Finding the Best College Scholarship for Your Teen

With the economy still spinning around the drain, prepping your teen for college is more important than ever. Not only will they be able to continue their education, they will learn responsibility and prepare to enter the work force with the tools to obtain the job of their choice … in theory. But “How will I pay for my child’s college?” is a daunting question that is probably on your mind as your kiddo makes their way through high school. Here are some suggestions that will help you and your teen begin the search for scholarships that will increase their chances of entering the winner’s circle.

Look locally. While many future students are looking at flashier national scholarships, they often forget to look closer to home. Many clubs and local services offer scholarships for students within their own hometowns. These clubs usually see fewer applications, particularly for awards that aren’t as big but will come in every bit as hand as bigger scholarships. Many times you will be able to find advertisements for scholarships in your local paper.

Encourage volunteering. More than ever, schools are looking at volunteer experience as an essential component for success, particularly when making tough choices. Scholarships function in a similar manner, where your child will be able to turn their volunteer work into an actual scholarship.

Enter contests. Many businesses sponsor competitions that are related more to luck of the draw than actual talent. Some big name companies – such as Wells Fargo – grant scholarships to winners from $1000 to $5000.

Work study. Several schools work with local employers to offer students a work study program, where their work for that employer helps to pay for their schooling. These are known as “co-op programs,” and often their participants will finish school having paid off their debt, and with the added bonus of possibly being hired to work for their previous employer at a starting salary significantly higher than their competition.

Professional associations. Many professional associations will award students interested in working in that field with a scholarship, sometimes even if they haven’t decided whether they’ll major in that area or not.

You and your child will benefit from a research process so you can discover what flies as far as certain scholarships are concerned. What works for one won’t necessarily guarantee similar results in another. Begin looking as early as you can, even though senior year can be full of distractions and a sense of completion, rather than looking toward college. You can provide encouragement and attempt to gauge their interest in a future occupation. Would your child ever consider aiming for one of the top online masters in counseling programs in the country? It’s never too late to begin talking about goals!

Other tips: follow directions and proofread carefully. It doesn’t hurt to have another pair of eyes look over your child’s essay and application materials (your English teacher can come in handy here!). Double check that everything is satisfactory before submitting … the earlier the better! Now you and your child will be on your way toward a less expensive college experience!

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Hollie

Hollie is the owner and coordinator of Real Moms Real Views. She loves spending time with her family which consists of her handsome hubby and three kiddos ages three and under. She loves her fur baby (dog), the smell after it rains, red nail polish, chick flicks, and anything chocolate!
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