In This Issue Scholarship Sources   The search for scholarships  Scholarship Information  Requesting scholarship information  Matching Students and Scholarships Matching scholarships with students Scholarship Criteria  The scholarship selection process The Scholarship Application Preparing the perfect application Scholarship Decisions Packaging your application for success Return to the Front Page Return to College Planning Network Home

Matching Up With Scholarships There are many organizations, both national and local, that offer scholarships to students. While the majority are for undergraduate studies, there are scholarships for graduate level work as well. Most target specific populations such as women entering engineering fields or students in educational studies. To understand how you may be eligible for various awards, complete this worksheet which outlines the range of scholarship categories.  Achievements  Personal Background  Future Goals Academic achievement: Most recent GPA and test scores Past performance/Special honors Employment experience and skills Leadership ability or potential in school and community Community activities (organized or individual) Artistic talents (in performing, fine and applied arts) Hobbies, special interests or activities Ethnic or racial heritage Religious affiliation with specific church or faith Employer or union membership Membership in civic associations Past military service (yourself, spouse, or parents) Alumni affiliation (immediate family member attending that same college)   Field of Study Career plans during or after college                     Look at your answers, are there any common points? Start with broad categories then narrow to your particular circumstance. For instance, there are scholarships for academic achievement which do not specify a particular field of study. So if you were interested in medicine and only looked at listings for medicine, you might miss some awards which do not specify a particular academic area. Or if you are African American and only look for awards that are designated for that population, you might miss awards that are categorized generally for students of color. The key is to move from general to specific categories so you do not miss any opportunities. It may take longer to research awards this way, but it is well worth the time once you see the number of opportunities.