| College students are hit especially hard by the | | | | people who they perceive are desperate or weak. |
| recent downturn in the economy. Along with the | | | | This would be reason to be cautious with regard |
| cost of living, tuition rates have risen to a new | | | | to this process. With full knowledge that a |
| level. Decent jobs have become scarce for | | | | scholarship is never paid back and requires |
| everyone, including college graduates. And while at | | | | absolutely no out of pocket money upfront, |
| one time it was a given that parents would be | | | | families can begin the search for easy scholarships |
| funding the cost of their children's education, the | | | | to apply for. |
| recession has wiped out many parents' savings | | | | Sources of scholarship funding are everywhere. |
| and some parents are unemployed as well. There | | | | Some people who have benefited from a college |
| are student loans available but again, payments | | | | education chose to give back, so to speak, by |
| for these loans would have to be taken out of an | | | | offering scholarships to students with the same |
| already tight budget. Grants are awarded but not | | | | major or interest as they had that are trying to |
| nearly enough are available to help all students in | | | | begin a college career. Corporations offer |
| need. Finding easy scholarships to apply for help | | | | scholarships; some even offer them to children of |
| students through their college years. | | | | their employers as a benefit or sales incentive. |
| It is a sad fact that there are easy scholarships | | | | Families should leave no stone unturned in the |
| to apply for that are never claimed. One reason | | | | search for scholarship money. Apply for |
| may be because families have the fear that the | | | | scholarships at every opportunity where there is |
| process is too complicated, or perhaps the family | | | | a possibility that the student can qualify. |
| did not know the scholarship was available. | | | | Of utmost importance is a quality, well prepared |
| Parents of students can easily navigate the | | | | application package. This preparation saves time |
| scholarship process along with their children. With | | | | and can be turned in as needed. The package |
| the possibility of free financial help at stake, | | | | usually consists of a resume with reference |
| learning how to apply for scholarships is not an | | | | letters and a personal statement. Make enough |
| option. | | | | copies of this package so all that needs to be |
| Just like with any other business venture, caution | | | | done is add the paperwork to each application. |
| is needed when starting this process. Of course, | | | | Before long you will be off to school-with tuition |
| any person old enough to have college age | | | | paid for by means of a college scholarship. |
| children knows that there are those who prey on | | | | |