Scholarships for almost anyone
Scholarships aren’t all academic
Everyone knows that good students can receive scholarships, but there are thousands of
scholarships available to practically anyone, regardless of GPA. Good grades,
athletic ability, school activities, and community involvement certainly make scholarships
easier to come by, but most people don’t realize that there are scholarships available for
almost anything you can imagine. When looking for scholarships, start with the
following sources:
Most scholarships will cover a portion of a student’s tuition and expenses.
Students may qualify for multiple scholarships, but few scholarships will pay more than the
direct costs of an education. The trick is persistence. In addition to scholarships,
you will want to apply for financial aid programs.
Avoiding scholarship scams
It's a shame to think that people would try to con your family out of money, but it happens
everyday to hundreds of people. Scholarship scams often appear to be legitimate
scholarship opportunities or matching services. They also usually require a fee to
apply or search for scholarships. These scams deceive thousands of people for millions of
dollars every year. Here's what we've found.
Common scholarship scams
Fraudulent scholarships can take many forms; some of the most common types are presented
here.
Scholarships that never materialize Many scams compel you to send them a
'fee' up front, but provide little or nothing in exchange. Most applicants write off
the expense, thinking that they didn't win the scholarship.
Scholarships for profit This looks just like a normal scholarship program, but requires an application fee. Scams of this sort typically receive 5,000 to 10,000 applications and charge fees of $5 to $35. These scams usually pay out a $1,000 scholarship or two and pocket a large profit, if they award any scholarships at all.
The advance-fee loan This scam offers you an unusually low-interest
educational loan. However, you are required to pay a fee before you receive the
loan. Once the fee is paid, the loan amount is never received. Real educational
loans deduct their fees from the disbursement check. They never require an application
fee. If the loan is not issued by a bank or other recognized lender, it is probably a
scam. Show the offer to a Member Service Specialist at
your local branch if you need advice about a
loan.
The scholarship prize Scams of this nature tell you that you've won a
college scholarship worth thousands of dollars, but requires that you pay a fee or the taxes
before they can release your prize. If someone says you've won a prize but you don't
remember entering a contest or submitting an application, be skeptical.
The guaranteed scholarship search service Beware of scholarship matching
agencies that guarantee you or your child will win a scholarship or they'll refund your
money. They may take your money and disappear. If they do send you a report of
matching scholarships, you'll find it very difficult to get your refund.
Free seminar Many prospective college students may receive a letter advertising a
free student aid seminar or "interviews" for financial assistance. Sometimes the
seminars do provide some useful information, but they are usually turn into sales
pitches for financial aid consulting services, investment products, scholarship matching
services and overpriced student loans.
Protecting yourself from scams
This advice can help prevent you from becoming a victim of a scholarship scam.
Here are some rules of thumb:
- If you must pay money to get money, it is probably a scam.
- If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Never invest more than a postage stamp to get information about scholarships.
- No one can guarantee that you or your child will win a scholarship.
- Legitimate scholarship foundations do not charge application fees.
- If you're suspicious of an offer, it's usually with good reason.