TIPS FOR RESEARCHING SCHOLARSHIPS

FROM PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS

To effectively utilize your time and energy in looking for scholarships and aid from the private sector keep these tips in mind.

MAJOR FIELD OF STUDY

DO NOT LIMIT YOURSELF TO A SPECIFIC MAJOR BUT LOOK FOR FAMILIES OR FIELDS OF STUDY WITHIN A MAJOR.  For example, when looking for scholarship information as a business major you should inquire about resources available for accounting, banking, business administration, economics finance, public relations, marketing, insurance, and others.

 PERSISTENCE

WHEN REQUESTING FINANCIAL AID OR SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION, BE PERSISTENT AND FOLLOW-UP:

If you don't hear from the sponsor regarding application information, send second and third requests.

If the fall deadline has passed call and find out if it has been extended.

If they say, "you don't qualify," find out why.

If you are an "alternate" recipient be sure the sponsor has correct telephone numbers at home, school and work so they can reach you.

DEADLINES

DON'T MISS THE DEADLINE!  This can make it an uphill battle.  If you do miss a fall deadline, ask about a spring deadline.

THE DISCOVERY PROCESS

BE SURE TO INVESTIGATE ANY PROSPECTIVE  SPONSOR OF AID!!

Talk to your counselor and make use of the resources available in the Guidance Office and the Counseling Center. The Coin Career Library online is available to our students and parents (see page 113) and is a quick and easy-to-use career exploration and planning resource and is available 24 hours a day.  Also we have numerous books that are updated and purchased each year.  We have many of the same resources that are used by high priced college scholarship and financial aid search companies.

Contact business and industrial groups that provide services or products in your major or career field to see if they sponsor students who are entering their profession or industry.

Contact successful leaders in your community to see if they are sponsoring students or know of associates who sponsor students who go to college.

Visit your library.  Ask the librarian to recommend resources on financial aid for college.

Contact your parent's employer to inquire about possible sponsorship for family members of employees.

Contact the department chair within your college or university to see if the department has its own scholarship program in addition to the programs offered by their college office of financial aid.

Contact your local chamber of commerce to find out if the community is sponsoring students in specific professions (medical students, engineers, teacher, etc.) who will return to the sponsoring community after graduation to practice their profession for a specific amount of time.

We cannot emphasize enough the importance of listening to the daily announcements in school for scholarship information.  These announcements are also printed on the school website.  In addition there is a special section on our website that lists all of the scholarships that are made available to us for the students of Archbishop Wood. This is important all year round, but especially in the spring when many local scholarships become available.

REMEMBER:  THERE ARE MANY SCHOLARSHIP POSSIBILITIES TO INVESTIGATE. FIND OUT WHAT'S OUT THERE! COMPUTER SEARCHES PLUS YOUR OWN RESEARCH SHOULD YIELD A VARIETY OF SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES.

REMEMBER...THE FUTURE BELONGS TO

 THOSE WHO PREPARE FOR IT!!