InFluential_Magazine_May_June_2017

Teen
TIPS TO LAND A
College
Scholarship
If you are
college-bound or
already enrolled,
experts say it’s
worth investing the
time to investigate
scholarship
opportunities - even
if you think you may
not be eligible for
most opportunities.
According to a recent study,
more than a third of college
costs in the U.S. were covered
by scholarships and grants in the 2015-
2016 academic year.
“Scholarship money doesn’t have to be
paid back, and it can significantly reduce
out-of-pocket college costs for families,”
says Martha Holler, senior vice president
at Sallie Mae, who also points out that
scholarships are not just for star football
players and valedictorians.
From scholarships for dart players
and vegetarians to filmmakers and
those fluent in Klingon, available
awards run the gamut and extend
well beyond academics or athletics
to a wide range of activities, interests,
and affiliations.
“Have a passion for designing greeting
cards? There’s a scholarship for that!
Interested in helping people understand
the perils of texting when driving? There’s
a scholarship for that too,” says Holler.
With this in mind, Holler and the experts
at Sallie Mae are offering the following
scholarship tips.
• Be thorough. Don’t overlook smaller
scholarships. Even a few hundred dollars can
help offset the cost of textbooks and supplies.
• Be proactive. Apply for scholarships
every year. Approximately 50 percent of
available scholarships are for students
already enrolled in college.
• Be diligent. Pay attention to details.
• Be careful. Never pay for scholarships
Follow instructions and proofread carefully.
or for scholarship searches. School
counselors and school financial aid offices
can recommend reputable options. One
such site is Scholarship Search by Sallie
Mae, a free scholarship search tool that is
294 TEEN FLUENTIAL MAY / JUNE 2017