Online-Degree-Scholarships Blog

Students can enhance their chances of winning scholarship awards by applying to as many scholarships as possible. But what's more important is that you research appropriately and know the eligibility criteria for these scholarship programs. In order to find and apply to financial aid programs that match your requirement, you need to think about who you are and what you do. If you are well aware of your ethnic background, affiliations, citizenship, academic background and achievements, you will be able to not slip away the scholarship award.

College Major/ Field of Interest
There are many scholarship sponsors, committees and organizations that provide financial support to students on the basis of their college major and the field of interest. So, if you are a college student, the first thing is to start with your college major or academic area. While applying for scholarships based on majors, you need to check whether the eligibility criteria fits in with your field of interest or college major. Those who are high school students need to consider what college major they want to pursue and can excel in.

There are candidates who are a double major. In this case, you want to check for scholarship possibilities under both the college majors. If you are an English major, you can not only apply for scholarship awards targeted at English major, but also listed under 'literature', literary studies' and 'humanities' among others. Some financial aid programs are based on what you aim to become in life. Depending on your career dreams (becoming a lawyer, doctor, engineer, teacher, journalist etc.), you can find and apply for awards that focus on such careers.

State of Residency/ State of Study
Knowing who you are also includes the state you live in or the state where you study. Many of the government funded education financial aid programs are targeted at in-state students. If you want to qualify for one of these awards, you need to establish your residency even when you are in your first year of your college. Candidates need to check out both their home state and the state where they are attending college. There are several private organizations that offer financial aid based on state specific criteria. These programs award students according to their academic merit and extra curricular activities.

Student Affiliations
There are numerous clubs and organizations that offer free scholarship money to their registered members. Find out what you like to do or what you are interested in. You can then join relevant clubs and organizations and become a registered member. You can qualify for many financial aid programs, depending on your hobbies and interests.

Ethnic Background
There are multiple scholarship award programs that target students on the basis of their ethnicity or cultural background. There are hundreds of scholarship programs for students of minority backgrounds. To apply for such financial aid programs, it is not mandatory to be a full blooded member of a particular ethnic background. Depending on your ethnicity, you can apply for native American students scholarships, Hispanic students scholarships, African American student scholarships etc. Candidates should, therefore, be well informed about the community group and ethnic background they belong to.

Disability
There are more scholarships types than you can think. Awards are also available for students who are suffering from disability or are physically challenged. Whether it is a learning disability or long term illness, there are financial aid programs for all physically challenged candidates. Some scholarship programs target specific disability while some of them are general awards for disabled students.

Foreign Students
Even when you are a resident of a state other than the United States, you can be eligible for several scholarship programs. Some of the scholarships are targeted at students belonging to specific countries. There are others that focus on international students. Candidates need to apply for scholarship listed under both the award categories.

You may be searching and applying for several scholarship programs. In any case, you will never want to be a victim of scholarship scams. Desperate students and parents often fall prey to scams. However, you can save yourself if you are well aware of the warning signs. Given below are 10 warnings signs that signal a scam.

1. Fees
Remember, you never need to pay an upfront fee while applying for scholarships. So, if you are told to pay some fees for applying, you can keep from applying for such awards and do not get scammed. When it is about winning free money for college, you do not need to pay an upfront fee for applying.

2. Credit Card/ Bank Account Information Required
If some scholarship sponsors or committee asks you to furnish your credit card information or your bank account information, you should be careful and respond with a firm ‘no'. By providing such information, you can be a victim of a scam.

3. Scholarship Guarantee
Selecting scholarship winners is the sole decision of scholarship committees and judges. There is no one who can guarantee you free scholarship money. If someone says so, they want you to get into a scam. So, keep this in mind as a warning sign of a scam.

4. No Work Involved
Winning a scholarship or a financial aid requires time and sincere effort on your part. No one else can do this work for. You need to fill out the scholarship application yourself. If somebody says they will do all the work for you, this could be a scam.

5. No Contact Information
If you are in touch with a legitimate scholarship sponsor, they will definitely provide you with their complete contact information including mailing address, valid email address and phone number. If the scholarship provider does not have contact information, you should take it as a warning sign of a scholarship scam.

6. Unsolicited Scholarships
How do you like it when someone calls you to receive a scholarship award you never applied for? Be wary of such situations. This is most likely a scholarship scam.

7. Pressure Tactics
If you feel you are being pressurized to apply for a specific scholarship program, you should not give in to the pressure; this could be a scamming tactic. You may also be asked to pay some amount upfront. Do not ever give in to such pressure tactics while applying for financial aid and be alert not to fall prey to a scam.

8. Claims of ‘exclusive' Scholarships
There are scholarships and financial aid available for students of various backgrounds. No scholarship sponsor provides an exclusive scholarship. If some provider claims that the scholarship is exclusive and is available to no one else, they are a scam scholarship provider. So, be ready to detect the warning sign and not get scammed.

9. Scholarship Sponsor goes out of their Way to Sound Official
Before you apply for a specific scholarship award, it is essential to confirm the legitimacy of the scholarship sponsor. By using official sounding words like ‘federal', ‘education' and ‘national', scam sponsors try to fool you into thinking they are a legitimate scholarship provider. When in doubt, validate the legitimacy of the provider with school counseling and guidance center.

10. Your Questions aren't Answered Directly
Another sign of a scamming is that you do not get your questions answered directly. If you feel the provider is not giving a straight answer to your questions regarding the scholarship application form, what will be done with the information and other eligibility criteria, it could be a sign of a scholarship scam. You are advised to proceed with caution.

Remember, no one is ever going to fill out the application form for you and guarantee you a scholarship. You will win the free money on your own - through your own efforts, skills and abilities. So, never fall prey to a scam by acting in desperation. If you keep all the above mentioned warning signs in mind and proceed with caution, you will never be a victim of scholarship scams.

So, you have completed your scholarship application, right? But you aren't still done. The scholarship letter of recommendation is an important part of winning a scholarship. Though you do not write the letter yourself, you have every responsibility to make sure that you get written the best letter possible. The best recommendation letter for scholarship will always keep you ahead of other candidates who apply for a particular financial aid program.

Who should recommend you for scholarship?
It is quite obvious that your best recommendation from people who have known you closely. People who have worked with you and are aware of your career plans and goals can write the best letter of recommendation for you. Not only teachers and professors who have taught and known you for long, but there are a number of other people who can recommend you in the best possible ways. Employers, community leaders, clergy members and coaches are also excellent resource for getting written the scholarship recommendation letter.

For writing the letter, do not just pick anyone. Select the person wisely keeping in mind the scholarship award special criteria and the sponsor's specific interests. A letter of recommendation by the director of the homeless shelter you are volunteering at can be a good idea, if you are applying for a community service group scholarship award.

Another important thing to note is that the letter writer can actually write well. A professional may have spent long time with you and may know you and your goals quite well. But, at the same time, they should also be able to write a really good letter of recommendation. If you think they are unable to write the letter well and with enthusiasm, you should probably turn to someone else.

When to ask for a recommendation letter
Do not only get recommendation letter when you actually need them. These letters are require while applying at a college or for scholarship programs and the like. However, you should be smart enough to plan for these things in advance. It is a good idea to compile a file of letters as you keep getting them, rather than getting them written at a time when you need them. If you wait for the right time and do not receive a letter from the recommender when you had the opportunity, you may also run the risk of losing it. Because, after two or three years, the professor may just forget you.

Make it easy
Remember people who are writing a scholarship letter of recommendation for you are actually doing you a favor. So, it is your responsibility that you give them ample time to get the best letter written. It is always advisable to give notice to the recommender three weeks in advance. Always make a formal request to the recommender you have picked. Remember to supply your recommender detailed information about yourself, your achievements and your career goals. The information your provide to the recommendation letter writer should include your complete contact information, information required for the application, full title and description of the scholarship award, a copy of your completed scholarship application, your resume, information about your achievements etc.

If you think your recommender has forgotten to write the scholarship recommendation letter you request, remind them of the same gracefully. A good way to remind the person is to ask whether they need some more information about your career goals and past achievements. And after the recommender has written a good letter for you, do not forget to send them a thank-you note for their valuable time and effort.

If you are able to keep all these points in mind, you are definitely going to have a great letter of recommendation written. A great letter recommending you can really make a huge difference by making you a deserving candidate for winning scholarship awards.