Lots of news about student loan debt recently: student graduating with $100,000 in debt; student loan debt has surpassed credit card debt, in excess of one trillion dollars.
How to avoid? Scholarships! Apply early and often.
What are scholarships? A form of financial aid that doesn’t have to be repaid.
What kind of scholarships are available? Colleges/universities and outside or private.
Only for straight A students or athletes? NO! Schools award scholarships for leadership and community service as well. My favorite: the saint scholarship at College of St Benedict/St John’s University in St Cloud MN.
Many outside scholarships available. My personal favorite is for the tennis player with diabetes.
How do I find them? Many schools consider for scholarship with application for admission. Check the websites for any other scholarships at school applying to that might need application. Also, sometimes those deadlines are earlier than regular application deadlines.
Outside scholarships: There are a number of good search websites that will create a list of scholarships based on personal data. By creating your profile earlier in you high school career, you can see what you need to do to be eligible by senior year. Check locally at high school website for neighborhood associations, and elementary school alumni scholarships. Check with parents: some companies or unions or employee associations offer scholarships.
Start early and apply to many, it’s a numbers game. Don’t discount the $500 scholarship; they add up. Just think, if it only took 2 hours to complete and you won that comes out to $250/hour. What teenager makes that kind of money?
Marie can help with finding and applying to scholarships available to you and your teen. Schedule a 20 minute discovery call today.
