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Welcome to Scholarship Tips
Hi, I'm Mary White, one of the hundreds of writers here at LifeTips.com. Enjoy these 201 Scholarship Tips! If you’re a business, why not hire the expert writers at LifeTips? And if you’re a writer, apply for freelance writing gigs.
Left-Handed Scholarships
Approximately 10% of the population is left-handed. There are many rumors and whisperings of scholarships for left handed people. This is one of many wacky scholarship opportunities for physical attributes that can be found.
In this case though, the only verified left-handed scholarship is to Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA. This scholarship offers $1000 to left handed students.
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Win a Scholarship for Wearing Duct Tape!
One of the more wacky scholarships available is the “Stuck at Prom” Duck Brand duct tape scholarship contest. To enter, you and your prom date simply need to create prom outfits made from Duck Brand duct tape, and submit a color photograph of the two of you wearing your creations along with release forms and contact information.
Even though such scholarships are far from traditional, the prize money from weird scholarships is just as real as that awarded to recipients of academic or athletic scholarships. First place “Stuck at Prom” winners receive $3,000 each, and the school that hosted their prom event will receive the same amount. Second and third place prices of $2,000 and $1,000 are awarded in the same manner.
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Military Scholarship Finder
The military offers its own free scholarship finder. Similar to other scholarship searches that can be found on line, this program is designed to help members of the military community find additional student aid.
The search is good for members of the military (active or veteran), as well as spouses and depends. Search features include level of degree desired, location of study, and type of aid required. This is a great resource for anyone with military connections.
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Follow IRS Guidelines When Setting Up a Scholarship Fund
One of the factors that must be considered when setting up a scholarship fund is making certain that scholarship program is compliant with IRS regulations. The IRS rules about foundation-based scholarship funds are designed to make sure that the procedure for awarding scholarships is not discriminatory and that a broad class of individuals have the potential to benefit from the award.
IRS guidelines prohibit companies from setting up scholarship funds to pay tuition fees for promising students they wish to support through training for the purpose of recruiting them. The IRS also prohibits companies from utilizing a foundation-based scholarship to cover employee tuition reimbursement expenses. Corporations are free to engage in such acts, but may not use foundation funds to do so.
Corporations may use foundation-based scholarship funds for scholarships made available to the children of employees under specific guidelines established by the IRS. Employee dependent scholarships cannot be designed to benefit the corporation in any way. The scholarship must be given for the sole purpose of benefiting the students. The scholarship selection committee has to be completely independent of the company. Further, if the employee leaves the company, the scholarship cannot be taken away from the child.
Individuals who wish to set up scholarship funds may do so via a private foundation or a community foundation. The IRS does not have a preference in this case, and individuals typically choose one form or the other based on the tax implications for their specific situation.
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Guidelines for Writing a Good Essay
Many programs require scholarship essays as part of the application process. When tackling an essay, there are several steps that will help ensure a winning essay:
1. Brainstorm ideas—look at the topic and write down some ideas relating to it. 2. Outline—this helps put ideas into a coherent order. 3. Write a good introduction—you want to capture the reader's attention from the start. 4. Write coherent, strong content throughout your essay. 5. Make sure the conclusion brings it all together. 6. Write what you know. Your voice will come through if the essay is about something you know, love or care about.
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Scholarship for Being Left Handed
Can you really win a scholarship for being left handed? If you plan to attend Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA and you are left handed, you can apply for the Frederick and Mary F. Buckley Scholarship for left handed people.
In 1919, students Mary Francis And Frederick Buckley were paired together in a tennis class at the school for no other reason than that they were both left handed. The two fell in love, got married, and left a bequest to their alma mater to fund what has now become the college’s infamous left handed scholarship.
Left handed sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Juniata college may apply for the scholarship, which is awarded on a competitive basis to applicants with top academic records. These unique left handed scholarships range from $1,000 - $1,500 and cannot be applied to any other institution.
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Preparing for College
Preparing for college is not a weekend event; it's a process that takes about two years. Like preparing for battle, getting into college takes time, organization, and dedication. Here are some tips to help you prepare:
• Set a time line and stick to it. • Always check and double check what's been done to be sure everything actually was done. • Don't wait till the last minute, hoping for a winning lottery ticket. • Be organized • Be motivated. • Be dedicated.
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Coca Cola Scholars Foundation Awards 250 Merit Scholarships
The Coca Cola Scholars Foundation awards 250 merit scholarships high school seniors planning to enter a four-year degree program at an accredited post-secondary institution in the United States. Fifty of the Coca Cola scholarship awards are $20,000 scholarships and the other 200 are $10,000 awards. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher at the end of their junior year, and must apply online (cocacolascholars.org) during September or October of their senior year.
Coca Cola scholarship programs are not open to the children or grandchildren of employees, officers, or owners of Coca Cola bottling companies, the Coca Cola Corporation, or any of its subsidiary organizations or divisions.
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Scholarships V. Grants
Shakespeare once said "A Rose by any other name would smell as sweet." So too would free money for school be just as free whether by scholarship or grant. Both are types of financial assistance offered to students that do not need to be paid back.
When searching for help with paying your tuition, be sure to look for scholarships and grants, as opposed to only looking for the right scholarships--this can make your tuition bill drop.
In many cases there are grants available from your school and sometimes grants available in relation to your area of study or your socio economic situation. There is a lot of money to be had out there - make sure you find it!
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Surfing the Internet for Scholarships
Surfing the Internet is a fantastic way to conduct a college scholarship search. If you look on your own with out using a company, be sure to check each scholarship site you find carefully.
* Can you find information about the people offering the award? * Is the date that the site was last updated easy to find? * Does the amount of money seem extremely high? * What are the parameters of the scholarship?
If a scholarship looks too good to be true, it usually is. Look for consumer review sites about the companies that offer scholarships and the websites you are looking at.
This is why going with a reputable company that can consolidate the legitimate scholarship option available to you can be worth the money. Why spend the time and effort on potentially dud scholarships when you can get a comprehensive list from a trusted source?
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Junior Year Tasks
Junior year is so close to graduation that you can start to smell it. Now is the time to start thinking about what that means in terms of your future and your education. The time has come to start thinking about what colleges and what majors are of interest to you. You should also start researching scholarships and grant opportunities and send away to for information for the programs that seem appropriate or of interest to you. This is a gathering stage and you should be collecting information about different options so you can ultimately apply for scholarships to fund your education.
Entrance exams such as SAT and ACT tests should be taken at this point. Remember to keep grades up and try to become involved in extra curricular activities (it looks good on an college or scholarship application).
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The Graduate... School Dilemma
I just finished school...what do you mean I need more?? It may come as a nasty shock, but sometimes advanced degrees are required to continue up the career ladder. Before jumping into a graduate program sit down and think it through.
• Will your employer be subsidizing your education? • If not, are you in a financial place to pay or it yourself or take out the loans needed? • Will the job you get with the advanced degree put you in a significantly better place?
Weigh the pro and cons before you decide to commit to another course of study.
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International Loans
International study has gained in popularity. Recognizing the need for financial resources, the International Student Loans Program was developed.
The International Student Loans Program offers loans with flexible options and allows up to 20 years to pay them back. The loans are available for students from any country but must have either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident as a co-signer.
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Check it Out at Your Local Library
Did you know that your local library can be an excellent source of scholarship information? Not only are there books on scholarships, databases to search for scholarships, and FAFSA forms to fill out, there could also be an actual scholarship.
Many libraries offer scholarships for community members that are sponsored by the Library Board of Trustees or Friends of the Library Group. Next time you stop at your library to get help in finding scholarships, ask if there is one available, you never know.
