How to Find Free Scholarships

By: Leroy A. Binns Ph.D.

With an increase in prospective candidates in search of post secondary education, accommodations have been introduced to facilitate academic aspirations. Whereas new courses and degree programs accompanied by revolutionary modes of instruction particularly distance learning are reflecting the needs of a changing society so is financial awards as a solution to inequality and rising tuition.

Admissions to higher education may commence with qualifications yet in close standing looms overwhelming expenditure to attain such training. For high school pupils a visit to the guidance counselor’s office sets in motion a discussion on approaches to financing tertiary education. Such a revelation is inclusive of personalized needs based analysis and process and options ranging from loans to grant/scholarships.

Access to information on the latter may also be obtained at public libraries, bookstores, financial aid departments at colleges and universities, professional organizations the likes of science and health establishments, non profit organizations such as the Rotary Club, Lions Club and the Elks and by electronic sites commonly known as collegescholarships.org, findtuition.com and amazon.com among others.

In an arena saturated with literature some are deserving of commendation for in depth coverage and an assortment of alternatives. A partial list is as follows:

 Scholarship Handbook 2010 – The College Board

How to go to College Almost for Free – Ken Kaplan

The College Board Scholarship Handbook 2009 12^th edition

Peterson’s Scholarship, Grants and Prizes 2010 – Thompson Peterson

The Scholarship Scouting Report

An Insider’s Guide to America’s Best Scholarships – Ben Kaplan

Cash for College: The Ultimate Guide to College Scholarships – Philip C. McKee and Cynthia Ruiz

While some monetary gestures are general in focus others are designed acknowledging specific criteria. Scholarships may target groups by age, race, religion, specialization, grades/achievements and fiscal status. In addition many corporations and government entities participate in the offering of employee benefits which reward workers with full reimbursements for relevant credits earned. Consequently recipients on several occasions have been beneficiaries of free education.

Amounts dispersed towards tuition and/or room and board spans hundreds to thousands of dollars per semester which is primarily dependent on resource availability and determined by part time and full time status and undergraduate and graduate study. The Pell grant formerly known as the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant Program is a federal course of action sponsored by the US Department of Education that addresses the financial burden of undergraduate students from low income families to a maximum of $4,050 per school year.

In sum albeit the applications are oftentimes laborious in request for information, attention to detail is warranted for desired outcomes. Therefore as a precautionary measure, responses should be tailored in accordance with inquiries in anticipation of augmenting opportunities. Refusal to comply in full to instructions could ultimately result in rejection of funding and postponement of ones academic pursuit.