| With rising college costs, continuing inflation, and | | | | sources. A source is only as good as the person using |
| narrowing job markets; students all over the U.S. are | | | | it. Seek professional guidance help, if needed. |
| seeking a variety of options for college financing. In | | | | Showcase Yourself with a Resume. Resumes show |
| many cases, the attainment of a scholarship is the | | | | your personal credentials, academic achievements, |
| difference in whether a student attends college or not. | | | | honors and awards, school activities, community |
| Scholarships are available from many sources,but | | | | service, leadership, special skills, and career |
| knowing how to qualify and be selected as the | | | | objectives.A well-balanced and eye-appealing resume |
| recipient of a specific scholarship is the big questionfor | | | | catches the attention of scholarship committees and |
| most students and parents. | | | | gets you invited to interviews. |
| The key to winning college scholarships is through | | | | Let Your Application Show the Best of You. Follow |
| proper planning and taking the appropriate actionsat | | | | directions exactly, complete the application fully,adhere |
| the right time. Some tips for being successful are as | | | | to proper grammar and spelling, and show extreme |
| follows: | | | | concern for neatness. Applications can havea positive |
| Start Early to ready yourself. Building academic and | | | | impact. |
| personal credentials takes time. Transcriptsreveal | | | | Reference Letters are a vital part of scholarship |
| academic achievements from the 9th to the l2th | | | | success. Notice that scholarships usually |
| grades, so the 9th grade is a good startingpoint for | | | | requirereferences. Remember that you determine the |
| high grades and test-taking success. Yet, acquiring a | | | | content of your reference letters. Your |
| foundation for learning beginsearlier in elementary | | | | character,manners, and reputation allow a person |
| school. The higher the G.P.A. and the higher the SAT | | | | writing the reference letter to acknowledge your |
| ACT scores thebetter your chances for scholarships. | | | | strengthsto scholarship committees. Also, your |
| Get Involvedin school and community activities. Good | | | | selection of people who write the letters is as |
| grades are important, but college andscholarship | | | | important as thereference letters. |
| committees have many applicants with outstanding | | | | College Essays are often the winning edge of a |
| G.P.A.'s and test scores. Leadership,involvement, and | | | | college application or scholarship competition. Essays |
| community service show a student's potential, diversity, | | | | give you a chance to shine and let you introduce |
| and concern for others. | | | | yourself to decision-making committees. A great |
| Find Scholarship Sources. Securing sources for | | | | essay gets the attention of the reader and leaves a |
| scholarships is much easier today because of | | | | lasting impression of you. |
| computer technology. Go to college web sites, on-line | | | | Remember that it takes time and hard work to secure |
| web sites, high school guidance offices, college financial | | | | scholarships. Finding scholarship money andkeeping |
| aid offices or libraries. These sources are readily | | | | yourself out of debt is well worth your time and |
| available at no cost. However, sources are just | | | | energy. |