Last week we covered some tips on how to get a college scholarship. Here’s part two for you. Read these tips over to see how you can boost your chances of getting free money for college:
1. Take care with your application. Make sure you complete all the application blanks. Don’t skip anything. If you find that a particular question isn’t applicable to your situation, be sure to write “not applicable,” or something similar to that, in the blank.
Many well-known companies offer scholarships for college, and Comcast is one of them. Comcast seeks to encourage leaders and achievers through the Comcast Leaders and Achievers Program. This program offers $1,000 scholarships to recipients. It’s not a huge amount of money, but when you’re faced with the high costs of post-secondary education, every dime may truly count. The scholarship is a one-time grant, which means students don’t receive it every year. But if you win one of these awards, you may use it to help pay for your housing or meal plan. It can make a real dent in your costs there.
This scholarship program is for students who are leaders. These students have demonstrated a commitment to serving their communities and have impressed their principals and guidance counselors with their leadership ability. These are the kids who are expected to be movers and shakers–not merely for monetary gain.
If you’re a high school senior, consider applying for a college scholarship from Coca Cola. This scholarship is open to high school seniors who live in the United States. There are other eligibility requirements to meet, but the soda company offers 250 scholarships each year. These scholarships are not based on need; they are based on student achievement. This is good news for those who may find their need-based financial aid lacking.
The eligibility requirements for the Coca Cola college scholarship are pretty basic. Eligible applicants have to be current high school students, which includes homeschoolers, who are in the senior year of high school. They have to be citizens of the United States, US nationals, or permanent or temporary residents. There are some exceptions to this rule, however. For example, Humanitarian Parolees are eligible. Applicants have to be expecting to graduate from high school and receive a diploma when they apply, and they must have plans to attend an accredited United States college or university. There’s also a GPA requirement. Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA.
If you’re wondering how to get a college scholarship, there are some easy tips you can apply to boost your chances of success. Remember that scholarships are money you never have to pay back. Being proactive about applying for them can result in major benefits for your wallet.
You can get an affordable college degree. There’s no need to spend $20,000 or more in the pursuit of higher education. If affordable college tuition is your priority, read on for three places to get your college degree without breaking the bank.
1. University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill has a reputation for delivering quality education yet offers affordable tuition rates. For the 2009 to 2010 academic year, an undergraduate student could take 12+ credits for about $2800 in tuition and fees as long as he was a North Carolina resident. A non-resident could attend for a little over $11,700. These rates are per semester, so clearly this school is most affordable for those who live in the state. If a non-resident has grants and scholarship money coming to him, however, this school won’t be a budget buster, and student loans may never enter the equation.
For more and more students, paying for college without going broke is becoming a top priority, sometimes even outpacing concerns about available majors and school locations. No one wants to get saddled with years of student loans to repay. Many students accept student loans as a necessary evil, but would greatly prefer to walk away from college without carry a heavy load of debt.
One option for those who are focused on paying for college without going broke is starting at community college and then transferring to a four-year institution after two years. Community colleges are much more affordable than most four-year institutions. This means students can secure two years of education at a tiny fraction of the cost of attending the average four-year school. Then, they can transfer to a four-year, in-state college or university. These schools are usually less expensive than state-related and private colleges.
Tuition-Free College for Music Majors: Image by Illuminate at sxc.hu
The music minded should consider the Curtis Institute of Music, a tuition-free college located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school offers free tuition, which was like getting $33,500 off for undergraduate students during the 2008-2009 school year. Graduate students got a value of about $46,000 in the same year.
College Online: Image by dmpop at sxc.hu
Many online universities offer a full range of majors and instruction from highly respected professors. Though these schools offer an education at a fraction of the cost of traditional schools, they don’t shortchange you academically. When you enroll in one of these schools, you can expect a challenging educational program.
Get an Online Degree: Image by jaylopez at sxc.hu
When considering accredited online degrees, don’t stop with looking into online colleges and universities. Be sure to take a look at traditional universities that offer online degree programs as well. For example, you may find an affordable college or university that provides on-campus degrees in majors that interest you. Upon closer inspection, however, you may also learn that these schools have an online component. Instead of going to class every day as you work toward your degree, you can learn from home and still enjoy low costs and the benefits of earning a degree from a fully accredited institution.
