Continue reading »]]> Where to Find Scholarships for Single Mothers

Being a single mother is no piece of cake, and the financial aspects are possibly the toughest hurdle they have to face.  Single mothers must consider their kids as a key component of planning for the future.  The employment situation, everyday expenses, medical expenses and the cost of education are just a few of the important items to keep in mind.  Most single moms are prepared to take a second job as circumstances dictate, and are ever on the alert for that better, higher paying job.  The resume is kept current.  To help overcome their weak financial positions, many single mothers are considering furthering their educations.  How can they do this while working one or possibly two jobs and barely eeking out an existence for their families?  Following are some answers for strapped and stressed-out single moms who need to find scholarships for single mothers.

Grants

Grants do not require repayment of the funds awarded, so they are not loans.  Grants are given to single mothers in financial need.  To obtain one, you must go through a screening process so the providers of the grant fund can test for eligibility.  Grants are typically given to moms seeking higher education.  The amount provided will depend on the financial need of the grantee.  A few types of such grants are:

• Government grants for housing
• Government grants for single moms for college
• Government daycare grants for single moms
• Government grants for single moms to pay rent

The following are grants not offered by the government but by private organizations.

Sunshine Lady Foundation

A nonprofit organization founded by Ms. Doris Buffet in 1996.  It is solely dedicated to mothers who face abusive relationships and therefore lack the ability to function in society in any normal and successful way.  The organization offers scholarships for single mothers, education funding and much more.  Visit http://www.sunshinelady.org/ for more information.

Our Families, Our Future

An organization lending scholarships for single mothers wishing independence from government funds or any other source of funds.  Notably, this group trains women for positions in the work place so they can care for their children.

The Women’s Opportunity Awards

These awards are given to mothers who are the primary source of the family income.  The scholarships for single mothers serve to motivate the recipients and they seek out the hardest working ones to offer the grants.  Their website is http://www.soroptimist.org/.

Institutional Grants

These scholarships for single mothers are granted by colleges and universities to single mothers who have registered with them to attend classes and programs.  They work like this:  Suppose a single mother is looking for online classes and has no computer.  This organization will provide her with a computer often at no cost.  This is a substantial aid to a single mother’s educational opportunities, as she does not have to be away from her children to attend classes.

The single mother who will qualify for these grants and scholarships must understand that there will be restrictions.  Their annual income needs to fall below a certain level.  There is an application process for these grants and scholarships for single mothers that require the applicants to describe themselves and their economic backgrounds.  Application forms are available at local welfare offices.

And if You Are Not Qualified?

Do not give up in frustration.  There are grants offered by the United States Government specifically for single moms.  In order to take advantage of such grants, you will need to perform some type of service as outlined in the terms of the grant.  Some of them will be in agriculture, art or education.  For example, there is currently a grant available from the National Parks Service  for those who prefer outdoor work, and another in water conservation.  Visit www.grants.gov and http://www.neh.gov/ for further information.  This is an invaluable website for researching many types of grants.  The applications can be downloaded from the website.

Continue reading »]]> How to Get a Bright Futures Scholarship

The Bright Futures scholarships are awarded to Florida high school graduates for high academic achievement.  Three awards are offered by the program: 

• Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) including the Academic Top Scholars (ATS) award
• Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) award
• Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV) award

Eligibility Requirements for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program 

• Florida resident and either a United State citizen or eligible non-citizen.  Theses statutes are determined by the applicant’s high school
• No loan default under any state or federal grant loan or scholarship program unless satisfactory repayment agreements exist.
• Meet specific coursework and GPA and test score requirements as enumerated by the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA)
• ATS – Academic Top Scholars award as announced by the Florida Department of Education.  The recipient of this award receives a cost-per-credit-hour award.
• Complete and submit the “Free Application for Federal Student Award” (FAFSA).  This FAFSA does not require a statement of financial  need, but it must otherwise be complete and error-free prior to the first student disbursement of the 2011-12 academic year. 

The Bright Futures Scholarships apply only to the students who have met the above requirements and attend a college or university within the state of Florida and applies solely to undergraduate coursework.  The Bright Futures Scholarships are funded by the Florida State Lottery.

The Bright Futures Scholarship program was initiated in 1997.  Originally this program paid out 42,000 scholarship awards at around $70 million dollars.  Over the past ten years, the program has inflated substantially with the current costs hovering at the $436 million dollar mark with approximately 170,000 students taking advantage of the awards.  Actually, the concept initially was to keep raising the requirements annually for attaining the Bright Futures Scholarships, thereby maintaining control of the amount of financial expenditures.  This concept was never put in operation allowing the scholarship payouts to balloon to precarious levels.

Future of the Bright Futures Scholarship Program

The Bright Futures Scholarship program has been cut for 2011, a most unfortunate timing event as the tuition in Florida’s state colleges and universities has risen yet again.  The program lost $100 million in federal funding giving rise to the serious question regarding the taxpayer’s continuing ability to pay for it.  As stated earlier, the initial concept of the program was to keep increasing eligibility requirements as the program went on, thus reducing the number of scholarships and the outlay of funds.  This failed to occur and given the low eligibility requirements, students are flocking to apply for the scholarships. 

Florida legislators are weighing several ideas as to how to save the Bright Futures Scholarship program.  One idea is to require students to repay the money if they don’t remain in Florida after graduation.  Another is to make scholarships available only to families demonstrating financial need.

The numbers are clear as to why the program’s future is cloudy.  A hefty 88% of freshmen students attending public state universities qualify for the scholarship.  At the University of Florida, it’s 98%, and the median family income for those students is $105,000.

Continue reading »]]> Scholarships for African American Women

 Grants and scholarships for african american women are available from many different sources.  The goal for all of the granting institutions is to assist black women to earn degrees in programs where they are likely to be underrepresented or in fields that are non-traditional for all women, most particularly black women.  Some of the most prominent institutions granting scholarships for African American women follow.

Foundation Organization Grants

These grants and scholarships for african american women are provided by foundations for black women to attend college that have requirements ranging from general criteria to attend any college and any program within that college to specific criteria that specifies a particular course of study or particular institution of higher learning.  Unlike most institutions that grant scholarships for a specific purpose, this is one organization that covers it all.

United Negro College Fund (UNCF)

This is one of oldest and best recognized of the organizations offering scholarships for African American women.  The UNCF offers scholarships of a general nature which can be applied for via the organization’s website.  Other grants and scholarships are also available on the site for which African American women may apply.  These grants and scholarships are administered through UNCF and are available at UNCF.org.  Some organizations currently on the site include Liberty Mutual, Gap, Marriott, Google, Toyota, Intel, Citibank and many other corporate entities and groups that have discovered the benefit of sponsoring such scholarships to African American women for the enrichment of both the women and the company..

National Black Nurses Association (NBNA)

This association grants awards and scholarships for african american women in pursuit of a career in the nursing profession.  It is open to African American women who are currently enrolled in a four-year nursing program.  To apply, go the association’s website at nbna.org.

The National Physical Science Consortium

This group provides scholarships for african american women interested in pursuing a doctorate in the physical sciences.  This is a field that is sadly underrepresented by black women.  These scholarships are created to encourage women and minorities to pursue doctoral degrees in the field.  Application for these scholarships can be made at the consortium’s website at npsc.org.

The Julianne Malveaux Scholarship

These awards are aimed specifically at black women who are college sophomores or juniors majoring in journalism, public policy and related fields in an accredited college or university.  For further information visit nanbpwc.org.

To get even more specific the Ethel Lee Hoover Ellis Scholarship targets black women from only the following states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Caroline Tennessee and West Virginia.  The applicants from these states must be interested in majoring in a business program of study from an accredited college or university.  For more information go to nanbpwc.org.

Black Women in Sisterhood for Action (BISA)

This is a group gathered together to provide educational assistance and support to young black women.  It grants scholarships to African American women who reside in the inner city based on economic disadvantages and disenfranchisement.  Information and application for the scholarships awarded by this worthy organization can be found at their website, bisa-hq.org.

Continue reading »]]> The Gates Millennium Scholarship Program (GMS) is unique in that its purpose is to foster diversity in higher education by involving some unusual ethnic groups who have excelled in their high school studies.  Gates Millennium Scholarship awarded in 2011 will be those who have had outstanding achievement in the areas of academic studies, community service and leadership potential.

Eligible students must be African American, American Indian/Alaska native, Asian/Pacific Islander American or Hispanic American.  Beyond this requirement, the student must be a citizen, national or legal permanent resident of the United States.  All applicants must also have achieved a GPA in high school or GED of at least a 3.3, and be a first time enrollee at a United States accredited college or university (unless they are still working on their high school diploma or GED and meet all the other requirements).  They must be enrolled for the first time as a full-time, degree seeking first year student.

Beyond the academic qualifications, applicants must have demonstrated leadership skills through their participation in community service, extra curricular or other activities.  They must meet requirements for a Pell Grant (more about that later) and must have completed and submitted the three mandatory scholarship application forms.  The three forms include the Nominee Personal Information (basically the personal application), the Nominator Form (an evaluation of the student’s academic record), and the Recommender Form (an evaluation of the student’s community service activities).  These forms can be found online and downloaded from the Gates Millennium Scholarship official website.

One thousand students will be awarded a Gates Millennium Scholarship in 2011.  Thirteen thousand Gates Millennium Scholars have entered the program since its inception.  These students have been enrolled in over 1,500 Unites States colleges and universities and have achieved an 80% graduation rate versus a 40% graduation rate for those college and university students not in the program.  The program must be doing something right.

The Gates millennium Scholars Program has partnered with four organizations that provide continuing services to the program.  There are GMS program affiliate staff members at the American Indian Graduate Center Scholars (AIGCS), the Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF), the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF).  These organizations serve students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands.

As mentioned previously, one of the requirements for a scholarship award is the awardee must be eligible for a Pell Grant.  Students do not have to submit notification of eligibility until after they have been awarded the scholarship, however.  The amount of the Pell Grant is predicated on the expected family contribution, the cost of attending the desired institution of higher learning, whether the student is enrolled full or part time and whether the student attends classes for the full academic year or something less.

Additionally, the student must be an undergraduate in an accredited university or college or in a post-baccalaureate level teaching credential program.  The student cannot be incarcerated in a state or federal prison.

The maximum amount of the Pell Grant regardless of family dollar contribution is $5,500.00 for 2011.  If the family contribution calculation results are substantial enough to decrease the loan amount to below $3,800.00, no grant will be given.

As you can see, by making the awards dependent on Pell Grant eligibility among other requirements, the GMS is directed towards students of lower income families.  Most Pell Grants are granted to families with annual incomes of less than $20,000.00

Continue reading »]]> It is hardly common knowledge among high school students and their parents that the ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) offer scholarships and even stipends to help them focus not on graduating from high school, but on graduating from college.  You may already have graduated high school and are in college.  The Army ROTC scholarship may still be available to you if you qualify.  Scholarships are based on a  student’s merits and GPA, not financial need.

The Army ROTC scholarship offer two, three and four year options depending on how many years elapse before attaining a degree.  There are full tuition scholarships offered or there is an option for room and board in lieu of tuition for the qualified student plus supplemental allowances for books and fees.

The Army ROTC scholarship will provide living expenses monthly for each school year.  The amount of the stipend depends on the level achieved in the Army ROTC curriculum.

Curriculum and Colleges for the Army ROTC Scholarship

The Army ROTC scholarship program includes courses in leadership development, military skills and supervisory training.  These courses include both classroom and field study and are supplemental to the normal academic schedule for all college students.

The leadership program has four levels of courses.  Which ones you take depend on when you enroll in the Army ROTC scholarship.  These classes will benefit you and you will draw on them for the rest of your business and personal life whether in the Army or as a civilian.  These classes are:

• Army ROTC Basic
• Army ROTC Advanced
• Leadership Training
• Leadership Development and Assessment

There are some fine military colleges for those with an interest in pursuing a career in the Army.  Those who are differently inclined can find ROTC programs and earn scholarships in so many institutions of higher learning that to name them would be beyond the scope of this article.  For students interested in an Army career, the following colleges and universities come highly recommended and have earned the designation of Senior Military College (SMC).

• North Georgia College and State University, Dahlonega, Georgia
• Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont
• Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas
• The Citadel, Charleston, South Carolina
• Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia

An unusual and very exciting opportunity exists for Junior College students desirous of becoming commissioned officers in two years instead of four through the early commissioning program.  The students partaking in this Junior College curriculum must still matriculate to a four year institution and earn a Bachelor’s degree before serving as regular Army officers.  The program is a major financial incentive for students receiving early commissions and serve as officers while continuing to attend college.  They will also gain service time towards promotions and retirements through this program.  The five foremost Junior Colleges offering this plan are:

• Wentworth Military Academy, Lexington, Missouri
• Valley Forge Military Academy, Wayne, Pennsylvania
• Marion Military Institute, Marion, Alabama
• New Mexico Military Institute, Roswell, New Mexico
• Georgia Military College, Milledgeville, Georgia

If you are unsure about where you want to go and what you want to do in your life, you might want to consider a career in the United States Army and make use of their excellent scholarship as well as many other benefits.  It is certainly worth your while to look into.

Continue reading »]]> Pell Grants – Are one of the most common forms of student financial aid for school. They are awarded to low-income college undergraduates whose family earnings is under a certain level. Pell Grants may be used at both two-year and four-year colleges, and are available to both part-time and full time students. Pell Grants are awarded to students based on their Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is calculated using the possessions and income of both the student and his or her parents.

Stafford Loans – Are federal loans accessible to students to increase their personal and family income, scholarships, grants, and work study. Stafford Loans are government assured loans obtainable either through the Federal Direct Student Loan program or a lender that takes part in the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). Stafford loans are given to students in their own names with no credit check.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant - FSEOG funds are given to accredited colleges and schools by the Department of Education. The funds are awarded to students who show the most financial need based on criteria like assets and taxable income. FSEOGs never have to be repaid. When the FSEOG money runs out, it is gone, so the earlier you apply, the higher the probability you will receive more. Students who apply early with a zero EFC will be highly considered for the grant first.

Federal Work Study – FWS is a federal financial aid work program that gives students the chance to work part time jobs on and off school property. Federal Work Study funding is provided to institutions who provide jobs for students pursuing certain majors. Federal Work Study jobs use federal funds to compensate you for your time, unlike a normal job where your pay is given to you by an employer. Federal Work Study students enrolled in at least six credit hours of classes and have reasonable grades to be eligible for the FWS award. Federal Work Study awards are again given on a first come basis.

Perkins Loans – Perkins loans are subsidized loans, which simply put, says the government pays the interest until the conclusion of the loan grace period. Perkins Loans have no fees and feature a nine month grace period versus the usual six month for other federal programs. Perkins Loans are great for college students because they have a small rate of interest. Perkins Loans are given to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who attend school at least part time. Students can be awarded a Perkins loan at many accredited institutions. Students must start to repay Perkins Loans at least nine months after they finish school or fall short of the part time status.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid – FAFSA is one of the most popular financial aid options today. The requirements are basic and almost anyone can apply providing you meet the requirements. For starters you must be a US citizen. You must have a high school diploma or at least a GED. You must complete the FAFSA application and guarantee that any money recieved will be used only for education. The FAFSA4caster is an online tool which provides an estimate to you of how much aid you could potentially receive by calculating your EFC.

The Academic Competitiveness Grant - ACG is a federal grant program that gives extra grants to qualified students that took tough courses of study in high school on or after January 1, 2005. The Academic Competitiveness Grant can provide up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year of school to suitable pupils. Students can receive a single grant per grade level, and must meet the qualifications and requirements for the grant each and every year. Federal Academic Competitiveness Grants are based on the results of the FAFSA, cost-of-attendance and your enrollment status.

Fellowships – Are typically given to students pursuing a graduate or doctoral degree. Typically a provider doesn’t seek repayment; they will often ask that students complete research work as a part of their deal. The work may be tiresome, but it is generally worth the effort; it is not unusual for stipends, in addition to tuition coverage, to be a part of a fellowship deal. Fellowships tend to be rewarding, and they can get very competitive. Students who exhibit excellent merits are usually the top candidates.

Internships – An internship is an opportunity to work within a field that you would typically need a degree to hold a job in. Most internships are unpaid. Many professions want students to have participated in some type of internship program to be considered for employment. When considering an internship there are a few things to consider before you take a job. You need to know – How will it help your career? How much time per week is expected? Do you get a stipend? And finally, will you be considered for a job after the internship has ended?

Did You Know That Student Financial Aid

Most students don’t realize that they don’t need a 4.0 GPA to receive a scholarship. Usually only academic scholarships, require a high grade point average. Typically a GPA of around 2.5 or higher, gives you a good chance of earning a scholarship. Scholarships are not a “one and done” deal either. Some people have been able to pay most of their yearly tuition bills with multiple scholarships and a Pell Grant.

Continue reading »]]> It is common practice that a scholarship donor would require you to involve yourself in writing a paper to be considered a potential winner of their tuition money. You really only have one shot to make your scholarship essays shine. If you’re the type to stress when writing a paper, then relax. With the correct tools you can ace your paper. Read some of our college essay tips. Don’t forget to look online for essay samples.

Scholarship Essays For Beginners

Directions Need To Be Followed – This is not the time to “Think Outside The Box”. You MUST follow all directions to the letter. If you are unsure, then ask questions. Your essay is being judged against many other applicants. Spare yourself from being thrown into the “Does Not Meet Requirements” pile.

Create An Outline – It goes without saying that any essay or paper needs a sensible outline. An outline will pin point your ideas and help you create the framework for the essay. Your essay is a direct reflection of your skills and abilities. The judging committee will quickly discard work that makes little sense or is hard to follow. Be sure your outline has your thought s and arguments flowing together seamlessly. Judges can’t stand when your writing is loose, lacks coherence or when you fail to connect your main points. They want to see that you can support your argument well with clear and concise examples and that these examples do, in fact, relate to the topic at hand.

Scholarship Essays –Always take your time. Your essay could literally change the course of your life. Do not BS or plagiarize your way through an essay. The people reading these things have seen it all. If given the opportunity write about something you are passionate about. The writing will come easier and the thoughts will flow better. It is very important for every point or thought you make, that you back it up with an example and specifics. Creating vivid pictures helps a judge see your vision. Keep in mind who is reading your work. Do not “play” to this person; it will be transparent to them. Thinking outside the box will undoubtedly get your essay recognized. Just be care on how far you go. If you are having a hard time with ideas, take a cruise on the web.

Spit Shine – Ok, You have completed your essay, now the hard work begins. Reviewing your work a few times will ensure that thoughts and ideas flow. Do you get a visual of what you are trying to get across? Spend the time and don’t cut corners here. Part of the finishing process is getting others to read and critique your work. Show it to friends and family members and get their honest opinion. Your proof readers will most likely find small errors and perhaps question you on something. This feedback is valuable; do not become offended if they have something to say that is not to your liking.

Featured Scholarship Providers

• Gates Millennium Scholarship Program
• Coca−Cola Scholarship Program
• Pepsi Scholarship Fund
• TYLENOL® Scholarship program
• Home Depot Trade Scholarship Program
• The Lowe’s Scholarship
• Walmart Foundation Scholarship Programs
• BURGER KING® Scholarship Program
• Ronald McDonald House Scholarship
• Wachovia Bank Endowed Scholarship

Did You Know That

Don’t let your income prevent you from applying for financial aid. . Salaries of $150 to $200K a year may qualify for need-based aid at expensive schools. You will need to file the FAFSA—and the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE for most private colleges. You must complete the FAFSA, so that you will have access to federal college loans.

Continue reading »]]> It’s just a matter of time before you run into some type of scholarship scams on  the internet. There are people and organizations out there that will try and charge you for scholarship information, but will never return to you with anything of value. A scammer will undoubtedly try to appear as a legit organization or in some cases a government agency. Scholarship information sites that ask you for personal things such as social security and credit card numbers to help you find funding should cause concern.

Also, if you are contacted “out of the blue” and are asked to partake in a seminar or interview you may want to continue on with your search. If someone who tells you that the information they provide can’t be found somewhere else be suspect of them. Free advice is abundant on the internet from an array of resources. A high school guidance counselor or the college financial aid administrator is another great place to start.

Beware Of The Common Signs Of A Scholarship Scams

Application Fees- Scholarships should not cost you a thing. They are “free”Unsolicited Scholarship Awards- If you  win a scholarship that you did not apply for, it may be a scam.

Formatting, Spelling and Grammar mistakes – A sign this someone from another country is playing.

Unrelated Email Address & Contact Info – Someone using a “throw away” email account may not be legit.

High Pressure Sales Pitch – Scholarships sell themselves. People “pushing” you into something is a sign.

Lack Of  Details And Information – Legit scholarship offers are loaded with tons of information.

Requiring Personal Information – Scammer are “phishing” for your SSN, credit card and anything they find.

Sweepstakes Or Lottery Style Scholarship – You win a scholarship based on requirements, not good luck.

Guaranteed Win Of A Scholarship – Again, you have to earn a scholarship based on certain criteria.

Provide Previous Scholarship Winners – Providers are more than happy to show previous recipients.

Paperwork Fees -  Or any other administrative fees. This should be a major warning sign.

Influence With Sponsors – Steer clear of this scenario. Could be a scam within a scam.

A Few Weird And Whacky Scholarships

• Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Scholarship
• Tall Clubs International Student Scholarship
• Left Handed Students of Juniata College
• The Patrick Kerr Skateboard Scholarship
• Carnegie Mellon University Bagpipe Scholarship
• The Klingon Language Institute Kor Memorial Scholarship
• Michigan Llama Association Scholarship
• Duct Tape “Stuck at Prom” Scholarship Contest
• Society of Vacuum Coaters Foundation Scholarship
• Excellence in Predicting the Future Award
• Starfleet Academy Scholarships

Did You Know That

As you will find out the internet is one of the best ways to get things moving. Start by searching individual college sites, and scholarship resources. Steer clear of sites that charge you for scholarship searches or things similar in nature. Sometimes help can be in the town where you live. Local sources of scholarships are abundant and greatly overlooked. Being that they are usually overlooked, your chances of winning one will of course increase.