College Scholarships and Grants

The rising costs of a college education have made some feel that postsecondary degrees are a luxury. There is no need to see things this way as help is there for those who need it. College scholarships and grants are readily available to students willing to do the research and pay attention to the regulations.

Grant and scholarship providers set their own rules about who can and cannot apply and students should not waste their time applying for scholarships and grants for which they are not eligible. Finding college scholarships and grants with eligibility criteria you meet is key to receiving awards. Don't ever cross your fingers hoping the provider won't notice that you didn't follow one tiny little rule. The more applications providers receive, the more likely they are to toss aside those of students who don't match their target profile, no matter how good the essay or project. Here are some important details students should pay attention to before sending out their applications.

Deadlines

Be sure to check the deadlines of college scholarships and grants before beginning the necessary work. Providers know the deadlines well; it's tough to fool them. It's best to apply early in the case that materials get lost or misplaced but if you can't help but ship things priority mail the night before they are due, at least make sure you have the dates straight. Do the applications have to be in by the deadline or must they be postmarked by the deadline? If you don't know, call and ask. These seemingly small details can make all the difference.

Age

It may not always seem fair but rules are rules. If your scholarship of interest is restricted to high school seniors who turn 18 by December 1st and you're a high school senior who turns 18 on the 2nd, don't waste your time. For whatever reason, the provider has set these rules and there's no use in spending your time on such awards. Myriad college scholarships and grants are out there, ones that you are qualified to receive. To find scholarships that match your qualifications, you may conduct a free college scholarship search at Scholarships.com.

Spelling and Grammar

Orthography is the unwritten criterion. Depending on the scholarship provider and the targeted group of students, reviewers may be more or less lenient on this issue. If the scholarship is restricted to science students with exceptional research experience, mediocre or even substandard, writers may catch a break. The same may not be true for scholarships offered to students who major in English or history. Regardless of major, at least perfect your spelling. Conduct a computer spell check and reread your application a few times. Finally, have someone with a critical eye proofread it. It is often difficult to spot one's own errors and there are some things that your computer won't catch; "write" isn't always "right."

Everything Else

The above are just examples of things you should look over. Many providers don't stop there when it comes to eligibility criteria. Some only award college scholarships and grants to students who major in specific subjects, have parents who work for a particular company, attend a particular school, etc. Before taking the time to send out anything, be sure that you qualify. Opportunities made for people with your qualifications are bound to be available. Set your sights on these instead.