Archive for the ‘Scholarships’ Category

College Tuition and Financial Aid Explained at the University of Michigan

Friday, August 13th, 2010

Financial aid is a very popular subject on My College Guide (as you can probably imagine). Hardly a day goes by where a college bound student just starting the college planning process doesn’t ask how to go about paying for college.

This video from the University of Michigan does a great job in breaking down why college tuition costs what it costs (and can be applied to many other colleges and universities around the country) – as well as pointing out potential sources that can help you pay for college!

College education isn’t cheap — that is the reason why there are financial aid outlets like the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and various scholarships and other grants. Rest assured that there are plenty of ways to save money on the cost of your college tuition – and this video does touch upon a few terrific sources! Watch Tuitionomics on Youtube or below.

Merit Scholarships: Finance Your Future for Free

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

You may have noticed terms like academic merit scholarships and merit based scholarships flying around the web and might be a little confused as to what they are and how to snag one!

Are your savings not enough? Put those good grades to good use! Think: merit scholarship.

Gilmoth / Mauro Quercia

Define Merit Based Scholarship
A merit based scholarship is a financial award that a college bound student may receive based on high school success. Translation? If you have a high GPA and/or are actively involved in your high school and/or community — there’s a chance that you could qualify for a merit scholarship to help lower (or even completely cover) the cost of your four year college tuition.

A merit scholarship is not just limited to your grades. This type of scholarship could also be awarded to a high – achieving college bound student because of other factors, including community service, leadership roles, talent, and extracurricular activities – those other important factors of college admissions!

Find a Merit Scholarship
So how does a student go about finding academic merit scholarships? Well, that depends. Many colleges and universities have institution-specific academic scholarships that they will try to match up to things like your high school GPA and standardized test scores depending on the scholarship.

You can also check the websites of the colleges you are interested in for specific scholarship information. Most colleges and universities have scholarship sections right on their website so you can see the basic requirements and deadlines – and get a better idea of what your GPA and extracurricular activities or even talents might help you qualify (and where you should apply)! But be forewarned – merit scholarships on the national level that are based on talent or athletic ability are very competitive.

Hoping to find a wad of cash to pay for your college education?

AMagill / Andrew Magill

Don’t overlook another important resource: your high school guidance counselor! He or she usually has a local listing of merit based scholarships in your area or even the state.

These may be awarded from local businesses, organizations, and even clubs. Some may only be interested in your GPA and/or class rank when others will want to see community service or even a specific extracurricular activity (like a specific sport or ability). It really just depends on the source that will be financing your education.

Applying for a Merit Scholarship
You will need to make sure that you fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Why? A College or university usually requires it! There is only so much funding to spread around to the students that want it — so many schools want to see if you qualify for government need-based grants or other aid first.

Just make sure to read the requirements carefully. While it might be tempting to apply for anything and everything – a better use of your time would be to make sure that you are an exact match for the scholarship guidelines. If the numbers just don’t fit, why not work on it, and apply for the scholarship after you boost your grades, put in the required community service time, etc. — and then take the time to apply? Scholarship providers receive so many applications from students that do fit the criteria — if you aren’t a match, you will not be considered.

Don't forget about your college classwork!

Aaron Jacobs / Aaron Jacobs

Losing a Merit Scholarship
Every merit scholarship will have its own rules, but in general – there will be a specific GPA to maintain. If you spend too much time socializing and your grades go below the set GPA…you could lose your merit scholarship.

Parting Thoughts
Colleges want to make sure that students who truly care about their education continue to receive these financial aid gifts – so stay on task and try to remember the real reason why you went to college in the first place: your future!

My College Guide’s $2000 Scholarship Giveaway Winner

Friday, May 21st, 2010

My College Guide is the giving sort: free college info, a free annual magazine (that we also post in full online), even a free question and answer service we call “the Guru.”  We’re here to help you navigate the college maze, discover financial options you may not have known existed, and to generally help you in your college quest.

Brian Bell -- My College Guide's $2000 Scholarship Prize Winner!

Courtesy of The Bell Family.

What you may not have realized — My College Guide also likes to give away hefty scholarship prizes and awesome techy gadgets!  So, who’s the latest $2,000 My College Guide Scholarship Winner?  It’s Florida high school Junior Brian Bell!  Here’s what he has to say about his future plans.  Congratulations, Brian!

What motivates and inspires you?
I am motivated by my desire to be the best at everything I do.

Are you involved in any extracurriculars?
I am a three year varsity wrestler at my school. I also participate in High-Q, a competitive trivia team.

What do you like to do with your free time?
When I am not in school, I like to wrestle and generally hang out, playing ping pong or relaxing at the beach.

What are some of your favorite subjects in school?
I have a wide array of academic interests, but some of my favorite classes have been philosophy, human geography, and psychology.

yellowSo — now that you’ve won this big scholarship check, what are you hoping to study in college?  Any particular college majors in mind, yet?
I have many diverse interests, so I am not sure of a particular college major yet, but some of my top choices would be philosophy or astrophysics.

Have you narrowed down your list of colleges?  Where are you hoping to get in?
I have started looking at colleges, but am still quite undecided on where I want to go. Hopefully I will get in at some of the top colleges in the country.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Maybe just finished with graduate school, or possibly ruler of the universe.

Stay on top of My College Guide’s latest news and giveaways – subscribe by email or RSS!

Colleges for Low Income Students: Free Tuition, No Loans, and Full Rides

Friday, April 16th, 2010

College, and the costs that go with it, can make higher education seem way out of reach – especially for low income students.  The good news?  There’s something better than hope – there’s loan-free financial aid packages and even tuition free colleges!  Who knew college could be so affordable?

Duncan Hall at Rice University -- Loan free tuition for low income students!

photine/Laurie

For high achieving low income students, many colleges and universities offer a no-packaged loans policy – which include grants, scholarships, and work-study programs in their financial aid packages not interest accruing loans!  Many offer free rides to college (and then some).   A few of these colleges, like the Webb Institute and Deep Springs College, don’t even have tuition!  You really can graduate debt free!

Check out our large list for a host of higher education institutions that offer free tuition or loan free tuition for students of low income families.  Click on the college or university name to be taken directly to the financial aid page that relates to that school – and get in touch with the financial aid office to see where you fit in.  College isn’t just for the wealthy – it’s for everyone.

Alice Lloyd College Rice University
Amherst College Sacred Heart University
Barclay College Saint Louis Christian College
Berea College Soka University
Bowdoin College Stanford University
Brown University Swarthmore College
Claremont McKenna College Texas A&M University
College of the Ozarks Texas Tech University
College of William and Mary University of California
Columbia University University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art University of Pennsylvania
Cornell University University of Texas
Curtis Institute of Music University of Virginia
Dartmouth College University of Washington
Davidson College Vanderbilt University
Deep Springs College Vassar College
Duke University Washington and Lee University
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering Washington State University
George Washington University Webb Institute
Harvard University Wellesley College
Haverford College Williams College
Lafayette College Yale University
Lehigh University The Armed Forces:
Macaulay Honors College at CUNY US Air Force Academy
Massachusetts Institute of Technology US Coast Guard Academy
Miami University of Ohio US Merchant Marine Academy
Michigan State University US Naval Academy
Princeton University West Point US Military Academy

Seven Schools with Great Financial Aid Packages

Saturday, December 12th, 2009

collegemoneyThese days, money is tight for just about everyone—and college is one of the biggest expenses your family will ever face. A four-year program at many private universities will cost over $200,000, not counting the cost of textbooks and other extra fees. While some students may be eligible for scholarships (we’ve got one for you here) and financial aid, there’s always a concern that a school might reject you because you’re not able to pay their tuition.

Not these schools. With “need-blind” admissions policies, they pay no attention to how much money you have when deciding whether or not to admit you. Better yet, some schools even claim to meet full need, which means that they’ll provide grants to make up the difference between the family’s expected contribution, based on income, and the cost of tuition. While most students are able to obtain loans to help pay for college, these need-granting schools will generally contribute money that the students will never have to pay back, which can take a lot of the stress out of the college experience.

Want to see which schools have the best financial aid policies? Here’s a selection of colleges that aren’t likely to leave you with mountains of debt.

Harvard University. Last year, Harvard admitted Khadijah Williams, a homeless straight-A teen from Los Angeles, providing her with a full scholarship that covered all of her classes, textbooks, room, and board. This isn’t a first for them—the school has been long known for a remarkably generous financial aid policy, covering all costs for families who make below $60,000 and reducing the cost of college for middle-income families by as much as 50 percent. This year alone, they are awarding $145 million in need-based aid. So if you’re Harvard material, don’t worry about the price tag: you’ll find a place there

Bowdoin College. Bowdoin College, a small liberal arts school in Maine, may have a high price tag—$53,250 a year—but very few students are expected to pay that entire amount. The school offers need-blind admission, and more than 40 percent of students receive grants to help pay tuition, which do not need to be paid back. For a chance at a debt-free education in beautiful Maine, take a look at Bowdoin and its financial aid policies.

Bryn Mawr College. Bryn Mawr, a women’s college in Pennsylvania, has a generous grant assistance program, offering more than $20.4 million in financial aid to 62% of the student body. For more information, visit the school’s financial aid page.

Cornell University. This Ivy League university in upstate New York has always been generous with financial aid, but it recently announced an even more impressive initiative: starting this year, families with incomes below $75,000 will not have to pay any loan money, and families who earn between $75,000 and $120,000 will not have to pay back more than $3,000 for each year of school. The remainder of the money beyond the family’s expected contribution will be covered in full by the school. Check out their policies here.

Macalester College. This small, but highly competitive liberal arts school in Minnesota provides need-based financial assistance to all eligible students, which is about two-thirds of the entire student body. The average yearly financial aid award is $32,258, though some students are eligible for full scholarships. Find out more.

New College of Florida. Though it’s a public school, this university has only 785 students—and 90% of them are receiving financial aid assistance. With annual tuition, room, and board of just $12,567 for in-state students and $34,169 for students from out-of-state, it’s already one of the best educational deals around. Find out about their financial aid here.

Swarthmore College. This highly selective liberal arts college pledges to meet all student financial need after the expected family payments have been made, and awards more than $34 million in scholarships, loans, and other assistance to 70 percent of its student body every year. Swarthmore also offers a deferred payment plan, which allows families to pay tuition and other student fees in smaller monthly increments, interest-free, for a one-time participation fee of $60. Check out the options.

There are plenty of other fantastic schools with great financial aid packages available to the cost-conscious student. To find more, take a look at this list from US News and World Report —and make sure to register for our $2,000 scholarship!

6 of the Greatest Online College Planning Tools

Monday, November 30th, 2009

computerYou use your computer for just about everything, from taking notes to sending instant messages to friends to buying the latest MP3s. So why hasn’t the college application process gotten with the program?

Filling out paper applications and forms can be tedious and confusing. But the truth is, you can do just about everything online these days if you know where to look. We’ve rounded up some of the best online tools to help you out with the college application process, from finding scholarships to learning what your odds are. If you’re ready to put down the pen and paper for good, click on over to these great sites.

College Planner

Undoubtedly, you’re familiar with Facebook—in fact, you’re probably logged in right now. It’s the perfect way to keep up with friends and relatives, share photos, and play FarmVille and the rest of your favorite online games. Now, thanks to a cool app called College Planner, you can even use Facebook to apply to college.

College Planner lets you research user reviews of schools, discover schools based on your interests, find out what schools your friends are planning to apply to, and discuss school choices with your friends. Best of all, you can apply to any school online without even leaving your Facebook page!

Peterson’s College Search

There are so many decisions that go into choosing the perfect school for you—so how can you narrow it down a little? With Peterson’s detailed search tool, it’s easy to find the perfect selection of schools.  You can view detailed profiles for thousands of colleges, and run searches based on criteria including location, majors, and cost to find the schools that fit your needs.

FastWeb

As your parents have probably told you time and again, college is really, really expensive. Most families can’t afford to pay anywhere near the full tuition prize, so scholarships can really come in handy. You may not realize that there are thousands of available scholarships out there, which can be put towards any college. Is your GPA a bit lackluster because you dedicate so many hours to volunteering at a soup kitchen? You could be the perfect candidate for Cappex.com’s $1,000 “A GPA Isn’t Everything” scholarship, which rewards students who’ve shown valuable skills outside of the classroom. Learn about all the other ways you could be eligible for free money by visiting the site.

FAFSA4caster

It can be tough to know where to set your sights if you don’t know which schools are realistically within your budget. Luckily, in addition the scholarships we just mentioned, many families are also eligible for significant financial aid from the U.S. government. If you’re a senior, you can fill out a FAFSA form to determine your financial aid eligibility, but in the meantime, you can predict your needs by filling out the FAFSA4caster, which will let you know how much aid you’re likely to receive before you start applying for schools. Ask your parents to fill out the form here.

What Are My Chances?

For each college you apply to, you’re likely to be up for an application fee of between $50 and $70. That’s no small change, so when it comes to filling out your applications, you’ll need to choose your schools wisely, and choose a few safe bets along with the long shots. If you’re not sure how your odds stack up for getting into your favorite schools, Campus Compare’s handy “What Are My Chances?” tool will take account of your GPA, test scores, and extracurricular activities to measure your chances at any college you select.

Want Free Money for School? 6 Offbeat College Scholarships

Monday, November 23rd, 2009
arielchic

arielchic

You might think that you need to have a 4.3 GPA or be a champion football player to have a shot at a college scholarship, but these days, there are a million different ways to get money for college. Here are a few scholarships you may be eligible for. With a little bit of research (and possibly a lot of duct tape), free money for college is just around the corner.

The Duck Brand Duct Tape Stuck on Prom Contest

If you’re creative, enjoy wearing a costume, and don’t mind having your photo plastered all over the Internet for the rest of eternity, this may be the scholarship contest for you. Sponsored by the Duck Tape company, this contest offers a reward of a $3,000 scholarship to two students and a $3,000 prize to their school. The catch? When you go to prom, you and your date need to wear homemade costumes created entirely from duct tape. See some past winners here, or find out more about the entry rules.

Klingon Language Institute Scholarship

Who says Trekkies don’t have a sense of humor? The Klingon Language Institute, which is dedicated to the study of Spock’s native tongue, offers a $500 scholarship to a student in the field of language study. Knowledge of Klingon is not required, though we’ve got a feeling it would be appreciated. Learn the full rules here. May the force be with you.

J.D. Salinger Award

Is Holden Caulfield your literary hero? If you seem like the heir to brilliant-but-quirky reclusive novelist J.D. Salinger, his former school, Ursinus College, wants you to attend with a $30,000 annual scholarship. They’ll even put you up in Salinger’s former dorm room to help inspire your muse. To learn more about how you can walk in the footsteps of this literary master and get a free education at the same time, check out the rules here.

Tall Clubs International Student Scholarships

Who knew there was an exclusive club only for the tall? Or, much less, that this super-tall society had created a special scholarship for vertically-advantaged students? The program offers scholarship money to TCI-approved students who are a minimum height of 5’10” for women and 6’2” for men. So if you’re always hitting your head on door frames, this might be the one for you—learn the full rules at the Tall Clubs International website.

Bloodstock Scholarships

It’s not as gory as it sounds—this scholarship is sponsored by the American Red Cross, and is for students who plan and organize blood drives within their communities. For a chance at winning a $2,000 college scholarship, you must collect at least 50 units of blood; if you collect at least 35 units, you’ll be eligible to win a $1,000 scholarship. Don’t worry, you won’t need to draw the blood yourself—you’ll just be responsible for recruiting volunteers and making sure everyone shows up. Find out it all works here.

McDonald’s Scholarship Program

Sure, it’s fine for an after-school job—but you don’t want to be flipping burgers for the rest of your life. Fortunately, your employer doesn’t want you to, either. If you’re a high school senior working at McDonald’s for 15 hours a week or more, you could have a chance at winning a $1,000 or $5,000 scholarship from your employer. Learn the rules here. Many other large corporations have similar programs, so check out your employer’s website to find out if it offers a scholarship you may be eligible for.

Bonus: MyCollegeGuide Scholarship

There’s no height requirement or duct taping required for this one, but check out our very own $2,000 scholarship fund from MyCollegeGuide. To enter, click here.

Where to Find Money for College

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

Tattooed JJ/J J

Especially in turbulent economic times, it may be more important than ever that you examine all possible resources to fund a college education. Some students may think that scholarships to college are simply handed over to the athletes or the academically advanced, but finding college money can and is a more proactive activity.

U.S. Government

One of the biggest providers of college money is the U.S. Federal Government. These scholarship awards are financial need based, but may only require completing one application to potentially have access to billions of dollars. You can learn more about federal loans and the application process by reading Don’t Overlook the Fastest Route to College Financial Aid.

Local

There are a number of local organizations offering scholarship money for a variety of reasons. Some scholarships require as little as writing an essay, so it’s worth the effort to check out some of the local and community groups that may have money earmarked for college scholarships. Some of the common organizations include Rotary, the American Legion and Boosters clubs.

Other Options

More commonly known scholarships are for academic and athletic achievement, but there are also scholarships based on ethnicity, talent, religion, career paths and clubs. Check with your high school guidance counselor to see what types of scholarships you may be eligible to apply for or be considered to receive.

Wanting to go to college may not be enough to get you there. Receiving an acceptance letter may not be enough either. If you can’t pay for college, then you may not be able to attend. You can take a proactive approach to finding scholarships and money available to fund your college education. With a little time, research and effort on your part, you may receive a full-ride or at least enough money to make up the difference you need.