Middletown High School - Middletown City School District

Your Scholarship StrategyAlthough most student aid comes inthe form of federal education loans andgrants from colleges, scholarships—withtheir lure of free money—get a hugeamount of attention from students andtheir parents. If you decide to invest yourtime in a search for scholarships, it’s importantto have an organized system tofind, apply for, and win scholarship money.Start With A Personal InventoryMost of the information you will beasked for on a scholarship search questionnairewill be easy to come up with—yearsin school, citizenship, state of residence,religion, ethnic background, disability,military status, employer, membership organizations,and so forth. Beyond thosequestions, you will have to give somethought to your academic, extra-curricular,and career plans. You should ask yourself:• Do I want to participate in a competition?If so, what are my talents and interests?• What subject do I plan to major in?• What career do I plan to pursue?• Do I want to apply for all types ofaid or only scholarships?Your answers to these questions will helpdetermine your scholarship eligibility. Takeyour time brainstorming and don’t overlookanything—the more personal characteristicsyou discover, the more scholarshipsyou could potentially apply for.Research Local Scholarships FirstThe smaller the geographical area ascholarship covers, the better your chancesof winning. Begin with your high schoolguidance office. Guidance counselorswill know about scholarships for studentsgraduating from your high school. Theymay also be aware of scholarships forresidents of your town, county, and state.Your next stop should be the collegeaid section of your school or public library.Most libraries will have a numberof books about financial aid, includingscholarship guides such as the CollegeBoard’s Scholarship Handbook. They alsomay have information on local scholarships.Check Membership Organizations& EmployersOrganizations of all types and sizessponsor scholarships—leave no stone unturned.Explore categories you might nothave considered, such as religious, communityservice, fraternal, military, union,and professional.And don’t forget your parents. Manylarge companies offer scholarships or tuitionprograms for children of employees. If you areuncertain, ask your parent to check with his orher human resources department.Make sure not to overlook student jobs.Employers like fast food chains, departmentstores, and supermarkets often give scholarships.Awards related to student employmentcan come from unexpected sources.Contact Your State Department Of HigherEducationAlmost every state has a scholarshipprogram for residents—keep inmind, however, that awards are usuallylimited to students who attend college instate.For more information, log on towww.collegescholarships.org/states/newyork.htm.Search National ScholarshipsAfter your local search is complete, it’s timeto start looking at large, national scholarshipssuch as Gates Millennium, Coca Cola or RonaldMcDonald House. See page 13 for a full listof area/national scholarships.Institutional Scholarships:A Great Sourcefor FundsSince the vast majority of allscholarship money is disbursedby colleges, it makes sense toresearch what kinds of scholarshipsare available at theschools that interest you. Checkout college Web sites, catalogs,and financial aid officesfor this information. Institutionalawards can be offered on auniversity-wide basis, or withina particular college or major.Eligibility for such awards canbe based on merit, financialneed, intended major, ethnicityor a variety of other factors.Here are some questions youmight want to ask about theseawards:• Are scholarships awardedautomatically if a studentmatches certain criteria (suchas GPA or SAT score)?• What is the application procedure?• What materials are required?• Is the award renewable?• What are the requirementsto maintain the award?4 Scholarship Guide 2011/2012