writers make the mistake of trying to over complicate things. People don’t want to read intricate/complex stuff. Make it easy for them to read, which will make it easier for them to make a decision.
TIP: If a scholarship deadline is in June, be sure to submit all your materials in February. The early bird gets the scholarships!
REMEMBER: Be sure to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) fafsa.ed.gov for free money!
PICK UP A COPY OF THE BOOK LISTEN TO ME AND COLLEGE WILL BE EASY FOR IMPORTANT COLLEGE TIPS on http://www.collegecanbeasy.com or amazon.com
breakingthemode 